24/12/2022
AKOKO SOUTH-WEST APC STAKEHOLDERS HOLD TOWNHALL MEETING TO DRUM SUPPORT FOR TINUBU, IPINSAGBA, OTHERS
As political activities hot up across Nigeria, a town hall meeting of major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been convened to drum support for the party's Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the candidate for Ondo North Senatorial District, Pastor Jide Ipinsagba.
At the townhall meeting held at Oka Town Hall, Oka-Akoko, they also called for support for APC candidate for Akoko South East/Akoko South West Federal Constituency, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, and the two State House of Assembly candidates for Akoko South West Constituency I Hon. Gbogi Emmanuel and II, Chief (Mrs) Akeju.
In his opening speech, the convener and Chairman of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan said Akoko region is the most backward in the State, in terms of infrastructure development, despite its high level of education.
He thanked the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, for his open support for Akoko to produce the next Senator for the Senatorial District. Rt. Hon. Olabimtan said it is important to vote the candidates of the APC for the Senate and House of Representatives to give adequate support to our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also speaking, a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo thanked the convener of the stakeholders' meeting and everyone who was present. He conveyed the greetings of the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, who pleaded the support of the people of Akoko South-West for the victory of Jide Ipinsagba at the polls.
The APC senatorial candidate, Pastor Jide Ipinsagba thanked the people for their support and impressive turnout. He promised to use his wealth of experience in the private sector to drive development in Ondo North, while assuring the people that he will not disappoint them if given the mandate.
In his speech, the APC candidate for the House of Representatives, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati thanked the various interest groups present and the convener of the Town Hall Meeting for their personal efforts in providing a platform to interact with diverse interest groups in Akoko South-West Local Government Area. Otunba Adefarati, who is the son of the former Governor of the State, late Chief Adebayo Adefarati, said he is not out to condemn anybody. He, however, promised that he will perform better than the present occupier of the office, if elected.
Hon. Emmanuel Gbogi, who is the APC candidate for Akoko South West Constituency I, assured the people that he will be a better representative while soliciting their votes.
The Chief Imam of Oka-Akoko, Alhaji Yisa Abubakar cautioned the youths against thuggery during the campaigns. He said Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President needed the support of the National Assembly to succeed and thus appealed to the participants at the Town Hall meeting to vote the candidates of the APC for both the Senate and the House of Representatives seats.
In his own reaction, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor D. O. Ogunleke urged politicians to use Proverbs chapter 3 verses 3 to 7 as their guide, by being truthful and showing compassion to their followers and the electorate at all times.
The Iyaloja of Oka, Chief (Mrs) Emidun, who spoke on behalf of all the Iyalojas in Akoko South-West Local Government Area, assured the candidates of the support of market women, while Elder Olorundare Ebenezer, the Chairman of Artisans in the Local Government Area, pleaded that they help them find solution to the erratic power supply in view of the rising cost of diesel.
In his own contribution, Pa. Ogungbe, the Chairman of APC Elders' Forum in Akoko South-West urged the party leadership to reconcile all aggrieved individuals in the party to ensure that we go into the elections as a united force. He also advised that the party should find means of compensating aspirants, who lost at the primaries.
Pa. L. I. A. Rogbitan spoke on behalf of community leaders while Collins Nwodo and Yau spoke on behalf of Igbo and Hausa communities respectively. They all pledged their total support for the APC.
Other notable political leaders at the event are Bar. Felix Alonge, SSA on Social Investment Programme (SIP); Bar. Ade Jombo, member, Ondo State Judicial Service Commission; Hon. Muyiwa Ogunyemi, SSA on Youths and Students Affairs; Hon. Tony Jayeola; and Mrs. Okoli, APC Akoko South West Local Government Women Leader.
The Town Hall Meeting had religious leaders, traditional rulers, youths and students leaders, Iyalojas, women groups, members of the Park Management Committee, labour union leaders, community leaders and representatives of non-indigenes in attendance.
PJI MEDIA TEAM