The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano stormed the ancient city of Abeokuta at the weekend with the stalwarts of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to present the party’s flag to Prof. David Olufemi Bamgbose who is running for the governorship seat of Ogun State on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Governor Obiano who was accompanied by his wife, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano told a large crowd of party faithful that gathered at the Palace of the Alake of Egbaland for the symbolic presentation of flag to the gubernatorial candidate that the arrival of APGA in Abeokuta was a historical event that would usher in a new dawn in Ogun State.
Presenting the party flag to Prof. Bamgbose, Governor Obiano said “today is a great day in Ogun State. It is the day of a political Pentecost. From here, we urge you to go forth and preach the good news of APGA in Ogun State.”
Describing Prof. Bamgbose as a man who was eminently qualified to bring a massive transformation to Ogun State, Governor Obiano observed that after mastering the art of purposeful governance in Anambra State in the past nine years, APGA had finally decided that it was time to export its model of governance to other parts of the country.
He said, “APGA has entrenched a remarkable model of excellence in governance in Anambra State for over nine years; now we are exporting the APGA model of governance to other parts of the country because we are a national party. In Ogun State, Prof. Bamgbose will fly our proud flag. He will help us to plant the good governance we have in Anambra State here in Ogun State”.
He urged the people of the state to cast their votes for Prof. Bamgbose.
Also speaking at the colourful ceremony, the wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano urged the Ogun State women to vote for Prof. Bamgbose as he represents the change they were all looking for.
Chief Mrs Obiano who wowed the crowd in flawless Yoruba reminded the people that it was in their power to choose the future they wanted and further emphasized that a vote for Prof. Bamgbose was a vote for a brighter future.
Also speaking at the rally, the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh told the crowd that APGA had stormed the state to give the people the chance to reposition Ogun State to experience the benefits of good governance.
Comparing Ogun State to Anambra State, Chief Umeh observed that “Ogun State is known to have produced a lot of giants in education, business and politics. Anambra State has also produced very heavy giants in education, business and politics”.
“Sometimes, when giants clash, they deny the people the chance to experience good governance. And that is what is happening in Ogun State right now – giants are clashing. It also happened in Anambra State but we used APGA to wipe it out. Today, we have a governor who is also a seasoned banker, an accountant, a chartered auditor, a former Executive Director of a bank and now that he is the governor of Anambra State, the story has changed in less than one year. That is what we have come to do in Ogun State. We are presenting to Ogun people, the best man for the job”..
During a courtesy call on the traditional ruler of Abeokuta, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Governor Obiano had described his arrival in Abeokuta as a home coming of sorts”.
“I am a high Chief in Yorubaland. I am the Otunba Atayeshi of Ilemesho, in Ekiti State and my wife is Erelu Atayeshi. We bring good news to the ancient city of Abeokuta. We are introducing one of your own whom we have found worthy to fly our flag in the coming election,” the governor had explained further expressing the optimism that his visit to Abeokuta would open doors for APGA in Ogun State.
In his response, Oba Gbadebo had commended Governor Obiano for leading APGA to Abeokuta.
“This is a good omen for the country because the right to belong to any association as enshrined in our constitution will never be removed by anybody. You have a right to belong to any association you choose,” the Alake observed.
He further applauded APGA for offering one of his subjects a sanctuary from where he could seek the electoral support of the people of Ogun State. Oba Gbadebo also prayed that APGA would grow from strength to strength as it would lend more depth to Nigeria’s democracy.
Responding to all the speeches, the APGA gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Professor Bamgbose predicted that with his entry into the fray, a new dawn was coming upon Ogun State.
According to him, “I promise that if by the grace of God I become the governor of Ogun State, I will lead Ogun with the fear of God. I founded the Yelwa College of Education, the first private college of education in Ogun State that has produced over 10,000 teachers. We charge the lowest fees. We shall transfer that model of excellence to governance”.
He urged the people to vote for him in the coming election.
