Kunle ADELABU
-Party’s candidates ask voters to collect PVCs, vote for them
Mr Abiodun Moshood Aro, the PDP candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat (2nd Right) during the sensitization and mobilization walk from Ikorodu to Igbogbo on Saturday
As the 2019 general elections draw near, the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has intensified her campaign and mobilisation of the electorate towards voting for her candidates in all the elective positions in Ikorodu division.
At a rally organized by the party’s youths in Igbogbo on Saturday, January 26, 2019, the party sensitized members of the public on the need to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and also called on the voters to vote for candidates of PDP.
The rally kicked off around 9a.m with a walk, which was led by the party’s candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat, Moshood Aro, from Sheriff junction in Ikorodu.
The rally train moved through Ikorodu/Oba Omolaja road and several streets in Igbogbo before berthing at the open ground opposite the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo where the main rally was held.
Residents across the six councils in Ikorodu division will, on Saturday, February 16, join others across the country to vote in the Presidential and National Assembly elections where PDP is fielding Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as Presidential candidate, Princess Abiodun Oyefusi as Lagos East Senatorial seat candidate and Mrs Omotolani Popoola as candidate for the House of Representatives.
In the Governorship and Assembly elections slated for Saturday, March 3, 2019, the party is fielding Mr Jimi Agbaje as Lagos State Governorship flagbearer, Mr Mukaila Ajagun-Lamina as candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly seat and Mr Moshood Oyenuga Aro as candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat.
Engr. Amid Adekunle Oduborisha, an Environmentalist and leader of the party, while address party members and residents at the rally, enjoined them to reflect on the present situation in the country.
“I want us to reflect on where we are here today.
“APC government wrongly demolished historic houses in Igbogbo and Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, leaving people with nothing. What kind of government is that?.
“PDP government will compensate those people whose houses were destroyed without no reason.
“Our assembly candidates, if voted in, will declare state of emergence on Ikorodu roads because we have offered young and dynamic people to represent you”.
He stated that candidates of the party are real and capable Lagosians that must be given chance by the people.
“Our governorship candidate, Jimi Agabje, is a full blown Lagosian and not a foreigner. We do not need to be offered those that are not our people to govern us.
“We know where we were before now. Ikorodu had led and produced people that were first in many fields. We have capable hands if APC are lacking in this respect.
“We are presenting Mukaila Lamina, Moshood Aro , Omotolani Popoola and Abiodun Oyefusi, Jimi Agbaje and Atiku Abubakar as our candidates to you”.
While appealing to the electorate in Igbogbo, Engr Oduborisa stated that the ancient town is very strategic hence, the need to canvass for the votes of its residents.
“Igbogbo is very important and strategic town and that is why we are soliciting for the people’s supports.
“We are not here to celebrate but to canvass for the votes of Igbogbo people for our candidates vying for different political positions in the coming elections. We are here to canvass for their support too and tell them our programmes”.
Commending the youths of the party for organising the rally, Engr Oduborisha stated :
“This is a memorable occasion to canvass for support and showcase our candidates to the masses. I commend the youths of our party for organize it.
Chairman of PDP in Ikorodu, Alhaji Taiwo Adekogbe, while also commending the youths for the initiative, enjoined them to get involved more in mobilizing voters.
“I want to appreciate the organisers for putting together a crisis-free rally but you need to do more in canvassing the electorate to vote for our party and its candidates. I know that you have been doing it but I am only imploring you to do more”.
He urged members of the party and electorate that are yet to collect their PVCs to do so before the suspension of the collection exercise.
“We need our people to go and collect their PVCs. That is the only instrument to change the APC government. We must use all the negative happenings in this government to campaign against them.
“There are so much killings under Buhari’s administration and there is need to canvass people to vote against them.
“All what APC knows is fraud and they just did that with the removal of the Chief Judge of Nigeria”.
The party Chair challenged the party’s agents to be vigilant during the elections.
“Our agents must be committed and steadfast. They must be ready and vigilant in monitoring our votes”, he charged.
The Coordinator, Atiku Abukakar Campaign in Ikorodu, Alhaji Yisa Gbadamosi, assured party members and supporters that the coming elections cannot be rigged.
“APC does not understand governance and we are ready to take over and give that to Nigerians. They are gradually coming to term with the reality of defeat.
“The coming elections cannot be rigged or stolen. We want our people to protect their votes.
He also stated that the ruling party has not done anything in the state.
“APC has done nothing in 20 years in Lagos State and we in Ikorodu have not benefited anything from their governments.
Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly candidate of the party, Mr Mukaila Lamina, stated that APC has done nothing in 20 years of its rule in Lagos and called on the electorate to vote the party out.
“We are appealing to Igbogbo residents to troop out en mass and vote for PDP candidates in the next elections.
“APC only requested for 20 years to rule Lagos and their time is up. In the 20 years, they did nothing, so, it’s now the turn of PDP.
“You can see that we are more committed with our campaign than before and we shall prevail and give Ikorodu people good governance”.
He also enjoined the electorate to get their PVCs.
“People should get their PVCs to be able to vote for all the PDP candidates. We have our plans to give the people dividends of democracy”.
PDP candidate for the Federal House of Representatives seat, Mrs Omotolani Popoola, speaking at the rally, also charged people to vote and protect their votes for PDP.
“With your supports, we are sure of victory but we also want you to monitor and protect your votes”.
She stated that the Presidential and the National Assembly elections are crucial to winning of the elections.
“We need to put more efforts and ensure that we win the presidential and national assembly elections. These elections usually determine the way other elections will go.
“You should give your supports to all the candidates of PDP for us to achieve our goals.
“If elected, I will give you good representation and compensate you for your supports”, she stated”.
Mr Abiodun Moshood Aro, the PDP candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat, in his own address, charged the youths to be prepared to take up the leadership mantle.
“I appreciate our youths for making this programme a reality. If you can only believe in yourself, you can achieve anything” , he said while challenging the youths.
“I always say that if God can take me out of where I used to do bricklaying job and carrying planks, there is nobody God cannot change his life. You only need to be focused and disciplined.
“If we as youths are seriously ready to take charge of leadership, we must show responsibility, we must support ourselves”.
He also charged them to continue to canvass for votes for PDP candidates who according to him, are all youths.
“We need to go out en masse and canvass others for votes if we truly desire positive changes in the society.
“Youths must also be fully involved in politics and PDP is appreciating the youths more than before and we must take advantage of it. The party has given us youths in virtually every positions. We have no excuse if we don’t support ourselves”.
He enjoined youths to change their attitudes to life and be conscious of how they behave.
“We need our youths to change their attitudes to life and politics. These elections are not about money but about making big statement to change our course”.
Speaking on his agenda, Aro stated that his foundation has effective programmes to change the lives of the youths meaningfully.
“Most of Smile Foundation’s programmes are for the youths and we shall be unveiling them after election but our youths must be ready for change. They must be prepared to embrace discipline and new course of action if they are to achieve in life.
Other party chieftains at the rally were Mr Lookman Ayilara, PDP Secretary, Madam Adegoke, deputy State Woman Leader and Yeye Karimotu Ojikutu, PDP Ikorodu Woman Leader, among others.
Harmony, Radio Quam, Dare Melody, Dragon and Ayekoto, an Ewi exponent, were on ground to entertain the hundreds of party people at the rally.
The artistes were also joined on stage by the PDP candidate for Ikorodu Constituency II Assembly seat, Hon.Aro, who is also a musician.
On mounting the stage, the musician turned politician threw the gathering into a state of frenzy as he joined other artistes to entertain the exciting crowd of party supporters and residents.
