By Thompson Yamput
Gov Usman Ododo of Kogi on Saturday urged all Ebira people resident in Ondo to rally round the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the state’s forthcoming Governorship poll.
The governor, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Sunday by his Media Aide, Ismaila Isah, said votes from the Ebira community to Aiyedatiwa would create a great difference in the Nov 26 Governorship election.
Ododo, who is the deputy chairman of the election management and strategy committee of the Ondo State Governorship Election Campaign Council, reportedly made the appeal made while addressing a mammoth crowd at the APC rally held at the Mobil Roundabout in Owo town on Saturday.
He described Ondo state as a second home for Ebiras and urged the Ebira community to repeat the feat exemplified in the 2020 Governorship election during which the APC recorded overwhelming victory in the state.
“I have come to thank you for the support you gave the APC in the last governorship election in Ondo state.
“I am aware that we have a large population of our people in Owo, Ifo and Ose local government areas, as well as other parts of Ondo state and I want you to take our message to all of them.
“Come November 16, 2024, I urge you to vote for the APC and Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Governor of Ondo State” Governor Ododo stated.
Ododo assured the people of Ondo State that the APC and its candidate would deliver the desired dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
According to him, Aiyedatiwa will improve physical infrastructure, access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation, agricultural development, and security of lives and property across communities in the state.
He described Gov Aiyedatiwa as a tested hand who can be trusted to build on the pedestal of growth and development already attained by Ondo state under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who died in December, 2023.
“We know Governor Aiyedatiwa, he has been tested and can be trusted. We want continuity and consolidation and he has started very well.
“I want to let you know that the Ebira, Igala and Okun communities in Ondo state are hundred percent behind you. They will all come out en masse on November 16 to vote for you”, he assured.
While commending President Bola Tinubu for the interest shown in revitalizing the Ajaokuta Steel Complex given its strategic importance to the people of Kogi state, Ododo reaffirmed the commitment of the APC administration at both national and sub-national levels to recognize and reward the people for the confidence reposed in the party.
Also speaking, Gov. Aiyedatiwa emphasized the importance of unity and peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups residing in Ondo state.
He promised to create more opportunities for non-indigenous communities in the state if elected in the November 16 election.
On his part, chairman of the APC in Kogi state, Abdullahi Bello who was on the entourage of Gov. Ododo commended the unity and cooperation between the Kogi indigenes and the people of Ondo state.
Bello expressed the belief that the level of understanding would translate into massive votes for the APC and Aiyedatiwa in the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.
Earlier, during a courtesy call by Gov. Ododo, the Ohinoyi of Anebira in Owo, His Royal Highness, Adayi Isa-Ahmed said he was excited to receive the Kogi ,governor in Owo.
The traditional ruler said that the Ebira community in Owo would l vote for the APC candidate, Gov. Aiyedatiwa in the governorship election.
Isa-Ahmed, however, commended Gov. Aiyedatiwa for appointing five members of the Ebira community into positions of authority in his administration and promised that the people would reciprocate the kind gesture by mobilizing more votes than what was achieved in the last governorship election in the state.
The APC rally in Owo was attended by members of the Ebira community from Utose, Omolonge, Utelu, Agopanu and others from the six local government areas in Ondo north senatorial district and other parts of the state.
