Large turnout as Osun APC youths rally for Tinubu/Shettima

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

The Osun Youth Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday stormed major streets of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to rally support for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

The youths, who began their mass solidarity rally from Ayetoro junction, matched through Igbonna market, Old Garage, Okefia, Olaiya Junction, Ogo-Oluwa to Onward area and terminated at the campaign office of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

According to the organisers, the solidarity rally was part of efforts to re-energise, reinforce and reawaken the consciousness in the youths, particularly loyalists of the party as the general elections approach.

Addressing the youths shortly after the termination of the solidarity walk at the newly-built Ileri-Oluwa Campaign Office, Oyetola expressed confidence that over one million votes is assured for Tinubu in the state. 

He said: “I want to commend the leadership of the supporters of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Your demonstration today has given me assurance that Osun is for APC in 2023. There is no shaking for us at all. 

“We have not flag off the campaign here in Osogbo but you have surprised us in Osun State today. You are the first to embark on this, I decided to meet with you as I am returning from a journey to commend your action. 

“The government of Asiwaju Tinubu is the government of the youth. He is here to serve Nigerians. He has plans for education, agriculture, infrastructure, social development and many more. You will be surprised the way he will tackle insecurity. 

“He has an approach called institutional frame work, after he solve a problem, he established an institution to sustain the problem he solved. Like LASTMA and many more. 

“I am certain that over one million votes is assured for Tinubu in Osun. Our campaigns will be youth oriented.”

Oyetola assured the people of the State of his absolute confidence in the judiciary to retrieve his stolen mandate.

He added: “I just want you to put your mind at rest. I will reclaim my mandate. My mandate is intact. I have absolute confidence in the judiciary and by the Grace of God, I will be returned elected to govern the State for another four years.”

In his remarks, Chairman of APC in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun, lauded the ‘can-do and ever-resilient spirit’ of the loyalists of the party, particularly the youth wing.

He expressed confidence in God and the strength of the party to ensure all- round victory for Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, come next year general elections.

Speaking to newsmen, convener of the solidarity rally who doubles as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Kehinde Ayantunji, attributed the success of the rally to the huge support received from all the strata of the youths and Governor Oyetola.

“We came out today to show to the entire world that we are solidly behind Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is a critical period as elections are around the corner and we cannot continue to give our support to leaders that are not for us. 

“We have a choice to rally support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because we believe in his leadership and we know that under his leadership Nigeria will become a better place for us and be prosperous. That is why we came out in large number to register our voice and tell the people of Osun that we are going to mobilize massively for him.

“As you can see, this is another ground-breaking event in the history of our party, and indeed, the state. The solidarity rally was aimed at reawakening the consciousness of our people to the reality on the ground and the need to support, mobilise and vote massively for the presidential candidate of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“What we have seen today is an indication of the fact that Nigerian youths are solidly behind the candidature of Asiwaju and that they are ready to elect our candidates in the general elections.

“The massive turnout of our people today vis-a-vis the warm reception received from the people in the course of this solidarity rally are clear evidence that our party is loved by all. 

“We have come out to once again indicate and register our love for our very own, Asiwaju, whose unprecedented track record speaks volume of the coveted position he is aspiring. We are in no doubt that Tinubu’s aspiration is indeed God’s project and we are firmly ready to support this cause with all our energies and strengths to get him elected.

“We are also letting the people know that regardless of the temporary setback that we have at the governorship election, we are strongly behind Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and we are so confident that we will reclaim our mandate,” Ayantunji said.

APC State Youth Leader, Olagoke Akinwemimo, said the seamless solidarity movement has shown to the world that Osun is for Tinubu and Shettima.

Akinwemimo, who described the youth as most energetic and ever-committed segment of the party said the large turnout of his colleagues was an indication to the fact that Osun youths are solidly behind the presidential candidate and his running mate.