July 14: Osinbajo Urges Ekiti To Reject PDP

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians, particularly the people of Ekiti State, to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and embrace the All Progressives Congress (APC) in future elections.

He stated this at a mega rally and presentation of APC flag to Kayode Fayemi, the party’s governorship standard-bearer.

Professor Osinbajo, who was in Ekiti in company of about 10 governors from APC-controlled states, admonished the Ekiti electorate to vote massively for Fayemi in the July 14 governorship election.

In a related development, John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman of APC, has received Adeniran Alagbada, Deputy Leader of Ekiti House of Assembly, and Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister of Works, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC.

Alagbada, representing Ise/Orun constituency, renounced his membership of PDP in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, citing some lapses he noticed in the party.

Osinbajo described Fayemi as a man sent by God to deliver Ekiti from poverty, saying the July 14 election would afford the electorate the opportunity to change their destinies for good.

“God has brought a blessed man, who is Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He will do Ekiti a lot of good if elected governor. He will bring development to your doorsteps.

“On July 14, don’t look back or sideways; just look forward to a good future ahead of you by voting for Fayemi. APC is a party of progress. Let us vote for APC in this election.

“APC will help Ekiti to develop, because the PDP has outlived its usefulness,” Osinbajo said.

According to Odigie-Oyegun, the July 14 is a done deal for the party.

“Immediately I entered Ekiti, I could feel, smell that resounding victory we will record on July 14.

“You have tested two wives, and you have known who is better. Fayemi is the best man for the job. He will do Ekiti proud and restore honour and dignity to your state,” he said.

The vice president also received the PDP defectors led by Adeyeye, Alagbada and Bosun Osaloni.

Odigie-Oyegun and Bola Tinubu (national leader of the party) and Bisi Akande told the electorate to vote right on July 14, saying a vote for the PDP means continuation of poverty.

Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole Edo State were at the rally.

Governors at the rally include: Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara), Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information; Mansur Dan Ali, his defence counterpart, Defence; and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora were also present.

Welcoming the defectors, the party chairman assured that nobody would be discriminated against in the party.

“I welcome all of you to our party. You are welcome proudly to a progressive party that is steering the ship of our nation to the right shore.”

Tinubu said Ekiti should not be excluded from the broom revolution that is sweeping across the nation.

The former Lagos State governor said “change is necessary in Ekiti on July 14” and that the electorate must get their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to effect such change.

“If you really want progress, what is the essence of you staying here from morning without having a PVC. Ekiti won’t go back to sadness and poverty.

“The PVC represents your red card on the day of election. I want you to give PDP a red card on the day of election. Fayemi was a minister; he now understands the game. I want you to vote him 100 per cent on July 14,” Tinubu pleaded.

Oshiomhole described the PDP as a party that was dictatorial while in the saddle of overnance in the country.

“We thank God that we have swept them away. I was on my way here from Edo in 2014 when Fayemi was seeking re-election when the PDP stopped me at Benin Airport, even as a sitting governor. PDP was known for abuse of power and their days were gone.

“Ekiti is the most educated state in Nigeria and I knew you voted for Fayemi in 2014, because Ekiti has highest pupil enrollment in schools then and I know that a state that is highly educated like Ekiti could not have voted for a roadside banana eater.”