In what appears as a carnival-like entry of the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Osogbo, the capital city of Osun on Thursday, 2 February, 2023, other candidates of the party and the national leaders of the party stormed the state in a branded motorcade acknowledging sheers from the ecstatic residents at strategic places in Osogbo.
The arrival of the APC Presidential Candidate turned the atmosphere into jubilation as major parts of the ancient city, particularly Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya, Okefia, Alekuwodo and Old Garage, stood-still for hours due to the influx of the people that trooped out en masse to catch a glimpse of the ‘City Boy’ as the APC Presidential candidate is fondly called.
This is just as Tinubu assured the residents of Osun that their mandate freely given to Adegboyega Oyetola would be retrieved soon ‘by God’s grace’, saying he has confidence in God that the immediate past Governor would laugh last.
Addressing the mammoth crowd who have been waiting for the party’s flag-bearer at the popular Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, Tinubu, whose convoy couldn’t access the podium already prepared for him because of the heavy presence of the party’s loyalists, promised to do everything humanly possible to redefine the nation’s economy.
Accompanied by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State; Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State; Immediate past Ekiti and Osun Governors, John Kayode Fayemi and Adegboyega Oyetola respectively; and a host of other stalwarts, Tinubu said that the state of the the nation’s economy needs an informed mind, highly competent individual with the required requisite administrative prowess to consolidate on the physical gains recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari and turn around the fortune of the nation for the betterment of all.
Tinubu, who had earlier held a meeting with the traditional rulers in Osun State before heading for the venue of the rally, assured the youths of his readiness to create jobs through the establishment of manufacturing companies in every nook and cranny of the country, saying that he is skilled on how to squeeze water out the rocks.
He called on Nigerians, particularly Osun residents who have not collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards, to go and do so as that remains the only power they have to elect him and other candidates of the party.
“We are very grateful for seeing this mammoth crowd. Please go and pick your PVCs. This is the only thing to rescue you. We pray that you will be happy forever. All of you here, there’s nothing they will say, even if they turn our currency to one Kobo, we will walk to our polling units and vote. We know it is not easy to retain power.
“On the day of the presidential election, please use your PVCs to elect us. If they relocate the polling units, we will get there, vote and win. God will not put you to shame.
“We are determined. So, if some people think they can cause unnecessary hardship, we will show you that vultures have been in the rain for long and he didn’t die. Instead, he is eating fat day-in-day-out from libations and public appeases.
“We will establish registration centre for the graduates and we will establish entrepreneurship centres for those that may like to learn one skill or the other.
“Time for our youths to be gainfully employed has come. We will ensure that those that have vocational and technical skills have resources to do their jobs. We will establish companies and factories for our teeming youths.
“Call me bastard if you spend more than four years in school. We will ensure that our indigent students are supported to write WAEC gain admissions and actualise their dreams. We will vote and win by the grace of God”, he added.
Speaking briefly on the political situation in Osun, Tinubu expressed confidence in God that the APC candidate in the July 16 governorship election, Adegboyega Oyetola, would soon reclaim his mandate.
“The promise of God will never fail. Oyetola will laugh last. He will soon return. The day you are expecting is the day of joy. They can squander money but just be looking and put your mind at rest.
“We tried him to know if he can use his dancing skills for good and for the productive administrative engagements. But what did he do? He had resorted to violence, killing and maiming people. It took us three and half years to reclaim the mandate of Rauf Aregbesola. Have you forgotten? I know you have not. God will do that of Oyetola for us too.
“They entered through the back door, and we ask police to do the needful and you are shouting and ranting. It is better you live to the reality because we are coming back better and stronger”, Tinubu espoused.
In his short thanksgiving remarks, the State Coordinator, Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, Adegboyega Oyetola expressed profound gratitude to the people of the State, particularly the teeming supporters and loyalists of his party, for their steadfastness, unflinching support and commitment all along.
Oyetola who extolled the party’s leadership and members for being resolute to turn around the fortunes of the party said, “I thank you for your support. We know what you have been doing to support our party. May God continue to be with you all.”
