Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that Yoruba people would vote massively to return President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 16 election.
He stated this in Ibadan while addressing various groups at the Western Hall of the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that no fewer than 67 groups were present at the stakeholders meeting.
Among them were traders and artisans associations, representatives of faith-based groups as well as members of the National union of Road Transport Workers.
The governor said that the meeting was to sensitise them on the need for free, fair and credible elections.
NAN also reports that the president would be visiting the state on Saturday.
Ajimobi said there was no doubt that Buhari would win the election, having picked Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate.
“The choice of Osinbajo has aroused further interest in the Buhari administration by our people in the South-West, considering how the region suffered for the most part of the 16 years reign of the PDP.
“There is no need for extensive talking or campaigning. My people do not need to be fed.
“They are the most sophisticated when it comes to politics, so they have made up their minds.
“ They will vote massively for Buhari and Osinbajo,” he said.
He said records on the ground revealed that Buhari has no interest in accumulation of wealth, saying none of his contenders or their supporters could match his record.
“There is one of them with less than N10,000 in his account before his election, but he was reported to own a whole street.
“After their 16 years of looting, they have come back like nothing has happened. You will wonder why people still follow the likes of (Abubakar) Atiku and (Chief Olusegun) Obasanjo.
“This election is a very pivotal one for the progress and unity of this country. It will be between progress anf retrogression, locust and insecticides, day and night, security and insecurity. For us, we need to educate our people.
Ajimobi said that the Buhari-led administration has brought development, peace and tranquility to Nigeria.
He said that the administration was unmatched in terms of infrastructural development, having developed railway network and various roads to mention few.
The governor said these were projects that the PDP was unable to complete within its 16 years at the helm of affairs in the country.
“Buhari administration has employed 500,000 youths under the N-Power scheme with each earning N30,000 monthly. It also introduced TraderMoni and other social welfare programmes.
“They have brought electricity, which the PDP administration could not do in 16 years to a very reasonable level.
“ They have averted the trend of retrogression and corruption. They have brought more peace and tranquility,” the governor said.
Ajimobi, who is also a senatorial candidate on the platform of APC, called on the various groups to support the ruling APC in the state by voting for Chief Adebayo Adelabu as his successor.
He hinged his call on the need for the state to emulate Lagos State where three successive administrations under the APC has transformed the state beyond expectation since 1999.
Ajimobi said that no governorship candidates in the state could match Adelabu in terms of administrative skills, education, integrity, career progress and exposure.
The governor reaffirmed that his administration had delivered on his promises on healthcare, education, workers welfare, physical and social infrastructures.
“We have fulfilled our promises. We ensured security of lives and properties. This has helped our economy.
“ Most businesses in the state today came as a result of peaceful and conducive environment,” he said.
NAN reports that leaders of the various groups praised the ruling APC government and called for continuity to achieve progress. (NAN)