Osun Guber: ADC Has Best Brains In Nigerian Politics, Says Atiku

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has described the party as a political platform made up of some of the best brains in Nigerian politics.

Atiku stated this on Monday while addressing supporters at the ADC grand campaign rally held at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The rally was attended by prominent leaders of the party, including ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Dino Melaye; National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; National Legal Adviser, Prof. Osareme Ozombo; National Vice Chairman, Senator Kashigi; and National Vice Chairman, South-West, Akin Omole.

Also present were former PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede; former PDP governorship candidate in Borno State, Kashim Imam; former TETFund Chairman Adamu Waziri , among others.

Atiku, who presented the ADC flag to the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam Iwaloye, appealed to Osun voters to support the party in the election.

The former Vice President said he had a long history of receiving electoral support from the people of Osun, recalling his previous visits and campaigns in the state.

“This is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. Each time I stood here, you have given me your vote. I cannot forget that because your daughter is in my house,” Atiku said.

He also recalled his previous presidential campaign in the state, saying the people of Osun had supported him and voted against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the time.

Atiku urged the people to extend the same support to the ADC governorship candidate, insisting that the party was different from the APC and Accord Party.

“This is because ADC is different from other political parties, APC, Accord. That is because the best of Nigerians are today in ADC,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the impressive turnout at the rally was a sign of the party’s growing acceptance in Osun and predicted victory for the ADC in the governorship election.

“I have come personally to thank you for your previous support and to appeal to you to vote for ADC in the next gubernatorial election. I believe you will not regret voting ADC,” he added.

Speaking at the rally, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, presented the party’s flag to Iwaloye, describing the presence of Atiku and other national leaders in Osun as a demonstration of the party’s commitment to the state and its people.

Mark thanked Osun residents for the support they had shown the ADC and urged them to translate the massive turnout at the rally into votes for Iwaloye on election day. He expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the governorship poll.

Earlier, Aregbesola urged Osun residents who desire a return to the governance style associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to vote for the ADC.

The former governor said the ADC remained the political platform closest to the ideals of Awolowo, particularly in education, agriculture, poverty reduction and empowerment.

“We are the only party left with Awolowo’s symbol and style of governance in Yoruba land. We are the only party left in terms of empowering farmers, eradicating poverty and free education.

“We are the true descendants of Awolowo. Vote for our party if you want the return of Awolowo-style governance,” Aregbesola said.

He also dismissed reports that the ADC was planning to enter into an alliance with another political party ahead of the election.

“Don’t listen to reports that we are joining any party. We are not in alliance with any party. We stand out from others,” he said.

Aregbesola further urged voters not to allow financial inducement to determine their choice at the ballot box, saying they should collect any money offered to them but vote for the candidate of their choice.

In.l his address, the ADC governorship candidate, Iwaloye, unveiled a number of programmes he said would be implemented if elected governor.

Iwaloye promised to tackle the state’s electricity challenges, assuring residents that his administration would work towards providing stable electricity.

“If we win the election, I want to tell you that our electricity will be stable. We have a solution to that and it is a promise,” he said.

He also pledged to protect the party’s votes during the election, warning that the ADC would not allow its mandate to be taken away.

“On Saturday, nobody will be allowed to rig us out. What they did in Ekiti State will not happen here,” Iwaloye declared.

On education, Iwaloye promised free education from primary to secondary school, as well as a review of tuition fees in the state’s higher institutions.

“Education from the primary to the secondary school for our children will be free and we will also ensure that we have a committee that will review the tuition fees in our higher institutions with a plan to bring it down,” he said.

The ADC candidate further promised free medical treatment for children aged one to 18 and pregnant women in well-equipped government hospitals.

“Children from age one to 18 will have access to free medical treatment in well-equipped government hospitals. Our pregnant women will have free treatment,” he said.

He also pledged welfare support for elderly citizens and widows, while promising to empower farmers and create employment opportunities for young people.

According to Iwaloye, his administration would employ 20,000 youths within its first 100 days in office.

“In our first 100 days, we will employ 20,000 youths. The farmers should know that we will empower them and do the needful,” he said.

The ADC campaign rally is coming days before the August 15 Osun governorship election, in which Iwaloye is seeking to defeat the incumbent administration and take the party to power in the state.