The Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, Three Senatorial candidates, 14 House of Representatives candidates including all the 32 House of Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2023 general elections were conspicuously absent at a rally organised in solidarity for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar held in Ibadan yesterday.
However, it was learnt that the Governor, Seyi Makinde was holding a meeting with all the candidates at the government house as at the time that other members and chieftains of the party embarked on the rally which took place in some parts of Ibadan, the State capital.
The rally tagged “Freedom Walk for Atiku” which took off from Total Garden, Secretariat road in Ibadan to Agodi gate- Oje-Bere and Mapo respectively saw the supporters of the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide who doubled as the Deputy-Director-General Atiku campaign council, Women Affairs, Elder Wole Oyelese, former Minister of Mines and Power, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, former Oyo state Deputy Governor, a cheiftain of the party, Engr. Femi Babalola and a host of others routing for Atiku’s election, locked down the streets to Mapo as they addressed the people at different junctions.
Participants at the rally included market men and women, artisans, civil servants and notable politicians who showed their readiness to vote for the erstwhile Vice-President, AlhajiAtiku Abubakar in the coming elections.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at Mapo, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide said the objectives of the “freedom walk” was to create awareness for the people of the state to let them know the reasons why Atiku is the best candidate to occupy the Aso Rock villa after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Oloye Akinjide said the people of Nigeria have witnessed untold hardship under the APC administration for the past eight years ranging from inflation rates, insecurity, economic downturn, hinting that Alhaji Atiku will not only restore all these but also unify and restructure Nigeria that everybody will be proud of.
The PDP stalwart added that Atiku as a former customs officer understands how it pinches when borders were closed by the Buhari government but he will ensure that all these borders are opened to alleviate the problem.
Party supporters, especially women chanted and danced gleefully to the music of Fuji music maestro, Alhaji Adebisi Akande popularly known as Taye Currency, in support of Atiku’s presidential election bid.
Security Agencies, the Police, Civil Defence Corps, Road Safety, DSS, all were on ground to forestall any security breach during the “freedom walk” rally.
