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Tag: tinubu

  • Lawmaker praises Tinubu

    Lawmaker praises Tinubu

    The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been  described as a political oracle.

    The APC candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alimosho 01, Adebisi Abdul’ Raman Yusuf, said Tinubu had predicted the nation’s political situation.

    “I give kudos to our amiable leader for his foresight in Nigerian politics. He sees ahead of others and works immediately to achieve his goals, carrying everybody along.

    “He is an oracle personified because whatever steps he takes are in the right direction and they always come into manifestation. See how the emergence of Buhari as our presidential candidate has continued to set the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on fire.”

  • Tinubu urges party members to obtain PVCs

    The National Leader of the All Progress Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged party members to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote for change.

    At a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday in Lagos, he said, without the PVCs, the electorate is powerless, urging them to redouble their effort in the collection.

    The APC leader noted that some people were reluctant to collect their PVCs, adding that such step does not add value to the electoral power.

    He said the party leadership has been having series of meetings to review the electoral process, adding that members must brace up to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from rigging the elections.

    He said: “It was resolved that we must go back to our constituencies. The ward meetings must be very regular and constant now. This our new charge now and must be adhered to strictly.

    “Attendant register must be maintained at the ward meetings, we must verify those members who are registered as members of our party unit by unit.

    “We must equally identify those us who have been able to obtain our PVC. How many of them have not been able to get their PVC and those who have not got theirs. This instruction commences from today,” he said.

    He said the party will do everything within its power to assist those who are finding it difficult to collect their PVC but they must show the interest to them first.

    Tinubu added that APC has the highest number of registered members in the country and wondered why some members were not keen in collecting their PVC.

    “I am challenging you to inform the market women, carpenters, masonries, artisans of any nature must collect their PVC. If your gutter must be kept be clean, if you must benefit from the education, health and other social service then you must perform your civic responsibilities by obtaining the PVC.”

    Tinubu said those selling their PVC were destroying their lives, noting that it was their future and that of their children they were compromising.

    “Those of you selling your PVCs, you are destroying your lives. When you sell out your PVCs, you will not be able to collect another one again. So, in future when your child or you need the PVC to enable you make some transaction, you will not be able to use it.

    “When you sell it, they would void it in order not to be able to use the card. So, you can’t use it to vote. The PDP is aware that you will not vote them but instead of using to vote the party of your choice they preferred to collect it and destroy the card. They can’t use the card but want it destroyed.

    “That is what you call depopulation strategy. They tried to depopulate us. Please pass this information to them so that they will understand the consequence of their action,” he added.

  • Oyegun, Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki under security watch

    Oyegun, Tinubu, Amaechi, Saraki under security watch

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are being intimidated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, the party alleged yesterday.

    Its proof – security agents have placed some of its leading lights on surveillance. Besides, their phones are bugged.

    But, said the party, it will never bow to intimidation. APC spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed said in a statement:

    “We will not be intimidated by the latest antics of the Jonathan Administration to harass and intimidate the opposition, especially in the run-up to next month’s general elections.”

    A security source last night declined comments on the matter “because the APC did not name the specific security organisation putting its leaders under watch”.

    The APC said: ‘’As the elections approach, we know the harassment and intimidation will be stepped up. We know our leaders, including the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, Senator Bukola Saraki and National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are under surveillance and their phones being bugged.

    ‘’We are aware that several of them, especially the National Publicity Secretary, have been marked down for arrest in the days to come. We know there are evil plots to frame some of them on trumped-up charges. We know our lives are in danger. But these and more will not deter us from continuing to act in the national interest or from seeking to effect change through the ballot box.

    ‘’Yes, we are alerting Nigerians that if anything happens to us they should know where it is coming from, but for us there is no going back because we are resolute.’’

    Tinubu’s Lagos home has been under siege by soldiers for four days though the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major-Gen. Tunmi Dibi has said the military deployment is “routine” and part of a joint security measure to secure Lagos.

    The Imo State Government House in Owerri was also violated when a military armoured tank manned by some soldiers was deployed in front of it on Tuesday after security men prevented a group of women, led by Minister of State (Education) Prof. Violet Onwuliri, from marching on the facility.

