The chairman of Ilaji Hotels and Resort and Mogaji of Olugbade Compound, Ibadan, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, and scores of Ibadan traditional chiefs, market associations, artisanal groups and religious organizations have been hailed for choosing to back Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s re-election bid.
A sociopolitical organisation, Oyo Kajola Group, gave the commendation on Monday, stating that the massive endorsements and general acceptance of the governor ahead of Saturday’s governorship election is a testament to his unprecedented achievements and good governance in his first term of four years.
The group, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Comrade Adebayo Ayandele, described the endorsement of the governor by the leadership of major bodies including Part II Chiefs, Ibadan Mogajis, Market Men and Women Associations, Traders and Artisans and Cow Sellers, among others, at the Ilaji Hotels and Resort in Ona Ara Local Government, on Saturday, as a step in the right direction.
The group mocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state for trying so hard to secure Sanusi’s support and failing at it, noting that the party does not have a good product or plan for the state and that residents must beware of the governorship candidate of the party, who is only being packaged.
It equally called on all residents of Oyo State to move with the positive tide by coming out enmasse to re-elect Governor Makinde, stating that the state “needs to continue on the trajectory of progress, which Makinde has steered it since he assumed office on May 29, 2019.”
According to the group, Oyo State people have been on the path to progress since Makinde assumed office, with the massive increase in Internally Generated Revenue, attraction of multi-billion Naira investments in agribusiness, improvement in security, education and health sectors as evidence.
Oyo Kajola Group, therefore, warned residents of the state to be wary of attempts by politicians to sabotage the state using religion and falsehood as weapons, noting that whatever gang-up is sponsored by the political class trying desperately to play the religious card to stop Makinde’s re-election, is not in the interest of Oyo State people.
The statement read in part: “We in the Oyo Kajola Group, hereby, commend the patriotism and good-spirited resolution of the chairman of Ilaji Hotels and Resort and Otun Apesinola of Ibadanland, Mogaji Engr. Dotun Sanusi, to support the re-election of the people’s governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde.
“By that resolution, several institutions and groups, including traditional chiefs, market and artisanal groups and religious bodies have also declared their support for the governor.
“We watched with baited breath how the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties in Oyo State struggled hard to get Sanusi’s endorsements, especially following his support for the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s president.
“We are glad that, in the end, the governor and Engr. Sanusi are on the same page and are assured that the governor and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are several inches closer to victory, as that effort will add to the scores of endorsements and acceptance the governor already enjoys.
“Truth be told, and residents of Oyo State must be fully aware of this, the APC is parading a bad product of a governorship candidate and no amount of falsehood of religious incitement can redeem a man who simply has no idea, as no one can give what he does not have.
“With only about five days to the governorship election in Oyo State, we, therefore, call on residents of Oyo State to come out enmasse and vote for the continuity of good governance and people-centred leadership, which Governor Makinde represents.
“Oyo State electorate must be cautious lest they be misled by the political class, most of whom are selfish and have been trying hard to derail Governor Makinde’s re-election with lies and religious sentiments. Please ask them whether the plot to gang up against the governor is in the general interest of the state and its people.
“What is clear is that Governor Makinde has made Oyo State better than he met it and he has been on side of the people all through the past 46 months, a decision which most politicians hate, it is now time for the people to rise and guard their interest by re-electing him to continue the good work he has started across different sectors.
“Oyo State cannot afford to return to the era of poor leadership and trial by error, which the candidate being backed up by some members of the political class stands for and certainly, we should not elect an individual based on religion but because such individual has solid plans and ideas that can move our great State forward.”
