…as Governor rounds off campaign tour
The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) on Friday clarified that its fuel purchase for operators of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, in Akoko communities was not an attempt to induce them ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary-election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At press time, no fewer than 1,500 okadas had got the freebie of having their tanks filled at various petrol stations in Ikare, headquarters of Akoko Northeast, and in its environs, streaming to communities in Akoko Northwest and Akoko Northest.
Justifying the gesture, the LACO-FSIC Convener and prominent indigene of Ikare, Dr Oladipupo Okeyomi, said the gesture was a continuation of palliative measures embarked upon by directorates of the Aiyedatiwa campaign organisation, in the four council areas that form Akokoland.
“It is one of the cardinal points of this Aiyedatiwa campaign group since it was formed January this year; to embark on palliative measures bearing economic hardship in the country that is not peculiar to Ondo State.
“As they say, it is a harduous task preaching to a hungry person, and that is why as an independent campaign group, we voluntarily donated money among ourselves as foot-soldiers, and have been refreshing the masses, while campaigning.
“For instance, while we are buying petrol for okada riders here, others are donating food items in Akoko Southwest, and even in places like Irele, Ileoluji-Okeigbo and the rest, our directorates over there are giving out brand new motorcycles and of course, farm inputs to rural farmers,” Okeyomi, popularly called Carry Go, explained.
He stressed, however, that all such gestures received the blessing of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who had himself initiated many welfare and empowerment programmes for the commoners, since he took over as Governor, following the death of his boss, the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
“When Governor Aiyedatiwa took over, he first cleared the backlog of unpaid salaries and also started paying N35,00 palliative money to civil servants.
“As for people in private businesses, the governor set aside a sum of N2 billion as special grant to cater to the loan need of petty traders, artisans, peasant farmers, and budding entrepreneurs in need of capital support,” he stressed.
Okeyomi noted that someone who had taken such great steps in less than 100 days of assuming office-apart from mobilising all road contractors back to site, deserved to be elected for a four-year mandate as Governor, “to make him perform more wonders”.
He urged the APC members in the state to troop out on Saturday and vote for Aiyedatiwa so he could secure the party ticket for the governorship election holding in November this year.
On hand with Okeyomi to execute the disbursement of free-fuel palliative to Okada riders in Akoko communities are: Hon Muyiwa Ogunyemi, the LACO-FSIC Director of Youth and Student Affairs; Hon Abushe James, an old schoolmate of Governor Aiyedatiwa, and Hon Ganiyu Sunday-popularly called Lion, the Executive Secretary, Education, Akoko Northeast Local Government.
Others are: Hon Mumuni Saliu, the APC party chairman for Akoko Northeast; Hon. Rotimi Ekundayo, widely known as Kumalo, who is the council area’s Director-General for LACO-FSIC; Engnr Victor Olorunda, deputy director, LACO-FSIC; Mr Adeyemi Adefarati, LACO-FSIC director of humanitarian affairs, Akoko Northeast, and some ward coordinators and street captains.
During the free fuel offer, the organisation also distributed jackets and safety helmets to several okada riders.
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa rounded off his campaign tour of the 18 local government areas on Thurday, with visits to Akoko Northeast, Northwest, and Southeast, respectively.
He was received to tumultuous welcome at the council headquarters of each local government at Ikare, Okeagbe and Isua, where residents, who were virtually all APC members, trooped out in fashions, as they swarmed the campaign grounds with affirmative songs.
The governor reiterated his earlier promises to industralise the grassroots, provide jobs for the youth, open up rural communities through massive road constructions, and ensure that farmers get value for their efforts through exportation of farm products en route the new Igbokoda seaport.
He also enjoined the locals to access the N2 billion government loan support, which he recently approved for disbursement.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, during the day-long tour, visited traditional rulers in respective communities, who prayed for his victory at the primary poll.
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua, State Information Director,
Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC)