The town of Sagamu-Remo in Ogun State came alive last Wednesday, 23rd February 2022, as a lot of top Ogun APC leaders took to the streets of Sagamu, on a long walk, to campaign for Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to join the 2023 Presidential race.
These
top APC leaders were drawn from Remo North, Ikenne, Sagamu
Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu Isiwo, Ijebu Waterside, and other
neighbouring towns. And they mobilised members of their various wards (about
35 wards) to come out to campaign for VP Osinbajo,
who they have nicknamed PYO.
The Ogun APC Chieftains who led the All Remo Support Osinbajo Rally included Hon. John Obafemi, Otunba Fatai Sowemimo, Asoju Tayo Adesanya, Mr. Erinfolami Onajole, Mr. Deji Solaja, Otunba Korede Olusanya, Aare Jimi Olatunji, Alhaji Lamidi Odulawa, Ar. Abiodun Adesanya, Mrs. Josephine Makanjuola, Evang. Kolade Segun-Okeowo, and Hon. Kunle Adesanya among other leaders. They all came out en masse that Monday to lead and coordinate the pro-Osinbajo rally.
As early as 7.30am that day, party members all dressed up in deep blue PYO Tee-shirts and Face caps, on jeans, gathered at the Remo Secondary School (RSS) roundabout leading to Ikenne, to mobilise hundreds of supporters who had been invited to be part of the rally.
As
the leaders posted the PYO posters on the walls of where they
were, and got everyone ready, via phone calls, for the long walk round Sagamu
town, okada riders began to assemble at the roundabout,
all facing Sagamu township.
By
8am, a lot of okada riders, various Women
Support Groups, artisans, all gathered to commence the
walk, round the major streets of Sagamu, singing and dancing,
with a band leading the convoy of cars and commercial buses.
Adequate
security was provided by the Police, Trace and
other security agencies.
As
the party leaders and members trekked into Sagamu township carrying
the various Osinbajo for 2023 Presidency banners,
the band led by Queen Esther Iwalewa, began to tell everyone who
cared to listen that they should all rally round son-of-the-soil,
in 2023.
The
band played all sorts of danceable Fuji, Juju and Hip-Hop tunes while promoting PYO’s ambition and asking Remo people to
vote for PYO in 2023.
As
the campaigners, made up of 60% women, moved round
the major streets of Sagamu, they distributed leaflets and
interacted with the market women who had their goods already
displayed, for the day, Taxi drivers, and Shop owners, on
the need to vote for Osinbajo. They stopped at the various markets,
bus stops, motor parks, educating everyone on the need to vote wisely,
by voting for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. They also stopped at the royal
father, Ewusi’s palace, to tell him about their PYO campaign.
He gave them his blessings and the campaigners continued their journey.
The
trek which went on till about 4pm ended up at the palace of the Akarigbo,
where a rally was held at the open square, within the
palace. At the rally, the leaders addressed the crowd that had gathered to listen
to the message of the leaders of the party.
One
after the other, the Ogun APC party leaders spoke about the many
virtues of PYO and why he is eminently qualified to be the next President
of Nigeria. They reminded party members that Osinbajo
is from Ikenne, Remo and it is their responsibility as Remo
people, to rally round him to win. Amidst singing and dancing,
the rally achieved its aim, as many more people joined to listen to
them.
After
the speeches by the leaders, they proceeded into the palace to meet with the Akarigbo
and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi. They
wanted to tell him their mission. They met the Akarigbo, in the
company of 2 other colourful Remo Obas, the Elepe
and Radanuwa of Idado, who listened to the party leaders.
One
after the other, the party leaders told the Akarigbo the reason
for their campaign: to ask the Akarigbo to help tell his son, Vice
President, Yemi Osinbajo to immediately join the presidential race,
without hesitation. They explained that they took up this role to show support
for Osinbajo. “Osinbajo didn’t send us to go round.
We decided to do this on our own. We the Remo people
are behind him. We can’t sit down and watch people from other parts of
the country campaigning for the VP to be the next President
and we would now sit down idle. We don’t want it to look as if we are
not supporting him. We are in fact begging him to come out and run. We want the
Akarigbo to please help beg him to run. “We are here to come and
plead with the Akarigbo to ask Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to
run. He is capable. He has the attributes”.
“Other
zones across the country have been calling and clamouring for him to run. We
also want him. All the 35 wards in Remo came
out today massively to campaign for him. And we have been on the road since 7:30am”.
About
3 of the leaders spoke about the need to rally round PYO
who they say is brilliant, focused and has all the leadership
traits that the country needs at a time like this.
After
all the speeches, one of the leaders of the group, Hon. John Obafemi, formally
presented the Akarigbo with a letter of request, asking Osinbajo
to come out and run. They wanted the Akarigbo to help pass it on
to him.
After
that, John Obafemi asked all the members of the delegation seated
before the Akarigbo to all stand-up and prostrate, whilst the
women knelt down begging the Akarigbo to help tell Prof.
Osinbajo to run.
The
Akarigbo who is the head of the Ogun State Council of Obas,
personally collected the letter, read it and promised to deliver it to Osinbajo
in the next few days.
He
also extolled the virtues of Osinbajo. He said Osinbajo is
a brilliant man who knows what he is doing.
He
also spoke about how ultimately it will be Osinbajo who will
have to take that decision himself.
Kabiyeesi
counselled the campaigners that those
campaigning for Osinbajo should do it carefully and tactically,
so as not to inflame tension. He said they have to be humble about
it and that they have to persuade others to see reason with them.
The 1st thing to do is to push for a candidate of Yoruba
extraction. We have to be wise. We have to be meticulous about it and
take a decision to carry all parts of this country along”.
He
said Osinbajo is a talented human being.
“I
will deliver your letter and convey that message that you want him to run. I am
very optimistic that he will take the right decision that will be good for Remo,
for Nigeria and for himself. What we all want is the betterment
of the country. He said he wasn’t only speaking for himself, but was also
speaking for all the members of the Remo Traditional Council.
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