Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday expressed confidence that the state would deliver one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the January 16 election, citing strong support for the President among the people of the state.
He said the people would honour the President with their votes in appreciation of his bold economic reforms and their positive impacts on the country.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Akure, the state capital, said opposition parties have no place in Ondo State.
But President Tinubu, who was represented at the rally by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said if the party chieftains intensify the mobilisation, they should be able to deliver 1.2 million votes to the APC.
For them to achieve the feat, the President, in a special reconciliation message to the Ondo APC family, urged the governor, ministers and other stalwarts to close ranks and work as a team during the electioneering.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele delivered the presidential admonition.
At the rally held at the Akure Township Stadium were the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Campaign Director-General Senator Abdulaziz Yari; Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Senator Adams Oshiomhole; Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele; Minister of Youth Ayodele Olawande; former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo; former Ondo State Governor Segun Mimiko; Chief Olusola Oke, and Wale Akinterinwa.
The stadium was filled. Many supporters could not gain access to the arena.
APC Ondo women, who trooped out in large numbers, promised to reward the President for investing in their children’s future.
Why Ondo will vote Tinubu, by Aiyedatiwa
Aiyedatiwa said Ondo remained firmly behind the President because of his administration’s reforms and their positive impacts on the country and the state.
The governor recalled that the state gave President Tinubu massive support during the 2023 presidential election, recording the highest percentage of votes for the President in the country.
Aiyedatiwa said the support was informed by the President’s antecedents, particularly his record as governor of Lagos State, and the confidence the people have in his leadership.
He said: “You have not disappointed us for the votes we cast for you and your vice president in 2023.”
Aiyedatiwa said the economic and other reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration since 2023 had begun to yield results across the country.
He said the reforms would have had little meaning if their benefits had not reached ordinary Nigerians and translated into development at the state and community levels.
He listed the recruitment of more than 6,000 workers across various sectors, infrastructure development, rehabilitation of health institutions and support for young entrepreneurs as some of the achievements of his administration, which had been facilitated by the Federal Government’s reform policies.
Atiku, Obi have nothing to offer
President Tinubu told the crowd that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) counterpart, Peter Obi, have nothing to offer Nigerians.
.He urged Nigerians to reject the two main opposition leaders and renew their confidence in his administration, saying that his government is laying a solid foundation for economic recovery, growth and national development.
The President urged the people of Ondo to deliver more than “one million votes” to the APC, describing the state as a critical stronghold in its efforts to secure another mandate.
President Tinubu said a second-term mandate would enable him to consolidate his reforms and deliver more dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
He urged party members, political leaders and supporters across the 18 local governments of the state to take the campaign to their communities, markets, streets and polling units.
The President said the opposition had failed to present a convincing alternative to the policies and programmes of his administration. He advised voters not to be distracted by political rhetoric.
President Tinubu said: “All opposition have been conducting their campaigns on Facebook. Atiku Abubakar has not been able to put his state in order, to the extent that all former governors of the state are not in alignment with him. This is a clear indication that he can’t offer anything.
“Just like Peter Obi, who has no tangible achievements in his record other than obnoxious data, how can he offer anything?
“With what I have seen here, it is clear that all other leaders have put all differences behind them in the interest of the state. With 2.1 million registered voters, the least we expect from Ondo is 1.2 million votes.”
The president commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and other APC leaders in the state for their mobilisation efforts, expressing confidence that Ondo would deliver a significant victory for the party.
President urges Ondo APC to unite
Senator Bamidele urged Ondo APC leaders to ‘close ranks’ and work together forthe President’s re-election.
He said the President was particularly concerned about ensuring unity among party leaders and stakeholders across the three senatorial districts.
Bamidele said Tinubu had directed all party leaders to recognise Aiyedatiwa as the sole state coordinator of the presidential campaign and give him the necessary support to mobilise voters.
He said the governor had also been instructed to open his doors to all party leaders and stakeholders, irrespective of their political affiliations or previous disagreements.
Uzodimma to voters: prove your love for Tinubu with votes
Uzodimma said Ondo people should prove through their votes that they love President Tinubu.
He said out of the over two million registered voters in the state, the one million votes target is achievable.
Ondo lucky with appointments, says Yilwatda
Yilwatda said Ondo has three ministers– Taiwo Oyedele, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Ayodele Olawande.
He urged the people to reciprocate the good gesture of the president.
“Ondo must contribute significantly to the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2027,” the APC National Chairman said.
Yari also said President Tinubu had demonstrated exceptional commitment to Ondo through political appointments and other benefits.
The APC-PCC boss urged Aiyedatiwa and other APC leaders to intensify mobilisation, stressing that the ruling party is seeking millions of votes from Ondo to widen Tinubu’s national electoral margin.
He said: “We are not looking for Asiwaju to win in Ondo State. We are looking for Asiwaju to get millions of votes that will give the margin for the Presidency.”
Yari called on youths, women and elderly residents to turn out en masse on election day.
Oshiomhole: President has impressive scorecard
Oshiomhole, who spoke in smattering Yoruba, said President Tinubu has worked well for Nigerians, adding that the best way to reciprocate his good deeds is to return him as President.
He gave examples of NELFUND, interventions that led to the stability of the economy, the coastal road, infrastructural development, and his youth development programmes.
Mimiko urged APC supporters not to relent in their efforts at winning big for the President.
He assured the President that all leaders in the state will work together as a team to deliver for the state and ensure that all candidates in the state win their elections.
Chief Olusola Oke (SAN) said President Tinubu has done well for the state, adding that the state is indebted to him.
He said party leaders have unanimously agreed to work for the success of the party in the general election.
Women leaders of the APC in the state pledged to mobilise massive support for President Tinubu’s re-election, describing his administration’s policies as a source of renewed hope for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
The women, however, urged President Tinubu to also sustain and expand investments in education, healthcare and youth development to guarantee a brighter future for Nigerian children.
They stated this yesterday morning at their stakeholders’ engagement and town hall organised under the Ondo State Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0, with the theme, “From Reforms to Prosperity.”
The event, held at the Dr Olusegun Mimiko Entertainment Centre, popularly known as The Dome, in Akure, also featured an empowerment programme for women.
The meeting brought together APC women leaders, political stakeholders and supporters to highlight the achievements of the Tinubu administration, assess the impact of its policies and strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the general election.
Speaking at the event, the APC State Woman Leader, Princess Iji Ayeola, said women in the state were prepared to deploy their political influence and grassroots networks to secure another electoral victory for President Tinubu.
Ayeola described the gathering as an opportunity to unite women, empower them economically and celebrate what she called the achievements of President Tinubu and Governor Aiyedatiwa.