    Also yesterday, policemen were deployed in the Abuja home of APC’s Presidential Campaign spokesman Garba Shehu – an action which the party said “fits perfectly into this emerging pattern”.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, the party said Shehu’s residence at the NNPC Quarters, Area 11, Abuja, had been surrounded by armed policemen since 3 a.m. on yesterday, making it impossible for him to even go to the mosque for prayers.

    ‘’Going after the spokesman of our party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation is aimed at muffling the organisation’s voice and abridging the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the spokesman himself. This is antithetic to democracy and totally unacceptable,’’ it said.

    APC called on those who sent the armed security personnel to Shehu’s residence to immediately order their withdrawal and tell Nigerians what he has done to warrant such harassment.

    The party said “coming after the siege by armed troops to Tinubu’s home in Lagos and a similar siege to the Imo State Government House in Owerri, it was clear that the Jonathan Administration has finally launched its much-anticipated clampdown on the opposition ahead of the general elections.

    The elections are slated for March 28 and April 11.

    ‘’The PDP and the Jonathan Administration are bent on badgering the opposition through the harassment, intimidation and arrest of its leaders as well as the circulation of unfounded rumours against the party. These actions are all aimed at fomenting a crisis and scuttling the forthcoming elections,” APC said, adding:

    ‘’We are, therefore, calling on all Nigerians as well as the international community to take note of this growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of the opposition, and the effect such action will have on the conduct of the elections,’’ it said.

    APC thanked Nigerians for their immense and unwaring support, especially since the postponement of the elections which was aimed at dampening the enthusiasm of the citizens, and urged them not to relent.

    The presidential and assembly elections will were slated for tomorrow and the governorship elections February 28.

    ‘’We are glad that instead of weakening the resolve and enthusiasm of Nigerians, the Presidency-orchestated postponement has further galvanised them to be more determined not only to vote but also to defend their votes,” APC said, adding:

    ‘’Nigerians must demand and insist that the elections be held as rescheduled, that there will be no interim government or tenure elongation. Nigerians have the power to forge change with their voter’s cards and no one must deny them that right.’’

    The APC urged President Jonathan to remember the verdict of history and put his dogs of war on a leash, realising that history will judge no one but him even for the actions of his supporters, who are all acting in his name.

  • Is election shift not road to Golgotha?

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in his bid to hang tenaciously onto power, is tormenting the peace of the nation’s ancestors. Whether through his aides’ unguarded statements or by his body language, conduct and lingo in the past weeks, he seems determined to truncate this democracy if the coming 2015 Presidential election will not go his way. When everything pointed in the direction that he would lose the election, he confirmed the fears in public space that he would tinker with the independence of INEC: He covertly compelled the electoral body through Sambo Dasuki, his National Security Adviser (NSA), and military service chiefs to shift the election dates – just precisely a week to the conduct of the presidential election initially slated for February 14.

    Quite interestingly, like a patient dog that eats the fattest bone, Nigerians that are determined for CHANGE are eagerly waiting for next six weeks to come for them to use their votes to show Jonathan the way out of Aso-Rock Villa. This president seems to have forgotten the tribulations that Nigerians endured before the birth of the ongoing democratic project. But for the toil of courageous Nigerians that stood up against military dictatorship, probably, the president, who never hitherto stepped out of the country, and perhaps the Niger-Delta, would be rotting away somewhere in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. Now, he wants to overstretch the elasticity of his destiny by daring to submerge the echoes of CHANGE in order to realise his own infamous over-ambition for another term in office.

    The president pretends before the entire world that he knows nothing about INEC’s shift of election dates when he is the main architect of the political rigmarole. This government is showing grave disregard for the country’s past because of his having been blinded by the awesome power at his beck. From the first republic when the mobile unit of the police force was created to suppress the opposition of that era to the second republic when the same mobile police were deployed to intimidate, harass and tyrannise the opposition, the end was always dismal for perpetrators. From Ibrahim Babangida’s charade called transition to democratic rule when he used the military with impunity to repress and suppress people’s resistance against the satanic annulment of the June 12 1993 election and; Abacha’s use of same method to facilitate his failed transmutation agenda down to Olusegun Obasanjo’s use of military to win election at all cost, there had been a dire consequence for such political iniquity.

