The running mate of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, visited the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Michael Sonariwo and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
Osinbajo, who was received by Chief (Mrs) Awolowo and her eldest daughter, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, said he was in Ikenne, his homestead, to receive blessings from the nonagenarian for a successful outcome at this year’s polls.
The vice-presidential candidate was accompanied by his wife, Dolapo; his younger brother who is the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Mr. Akin Osinbajo; the Iyaloja General of Remoland, Chief (Mrs) Mercy Owolana and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, among others.
In her remarks, Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo expressed her happiness over the choice of Osinbajo as the running mate of Buhari and sought for the support of the people of Ikenne in particular and Nigerians in general to make the dream come true.
“I am very grateful this morning to see that Yemi Osinbajo is going to higher ground and it is my prayer that he will get there. I urged you all to support his aspiration. God will take you there,” Chief (Mrs) Awolowo said.
Osinbajo had earlier visited homes of notable sons of the town which included Chief Adeleke Adesina,who is the coordinator of Ikenne People’s Forum and Chief Idowu Sofola.
At a town hall meeting held at the Ikenne Town Hall, Adesina enjoined sons and daughters of Ikenne to vote for Buhari/Osinbajo in the elections.
Adesina told the gathering that the Forum was established to drum support for their own, noting that Osinbajo was a bona fide indigene of the town.
“This is our project. The very day his name was announced as the running mate of Buhari was the day we formed the Ikenne People’s Forum so that we can chart a common front by supporting our son, Professor Osinbajo.
“The Forum is not partisan. It consists of people from different political parties. Our goal is to vote for our son in becoming the number two citizen of this great country. He is God’s appointee and we must all support him. We must support him with our votes and that is why we are starting the campaign from home,” he added.
Mamora, in his address, appealed to indigenes and residents of the town to explore the capacity for rational decision by voting for APC in the forthcoming elections.
Osinbajo, in his remarks, attributed the high level of insecurity, unemployment, failure in the power sector and other socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria to bad leadership, promising that his party would bring about the desired change in all ramifications.
He eulogised the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for his contributions to the development of the country, assuring that his party would not derail in carrying on with his polices and programmes.
“My choice as the vice presidential candidate of our party is a rare opportunity for Remoland, Ogun State and Nigeria. It is God’s divine assignment. Awolowo came out of Remoland to become the premier of the defunct Western Region and he did excellently well. It is my utmost belief and prayer that we will do more than him,” Osinbajo said.
This article by Olayinka Olukoya was originally published by Tribune Newspaper on January 3, 2015
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