A former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State in 2019, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), yesterday, urged the electorate in the state to support continuity by voting for Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Ayorinde gave the charge while reacting to the alignment of the SDP gubernatorial candidate to Governor Makinde re-election bid.
According to him, 2023 is evidence that the democratic experience is now getting to the heart of the people.
”Unlike in the past, where a few leaders would sit down in a room and point their finger at a direction and the people will sheepily go to that direction, we do not have that anymore.
“The governor is taking a shot for a second term in office strictly based on his performance. You can see the reaction of the people that they are very much with him.
“They are saying that the governor has impacted on their lives in the last four years. They are saying that they have a governor that ensures that salaries are paid by the 25th of every month. When workers are paid, market women are happy because there is more money to take to the market. Nobody is buying on credit. Landlords are happy, children are happy.
“The governor has taken care of the perennial problem of touting by establishing motor parks all over the state.
“I am not surprised that my friend and respected lawyer Michael Lana, has thrown his hat in the ring behind the governor and he has dropped his governorship ambition under our great party, the SDP.
“Michael Lana is a progressive, the governor is a progressive. If he look at the logistics, rather than tear away votes here and there, it is better to put the same foot forward, I think he has done an excellent thing. I hope the governor succeed. The governor will have the chance to double his efforts in his secy term, Omi-tun-tun 2.0.
“I wish him the best in the next few days when election when elections are held. I will advise the electorate, the people of Oyo state to go out en masse on Saturday and exercise their franchise”.
The senior lawyer urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on what it did in the presidential polls.
He said:”We are hoping that INEC will improve on their outing at the presidential election.
“These are local elections, the governorship. It is closer to the people, people are more passionate about it.
“INEC needs to be on the very top of their game. They should ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.
“They owe that duty to Nigerians because billions in hundreds of tax payers money has been invested in this election.
“INEC cannot afford to fail, the security agencies must be on alert they cannot afford to drop the ball at this crucial and critical moment in the history of our country”.