    History is currently repeating itself under Jonathan who has been using the military to commit all sorts of atrocities including the deployment of soldiers and masked intelligence and police service operatives to harass the opposition at electioneering period. Does the law allow for the use of soldiers during elections? The answer is capital NO! The 1999 Constitution in section 215(3) vests the Nigeria Police Force with the power to exclusively maintain and secure public safety and order. But there is, however, a circumstantial moderation over this police role in the second leg of provisions of Section 217(2) of same Constitution that empowers the president to deploy the armed forces only for the suppression of insurrection and while acting in aid of civil authorities including the police to restore law order. What is apparent today is that there is no insurrection or civil disturbance except in 14 local governments cutting across the troubled three north-east states out of 774 councils in the federation where the Boko Haram insurgents hold way.

    So far, there are no civil disturbances in the remaining 760 local governments across the federation or any sign of it that the police cannot contain to warrant military intervention. Even when the president needs to take extraordinary security measures as enshrined in Section 305, he still must go through the national assembly to seek and obtain its approval for a specified timeline. Reading this two Sections (215 and 217), this column believes that it is only clear that the president can only deploy the military while trying to aid the police to restore peace and order when it has broken down. Otherwise, the president can deploy the armed forces for internal security in cases of suppression of insurrection which includes the devastating Boko Haram insurgency. From the intent/spirit of the grundnorm, it is clear that the military has no place in election matters and the elections’ dates should not have been shifted because the military threatened not to provide security. What is the position of the Inspector General on this issue?

    There have also been judicial pronouncements on the matter and in this regard the Court of Appeal judgment in Yusuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 N.W.L.R.(Pt 956) 96 remain instructive: Salami JCA ( as he the was) held: “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarised. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious step or steps should be taken to civilianize the polity to ensure the survival and sustenance of democracy.” The current move to stall democracy via postponement of the election by the NSA, the military and the PDP is an efforts aimed at militarising the electoral process which is illegal and criminal.

    Also in the case of Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 1 WRN 1 at 200, Abdullah JCA observed: “In spite of the non-tolerant nature and behaviour of our political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of our election process. The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out fully the electoral processes at all levels”. The Supreme Court in its appeal judgement in the same Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 50 WRN 1 at 313 states that the State must make sure that “citizens who are sovereign can exercise their franchise freely, unmolested and undisturbed.” This molestation obviously obtain in a military-infested polity being bred by Jonathan. It is regrettable that the election was postponed but Nigerians would not condone such evil deed in the nearest future. The election could have gone ahead despite the military’s illegal threat if INEC had been calm enough to read and digest properly section 25 of the Electoral Act which allows the electoral body to deploy his power for election postponement only where there is verifiable threat of breakdown of law and order ‘in the area or areas’ under scrutiny.

    To Mr President and his goons, Nigerians are saying enough of politics of cluelessness. They want a break from the cycle of PDP’s political servitude for enthronement of a political movement as represented by APC with an echo that would be heard and appreciated by generations to come.

    Soldiers’ siege on Tinubu’s residence

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State is undisputably an enviable pillar of opposition politics in this country and more importantly, an inspiration and model in the current democratic movement against government ineptitude as exemplified by the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency.

    The move by the presidency to intimidate him by stationing armed soldiers around his house is nothing but a sheer waste of time, personnel and resources. Asiwaju is too experienced and familiar with this kind of desperate repressive official method to be subdued. He, in his fight for democratic enthronement that Jonathan is now enjoying, survived more crude and severe official antics that led to nowhere.

    Asiwaju, be assured that nothing will happen to you or any of us that truly believes that the time for CHANGE in this rotten system headed by Jonathan is now. You remain a worthy pillar of this inevitable crusade. I reserve further comments on Tinubu and his political exploits till a later period in the nearest future. Ride on

  • Soldiers extend siege to Tinubu’s home

    Soldiers extend siege to Tinubu’s home

    Soldiers on Tuesday night returned to the frontage of All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s Ikoyi, Lagos home.

