| SPARING A THOUGHT FOR THE POOR: Prof. Osinbajo (right) discussing with a family in Saki town, Oyo State…at the weekend. With him is APC governorship candidate Adebayo Adelabu. |
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has urged the people of Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in next month’s election.
He said the President needed another four years to consolidate on his achievements and reposition the country for excellence.
The vice-president spoke on the achievements of the administration during his visits to Igbeti, Igboho, Kisi and Saki, where he was received by huge crowds of party members and supporters.
Oke-Ogun consists of big agrarian towns and communities. They are mostly border towns with Republic of Benin and Togo.
Osinbajo said President Buhari had served the country with fidelity, forthrightness and sincerity, adding that his programmes were targeted at the poor.
He said: “All the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration was to empower the common man and the poor.”
At Igbeti, where the vice-president led a street rally, he explained that the TraderMoni, MarketMoni and the N-Power programmes were designed to liberate the masses from poverty.
He stressed: “The TraderMoni is to empower the small, small traders, it is not for big business. Those in big businesses have their own, which is called the MarketMoni. We want to reach every village so that the people here will also benefit from this government; all of us will be going up, up, up.”
Osinbajo said the Federal Government will continue to encourage hard work by assisting artisans with money to enhance their businesses.
He added: “Even those who are not graduates, but can read and write will be given a stipend monthly like those in the N-Power programme.”
Osinbajo, who joined the crowd in singing a special campaign song composed in Yoruba, urged the people to vote wisely.
He said Oke-Ogun voters will benefit from voting credible leaders who use the nation’s God-given resources for the benefit of the poor.
He said voting for leaders who will steal people’s money and compound their poverty is not a right step in the right direction.
Osinbajo said Nigerians made a good decision by voting for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, adding that the Buhari administration had achieved more with less resources.
During his visit to the Onigbeti of Igbetiland, Oba Emmanuel Oyekan Oyebisi, Ofasegbejo III, Osinbajo said the government will continue to respect traditional rulers.
Oba Oyebisi praised the Social Investment Programme of the Buhari administration, describing it as a people-oriented intervention programme.
The monarch urged the Federal Government to develop the mineral resources in his domain, including different types of marble, for the progress of the community and the country.
Osinbajo thanked the traditional ruler for the warm reception, assuring him that his request will be considered, if the president is re-elected.
He described the election as critical to the future of Nigeria, urging the people to be vigilant.
Osinbajo said: “Kabiyesi, this coming election is for progress; we have already seen it, but if we are not cautious, we may be drawn back, but God forbid it.”
At Kisi, the headquarters of Irepo Local Government Area, the vice president urged the people to stand with the government during the poll.
Osinbajo, who visited the Bagii of Saki, Chief Abdrasheed Gazali Adegoke, where he met with traditional rulers in the area, thanked them for maintaining peace in their communities.
Adegoke, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs, praised Osinbajo for being “a great vice president”, adding that President Buhari deserves a second term because of his impressive achievements.
Also, in continuation of the “family chats,” Osinbajo visited the families of Alhaji Ganiyu Akere and Mr. & Mrs Sunday Kolajo, in Saki.
At a rally in the town, the vice-president spoke on the Social Investment Programme and the “Next Level” plan of the Buhari administration.
Osinbajo was accompanied by the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who hails from Oke-Ogun.
Osinbajo said that the people of Oke-Ogun, who have savoured the dividends of democracy under the Buhari administration, should continue to keep faith with the government.
He said the government will grant their request for potable water, roads and power as part of efforts to uplift the rural areas.
Osinbajo said the people will also benefit from the Trans-border International Market since Saki shares borders with Republic of Benin and Togo.
At Sango, Saki, the vice president met with the Hausa community, urging them to remain committed to President Buhari’s second term ambition.
He assured them of more people-oriented schemes that will boost their trading.
Osinbajo said: “The next level of change is to lift everyone from poverty and provide more infrastructural development.”
A community leader, Abdulwaheed Lawal, a lawyer, pledged the loyalty of the community to the cause of the APC, assuring the party that the people will vote for the President.
Earlier in the day, Osinbajo attended the wedding of the son of the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He also met with the League of Imams and Alfas in Ibadan, shortly before departing for Oke-Ogun for his two-day campaigns in the sub-zone.