‎Buhari in Ondo, Attends Akeredeolu's Guber Rally

*thanks defeated aspirants for sticking with APC

President Muhamadu Buhari was in Akure, Ondo State yesterday to rally the people of the state to come out enmass to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next Saturday's Ondo gubernatorial election.
He spoke at the Democracy Park in the state capital where  where he presented the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to the mammoth crowd of supporters at the grand finale rally of the party.

Buhari said he was happy with the way the September 3 gubernatorial primary election to pick the party's candidate was held, describing it as a transparent exercise.

"Thank you for coming even in the sun and standing for the some hours, it shows the level of commitment that you have for the party.

"I have confidence in the gubernatorial candidate of the party and I was happy with the transparent way the primary election was held", Buhari told the large crowd at the rally.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun also canvassed support for Akeredolu, urging the people of the state to vote for the party.

APC state governors led by its Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha were also at the grand finale rally where they addressed the people of the state and the need to ensure that the party record victory in the election,

Other governors who also spoke at the rally include Simon Lalong (Plateau); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole

Earlier at the palace of Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Adelusi (Odundun II), the traditional ruler informed Buhari of the challenges and problems in his domain.

Adelusi requested for appointment of Akure indigenes into top positions at the federal level, saying that since the time of Chief Olu Falae as former Secretary of Government of the Federation, no indigene of Akure had been appointed at the Federal level.

He also asked the President to wade into the crisis brewing in the only tertiary institution in Akure, saying that the staff had been on strike for about three weeks.

In his response, Buhari promised to look into the requests of the traditional ruler and assured in of his support in the development of the state.

He thanked the APC gubernatorial aspirants in the Ondo state for the  transparent primary held on September 3 in which Akeredolu emerged as candidate of the party.

Buhari said Akeredolu had all the attributes to lead Ondo State on the path of progress and developement and to ensure prosperous future for the citizens.

At a meeting with all the gubernatorial aspirants, APC elders in the state, and national officers of the party, President Buhari thanked them for remaining with the party to support Akeredolu because the unity of the party was crucial for the outcome of next Saturday’s election.

“I am very pleased that those of you who lost the primaries are still very much in the party. That you lose elections doesn’t mean you should walk away, you keep on trying. I went to the Supreme Court three times in my bid to become the President of Nigeria.

"I like your high spirit and your commitment to the party and I hope your constituencies are taking note of that,’’ the President told the aspirants shortly before departing for the Democracy Park in Akure for the grand finale of the Ondo APC gubernatorial rally.

The President, who was accompanied to the meeting by the Senate President, APC National Chairman, several APC Governors and Ministers, told the party faithful in Ondo that he looked forward to a successful election next week.

President Buhari assured Nigerians that determined, steadfast and patriotic people in the APC-led government will transform the nation’s ailing economy, which was run aground by the party that governed Nigeria for 16 years from 1999-2015.

In his remarks, the representative of the aspirants, Barr. Tunji Abayomi, assured the President that they have resolved to deliver Ondo to APC.

“No single aspirant left the party after the primaries. Those who left the party were not party members; they returned to where they belonged,’’ he said.

The Chairman of APC Elders Council, Ondo State, Sen. Olorunnimbe Farukanmi, said Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was eminently qualified to lead the state.

"We have fielded  an experienced, informed, hard-working and capable legal practitioner to work with President Buhari to carry out massive industrial development, job creation, eradication of poverty and massive economic improvement in the nation", he said. ‎

The President had arrived Akure airport at about 10 a.m and was received by Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko as well as other State Governors including Umaru Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun).

Also at the airport to receive the President were the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Minister of Mines and Steel, Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, among others.