A huge crowd of supporters welcomed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his campaign team to Akure, the Ondo State capital. DAMISI OJO and LEKE AKEREDOLU report.
In the History of Ondo State, January 24,2015 would remain indelible in the minds of many people.
That day, racial discrimination was totally put on hold as Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and other tribes welcomed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), to Akure, the state capital.
In the annals of political campaigns and rallies in Ondo State,it was a special day as the 5000 capacity crowd Democracy Park could not contain the surging crowd.
Many hanged on the veranda of adjoining buildings to catch a glimpse on the former Head of State.
In spite of the late arrival of the visitors,anxious party members and supporters waited patiently till around 4.30 pm when the campaign train hit the Democracy park like the biblical triumphant entry.
Security operatives had a hectic time in controlling the crowd. People were shouting ‘sai Buhari’, waving their brooms and dancing to the tunes of Saidi Osupa and his band boys.
The crowd defied the scorching sun food and drink vendors made brisk business.
Before the arrival of Gen Buhari and his entourage from Ado-Ekiti, the APC National Leader and former Lagos State Governor had arrived earlier to cheer up the excited crowd who had waited anxiously for more than eight hours.
They later came in a long convoy Gen Muhammadu Buhari,Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and other party leaders.
The APC leaders flayed the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and urged Nigerians to vote out the party, which they said, represents corruption and maladministration in the February general elections.
They noted that the PDP government has brought untold hardship to Nigerians and assured that the APC would bring about change.
Tinubu who addressed the APC supporters at the Democracy Park, Akure said the party presented Buhari as its candidate to fight corruption, stressing that the former Head of State is not too old to rule the country as being insinuated by the PDP.
Tinubu mentioned some prominent world leaders, including the late Dr Nelson Mandela, former President of South-Africa who ruled their countries in their old age. He said age has nothing to do with efficiency and leadership.
The APC National Leader recalled that former Ondo State Governor, Adekunle Ajasin ruled at over 70 years. He said the legacies of his administration are reference points for successive administrations.
He said: “Leaders who ruled their countries and liberated them ruled at old age. nelson Mandela ruled South Africa at over 70 years. The man who liberated the United States of America ruled the country at over 70 years, so, if we are presenting Buhari, a 72 year old man to liberate us in Nigeria, it is not a sin.”
Tinubu who described the APC campaign as “common sense revolution”, described Buhari as a brilliant, intelligent, brave and honest person, who has solution to the problems confronting the country.
He challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to present his score card for the last six years. He asked him to show the refinery he promised to build in Ondo state when he was canvassing for votes four years ago.
The former governor maintained that Nigeria needed a courageous man like Buhari to conquer terror, adding that the current administration has failed woefully in all sectors of the economy.
Buhari said that the PDP has killed the economy through corruption and maladministration, adding that his government will restore the hope of the masses.
The former Head of State promised he would end corruption and revive the economy. He promised to create jobs through farming and mining.
The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, and Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and vote out the PDP.
Aregbesola noted that Ondo State had been delivered from the captives of the oppressed with their support for the APC.
Dignitaries at the event include former governors of Ekiti, Adeniyi Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose (nee Ajasin), Abike Dabiri, Victor Olabimtan, Senator Olorunmbe Mamora, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, Oyewole Fasawe, Sola Iji, Niran Sule and Bola Ilori.
Others include Isaac Kekemeke Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Ifedayo Abegunde, Ganny Dauda, Henry Bello, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Dr. Paul Akintelure, Adegboyega Adedipe, Ade Adetimehin,
Others are Eni Omosule, Tayo Alasoadura, Benson Enikuomehin, Lebi Morayo, Gboyega Adedipe, Tunde Imolehin, Abayomi Adesanya, Charles Titiloye, Erelu Modupe Johnson- Akindele and Mrs Funmilayo Olaseinde-Vincet.
Highlight of the rally was the defection of some PDP and Labour Party member (LP) to APC.
Among them were Femi Agagu, former Chief of Staff to the former Governor Olusegun Agagu, and former Speakers of the Assembly, Hon, Victor Olabimtan and Taofik Abdusalam.
