Ahead of the November 2024 governorship election in Ondo state, Indigenes of Idanre in the Idanre local government area of Ondo State living in Europe, said they will mobilise support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Agboola Ajayi.
The Chairman of the Idanre Indigenes in United Kingdom (UK) Otunba Olowoniyi Akinlemimu, who disclosed this, said they decided to throw their weight behind the Ajayi because of his antecedent and political achievements.
Akinleminu, while speaking on behalf of the group, said they decided to support the PDP’s governorship candidate because he picked an indigene of the town, Hon Festus Akingbaso as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.
He said the choice of Akingbaso, a serving member of the House of Representatives, was the first time since 1952 that an Idanre Indigene would be chosen as the running mate of a front-line political party.
He said apart from this, after reviewing the experience and chances of each of the governorship candidates in the election, “we have resolved to put our collective weight and support behind the Ajayi and Akingbaso.
He also said the PDP’s candidate had visited the United Kingdom with a promise to revive tourism and the economy of the ancient tien, through Mare festival, which has been abandoned, and make the Idanre Hills tourism attraction if elected as governor in the November 16 governorship election in the state.
Akinleminu said all the indigenes of Idanre living in different parts of Europe would come home to mobilize their kits and kin at home to vote for the PDP’s candidate and his running mate, who is an indigene of the town.
Meanwhile, Ajayi who just returned to Nigeria from a one-week interactive visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with indigenes of the state living abroad, expressed optimism about winning the election with the support of the Idanre and people of the state
During the interactive visit, Ajayi hosted an all-embracing Zoom meeting, which also accommodated many state indigenes in America and some parts of Europe, acknowledged the noble roles that Nigerians in Diaspora all over the world have been playing in the development of their state and community.
Ajayi said his visit allowed him to present his blueprint to the diaspora citizens for scrutiny, while it also gave the people the opportunity to make their demands and expectations from the gubernatorial hopeful.
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He stated his desires to revive the state’s economy, provide qualitative education, foolproof security, sports development, and youth development and empowerment programs, among others.
The Idanre UK indigenes, registered their optimism regarding the candidate’s capability, “to redirect the vehicle of the state back to a focused path from where it has since veered off because of the failure of the ruling party to provide leadership”
The Ondo state indigenes in diaspora, however, promised to mobilise fully to ensure Ajayi’s success in success in the scheduled election.
Also declaring support for the candidacy of Ajayi, a Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Prof Gold Emmanuel, said she is pleased with what the PDP candidate was bringing to the table.
Another participant, Awoyo Damilola Desmond, registered his happiness with what he said the PDP candidate is bringing to the table and promised his readiness to support him with his people all the way”.
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