     They had on Monday night relaxed the three-day all-night siege near the residence before returning on Tuesday night.

    A security man attached to the house said a detachment of soldiers “arrived at about 11pm in a lorry stationed at the next house to Tinubu’s”.

    “They wore helmets and uniforms and had guns. They were about a dozen soldiers. They hung there till about 3am yesterday but we have not seen them today,” he said.

    Nigerians from all walks of life have been criticising the siege which the military however denied, saying the soldiers were on “rountine patrol”.

    General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 81 Division Major Gen. Tanmi Dibi, said his men were on patrol which he described as routine.

    Yesterday, the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation described the deployment of troops around some leaders of the party as a deliberate act of intimidation and provocation by the Jonathan government.

    It warned that nothing untoward should happen to its leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State – whose Government House in Owerri, also on Tuesday was under siege by soldiers, who brought an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to its gate.  President Goodluck Jonathan would be held liable for their safety, it said.

    The statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign, Mallam Garba Shehu, said deployment of armed soldiers around the residences of Tinubu and Okorocha for yet-to-be disclosed reasons by the PDP administration was unacceptable and a breach of their fundamental human rights.

    The organisation said it viewed seriously this deployment of troops, adding that “this Rambo-style intimidation of opposition figures is not acceptable, and this crude show of power should not take place under any democratically elected government”.

    Shehu said as the Commander-in-Chief, President Jonathan would be held personally liable because he has the overall responsibility for the deployment of troops across the country.

    Saying that the action was an embarrassment, the organisation condemned what it called abuse of power by the President in order to intimidate opposition members. It reminded President Jonathan that the will of the people is superior to a standing army.

     It advised APC supporters throughout the country to remain calm and behave responsibly, saying “if the country could survive military dictators to restore the roots of democracy, they should not be intimidated by tin gods in democratic clothing”.

  • Tinubu, others for Bola Ige memorial

    Tinubu, others for Bola Ige memorial

    The Bola Ige Centre for Justice will today begin activities to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige.

    The two-day event will start with a film show, Ofin-Ga, by Prof. Akinwunmi Isola at the Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan, by 6pm.

    There will be a memorial symposium tomorrow at the SUB Events Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, by 11am with the themes:  “Thirteenth year after: Ige’s killers still at large?” and “Electoral Offences and Administration of Justice in Nigeria.”

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is the lead speaker; Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu will chair the event.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the chief guest of honour; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi is the chief host.

    Renowned essayist Prof Adebayo Williams is the special guest of honour; Araba Yemi Elebuibon will be the father of the day.

    The event will be co-hosted by Architect Muyiwa Ige and Awa Bamiji.

  • ‘Count us out of threat against Tinubu’

    Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition (NDCSC) yesterday said its members had nothing to do with a statement credited to an activist, Mr. Tony Uranta, banning former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from coming to the Niger Delta.

    Addressing reporters in Benin, the Edo State capital, the Chairman of the Niger/Delta Civil Society, Comrade Anyakwee Nsirimovu,  said: “ Without prejudice, but for the avoidance of any doubt NDCSC wishes to remind UNDEDSS that, to the best of its knowledge, no such collective policy, resolution nor directive exist in the Niger Delta; and that Niger Delta is a peaceful and law-abiding part and parcel of Nigeria, where the Constitution allows unfettered right to citizens to freedom of movement, expression without let or hindrance; and frowns seriously at official or individual censorship and unjustified punishment with recourse to due process for expression.

    “NDCSC is most categorical stating in very clear terms that freedom of movement and expression is not the property of any political system, ethnic, person or ideology. It is a universal human right, defined and guaranteed in international human rights law. NDCSC is committed to the task of ensuring that its international definition and full guarantees are recognised and respected by all entities in Nigeria.”

  • ‘Nobody can stop Tinubu from Niger Delta’

    ‘Nobody can stop Tinubu from Niger Delta’

    A civil society coalition, the Niger Delta Alliance Against Impunity, has berated the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) for its criticism of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    A statement in Oghara, Delta State by the group’s convener, Bernard

    Oyabevwe, said nobody could stop Tinubu from coming to the Niger Delta.

