Hammed Shittu captures the All Progressives Congress presidential rally which left behind a strong message from the opposition

The city of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital recently witnessed unprecedented crowd that attended the mother of all rallies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign ahead of the general election earlier fixed for February 14 before a change in the dates to March 28, citing insecurity and other factors outside the purview of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It held at held at Ilorin Metropolitan Square along Asa dam road.

From the Ilorin International Airport, Ilorin, through Geri Alimi junction to the General Hospital roundabout, the palace of Emir at Oja-Oba, Ilorin where the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buahri and his team paid homage to the Emir, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and finally to the Ilorin Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, thousands of members and supporters of the APC lined up the routes to give the APC, Buhari, his vice presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and all other leaders a rousing welcome. They pledged their support and loyalty to the party and that they would come out en mass to cast their votes for the APC.

The crowd that trooped out to the rally, according to THISDAY checks was based on the respect and general acceptability of the people of the state for the political dynasty of the Saraki family, which now led by the senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district, Bukola Saraki and the good governance that has been entrenched in the state under the leadership of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed.

Also, the leadership of the party wanted to show to the opposition Peoples Democractic Party (PDP) in the state that APC owns Kwara. A sign, political pundits claimed it showed the PDP during the elections in the country that there is no way for the party.

Report from the office of research and planning of the APC campaign council has it that the presidential rally of the APC in the state was the second of its kind after Kano State since the commencement of the rallies across the country. The venue was full to the capacity with various party members and supporters across the 16 local government councils of the state competing for attention.

Buhari, Osinbajo, and other chieftains of the party like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deputy national chairman of the party, Senator Nuhu Shuaib, former national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, the Director General of the APC presidential campaign committee and Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, former Governors of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni and Niyi Adebayo as well as former Governor of Kogi State, Audu Abubakar, were on hand to lead the campaign.

At the Emir’s palace, Buhari, who lamented the high rate of unemployment, decayed in infrastructure, power sector and economy said if elected, he would address some of Nigeria’s challenges. Buhari also promised that if elected, his administration would equip Nigerian schools and provide jobs for teeming Nigeria youth. He therefore solicited the Emir's support and his people, stressing that APC means well for Nigerians.

Responding, the Emir, Gambari described Buhari as a man of honour and justice. He said the crowd that besieged him on his arrival showed that he was accepted by the people, adding that all Nigerians are looking forward to Buhari to put the nation back on track if elected.                  
Addressing the crowd at the rally Buhari said he would ensure the rejuvenation of agricultural and the mining sector to create massive employment for the nation’s unemployed youths. He also promised to block all loopholes and use the proceeds to develop the infrastructure and educational development of the country.

“The APC has identified these problems and wherever we go, we repeat these fundamental problems Nigeria is going through – of insecurity, of the depletion of the economy and corruption. From the airport here, we saw the faces of hundreds of youths and it is believed that 60 per cent of the youths in Nigeria are unemployed, whether they have finished school or not and that is why the insecurity in the country is aggravated by unemployment.

“It is therefore the correct choice for APC to identify these problems and decide to do something about it as soon as we can. The only way to ameliorate this unemployment is to go back to farming and mining where we can absorb a lot of able-bodied youths while in-depth study and plans are being made for the economy, to build infrastructure especially power, roads and rail transportation.

“And whatever we realized from savings from wealth, we make sure schools are built, equipment provided and qualified teachers are provided. Our talented children who don’t have opportunity to go to schools, whose parents cannot afford to send them to schools, we will cooperate with the local governments to have scholarship system, where talented Nigerians could be identified and properly educated.

"Corruption is endemic in this country especially in the last 16 years. You don’t know the magnitude but you are hearing it. If power is available, a lot of entrepreneurs would be able to put up industries and employ more people and produce goods and services. And with the naira being devalued almost by the day, this means entrepreneurs cannot afford...to put the machineries, to employ people, to buy essential raw materials and produce goods and services.

“The cycle of corruption has done a great damage to the security and economy of this country. The APC is determined to break the vicious cycle of insecurity, unemployment and corruption. We need understanding.

“We are even scared of the high expectations of the people; that if we succeed, they would want to get jobs the following week, to get power and to work freely and work 24 hours a day without fear of assault. We have to be persuading people to bear with us. But we would make all these things available as soon as we can within the shortest possible time”.

Osinbajo, speaking, said “Today is a day of destiny in the political history of the country in view of the massive turn out of members and supporters of APC at the rally held in Ilorin. God has given us the destiny to change the fortune of the country for better but some people are trying to change it and God will not give them the chance to change it.”

Amaechi said this year’s election was a last chance for Nigerians to change the country’s destiny and they should not miss it.
“I want to say this is the last chance we must make because if we don’t change it, it will impose itself on us,” he said, accusing the PDP government of bad leadership in the last six years of President Goodluck Jonathan and appealed to the people to change the PDP government.

Tinubu appealed to the people to ensure that they voted out the PDP led government at the center during the election to bring much desired socio economic development to the country.

Saraki, on his part, said “With today’s coming out of the APC members and supporters in large number to the rally shows that Kwara has spoken and there is no way for PDP in Kwara again”.

According to him, “When I came home one year ago that, the PDP has collapsed and all its engines had locked and we are progressing to All Progressives Congress, so, with today’s massive turn out of the people at the rally, the APC has taken its root in Kwara and the party is going to win all elections in the country.”

Deputy National chairman of the party, Senator Nuhu Shuaib, who presented the flag of the party to Ahmed, called on Kwarans to rally round him and cast their votes for him and other party candidates in the state during the polls.
Ahmed however said his three and half years had witnessed good governance and promised to continue with the successes recorded to accelerate the socio well being of the Kwarans.

Evidently, the crowd that greeted the presidential rally of APC in Kwara was a strong message to the opposition in the state that the APC remains the party to beat. Besides, the rally has also confirmed the general acceptability of the party and showed that Saraki remains the political leader of the state. Above all, it means that APC may have become a house hold name in Kwara politics.