Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, stood still for several hours yesterday as political heavyweights across various political parties in the South-West geopolitical zone stormed the city to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office. A total of 1.8million signatures collected from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States, endorsing the re-election campaign for Jonathan, were unveiled at the South-west Zonal Rally organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. Former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, formally presented the register of the collated signatures to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The main bowl of the stadium was filled to capacity, and it was observed that the people outside outnumbered those that made it into the main bowl. The large crowd that attended the rally reportedly led to a terrible traffic gridlock at the Liberty Road, Oke-Ado, Molete, Dugbe, Imalefalafia and other parts of Ibadan metropolis for several hours. All speakers at the rally commended President Jonathan for his transformational leadership, as well as the completed and ongoing developmental projects he had executed in the South-West. Anyim, who unveiled the register, said: “I am pleased to announce a total signature of 1.8million. I am under pressure to announce that South-west had done better than the South-east.” The South-west rally was the second in the series of seven rallies organised by TAN to mobilise Nigerians to urge President Jonathan to seek re-election in the 2015 general elections. The first rally, which was in South-east, was held at the Ekwueme Square, Awka in Anambra State on August 16 and a total of 1.6million signatures were collated. But former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, were absent at the rally. No reason was given for the absence of Obasanjo, but it was announced at the rally that Fayose was absent because of a traditional festival he must attend in the state. President Goodluck Jonathan was also not at the rally because he was on a private visit to Germany. Key Yoruba personalities in the transformation programme that graced the rally included the House Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande; Deputy Chief Whip in the Senate, Ayoola Agboola; Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Gen Jones Arogboofa (retd); Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye. Also in attendance were the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala. The roll call also included Chief Olabode George from Lagos State; Senator Iyiola Omisore and Chief Ebenezer Babatope from Osun State; Prince Buruji Kashamu from Ogun State; Chief Olusola Oke and Kingsley Kuku from Ondo State; Senator Ayo Adeseun, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Taofeek Arapaja and Alhaji Lamidi Akinsola (Tokyo) from Oyo State.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:36:16 +0000
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