The G-5 Governors, a group within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday at the historic Mapo Hall, Oj’aba , Ibadan, for the flag-off for the campaign of Governor Seyi Makinde’s re-election bid.
The governors, who include Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as well as former Governors Ayo Fayose and Segun Mimiko of Ekiti and Ondo States, arrived about 1.00 p.m. to the venue. They were welcome by a sea of supporters and party members.
While speaking, Wike urged the electorate to vote for Makinde for the continuation of good governance. The Rivers State Governor pointed out that Makinde had justified the mandate given to him in 2019, calling on the voters to vote for all PDP candidates at all levels except the presidential contest. He said Makinde would discuss with the Oyo State electorate where to vote in the presidential poll.
It would be recalled that the G-5 Governors had said they would not support the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, unless justice and fairness is upheld in the leadership of the party.
Wike said: ‘’There is no other party in Oyo State. People of Oyo State. Let me thank you for making your son valuable, a young man of principle. That is why everyone of us believes in fairness, equity and justice. Seyi Makinde is a good product and has done well since he was given the mandate in 2019. Therefore, the only way we can appreciate more is for him to go back and complete the good work he has started, because that is the only way you will get the best out of him. Let me use the opportunity and tell anyone of you, if there is anyone from another party planning to vote now, withdraw now for Seyi Makinde. Don’t worry yourselves. The people of Oyo have spoken that the are voting for Makinde. So, vote for Seyi Makinde, vote for PDP candidates for the State House of Assembly, for the House of Representatives, for the Senate; the other one, Seyi will tell you what to do’’.
On his part, Governor Makinde, who reeled out his achievements, promised to do more for the residents of the state. The governor therefore urged the electorate to renew his mandate for the next four years.
Makinde said:’’I promised you education sector, we collected LAUTECH back, now we have Emmanuel Alayande Univeristy of Education. Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised you economic prosperity to the people of Oyo State, I said we will take our people from poverty to prosperity, under accelerated development. We took our IGR from N1.8 billion in a month to N3.8 billion as at November 2021 under our administration.
‘’I assured the people of Oyo state that our infrastructure will integrate all the zones in our state, Ogbomoso to Iseyin, Akobo, Airport road. I said our education levy would be scrapped, has it been scraped or not? I promised to pay salary of workers and pensioners every month.
‘’I promised the people of Oyo state, a safe and secured environment, I invented Amotekun, didn’t I do well. Under Omituntun 1.0, I promised a government that will put the people of Oyo State first and I have always made that decision, now it is time to upgrade, it is time for Omituntun 2.0’’.
Other members of the G-5 Group, including Ortom, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu canvassed votes for Makinde’s second term bid.
Specifically, Governor Ortom said the G-5 Group governors were committed, united and working, ‘’ for all our candidates in the party in our various states’’.
On his part, a former minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Jumoke Akinjide, urged the party supporters to, ‘’vote for the all candidates of PDP contesting in the forthcoming general Elections
Dayo Ogungbenro, the State Chairman, said the administration led by Governor Makinde had provided quality governance in the last four years.
There were endorsements from the Arewa, Igbo and Igala communities in Oyo State and the Iyaloja of Oyo State, Chief Labake Lawal. They called for the continuity of good governance.
The National Deputy Chairman (South) of the party , Ambassador Taofeeq Arapaja, who handed over the party’s flag to Makinde and otter candidates, called for continuity of good governance.