Awesu Shows Strength, Pulls Crowd On Independence Day Rally In Ikorodu

Kunle Adelabu

A contender for the Federal House of Representatives seat in lkorodu, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Abdul-Azeez Adekunle Awesu, has further proven his seriousness to challenge Hon. Babajimi Benson, the incumbent and the candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections.

The young politician, who is challenging the decision of the Federal High Court on his mandate was undeterred as he joined the massive assemblage of PDP youths and residents of Ikorodu in an independence march on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

The march, tagged, ‘Rescue March for Ikorodu’, and organized by the PDP Youths in Ikorodu Division under the aegis of Awesu Project 2023, took off at the Ogunsanya Compound along Obafemi Awolowo Way to Ota Ona and moved through Ireshe Road to Ojogbe, Ebute, Ogolonto, Agric, Ikorodu Garage and terminated at the Ikorodu PDP Secretariat at Olubi street.

About 5000 youths who cut across all wards in Ikorodu as well as residents attended the peaceful rally which, according to the Convener, was aimed to pledge support for Awesu’s aspiration.

Comr. Adewale Otikko, Co-convener For Awesu Project 2023, said that PDP Youths in Ikorodu, through the rally, has demonstrated their readiness to take over the representation at the Federal Constituency level from the APC .

“The youths in Ikorodu division of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the aegis of Awesu Project 2023, have demonstrated their readiness to take over power from the All progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State”, he said.

“The crowd of youths, who trooped out in thousands during the Independence Day mega rally which was tagged, “Rescue March for Ikorodu”, was truly electrifying as both young and old people from all walks of life participated”.

He said that the massive rally was also used by the participants to declare their support for Awesu as preferred candidate for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency seat for the 2023 General Elections.

“The convener and organisers of the group declared their support for Hon. Abdul-Azeez Adekunle Awesu as the PDP candidate for Ikorodu Federal House of Representatives and pledged to deliver Ikorodu for PDP in the forthcoming general elections in 2023”, he said.

“The crowd was welcomed by the ever busy market women, partisans and transporters at the Ikorodu garage area.

“It’s indeed a new era in Ikorodu as the energetic youths demonstrated their readiness and capacity to rescue power from the oppressive APC administration come 2023”, he said.

Comrade Idowu Adewale, one of the participants, said that he was happy that youths in the PDP are rallying round the youthful candidate.

“I’m elated to see this mammoth crowd rallying support for a youthful Candidate and PDP. It is indeed time that our eyes are opened”, he said.

Another participants, Prince Adigun Adekule, also said:

“We want a youthful minded person who wouldn’t put us in the dark and AWESU has proven that he can liberate us”.

In an interview with an excited Awesu, he said that the massive turnout at the rally show that his party people and the generality of Ikorodu residents appreciate the efforts he has been making in bringing good representation to them.

“I feel very great and excited about the turnout at the rally. It really shows that all the work that I have been trying to put into place to tell people that I am here to give them quality representation and good governance are being appreciated”, Awesu said.

“It was like an examination results where you thst told that you have done very well.

“I wasn’t even expecting the large turnout. It was beyond my expectations that people can come out in large number to support us.

“I decided to go ahead with my campaign because we have to keep up our people’s spirit and it turned out very well.

“Consideing the distance, I thought that people would not be able to complate the rally and that we may record casualties, but I was surprised at the energy and the spirit displayed by our people in embarking and finishing the rally without any issue at all”.

The PDP House of Representatives contender who said that the court judgment that denied him his mandate would not stand and added that the march was a great morale booster for his supporters.

“They actually thought that the judgment will demoralised me and my people, but it did not. There is no way they would build something on nothing.

“The massive crowd that came out for me was because the whole party know who has been there for them and who is really on ground.

“I hope that Mr Shittu would waste no more time in joining me in winning the election for our party”.

The PDP chieftain, who said that he can represent the people of Ikorodu better, added that the rally was also aimed at sensitising the general public that it’s time that PDP be given the opportunity to also represent them.

“The rally is not all about me, but also to tell the general public that PDP is fully on ground and ready to takeover from the APC and offer a better governance than what they are getting”, he said.

“APC has had its own fair share since they have been in power. As you can see during the rally, there was outpouring of acceptance because people are aggrieved at the present state of our polity. In actual fact, many residents that are not PDP members joined us during the rally.

“I can do it better than the APC candidate and people have to know this and give me a chance to give them quality representation”, he added.