• Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Vote for Fayemi, cede your land to Fulani herdsmen – Secondus

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has warned that a vote for Kayode Fayemi and All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 14 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, would amount to ceding Ekiti land to Fulani herdsmen.

Secondus, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday at a mega rally staged by the party, said: “By the grace of God, Ekiti people are very peaceful and we can see the clear demonstration of love for Fayose and in-coming governor, Olusola, you won’t vote for herdsmen’s attacks and killings.”

Addressing the rally that drew party bigwigs such as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former governors, Sule Lamido, Attahiru Bafarwa, Ahmed Makarfi; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, among others, Secondus further said: “We believe Ekiti State is full of people with highest level of manpower and professors. Our youths are very strong, innovative and resourceful and not lazy; they are future leaders of tomorrow; among you there would be governors, ministers and presidents, among others.

“APC is broken; I am here with National Working Committee of the PDP to appreciate you for standing for PDP. As you can see, Fayose has worked for Ekiti and the evidence is all over, in the infrastructure development, education and economic advancement.”

According to him, “All PDP states are witnessing great developments, these are not so in APC. PDP is winning and moving forward to rescue our country from economic, and security collapse and all inhuman treatment meted out by APC.  You can see killings in all states- Zamfara, Plateau, and others.

“APC leaders are not God; we refuse to be intimidated by them. It is their style to put fear in people, but we refuse to fear.

“If you vote for Fayemi, he will take your land to herdsmen. We are experiencing civil war because of killings. Buhari and APC are behind it. PDP will rescue this nation from them. APC is shattered; ask Fayemi, on which of the APC factions’ platform is he contesting? We have the best candidate for Ekiti.”

Addressing the crowd, Governor Ayodele Fayose said that no amount of intimidation could stop electoral victory of the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti State, Olusola Eleka Kolapo, who received the party’s flag from the national chairman of the PDP.

Fayose, who also berated the Federal Government and APC for allegedly shutting down the Akure Airport, the nearest airport to Ado-Ekiti, said that such development was a shameful act of political witch-hunt.

“Our leaders have spoken, I want to say to you, if you vote for APC, God forbid, you are voting for Boko Haram and herdsmen attacks. In PDP we believe in human beings and not touts. INEC, we know your plans, you want to rig for APC; we will follow you bumper to bumper; we know your agenda, that you want to preload smart cards for APC; Ekiti is a no go area. We don’t allow violence in Ekiti. Since, I was governor, no violent or political killings in Ekiti; it is when you came that such is happening again. Whether you go for violence or not come July 14, Olusola will be next governor,” he said.

“We want to tell the security agencies, 99 percent of officers working for INEC are not from Ekiti; leave our state for us. I won’t receive Buhari into Ekiti, he has not done anything to deserve such honour. They have locked up three teachers; since Monday they have been arresting people; don’t join them to do violence; don’t allow them to provoke us.

“We will give APC 16:0 again; l want to condemn Federal Government for closing Akure Airport and force people coming here to Ekiti to come through Ilorin Airport; it is shameful and unleader-like,” the governor said.

Earlier, Atiku Abubakar, a presidential aspirant, assured the people of the state that the PDP would re-enact the development of infrastructure that took place from 1999 to 2015 before the coming of the APC on the national scene and would sustain the good legacy that the Fayose administration if they voted Olusola.

“PDP guarantees you good hospital, road, infrastructure, education and many other dividends of democracy; it is time for you to ensure that this administration continues because that is the key to development. What we are doing is a rescue mission; we will bring back peace, security and prosperity of this country. Make sure you vote and stay there till results are announced,” Atiku said.

Ahmed Makarfi, another presidential aspirant, said: “For me I am very happy to see PDP family giving APC government sleepless night. Three reasons to vote for PDP in Ekiti are, our candidate is a Professor, he is senior to APC’s who is a PhD holder;  Olusola is a pastor while Fayemi is merely a church goer, and we know APC is a student while ours is a teacher. We know APC will sack teachers, ours will empower our women and promote teachers.”

Another presidential aspirant, Sule Lamido, said: “In the name of God, the compassionate and we are not here to campaign but to celebrate victory because we know our candidate is a governor-elect. One reason is that APC is scattered. Second is that Buhari has left Fayemi’s office vacant which means he knows Fayemi cannot win here.”

Attahiru Bafawara said: “I congratulate you Ekiti people, you have a visionary leader in Fayose, who loves you; he is leaving but he has brought somebody who will continue the good works he has been doing. Continuity is very important.

Keep on supporting Fayose and support PDP, with what we have seen today I know by the grace of God we have won. What remains is for you to protect your votes on July 14.”

In his response after receiving the party’s flag, Olusola said: “By the grace of Almighty God, we assure our leaders and Ekiti that we will sustain the good legacies of Fayose, we will improve on it and sustain the legacies. I assure you of adequate security, healthcare, excellent infrastructure, civil service, education enterprises, and exemplary leadership among others.  Ours is a divine agenda. It is a divine mission with divine agenda it cannot be conquered by APC. Congratulations Ekiti, your governor-elect is talking.”