Thousands of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) turned out in their large number at a rally held on Saturday at Kabba, the headquarters of Kogi West senatorial district of Kogi State.
The rally which was massively attended by people from the seven local governments in the senatorial district and other parts of the state was to drum support for Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the candidate of the APC in the coming November 11 governorship election.
The presence of critical party stakeholders at the highly successful rally, further underscored the massive support for the APC candidate in Okunland.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke at the rally were unanimous in their declaration that there is no vacancy in the Luggard House for opposition political parties.
They promised to use the governorship election to ” expose unfounded propaganda by confused politicians with massive votes for Ododo by Okun indigenes.”
The APC members added that they are waiting anxiously for November 11 to expose what they termed “unfounded propaganda by confused politicians who had no base in Okunland” .
They then promised to vote massively for Ododo and his running mate, Joel Oyibo on election day.
One of them who also double as the Director -General, Kogi West APC Governorship Campaign, Funsho Olumoko, said. the district could not afford to be in opposition, describing the APC as a party that had offered them limitless opportunities.
“We have the mandate of our people in Kogi West that there is no vacuum for opposition political parties.
“We are poised to deliver maximally for the APC,” Olumoko said.
Also speaking, a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, noted that Okun people had resolved to speak with one voice by voting massively for the APC on November 11.
“Our people have resolved to deliver for APC. Our people will vote for consolidation and sustainability in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State,” he assured.
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shaibu Abubakar Audu, expressed delight over the massive turn out of party members and supporters at the rally.
The Minister who is also the Director-General of the Kogi State APC Governorship Campaign, said the massive turn out indicated that the APC had no opposition as far as the coming governorship election is concerned.
He expressed the confidence that the Party will win, impressively, come November 11.
“Let us come out en masse to vote for Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. This will enable him build on the legacies of Governor Yahaya Bello in security, massive job creation, infrastructure and so many other areas.
” With the massive turnout here today, it is clear that we have no opposition,” he stated.
Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Umar Aliyu, described Lokoja-Kogi Federal Constituency as a no-go area for the opposition.
He notef that the people would reward the APC for giving them a sense of belonging and for the achievements in the area.
“Let me make it abundantly clear. The APC will be rewarded for the sense of belonging, infrastructure and appointments the people of Lokoja and Kogi LGAs have enjoyed,” he said.
Aliyu added that the people of the area had never had it so good.
Other speakers at the rally include the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade; Deputy Governor of the state, Edward Onoja; Suleiman Babadoko, and Taofiq Isah, among others.
They all noted that Kogi West remained a no-go area for the opposition, stressing that it had been sealed by the strength of the APC structure and the achievements of the current administration in the State.
In his remarks, the Kogi State APC Governorship Candidate, Usman Ododo, said he was committed to consolidating on the progress and development achieved by Governor Yahaya Bello.
“I’m prepared to serve and to open a new page of development in the State.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has laid a solid foundation for the State and I’m poised to ensure sustainability and consolidation,” he said.
While addressing the rally, Governor Yahaya Bello called on the people of Kogi West to join hands in forming a government that would meet their yearnings and aspirations.
“The achievements of my administration are visible for all to see. This is not time for us to be complacent.
“We cannot afford to be in the opposition, not with the many plans the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has for Kogi State.
“In the last couple of years, we have built and rebuilt our infrastructure.
“We have made Kogi money and resources to work for the people. We cannot afford to be dragged back.
“I appeal to the people of Kogi West to vote for the APC to enable consolidation, unity amongst our people and to ensure that the coming generation of the people of Kogi West can be proud of what has been achieved,” the Governor stated.
Highlights of the rally were the receiving of defectors from the PDP and other opposition political parties to the APC and the presentation of the party’s flag to the governorship candidate Ahmed Usman Ododo.
The Campaign team had earlier before the rally visited the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, for his royal blessing.
Oba Owoniyi assured the team of the continuous support of traditional rulers for the state government.
He said the people of Kogi West are ready to reciprocate the good gesture of Governor Bello. (vitalnewsngr.com)
