…APC Will Win Ondo, Says Sanwo-Olu
Sam Philip
The national gubernatorial campaign council of All Progressives Congress(APC)
for the November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo State has been inaugurated on Monday.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor, Lagos State, Is the chairman of the campaign council.
Governors Dapo Abiodun(Ogun State) Biodun Oyebanji(Ekiti State), Mai Mala Buni, Niger State, Kaduna State, Rivers State governors were also appointed chairmen of different sub-committees for the campaign.
Former governor of Osun State and national leader of the party, Chief Bisi Akande is the head of the Elders Committee for the poll.
The National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, who declared the council inaugurated, called members of the council to arrange house-to-house campaign.
He, therefore, handed over the campaign instrument to Governor Sanwo-Olu,the chairman of the campaign council.
Ganduje said: “The campaign council will swing into action and build a strong synergy with the local campaign council. We have to maintain Ondo State for APC through democratic means.
“Also, Mr. President is from this geopolitical zone and in order to show a mark of respect and that we appreciate him, we must ensure homogeneity in this geopolitical zone and it is a task that must be done through democratic means.
“We urge you to mobilize members of our party to mobilise families in order to ensure that we win this election. We are here to encourage and motivate you to ensure that the election will be free and fair and by the grace of God, it will be victorious.
“The governor of Ondo State who is also the incoming governor by the grace of God, we appreciate all the reforms that he has introduced, we appreciate him to continue with this network of programmes and projects being executed in Ondo State.
“The governor is providing progressive leadership and progressive leadership is a symbol of progressive ideology. We are here in Ondo State to assure you that this programme will continue and continue providing the much needed infrastructural facilities in both urban and rural areas.
“Ondo State people are blessed because they have a governor who is a lucky man. He is born a lucky man, he is seriously a lucky man and he will continue to be a lucky man.”
Reacting after the Inauguration, Sanwo-Olu educated the people that they should look for the party’s logo on the ballot and vote for APC.
He said APC would win the poll with the collective efforts of all members, particularly leaders, of the party.
Sanwo-Olu said: “It is my singular honour to assure all of you that we will do everything within our means, constitutionally, professionally within the norms of any election to ensure a free, fair election and campaign about issues .
“It will not be a campaign on sentiment, abuse but on issues because Aiyedatiwa has made our job to be simple and easier. In 305 days, he has a compendium of projects that he has embarked on under his legacy agenda.
“He’s a man we can go out with our full chest to assure the citizens of Ondo State that more developmental projects will be put in place in the next four years in the state. You ain’t seen anything yet.”
In his appreciation message, Aiyedatiwa said the November 16 poll would be a defining moment for APC as a party, Ondo State, Southwest region and Nigeria at large.
He said: “What we are doing here today is a display of the strength of our will when we work together. It is the evidence of our capability which by God’s grace will produce victory on 16th of November, 2024.
“The successful journey of our party in Ondo State to this point is an open book. Everyone who reads it knows it. They know what power, our unity, cooperation and vision can unleash. Other political parties, even our arch opponents, now know what they lack but which we have in abundance.
“We have love, unity, respect, courage, vision and unwavering commitment to succeed. We have a heart that truly cares for the people and a resilient mind with a winning mentality.
“We are grateful to the people of Ondo State for the exceptional show of love for our Party.
“They appreciate our commitment to make life more abundant, more meaningful, more rewarding and worth living for them. And we do not take their trust for granted.
“This is why throughout our campaigns in the cities, towns, villages, hamlets, door to door and face to face, we have listened carefully to the feedback from their lips to our ears.
“They are words of solidarity and confidence. Words which demonstrate the strong bond we share with our people and the love they have for a leadership that upholds their dignity.
“Our interventions in the the last 10 months justify our quest. Within the last 10 months, we have deliberately focused on Infrastructural Development, Public Utilities Renewal, Agricultural Production increment, Entrepreneurship and Youth Development, Job Creation and Security.
“We have focused on strengthening governance institutions through fiscal discipline, improved healthcare, access to quality education and responsible citizenship.
“We have shown commitment to social welfare to alleviate the sufferings of our people. We have deliberately created a stronger engagement with our women, too. We are concerned with leadership with integrity and character. We are not talking on our people, we are talking with them.
“Remarkably, within our 10 months in the saddle, we have activated the construction of not less than 70km of rural roads in order to provide access to our farm settlements and villages.
“This is in addition to the new 60km city-based roads recently awarded alongside the ongoing roads, bridges and public building projects initiated and awarded by our administration.
“It is significant that our workers are happy and well-motivated as we pay their salaries regularly and promptly. We owe no kobo to workers, even as they enjoy their regular promotion.
“We have employed workers into critical sectors of the public service, such as health and Internal Revenue Service, while processes are at an advanced stage to recruit about 2,000 teachers for public primary and secondary schools.
“We have supported not less than 500 youths with hundreds of million naira grants and loans as part of start-up kits for their entrepreneurial businesses.
“We are supporting our farmers with access to quality fund and finance as well as technology and trade. We are also giving scholarship, bursary and financial assistance to students of Ondo State origin in higher institutions across Nigeria.
“I believe government is about the people. We are resolute and committed to that faith. We have worked hard for the heart of the people. We are talking to them house to house, door to door and mouth to ears.
“Above all, we are committed to a peaceful and credible election, where votes count. Ladies and gentlemen, by the grace of God Almighty, come 16th November, 2024, we shall win. And we shall gather here, once again, to celebrate our victory. It is the promise of God for His people.
“We are indeed happy and grateful for the inauguration of the campaign council today, we believe it is a big boost, a huge addition to the winning resolve of our progressive party.
“We have no doubt that our strategies would be enhanced, our vitality, more vigorous and our bonding with voters, more decisive.”
Among the national leaders of the party who graced the event are Governors Dapo Abiodun, Biodun Oyebanji, former governor of Plateau state, Simeon Lalong, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Issac Kekemeke, National Vice Chairman(S/West), National Secretary, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru, Ovie Omo-Agege, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and many others.