    He said: “We strongly condemn the statement released by the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) threatening Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because of what we consider as a statement of fact he made on the oil theft problem in Nigeria.

    “We expected the UNDEDSS to allow the political gladiators address key issues troubling the country, which unfortunately include oil theft. President Goodluck Jonathan has explanations to give to Nigerians as the incumbent president who supervises the petroleum industry.

    “We view the threat on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an early violation of that peace accord and an attempt at dressing in Borrowed Robes as no individual, or group of persons can restrict the fundamental right of Freedom of Movement of any other person within Nigeria. We find such statements to be politically-incorrect, extremely audacious, and completely absurd.

    “We want the UNDEDSS to know that it is not the sole owner of the Niger Delta, neither is it the mouthpiece of the region and cannot speak on behalf of the people of Niger Delta on issues of general political implication of national magnitude.”

  • ‘Tinubu’s a blessing to APC, Nigerians’

    ‘Tinubu’s a blessing to APC, Nigerians’

    Tayo Ayinde is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of the aspirants that took part in the governorship primary of the party in Lagos. In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he talks about the primary, chances of the APC and the implication of insecurity on the forthcoming general elections. 

    How true is the allegation that some aggrieved Lagos governorship aspirants stormed out of the primary venue angrily?

    Let me say this loud and clear, the APC governorship primary in Lagos was conducted among individual aspirants and not as a group. We arrived at the venue of the election separately and left the same way. We never had a joint nomination form. We contested and campaigned individually. Those peddling the rumour that we stormed out angrily as a group are only being mischievous. We met ourselves at the venue and did not leave the venue together. In every election, there is always a winner and losers.

    With the emergence of Jimi Agbaje, can you evaluate the chances of the APC and the PDP in the election?

    The PDP has always contested and lost elections in Lagos. The coming election will not be an exception. The giant strides and laudable achievements of the APC-led government in Lagos is our unique selling point. Today, Lagos State is a reference point to other states. Lagosians are happy with our party and they have always voted for the APC because they know that the party belongs to them. They will do it again in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Some observers are apprehensive about the influence of Tinubu in the Lagos Chapter of the APC. What’s your view on this?

    First of all, the influence of our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a positive one. The APC is a national party and no one individual can claim to have undue influence on the party. From the way it conducted its primaries recently, the APC has demonstrated that it is the more democratic than parties, particularly the PDP. Otherwise, the party would not have deemed it necessary to conduct primaries for different elective positions. Asiwaju Tinubu would have just come up with a list of party candidates to be presented to INEC. All aspirants were given a level-playing ground to test their popularity and acceptability among our members. Things have always worked out for us because our party’s democratic tendencies. We have party structures and each is saddled with different responsibilities. We are very organized. That is why we were able to grow from a one party state, to zonal, regional and now a national party. The APC has become the most preferred alternative and that is the reason why God-fearing and progressives-minded individuals and groups have come together to work for a common goal of providing a better platform for Nigerians to effect their desired change at the national level. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a blessing, not only for our party, but to Nigerians in general.

    Considering the problems facing the country, what are President Jonathan’s chances of returning?

    It is unfortunate that Nigeria is beset with a mountain of problems at this point in time. He has not succeeded in tackling any of the problems successfully. It is painful that many African countries are overtaking Nigeria socially and economically. President Jonathan has not come out to tell us how he intends to give us relief in this austerity period. As a result of insecurity, lack of regular electricity, unemployment, bad roads and other social vices, some Nigerians now prefer a country like Ghana to this great country. Some Nigerians spend their Christmas and New Year holidays in South Africa and Ghana. It is a shame. It has never been this bad. I am happy for one thing. Nigerians are wiser now. We have had enough of this retrogressive government of the PDP. An average Nigerian cannot eat one meal a day. To pay school fees of children is a problem. There is serious poverty in our land. God has answered our prayers in this country with the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as APC candidates for the February 14 election. With these God fearing men, Nigeria will be totally out of the poverty that President Jonathan has inflicted on us over the last six years. I watched the flagging off of PDP campaign in Lagos on TV. I was expecting that President Jonathan would reveal what he intends to do in the next dispensation. But, I was not disappointed; he did not mention a single thing. He was only condemning past Presidents and Heads of State, forgetting that he would leave Aso Rock one day too.

