Somtochukwu

Ahead of this Saturday’s governorship elec­tion in Ondo State, President Muhammadu Buhari will not attend today’s grand finale rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daily Inde­pendent has gathered.

A presidency source told our correspondent that the president who has a very busy itinerary today will be repre­sented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Our correspondent also gathered that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the party, will also not be in attendance.

A top party source and close associate of the former Lagos State governor said while he is in total support of Akeredolu’s reelection, his decision to stay away from the rally “may be due to pre­cautionary measures owing to the COVID-19 pandemic”.

He, however, said several serving state governors, dep­uty governors, former gover­nors and serving ministers will be led to the rally by Gov­ernor Mai Mala Buni, who is chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, who is the chairman of the National Campaign Council of the APC in Ondo State.

Tinubu was present during the flag-off of the party’s cam­paign in September where he also commissioned some proj­ects completed by Akeredolu.

The rally will mark the end of campaign activities of the party’s candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his run­ning mate, Lucky Ayedatiwa.

“The president will not attend the rally and that has been communicated to the APC leadership in Ondo State. He will be represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo”, our source stated.

In a related development, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, has said residents of the state will be making a very wise de­cision by re-electing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for second term in office.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, Ojogo noted that the reelection of Akeredolu for a second term of four years would allow the governor to consolidate on his achieve­ments and deliver on his cam­paign promises to the elector­ate.

Ojogo, who said Akeredolu is contesting on a tripod of hard work, performance and integrity, added that the people of Ondo knows the governor as a honest and forthright pol­itician who will not promise what he cannot do.

He said replacing the gover­nor will amount to abandon­ing major ongoing projects in the state such as the Deep Sea Port and other laudable projects the governor couldn’t complete in his first term.

“Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has performed creditably well in his first term in office. He is determined to do more if given the opportu­nity to come back for a second term.

“The administration of Governor Akeredolu has initiated the process of es­tablishing a deep sea port in Ondo State. Only his return for a second term can drive this process through. Else, all the progress made on the deep sea port will be abandoned by another governor just like Mimiko abandoned it for eight years.

“There are new projects that cannot be finished in his first term. There is a need to return him for a second term so that these projects will not be abandoned. Despite the various projects he has com­pleted, Governor Akeredolu is still initiating new projects”.

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