Loyalists of ex-Zamfara State Governor Sani Yerima have stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to mobilise support and donate campaign items towards his presidential bid in 2023.
Members of volunteer groups under the aegis of Yerima Support Organisation (YSO), and its officials from all over Nigeria were present at the event.
Branded vehicles, personalised mobile phones and other items were donated towards the project.
Leaders of the group told reporters that the items would be used to campaign for Yerima.
They said their decision to call on Yerima to contest for president was based on their satisfaction with his achievements as a governor and as a senator.
Yerima’s personal assistant Oluyemi Olusina said the time for the launch of the campaign materials and registration of volunteers was not a direct response to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid announcement earlier this week.
He said Ibadan’s strategic position in the politics of the Southwest informed the choice of the city.
He said: “Coming to Ibadan has nothing to do with Tinubu’s ambition. Yerima was a presidential aspirant in 2007 before he stepped down for Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). More of this event will be held across the country from now.”
Olusina said there was a website created by YSO, which had a list of more than 10 million Nigerians.
He added that the large population of volunteers prompted the group’s call on Yerima to contest.
“Yerima is aware of the actions of the group, although he is still consulting people across Nigeria.
“We have over 10 million people under those groups in YSO 2023. This is a huge figure collated over the years. Today, we launch our volunteers and support for the presidential ambition of Yerima. The volunteers will operate under YSO, an umbrella organisation, which houses other volunteer groups that support Yerima’s 2023 presidential ambition,” Olusina said.
YSO Coordinator Aminu Bature said that Yerima was being urged to contest because the country had reached a stage where a committed leader, who did not discriminate against any race, was needed to lead the country.