By George Ozalla
President Bola Tinubu has urged voters in Osun State to vote wisely in Saturday’s governorship election, saying the state needs to be politically linked with the Federal Government at the centre.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally in Osogbo, where he was represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The President assured Osun residents that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to protect voters before, during and after the election, urging them to come out and cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.
Representing Tinubu, Akpabio said the electorate was free to vote for any candidate of their choice, but urged them to consider the political direction of the state when making their decision.
“My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is a need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us,” Tinubu said.
He also assured voters that nobody would be molested during the exercise, saying security agencies had been deployed to ensure a peaceful election.
Akpabio, in his remarks, expressed confidence in the chances of the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, saying the turnout at the campaign rally showed that the party had strong support in the state.
He cited the presence of prominent political figures, including former Osun State Governor and former APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi, as evidence of the party’s strength ahead of the poll.
The Senate President also acknowledged the support which he said some opposition figures had given to the APC candidate, particularly former Osun State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
He said the development demonstrated the growing acceptance of Oyebamiji across political lines.
Akpabio also raised concerns over the condition of the road linking Ibadan with Osun State, saying the condition of the route was unacceptable and that Osun deserved better infrastructure.
“On a personal note, I am not impressed by the condition of roads from Ibadan to this state. Osun deserves more than this. Osun should be better than what we have now,” he said.
He charged Oyebamiji, if elected, to make infrastructure development and the delivery of democratic dividends priorities from his first day in office.
The APC campaign rally came ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, with the party seeking to take control of the state from the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party administration.
