Atiku, Aregbesola, Mark Rally Osun Voters For ADC Ahead of Saturday Poll

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Monday appealed to Osun voters to support the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salam, in Saturday’s election, describing the ADC as a platform of “the best of Nigerians.”

Atiku made the appeal while addressing supporters at the ADC grand rally held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, where he recalled his longstanding political relationship with the people of Osun State.

The former Vice President said Osun voters had consistently supported him in previous political contests, stressing that he would not forget the role they played in his political journey.

“This is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. Each time I stood here, you have given me your vote. I cannot forget that because your daughter is in my house,” Atiku told the gathering.

He recalled that he had previously campaigned in the state for Governor Ademola Adeleke and during his own presidential bid, saying the people of Osun supported both causes.

“I came here for the current governor, and I told you people to support him, and you voted for him. I came here on my presidential campaign; you voted for me, and you defeated Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For me, I can’t forget that,” he said.

Atiku said he returned to Osun not only to appreciate the electorate for their past support but also to seek their votes for the ADC in the August 15 governorship election.

“I have come today to appeal to you again to vote for ADC. This is because ADC is different from APC, Accord and other political parties. The best of Nigerians today are in ADC,” he said.

The former Vice President expressed optimism that the large turnout at the rally was an indication of the party’s prospects in the election.

“I thank you very much for your turnout, which is quite impressive and that has given us optimism that in the next elections we are going to win; you are going to win,” Atiku added.

The ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, described the rally as a celebration of the party’s anticipated victory in Saturday’s election.

Mark urged voters to turn out in large numbers, vote for the ADC and protect their votes, warning against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process.

“What we are here to do is celebrate the victory that we are going to come to the ADC on Saturday. Our Presidential candidate is here with us, and this shows the love he has for this party,” he said.

Mark added: “By the time we swear in Najeem Salam in November, we will be here again to march with you to the Government House.”

He further urged voters to remain vigilant on election day.

“On Saturday, protect your votes. Don’t allow anybody to rig you out. They will not rig and get away with it,” he said.

Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said the party was committed to improving the welfare of residents and restoring confidence in governance.

Aregbesola said government should be about service, opportunity and accountability, describing the ADC as the true heir to the progressive tradition associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He highlighted free education, quality healthcare and social welfare as some of the principles he said remained central to the party’s agenda.

Recalling programmes introduced during his administration between 2010 and 2018, Aregbesola said Salam would revive and expand initiatives that were designed to improve the lives of residents if elected governor.

“We invested in healthcare, social welfare, and emergency response systems like O-AMBULANCE. We introduced O’YES for youth empowerment, O’MEALS for school feeding, and O’REAP for agriculture. These and many more laudable programmes will be back under Iwaloye,” Aregbesola said.

He said the ADC government would also reintroduce school feeding across public primary schools and expand social intervention programmes.

According to him, good governance should be continuous, stressing that programmes capable of improving the lives of citizens should not be abandoned because of political differences.

On infrastructure, Aregbesola said rural roads should be viewed beyond physical structures because of their importance to farmers, students and rural communities.

He promised that an ADC administration would prioritise rural electrification, mechanised agriculture and innovation hubs as part of efforts to create jobs and increase productivity.

Aregbesola described Salam as the “face of continuity” and urged the electorate to vote for him as the next governor of the state.

He said Salam’s agenda included the re-establishment of O’YES to employ 20,000 youths, revival of the O’MEALS school feeding programme, expansion of mechanised agriculture, as well as investment in rural infrastructure and technology.

“This election is about the future of Osun. Quality education, youth opportunities, farmer prosperity, and a government that truly serves the people,” Aregbesola said.

He urged voters to come out on August 15 and vote for the ADC, saying the party had the experience and blueprint needed to restore prosperity and dignity to the state.

Speaking after receiving the party’s flag, the ADC governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Salam, promised that his administration would place the welfare of Osun residents at the centre of governance.

Salam pledged to improve all sectors of the state and vowed that the party would resist any attempt to rig the election.

He also promised to create jobs for 20,000 youths within his first 100 days in office if elected.

“On Saturday, nobody will be allowed to rig us out. What they did in Ekiti State will not happen here. If we win the election, I want to tell you that our electricity will be stable. We have a solution to that, and it is a promise,” Salam said.

He promised free education from primary to secondary school levels, while assuring that his administration would review tuition fees in the state’s higher institutions with a view to reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

“Education from the primary to the secondary school for our children will be free, and we will also ensure that we have a committee that will review the tuition fees in our higher institutions with a plan to bring it down,” he said.

Salam also promised free medical treatment for children between ages one and 18, free treatment for pregnant women, and welfare support for elderly citizens and widows.

“Children from age 1 to 18 will have access to free medical treatment in a well-equipped government hospital. Our pregnant women will have free treatment. Our elders and widows will be taken care of,” he added.