Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, says President Muhammadu Buhari has again endorsed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State’s re-election bid ahead of today’s flag-off of his campaign.
Buni, who said this on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after presenting Governor Akeredolu to President Buhari for his blessing, expressed optimism about the chance of the ruling APC to win the October 10, 2020 governorship election because of the performance of the incumbent governor.
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The APC caretaker chairman was accompanied by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, who is the Campaign Committee Chairman for the Ondo election, the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.
He said: “We are here to present our candidate to Mr President being the leader of the party for his blessing. That has always been the practice, we cannot kick-start our campaign without his endorsement and that is what we have just done.
“Mr President has endorsed him (Akeredolu) and he commended him for his efforts in the last four years as he is aware of the transformation and the development he has made in the last four years.
“APC is the only party that can win election in Ondo, not only because APC as a party is the only party but because the governor there is performing and has performed, the people of Ondo state have seen for themselves and have agreed to themselves that yes, he is the only man they can trust for the next four years.
“So, Mr President has made it and has endorsed him. That’s what we have been looking for, his blessing, his endorsement, his encouragement and his support and we have gotten that already.”
Buni added: “Well, I am optimistic because the product we are selling has sold himself already because he has performed in the last four years. We are all product of our choices and the people of Ondo State are wise now to choose him to continue the good work he is doing.
“So, I am very much optimistic that the good people of Ondo State will renew their mandate and the governor of Ondo state will continue and they will give him the mandate again for another four years.”
Sanwo-Olu, while speaking, said Akeredolu’s feats in the past four years had made his assignment as leader of the campaign team easier.
The governor of Lagos State said: “When you have a good product and people have seen and have agreed…it makes our job easier. Our good friend and brother, Governor Akeredolu has not only done well, he is a progressive and he is a man that has stood over the last four years, carrying his people along and doing all to ensure that good governance continues in Ondo State.
“And so for us, it is really about ensuring that we do not take anybody for granted, that’s why we are not going to rest on our oars even when we know that he has done very well, we will still go through the entire gamut of campaigning, ensuring that we go into all the nooks and crannies of the state to reassure them that their governor, our candidate will continue on the good job that he is doing.
“And also solicit their votes to ensure that they come out enmass and vote and re-elect him. So we will be starting our campaign tomorrow (Saturday) by the grace of God and we will ensure that he goes round all the senatorial, local governments and wards in the state so that we do not take anybody for granted and continue to ensure that the good work that he is doing they can see it and they can continue to work with him.”
In his remarks, Governor Akeredolu said the APC would use all civil means to win the election.
He said: “Mr President has given us his blessing, he made one expression and he said this time around he feels more comfortable because the last time he had to be there with us, we had to receive his blessing.
“All of us, we are not taking things for granted and we know that by the grace of the Almighty God, success is ours”.
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