    What is your perception of the situation in the Northeast?

    January 14 was exactly nine months since about 230 school girls were abducted in the village of Chibok, in Borno State. As we speak, the President has not visited the families of the abducted girls. It is also very sad that he has no clue of the whereabouts of the girls. Thousands of lives have been lost, while properties worth billions of naira have been destroyed due to the insurgency in that part of the country. The President has not found any solution to the problem. The country has become a laughing stock within the international community.

  • Tinubu, Aregbesola, others rally support for Ajimobi

    Tinubu, Aregbesola, others rally support for Ajimobi

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday led chieftains of the party to the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan to rally support for Governor Abiola Ajimobi and other candidates of the party in next month’s election.

    Tinubu highlighted the reason Nigerians must vote for the APC next month, listing stealing of 400,000 barrels of oil daily unabated and poor performance as among the major reasons.

    The former Lagos State Governor accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading poverty through its poor performance and corrupt practices, saying the only solution is for Nigerians to reject all its candidates in the coming and election and vote for the APC’s instead.

    He urged Oyo State voters to allow their conscience to guide them in determining the best candidate that deserve their votes.

    According to him, the great feat of the Ajimobi, the APC governorship candidate, are unparalleled in the state.

    He listed the rebuilding of Agodi Gardens, dualisation of roads, massive infrastructural development and welfare packages for the people as among the reasons Ajimobi deserves their votes.

    “They steal 400,000 barrels of oil every day. Yet, President Goodluck Jonathan said he could not see this and he claims he is still in charge.

    “He is no longer fit to rule this country. Let us send them packing on February 14 by voting for the APC at the national level and for Ajimobi on February 28,” he said.

    He added: “Governor Ajimobi has demonstrated that he has vision, capacity and capability to make people the cornerstone of his administration. This is what Ajimobi represents in Oyo State and he has been consistent with it.

    “Today, when you drive through Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, you see beautiful scenery, clean environment, good road network, new flyover, Asejire waterworks, Agodi Gardens, new markets, you will be proud of having somebody like him in the saddle. Indeed, Oyo is now a huge construction site.”

    Tinubu said it was regrettable that in spite of all entreaties to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja to team up with Ajimobi to develop Oyo State, he (Ladoja) insisted on floating a party that lacks regional or national spread.

    Describing the Accord Party governorship candidate as an ingrate, he said that he had nothing to offer the people of the state, having demonstrated gross incompetence during his tenure as governor.

    In his own speech, Aregbesola also accused the PDP of funding President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) through proceeds from fraudulent handling of sale of kerosene.

    According to him, the federal government deliberately sells a litre of kerosene to cronies at N40:90 while the cronies sell to marketers at N95 per litre. The huge difference, the governor said, is what PDP is using to fund campaigns and enrich cronies.

    He challenged the PDP to sue him to court over the facts.

    While addressing the people, Ajomobi rubbished criticism of his administration, saying he has outperformed his predecessors, two of who are also in the February 28, 2015 race.

    Ajimobi listed six major projects undertaken by his administration, which he said are unprecedented.

    He also pointed out that no fewer than eight big companies have opened shops in the state due to the investor-friendly nature of his administration’s policies.

    These include the largest cooking oil factory, largest bread factory, largest Shoprite store, 100,000 production capacity chicks producing factory and Nigeria’s largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) service providing firm.

    Besides, Ajimobi listed his achievements to include recruitment of 20,000 youths, construction of modern markets for traders with provision of interest-free trading capital, free buses for civil servants and students as well as improved welfare package for workers and restorers.

    The governor listed sustenance of a peaceful environment and massive infrastructural development as chief among his achievements.

    He challenged his predecessors to show their own score cards.

    Also at the rally were other leaders of the party including Chief Bisi Akande, Eng. Segun Oni, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who also addressed the mammoth crowd.

    The entire Mapo hill beamed at the seams with crowd of supporters and enthusiastic residents who came to witness the campaign.