By Adeleye Kunle
Ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the state’s electorate to avoid a repeat of the party’s alleged rigging of its victory in 2018, TrackNews reports.
Atiku made the remarks yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at a mega rally for the PDP’s governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Other party chieftains present at the rally at the party secretariat included Dr Iyocha Ayu, the party’s national chairman, Atiku’s vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and some PDP governors.
Addressing the massive crowd of party faithful and supporters, Atiku urged the Osun electorate to vote in large numbers and make their votes count.
Atiku, who noted that Osun State was a PDP state, insisted that rigging had occurred in the past and that it “should not happen again.”
In a related development, Adamawa-born Atiku stated that he understands Yoruba and has a soft spot for the people.
“I don’t speak Yoruba, but I understand a little of it,” he said in a statement. Some members of my family are fluent in the language.
“Of course, the Yoruba people, like other tribes in our country, are dear to my heart.” But the Yoruba language has a distinct quality that I particularly admire. It has the ability to be descriptive.
“In my opinion, the slogan of Imole as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the Osun State election could not have been more appropriate.
“Imole is more than just light. Indeed, the closest English translation is “to illuminate.” And it’s no surprise that our gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has a groundswell of support from the state’s esteemed people across all localities and local governments.”
According to him, Osun, which was once a shining star of the South West geopolitical zone, had been thrown into a state of doldrums for the past 12 years, but that the PDP had come to restore the state to its former glory.
“Imole has arrived on a rescue mission to restore Osun to its former glory and splendour, and I, Atiku Abubakar, and all leaders of our great party will be on the ground in Osogbo mobilizing support for the success of our campaign.”
He told Osun voters that they had a choice “between the people and the forces of darkness” that had imprisoned them.
In addition, the party chairman, Iyocha Ayu, stated that the PDP had come to save Nigeria, and by extension, Osun State, from bad governance.
Ayu, who noted that Osun is in darkness, stated that light has come to illuminate the state and bring good governance, which he believes can only be provided by the PDP.
Senator Ademola Adeleke, speaking shortly after being presented with the party flag by the national chairman, urged Osun residents to vote massively for him in order to achieve even development.
Adeleke promised total autonomy to local government administrations for grassroots development, adding that the era of deducting local government allocations from federation accounts will end with the arrival of the PDP administration in Osun.
He urged Osun voters not to sell their votes and instead to vote for him in order to reap the benefits of democracy.
