By Michael Babatunde.
As the race to the 2023 presidential race gathers momentum across the country, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has coalesced force with Iyaloja General Network Initiative(IGNI) for Tinubu/Shettima presidency to galvanise support for the presidential aspiration of the Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Afuye, at the IGNI mobilisation rally convened in Lagos State, by the Iyaloja General of Lagos and Tinubu’s daughter, Chief Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, enthused that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate will trounce other opponents in the Southwest region.
IGNI political network, was an initiative of Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, to rally support for APC ahead of the February 25 presidential poll.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media,Victor Ogunje, at the Southwest Mega rally held at the popular Mobalaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Mrs Afuye, said Tinubu winning the Southwest was not on account of ethnic affinity, but based on his superlative track records as a builder of talents and apostle of good governance.
Aside from the Ekiti Deputy Governor, present at the well attended rally were; the first lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Rt Hon Badmus Olujobi, representing the incoming nation’s First lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, among other distinguished politicians across the zone.
Mrs Afuye, said the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, is embarking on aggressive mobilisation for Tinubu across every stratum of Ekiti, saying the over 75 percent vote target for the APC flagbearer is a done deal in the Fountain of Knowledge.
She stated that Governor Oyebanji, had convinced Ekiti voters that the state owes Tinubu a debt of gratitude, appraising his contributions to the growth of politics and governance in Ekiti that will be reciprocated via massive voting on February 25.
The Ekiti Deputy Governor, boasted that such enigmatic political feat will also be replicated in Ondo, Osun,Ogun,Lagos and Oyo States on the premise that Tinubu had paid his dues and mustered enough acceptability for him to win in the Southwest and across Nigeria.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the electorate not to be deluded by the barrage of calumnious and invidious campaigns being contrived against Tinubu by opponents, to demarket and rob him of victory.
The Ekiti State’s Number Two Citizen , urged the Nigerian voters to view Tinubu from the spectrum of his competence, large-heartedness, patience, penchant for good governance and running of populist government, rather than pandering to side talks and insults of the opposition.
She said: “My people from the southwest, don’t let us listen to the noise of the opposition, let us assess Asiwaju Tinubu based on what he did as a Senator and Lagos State governor. His records remain unmatched in history.
“A former opposition governor , who is also one of the leaders of the main opposition party once described Asiwaju as the most successful Governor in history. He made the comment based on records of public service the APC candidate parade.
“Today, Lagos State, through Tinubu’s instrumentality, is the richest in Nigeria. When it comes to Infrastructures and knack for good governance,Lagos is not also lagging behind. Asiwaju was the architect that laid the solid foundation for all these to happen.
“We are very confident that he will deliver if elected. Added to his impressive performance as a leader, is his detribalistic posture. He is receptive and homely to all ethnic, tribal and religious groups.
“As a Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju ran a mini Nigeria, with cabinet comprising people with deep knowledge of governance assembled from all ethnic groups. This is the kind of leader we need.
“A leader that will unite us, mend our cleavages and drive development that will benefit us regardless of political, religious and ethnic attachments and this is what Asiwaju aptly represents”.
