Fidelis David
Guber Aspirants Step Up Campaign as Tinubu Visits Ondo reports that the recent visit of President Bola Tinubu to Ondo State was an opportunity for aspirants for the 2024 gubernatorial poll under the platform of the All Progressives Congress to campaign a
It’s a little over a year that the Independent National Electoral Commission presented the certificates of return to the then President-Elect, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima in the February 25, 2023 poll, after garnering 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who scored 6,984,520.
Months before the election, it was a seemingly symbolic and emotive moment for the then All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he took a benedictory pilgrimage to Akure, the capital of Ondo State to receive the all-clear blessing from the leader of Yoruba’s socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti—an endorsement that generated mixed feelings.
To underscore the enormity of the occasion and the weight of support he enjoyed, the former governor of Lagos State was received at the country home of Pa Fasoranti by Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was then a deputy governor; Deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Minister of state, Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, a former Minister of state, Niger Delta, Chief Tayo Alasoadura and a former Governor of Osun State among other Afenifere leaders.
Then, Fasoranti, while performing the greybeard invocation on October 30, 2023, had his two palms firmly placed on Tinubu’s clean shaven head and wished him a smooth glide in the race for Aso Rock, even as Tinubu put forward his 80-page manifesto before the nonagenarian with other prominent Yoruba leaders present.
But, 126 days after receiving the blessing, and nine months to his administration, Tinubu, knowing fully well that little appreciation sometimes does quite as much good as all the conscientious bringing up in the world, returned to Akure, the country home of Pa Fasoranti, and presented his certificate of return to him in appreciation for his blessings.
This time around Fasoranti’s palms weren’t firmly placed on Tinubu’s “clean shaven head” but it was all greetings as they exchanged pleasantries.
Earlier, President Tinubu visited Owo, in Ondo State to condole with the family of the late Governor of the State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who died on December 27, 2023, after a protracted illness.
The President, who was accompanied to Owo by the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Pius Akinyelure, was received by the widow of the late Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.
President Tinubu, who had a closed-door meeting with Mrs. Akeredolu, also visited where the late Governor was laid to rest, saying the void left by the departed Governor will be difficult to fill.
According to him, it is honourable to depart the world when the ovation is loudest.
“This sentiment should inspire us to live each day with purpose, to pursue our goals with determination, and to leave behind a legacy that will be remembered fondly by those whose lives we have touched.
While acknowledging the courage and fearless nature of the late governor especially his passion for good governance, Tinubu said “he truly embodied courage and fearlessness, especially in his relentless pursuit for good governance. I can only describe him as a fearless fighter, his unwavering commitment to the welfare of his people and his courageous nature will always be remembered”.
Mrs. Akeredolu speaking after the visit appreciated the President for the condolence visit, saying “On behalf of my family, I appreciate Mr. President. We understood he couldn’t attend the burial ceremony due to the dictate of Yoruba culture. He couldn’t have attended the burial of his younger brother.
“Coming today is a big deal because we are in a better atmosphere. I also express my profound gratitude to the Southern Governors for their immense financial contributions to the burial. Most especially, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, who singlehandedly brought Aketi’s remains back to Nigeria. We appreciate this huge show of love and we are grateful and forever indebted to him.
“I requested that Mr. President see where Aketi has been laid to rest and he followed me. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for coming. He’s indeed, Aketi’s brother and friend. I told Mr. President, yes, Aketi has left but he lives because he left behind legacies. It is our wish that those legacies continue and are built upon where necessary.”
Immediately he was done from Owo, President Tinubu flew in a chopper to Akure where he paid homage to Pa Reuben Fasoranti.
At the private meeting with Pa Fasoranti, the president began his usual gesticulation like a smart attorney, explaining a point before a magistrate, saying his government was aware of the challenges confronting Nigerians but promised that the policies of his administration will bring positive solutions to the challenges.
He also called on Nigerians to grow and eat home foods, noting that doing so would wean the country from depending on foods from foreign sources.
Pa Fasoranti, on his part, called on the President to restructure the country and enthrone true federalism as it was originally entrenched in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions to end the nation’s problem of grappling with doubledigit inflation, foreign currency shortages, a weakening naira, widespread insecurity, amongst others.
His words: “You know that since the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the Yoruba people, led by Afenifere, have been in the forefront of the campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria.
“It is now incumbent on you to address this issue of constitutional reforms with courage, fairness and determination. We know we cannot return to the past, but we have to seek a future where regional competitions would bring out the best in our country as it did during the First Republic.
“We seek therefore a true Federal Republic that would reflect fiscal federalism. If derivation principle is good for oil, why is it not good for Value Added Tax for example?”
He stressed that the group believe that a review of the 2014 National Constitutional Conference would help him in charting the course.
“For the people of the South-West, restructuring also has a more pressing meaning. Today, Nigeria has a population of 200 million which would double in the next 25 years to 400 million. However, the South-West is facing an avalanche of migration from the other zones of the country to the extent that in 25 years’ time, if the current trend continues, the South-West would be home to 50 percent of the population of Nigeria.
“By this time the states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo would be home to at least 200 million people. We need to plan for this eventuality on a regional scale. We need to be prepared so that our region would not be overwhelmed by imported challenges.
“Mr President, please also seek for institutional reforms that would strengthen our federation and make Nigeria safer and more prosperous. Try and balance the budget and execute capital projects that would create more employments. We thank you for welcoming the idea of state policing.”
He noted that Afenifere want each of the geo-political zones to have greater responsibilities for security, food production and infrastructural development.
“Since the removal of fuel subsidy, which was costing Nigeria 10 billion dollars yearly, the state governments have been receiving hefty allocations from the Federation account.
Mr President should persuade the governors to allow this change of fortune for the states to reflect at the grassroots so that life can be better for our people. They should not just buy rice and yams for the people.
“They should create employment, improve education and build new infrastructures. Today, life is truly challenging for most people and the state governments have an important role to play to transform the society. You have done well with trying to reposition our economy and reform the Public Service. We salute your courage in tackling many issues that have remained unresolved for many years.
“It is an act of courage and sagacity for you to adopt the Oronsanye Report as the basis to reform the Public Service. This is a welcome development”, he added.
The presidential visit was also an opportunity for aspirants for the 2024 governorship poll under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the Sunshine State to show their popularity to the visitor. Supporters of the aspirants displayed banners, with crested vests, bearing different inscriptions while major streets of Akure and Owo were flooded with campaign banners of the aspirants. Unfortunately, the show of loyalty led to violence among the aspirants’ supporters which informed why former state Commissioner for Finance and governorship aspirant under the APC, Wale Akinterinwa, called on President Tinubu to caution the state governor against using armed thugs to cause chaos and crisis in the state ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
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