No fever than 121 representatives of Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisations, community based groups, transport associations and farmers have endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election.
This was even as a Kebbi State-based political pressure group known as Tinubu/Kaura Mobilisation, Sensitisation and Support for Good Leadership has promised to deliver the state to Tinubu and the APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Nasir Idris in the forthcoming general election.
According to The Guardian, the Yoruba groups, which operate under the aegis of All Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM), also have members in Kwara State, Kogi, Edo and Delta states.
In a communiqué presented to the media after hours of deliberations in Ibadan, the group said that after weeks of consultations with all presidential candidates of Southwest origin, it found Tinubu to have the utmost experience, political maturity and track record that could bring Nigeria out of its numerous predicaments.
President of Southwest Progressives, Mr. Taiwo Ajayi, who presented the communiqué on behalf of the group, said they would campaign vigorously to ensure victory for the Tinubu/Shetima ticket. He expressed confidence that Tinubu’s victory would lead to the transformation of Nigeria.
“We are clear in our perspective that Tinubu’s victory would lift Nigeria higher from her present state of affairs to the benefit of all, irrespective of colour, creed, faith and religion,” he said.
To that end, AYDM disclosed that it has appointed 150,000 campaign volunteers that would work from now till February 2023 when the presidential election would be held.
“The volunteers’ mandate is to canvass for elections to ensure 90 per cent turnout of voters in Southwest, protect the mandate and ensure the votes are not stolen and lastly, to defend the mandate in the post election months and years,” Ajayi added.
The movement also said it would set up offices, online radios and television and also send inspiring telephone Short Messages Services (SMS) across the entire Yoruba land for the purpose.
“We want every resident in the Southwest to wake up with inspiring messages on their phones every morning. We look forward to people donating temporary offices and furniture, computers, stationeries, etc. for what will certainly be the best and most vigorous campaign no one has ever seen,” he added.
The movement, however, warned Tinubu that while it would give him every necessary support to enable him win, “we would not fail to mobilise against him if his government fails to restructure Nigeria to guarantee Yoruba self-determination.”
In his remark, Secretary General of the movement, Popoola Ajayi, disclosed that AYDM held a string of consultations with organised socio-cultural and community based groups spread across the Southwest region in the past three months before arriving at the decision.
On his part, a renowned scholar, Chief Segun Ajibulu, said Tinubu’s all-round skills and scorecard as a former senator, activist and former Lagos governor comfortably situate him in the most advantageous position for the job of Nigeria president.
Some of the groups in attendance were Oodua People’s Congress (OPC New Era), South West Progressive Youths and Peoples Movement, Covenant Group, O’odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, South West, ANACOWA representing all Okada Riders in the South West, Okun Progressive Peoples Union (OPPU), Oodua Descendants Union (ODU) in Ivory Coast, Yoruba Peoples Union in Ghana, Kwara Progressives Alliance (KPA), Itsekiti People’s Liberation Movement, South West Hunters Union, Network for Yoruba Alliance (NEYA) and others.
The Tinubu/Kaura Mobilisation, Sensitisation and Support for Good Leadership also announced their intention to mobilise for Tinubu in Birnin Kebbi while paying a courtesy visit to Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK (Maibindiga), an associate of APC’s vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima yesterday.
Chairman of the group, Alhaji Bandi Umar Mairiga Limanci, said electing both the presidential candidate and the governorship candidate of the APC would help to realise the objective of the forefathers of the country who had envisaged a nation where every Nigerian would be free to achieve his or her full potentials.
Limanci said the group would mobilise the entire state to ensure that all candidates of the APC win the coming elections.
In his remarks, Ahmed-BK commended the group for their commitment to mobilise support for the APC candidates. He assured them of his personal support as they launch a statewide sensitisation campaign for Tinubu and the governorship candidate, Idris.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has sent his message of sympathy to the governments and people of Kogi, Nasarawa and Edo States over the recent flooding that wreaked havoc in parts of the states, most especially Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
Tinubu, who returned to Nigeria last Thursday evening after a short travel abroad, in a statement, said he had followed the news of recent flooding in some states while he was away and was particularly touched by the hardship the flood had caused in Kogi, Nasarawa and Edo states.
The APC presidential candidate, while sympathising with Governors Yahaya Bello, Godwin Obaseki and Abdullahi Sule, urged them to be strong in the face of this challenge. He urged them to provide succour to the victims who are still in distress.
Tinubu also called on the Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency to act fast to support the victims with immediate relief materials while the states collaborate with the Federal Government in finding long lasting solutions to the problem of perennial flooding.
“I returned to Nigeria yesterday evening. And having been following the sad news of flooding that wreaked havoc and brought untold hardship on our people in Kogi, Nasarawa and Edo states, I sympathise with the governors of these state who as first responders are battling to provide succour and support to the victims. I am deeply saddened by the news of loss of unquantifiable properties, farmlands and huge investments in agricultural produce in Nasarawa.
“The images of this flood in Lokoja and its environment call for fast and coordinated response to bring immediate relief to our people while government work on lasting solutions to this problem.
“I call on the Federal Government to work with the affected states so that our people who have been displaced from their homes can return to normal life as soon as possible.
“While I pray that God comforts all victims who are hard pressed for their losses, I stand in solidarity with Governors Yahaya Bello, Godwin Obaseki and Abdullahi Sule as they provide the leadership and necessary encouragement to our people in their respective states,” the statement signed by Tunde Rahman for the Tinubu Media Office said.
