Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, ex-Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, and a former Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Hosea Agboola, took the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s hometown of Ogbomoso on Monday.
Alao-Akala was elected governor under the PDP platform between 2007 and 2011. He fell apart with the party over irreconcilable differences. He is contesting the 2019 election on the platform of the Action Democratic Party.
Amid large turnout of the people of Ogbomoso, Fayose said the state would witness a new dawn as from May 29 this year if Makinde was elected as the next governor.
The ceremony, which was the official commencement of the PDP campaign and presentation of party’s flags to Makinde and others, ahead of the general election, also had in attendance the party chairman in the state, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; deputy governorship candidate, Rauf Olaniyan, Makinde’s wife,Omini, three senatorial candidates of the party; Mulikat Akande-Adeola, Chief Bisi Ilaka and Dr Kola Balogun and wife of the late Ibadan politician, Alhaja Bose Adedibu.
While presenting the party’s flag to Makinde, Fayose said, “It’s a new dawn in Oyo State in 2019. Makinde is our man, a brother who has relied only on God to fulfil his dream of governing Oyo State.
“In governance, red pen signifies authority. I used it for eight years in Ekiti State. Today, I present this red pen to Seyi Makinde and I present this flag on behalf of our party, PDP and the leaders.”
The former governor also declared that the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would be declared as President, Federal Republic of Nigeria come February 16, 2019.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will be declared as president of Nigeria, nurse no fear; just go all out to cast your votes. Do not allow an enemy’s money force you into another four years of slavery. Buhari must go back to Daura.”
At the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi, Fayose described the election of President Buhari as a good omen for the country, saying if he had not won the 2015 presidential election, many of his supporters would have turned his grave to a worship centre when he eventually dies as another “best president” Nigeria never had.
Makinde reiterated what he said at the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso that he would govern with the fear of God if elected as the governor of the state and promised to ensure equal distribution of wealth and infrastructure to all zones of the state.