Thousands of Supporters Welcome APC Presidential Train to Kwara

Ajide Felix January 17, 2023 0 Comments

Tens of thousands of Kwara residents waved ecstatically on the streets of Ilorin to usher in the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other dignitaries to the state for the APC campaign flag off.

The candidate, his running mate Kashim Shettima, and party chairman Abdullahi Adamu arrived the city in company of several APC leaders and apparatchiks, and were received by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and a legion of APC candidates and leaders from across the state of harmony.

It was a rally like no others in the recent history of the state, with security agencies struggling to clear the human traffic that heralded Asiwaju’s arrival to the city of Sheikh Alimi.

He waived the broom and danced to the different tunes of music crooned by supporters and admirers alike.

On the welcome train were Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, the three senators from Kwara and their colleagues from Kogi and other parts of Nigeria, cabinet members, APC candidates, and hundreds of party stalwarts — many donning the Emilokan cap, others adorned with the insignia of his cap.

Accompanied by a motorcade that stretched a few kilometers, the double-decker Marco Polo bus conveying Tinubu and the dignitaries got locked in a suffocating human traffic formed by thousands of supporters and admirers who lined the streets to the Emir’s Palace from the Ilorin International Airport.

The convoy headed first to Emir’s palace, spending over one hour between the airport and Gaa Odota — the neighborhood next to the airport.

The candidate and the entourage paid homage to the Emir and then headed to the campaign ground where thousands of party supporters listened to speech from the candidate and official handing over of flags to the candidates, including Governor AbdulRazaq who is running for second term on his records of bringing governance closer to the grassroots, strengthening infrastructure, empowering women and young people, and creating a formal structure to cater for the poor and the vulnerable.

APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu who spoke with thousands of party supporters and chieftains who attended the rally in Ilorin, the state capital said Kwarans have heaved a sigh of relief since shaking off the yoke of political servitude in 2019, with great improvements in delivery of basic amenities and other goodies

“Kwara people, I congratulate you for your freedom four years ago. It was a thunderbolt across the country. You deserve great congratulations,”

“Today, we are just celebrating freedom. We are re-assessing and re-asserting our freedom in democracy. Yesterday, they never believed that today would happen, but it is happening in your lifetime. We thank you for believing in (Governor) AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He knows how to behave. He is a very honest and genuine, hardworking man.

“Vote for me as your presidential candidate on February 25 and vote for all our National Assembly candidates. Vote for Governor AbdulRazaq and all the House of Assembly candidates on March 11.” Tinubu said

Meanwhile, the rally, which was preceded by what was practically a city-wide rally as tens of thousands trooped out to catch a glimpse of the campaign train, was attended by APC Vice Presidential Candidate Kashim Shettima; Director General of the Campaign Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau); Governor of Niger Abubakar Sanni Bello; Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu; former House of Representatives Speaker Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole; several Senators, including the three from Kwara; House of Representatives members; Minister of Information Lai Mohammed; Minister of Youths and Sports Sunday Dare; Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi; House of Assembly members; cabinet members; Kwara APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi; and several other dignitaries from across the country.

Accompanied by Governor’s wife Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commended the people of the state for coming out in droves to welcome Tinubu and his entourage.

“This huge crowd is a testament to our standing with the people of Kwara State. It shows that we have won this election. Our presidential candidate has seen what we have done in this state. Kwara is APC. Kwara indeed is one of the strongholds of the APC. Our members are happy. The state is happy. They have seen what we have done. We met a failed state in several sectors, and we have been able to tackle it from education, healthcare, and other sectors. All the indices have gone up in the right sense,” he said.

“You need to continue to support this party at all levels. President Muhammadu Buhari has done well. We need to build on his success. No person could have done what he has done, despite the economic downturn, Covid-19 pandemic, and global economic crisis. We must sustain this growth consistently. That will be continued by our incoming team led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Party faithfuls, I urge you to support and vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The progress we have in this state will be continued with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We thank him for the support he gave us in 2019. He gave us full support in throwing out the termites in this state. We still want to thank Mr. President, who is away in Mauritania.

He couldn’t be here but he will come back here. We appreciate his efforts and the support he has been giving this government for the progress of the state. You all know what we have been doing in this state from healthcare. Don’t allow the party of people of dubious characters to come back into this state. Don’t allow people who stole the UBEC funds to come back to this state. They could not even pay salaries. What are they coming to do?

“Just last month, we paid N3.5bn for pensions and gratuities of 2009 and 2010. When we came in, there was no water works working in this state. We have 90 waterworks in this state right from the time of Sir Ahmadu Bello. They crashed everything. In fact, they were not paying counterpart funds in the health sector. Nothing.”

APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu said Kwara has proven to be a strong APC state with the showings posted for the rally.

“Kwarans, you have really surprised me. I have seen more than what I expected, and everyone has seen what Kwara has done today. You have said it loud and clear that you are better together. We pray and hope that this is translated to real vote on the 25th of February,” he said.

The campaign train later paid a special homage to the Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who prayed for the success of the candidate in the coming polls. He acknowledged the sterling qualities of Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq, who he described as great and humble achievers.

The rally was attended by many dignitaries such as APC candidates and chieftains including Senators Lola Ashiru and Sadiq Umar; House of Representatives members Tunji Raheem Olawuyi (Ajuloopin) and Mohammed Omar Bio; APC Senatorial Candidate for Kwara Central Turaki Saliu Mustapha; Mohammed Dele Belgore SAN; Mallam Isa Lanre Onilu; Hajia Faridah Dankaka; Yahya Seriki; and Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin.