Wale Jagun & Odede Efezino Kenneth (Trainee)
Former aspirants for the Assembly seats across various Constituencies in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have taken its campaign and canvassing for election for all the party’s candidate, to the markets.
The campaign tagged, ‘market storming’, took place on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at one of the biggest markets in Lagos State, the Ayangbure International Market, Ikorodu, popularly called, Sabo Market, during which they encouraged traders and residents to vote for APC candidates in the coming general elections.
During the ‘market storming’, the APC aspirants also shared branded gift items to people at the market.
Comrade Samson Bisiriyu, who aspired to represent the Ikorodu Constituency I, in the Lagos State House of Assembly and Coordinator of other aspirants in Ikorodu Division, speaking with THE IMPACT during the exercise, said that they were encouraged to campaign across markets in the state because of the level of acceptance of APC among the populace.
“The significance of coming to Ikorodu is to show Nigerians and Lagos in particular that Ikorodu Division belongs to APC and that is why we are here in the biggest market in Ikorodu, the Sabo market, to show our solidarity and evidence that our party is still very popular, despite the fuel scarcity and the currency challenges. The people of Ikorodu stand for APC and that is why we are here today in the market”, he said.
“People are supposed to be stoning us or abusing us but instead, they welcomed us with open hands. I assure you that APC will win this election and by God grace, Asiwaju will be president and also, all our candidates will also win in their respective positions and generally, we are saying Ikorodu constituencies 1 and 2 are for APC.
“We not just here to canvass, we are here with gifts items for the people”, he added.
Another former aspirant, Mr Babawale Alogba, said that:
” My colleagues across Lagos and l are here today because of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babajide Sanwo – Olu and all other candidates in Lagos State. Our main purpose of being here is to campaign for all APC candidates across the nation and that is why we are here today”, he said.
“We are doing this in all markets in Lagos State and we also do house – to – house campaigns for all our candidates in the state. The acceptance of APC cannot be compared to any other party within the state.
“In Ikorodu, we plan to have over 300 votes for APC across our division. The acceptance of APC here is overwhelming. If we are not acceptable across board, you won’t see them singing and happy and they also prayed for us. Of course, they wish that the country is better for all of us”, he added.
Iya Oloja General, Ikorodu Division, Alhaja Taofikat Allison, welcoming the aspirants and their team members to her office at the Sabo market, said that Asiwjau Tinubu is the right person to lead the country as the President.
“First, we are happy with your visit. I am happy that you are here and I know God is happy as well because we know a tree cannot make a forest”, she said.
“The party (APC) is firmly on ground, and don’t let us lie to ourselves, the right person to vote for is Asiwaju. He has done a lot, even though, we don’t ask anything from him, but we have to agree that this thing is for us. Are we going to say that we are not aware of the roads that the party has been constructing?
“The market women are not asking for money, but we want them to perform so that we can all enjoy. When they came to us, we told them that the market women are the best voters and all we want is for you to perform and don’t turn us into use and dumb. Make sure you remember us and the market women will vote for you by the grace of God. Even though, there is scarcity of money, we will still vote”, she declared.
“Even if they want to change the money, is it this time that they are supposed to change it? But we are aware that they are using this to fight us. We also need to stand strong and if everything doesn’t go well, the army will take over and that is why we have to stand together so that the army will not take over and we have to be patient and also resist fight”, she said.
“They (APC candidates) will all emerge peacefully and when they win, they should not forget us and also, you have to move close to them for them not to forget you people too”, she advised former aspirants.
“May God be with you. We have spoken with our people and we are in the same line”, Iya Oloja assured the APC team.
