Kunle Adelabu & Odede Efezino Kenneth
-Presents party’s flag to Constituency I Assembly Candidate
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Division, defied daunting challenges confronting the country as they trooped out in their thousands to mobilise and campaign for their candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
At the massive rally, chieftains of the party charged members and residents on the need to vote massively for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the party; Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, Governorship candidate; Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senatorial candidate and Rep. Babajimi Benson for the House of Representatives.
Other candidates of the party are Mr Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo, Ikorodu Constituency I Assembly candidate who was presented with flag of the party at the rally held at the Ikorodu Local Government Open Ground at Ita – Elewa, Ikorodu and his Constituency II counterpart, Mr Aro Moshood Abiodun.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and former Secretary to the State Government, presenting the party flag to Gbolahan Ogunleye, said that the party has confirmed Gbolahan as the next to represent the Ikorodu Constituency I, and wished him and the party well in the coming election.
“We thank God, after the journey so far, we have got to a stage where our son is going to represent us in Ikorodu Constituency 1. Prince Gbolahan Adetokunbo Ogunleye is now confirmed and he is going to contest and occupy the seat of constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly”, Basorun said.
“God bless the journey so far and God bless the remaining part of the journey. By the grace of God, you will succeed.
“I present this flag on behalf of APC Lagos State, to you to be the flag bearer of the party”, the elder statesman said.
The Lagos East Senatorial District candidate, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, charged Ikorodu people and the entire residents of the state to improve on the votes from the division.
“This is time for us to celebrate Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) with the votes we have in Lagos because we don’t want him to get there with the Northerners’ votes alone”, Abiru said.
“All the votes we have been casting from the past is not enough at all. Let us tell ourselves the truth.
“In 2015, we had 5.8 million voters in Lagos State, and the vote we gave to Buhari was 790, 000. Where are the 5 million votes? In 2019, we had 6.5 million voters and our vote cast was just 580, 000.
“Now, let’s come back to Ikorodu, our average votes were 330, 000 and our vote for governor the last time was not more than 40, 000. That is why we need to know where we are going”, he said while calling for a change of attitudes concerning how residents vote in Ikorodu.
The two – term representative of the lkorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson who is seeking a third – term, while stating that he, the governor and Sen. Abiru have delivered on their mandates, also canvassed that Ikorodu should improve on its votes and record the highest votes in the state.
“Senator Abiru is doing good, you can see the hospital at lsiwu. Sanwo – Olu is also doing good with Rice mill, fourth mainland bridge, Oba Sekumade road and so on. Jimi Benson is also doing good and the reason I know that Jimi Benson is doing good is that you are the one giving me names”, the humorous and performing federal lawmaker said jokingly.
While canvassing for votes for the APC Presidential candidate, Rep. Benson called on the residents to troop out and mobilise others to vote massively for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
“We are going to win the number one position because it is possible. Our candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only one who has more than ten Northern States that are going to vote for him. There’s no other candidate….
“Let me tell you the region that is supporting us the most, North West and North East. Our ten Governors from the north are the ones that allowed us to win our primary election then”, he added.
“Now, let’s come back to Ikorodu. The northern governors usually make jokes about us, saying that their local governments will get more votes than Ikorodu and the president is coming from our side. So, we need to come out and vote”.
He charged members to mobilise votes for APC from their polling units to wards.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Chairman, Nigerian Majority Leaders Forum and Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, also charged the electorate to vote for all the APC candidates.
“I want to tell you today that APC is United. The primaries have gone, and the party has decided on the candidates and if you are still a member of the party, you must vote for all the candidates of APC”, the ranking lawmaker said.
Other party leaders at the rally were Pa Bushura Alebiosu, GAC chieftain, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor and GAC chieftain, Sen. (Otunba) Dr. Kingsley Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Minister for Works and GAC chieftain, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Prince Amidu Adekunle Oduborisha, President, Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Chairman APC LOC Ikorodu Division and Hon. Saka Nurudeen Solaja, member, Lagos State House of Assembly.
Also at the rally were all the Council Chairmen in Ikorodu Division, members of Senator Abiru’s Doing Good team, iCare Foundation, Onward Movement of Nigeria, OGA team, AMA team, ndigbos and Arewa groups among others.
