Ahead of the Osun State Governorship elections on July 16, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, presented the party’s flag to the state governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gboyega Oyetola.
This was as he promised to avail himself to offer support to the governor at the grand finale of his campaign rallies.
According to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari made the promise when he received Oyetola at the State House, Abuja, in the company of Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state, amongst others.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari presents party flag to gubernatorial candidate, commends Oyetola for tireless service to the people’.
It read in part, “The President commended the performance of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the party, for serving the people tirelessly in his first term in office, adding that he has confidence in the Party winning the election, fairly and squarely in the coming week.
“President Buhari gave kudos to the co-chairs of the Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as the Vice Chairman, Niger State’s Abubakar Sani Bello for putting in so much energy into the campaign to re-elect Governor Oyetola.
“‘I wish you the best of luck’, said the President.”
In response to the invitation to participate at the Grand Finale of the rallies, next week, he said, “I hope I will make myself available to boost your morale.”
The Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abba Kyari, who presented the candidate on behalf of the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, commended the President for leading the Party to victory.
He described Governor Oyetola as a performing Governor who has done well in his first term and is deserving of a second.
He also expressed optimism that the Party will emerge the overall winner in the general elections in February next year.
Present at APC presentation were the National Secretary, Senator Omisore and the Secretary of the Osun Campaign Council who is also the Sokoto State APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu.
Oyetola who spoke to State House Correspondents shortly after the ceremony saying his administration had kept faith with the people of Osun.
“There is no serious division, as it were, in APC in Osun. We have issues, which is ordinarily likely to happen in any party and we’ve done a lot of reconciliations. As I speak, a number of them have actually come back to join us for this coming election. So, I believe we are together with them.
“In addition to that, like was mentioned, not less than more than 10,000 decampees came from the other party and we still have a lot of them that are supporting us.
“As for the question of performance, I believe by any standard, I’ve done very well to deserve a second term; I’ve repositioned the economy of the state, I’ve been paying full salaries and pensions, which was one of the various terrible things that happened to us in 2018, workers are getting their salaries, before the end of the month, full and the pensioners are receiving their pensions regularly too,” he said.
Oyetola boated that in the health sector, he had revitalised at least 330 health centers in 332 wards.
According to him, the intention is to have a health centre per ward.
“So, in terms of healthcare, we’ve done very well. We’ve established the Osun Health Insurance Scheme, that is taking care of the vulnerable.
“We’re supporting people who may not have the means to feed themselves with foods support every month. Not less than 30,000 vulnerable are being taken care of.
“In the area of security, we’ve done well. I can say, without any doubt, that Osun State is perhaps one of the most policed states in Nigeria today. In addition to ensure that we integrate the AMOTEKUN with the hunters, who know the terrain when it comes to kidnapping. We’re doing very well again”, he said.