-Says Akeredolu Will Harvest All Votes in SW
By Gbenga Sodeinde
A Yoruba emancipation group, Oodua People’s Care Initiative, OPCI has thrown it support behind the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the February 25, 2023 General Elections draw near.
OPCI also reiterated it support and commitment to the leadership of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON as the Chairman of TINUBU/SHETTIMA 2023 Presidential Campaign in the Southwestern region.
The deputy national coordinator of the group, Comrade Rotimi Akinsowon who led other members of the group to a meeting with the Director-General of Ondo State APC Campaign Council for Southern Senatorial District, Erelu Modupe Martins, in Odigbo town on Sunday,
stressed that Tinubu unbeatable political records across the Southwest region, and indeed in Nigeria “is the hedge he has to win the election”.
Akinsowon affirmed the readiness of the group to work the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Council to ensure that the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu win the 2023 Presidential Election and sworn-in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come May 29, 2023.
He also said the appointment of Governor Akeredolu to lead the campaign trail of APC in the Southwest “is strategically driven and high powered political mercenary to harvest all available votes in the region on February 25, 2023.
“I am bringing the goodwill messages of my national coordinator, Comrade, Dr. Maruff Olarenwaju, as well as millions of our members in the Southwest, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta States, pledging our support for Tinubu/Shettima Presidential bid and all other candidates of APC in the above-mentioned states, and be part of the success story of the 2023 General Elections.
“Home is home. We have no other place than Yoruba land, so our first priority as Comrades and political leaders is to support our son, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition and help him to emerge as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As the Yoruba will say ‘Omo Eni kisedi bebere, kafileke sidi omo olomo’; we shall come all out, as Yoruba rights’ fighters to vote and protect our votes during the elections, and we shall not relent until success is acheived for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Settima and all the candidates of APC in both National and States legislative houses”, Akinsowon stated.
In her reaction, the Director-General of APC State Campaign Council (South), Erelu Modupe Martins thanked the group for the support and commitment to the Tinubu/Shettima project, stressing that the move by OPCI was a right step at a right direction and a right time.
“As sons and daughters of Yorubaland; your decision today is an historical event, wherein you’re written a positive and developmental history down for your children’s children and generations yet unborn. History indeed, shall judge us right for be part of Tinubu’s success story.
“I must commend the leadership of OPCI for this giant stride and great decision to join and support Tinubu/Shettima Presidential bid and work assidiously to win the poll on February 25, 2023 by God’s Grace. You have really taken a good move which you’ll never regret it.
“Your role comes in pair; as Yoruba sons and daughters, you are to vote and encourage your family members to vote too for all APC candidates, while also you’re to stand in for us during the election to protect the voters and our votes until the votes are counted and our candidates are declared winners. We need you to compliment the efforts of security agents in securing the voters and the votes during and after the poll.”
Mrs. Martins promised to deliver the group request to the APC senatorial candidate, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR for onward delivery to the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON who is the Southwest chairman of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
The Director-General was accompanied to the meeting by the director-general of Jimoh Ibrahim Senatorial Campaign Council, Dr. Segun Ayodele and the Director of Contact and Mobilisation, Ondo APC Southern Campaign Council, Hon. Nicholas Akinbiola.