Tinubu: PDP plans to destabilise Lagos during polls

Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government to perpetrate violence and destabilise Lagos State during next month’s general election.

He said the PDP government is also funding Labour Party (LP) to the tune of N3 billion to create confusion in the state, following the resolve of the party to support President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls.

The former Lagos State governor spoke at the rally organised by the ACN faithful in Alimoso, Lagos West District, where the Chairman of the party, Otunba Dele Ajomale, presented flags to the party’s candidates.

The candidates are the senatorial flag bearer, Senator Ganiyu Solomon; House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Adeola Olamilekan and House of Assembly candidaates, Hon. Bisi Yusuf and Hon. Tayo Oduntan.

Tinubu also dissociated ACN from any alliance with the LP in the state, describing any ACN member hobnobbing with the opposition party as a traitor and agent of the PDP

He said: “All those people who left AC N for Labour Party are PDP agents. ACN rejects the so-called endorsement of Governor Babatunde Fashola by Labour Party. It is poisonous.

‘’Ïf Labour Party wants to be with us, why can’t labour candidates withdraw for other ACN candidates? Americans call that a poisonous endorsement. They are PDP agents.”

Warning against electoral malpractices and intimidation of voters, Tinubu said Lagos and the Southwest would resist rigging by defending their votes after voting.

He said: “The leaders of PDP, led by an ex-convict, have gone to Abuja to tell them that they will use military tactics to rig Lagos. He wants a pardon so that he can come and do nefarious activities in Lagos. Lagos State will resist rigging tactics. If you want Nigeria to develop and stabilise, tell PDP and Obasanjo and all their cohorts to leave Lagos and Southwest alone.”

An unprecedented crowd of party supporters converged on the abandoned camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Igando, for the rally, where Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN rendered an account of his stewardship and unfolded his manifesto.

The governor also repudiated the PDP and LP, urging Lagosians to reject their candidates during the critical elections.

It was a special home-coming for Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and his wife, Alhaja Sherifat, who joined the party leaders, including Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, Pa Akanni Suarau, Pa Abiodun Sunmola, and Cardinal James Odunmbaku for the rally.

On the stage entertaining the crowd was the Fuji maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, who, in a composition laced with proverbs reiterated the peoples’ determination to insist on one man one vote.

Scores of defectors from the PDP to the ACN also received party flags from Ajomale. They were led by Chief Oladipo Ige, Harrison Ayo Afolabi, Lape Oshodi, Chief Benson, and Segun Olaoye. Tinubu congratulated them for coming on board ‘’the Noah’s Ark,’’ enjoining them to work for ACN’s success at the election.

Speakers at the campaign included the Alimoso grassroots leaders, including Alhaji Olu Adimula, Alhaji Abiodun Mafe, Alhaji Mao Ola, Hon. Israel Adekunle, Hon. Femi Adebanjo, Hon. Jimoh Ajao, Hon. Adelabu Onibiyo and Pastor Kenny Okunmuyide.

Also at the rally were Fashola’s running mate and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Hon. James Faleke, Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, Hon. Tunji Bello, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, Hon. Enoch Ajiboso, Hakeem Salvador, Akin Bashiru, Lateef Ibirogba, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Kasali Olamide, Chief Funso Ologunde, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, Hon. Yemi Adedeji and Mrs Folake Sokunbi Kalokalo.

The rally kicked off with an Islamic prayer rendered by Alhaji Ade Cole and Christian prayer by Chief Abel Badejo.

Tinubu conducted a mini enlightenment programme for the crowd by displaying the symbol of the party, urging them to thumb-print the ballot wherever they see the broom.

‘’Ï am not afraid. I know that you will troop out to vote ACN. Don’t go to the polling booths and ask for BRF. BRF is inside the broom,” he added, advising prospective voters to avoid wrong thumb-printing that may warrant voiding their votes.

Tinubu advised the members of the ACN to arrive at their polling booths at 8 am, adding that they should know their respective polling stations ahead of the elections.

He alerted them to PDP’s antics, saying: ‘’Once they know that they will not have votes, they will adopt violence.”

Explaining the reason for picking Adefulire as Fashola’s running mate, Tinubu said she hailed from a formidable Awori family that has supported progressive ideals for decades, stressing that the commissioner was reaping the fruits of her illustrious father, Alhaji Karimu Laka Orelope, a devoted leader of Alimoso sub-zone.

The former governor paid tributes to other leaders of the area, including Adimula, Onibiyo, Baba Aladiye, Hon. Orire and Asimiyu Balogun, saying that their contributions to the state were invaluable.

Tinubu said Alimoso had witnessed tremendous development under the Fashola Administration, making reference to a number of projects commissioned by the administration.

He also said that ACN rallies had been devoid of violence, unlike the PDP campaigns, which he said had become a campaign of blood spilling.

He chided the PDP for going ahead with its campaign in Katsina State, despite the fact that seven people, including the Aide de Camp to the governor, died on the campaign train of the party.

This, Tinubu said, smacked of insensitivity to the plight of the deceased and their bereaved families.

Aregbesola, who had played politics in Alimoso for almost 39 years, asked the people to deliver 500,000 votes to the ACN at the polls.

He also asked them to distance themselves from the Labour Party, saying: ‘’Äny party that is not ACN is not our party. Some people say they are Labour Parthy. Do not vote for them. Let all our votes in Alimoso go to ACN. There is no difference between Labour Party and PDP.

“Labour has no presidential candidate. On the eve of each election, let all men of religion–Christians, Muslims and tradional religion pray. Christians should read Psalm 24. Muslims should recite the Koran, Suratu 2, verse 55 in 113 times. Let all women rise early, prepare food for their husbands and children and dress well. Vote, and after voting, sing a song of victory.’’

Fashola thanked the people of Alimoso for their support, urging them to repeat the feat next month. He said he trusted them for policing their votes, because, as he put it, they are soldiers of democracy.

He told the crowd that a vote for ACN is a vote for development and prosperity, promising to speed up the implementation of on-going projects in the sub-zone.

The governor disclosed that a new Master Plan for Alimoso, which he described as “Tinubu Country”, was underway, adding that the proposed mega city would confer on the area a semblance of a Federal Capital Territory.

Fashola promised to provide more amenities, construct new roads, complete the women and children hospital, housing estate and low-cost houses, adding that he would also link the area to the railway line stretching from Mile 2 to Badagry.

The governor also promised to build a stadium in Alimoso, on the land he said had been provided by Hon. Orelope.

Fashola assessed his rival, Dr Ade Dosunmu of the PDP, saying that he is grossly incompetent.

He said: ‘’Ä person who cannot manage a parastatal wants to manage a whole state. It is not possible.”