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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The acting leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on Wednesday, joined other Nigerians at the campaign rally of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Speaking at the rally, Adebanjo said that his support for Obi is in the true spirit of equity, justice and fairness, adding that he bears no grudge against the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He said the critics of his support for Obi are not students of history.
The Afenifere leader said that since Nigeria got her independence in 1960, South East has not produced the president while other regions have governed the country once or twice.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was brought from prison after the annulment of the 1993 election to lead the country, he spent two terms of eight years and handed over to Late Musa Yar’adua from the North West.
“After the demise of Yar’adua, President Goodluck Jonathan from the South South became the acting president through the invocation of the doctrine of necessity and later contested and won the election.
“Former President Jonathan handed over to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari from the North West. Now, Afenifere is saying that the baton of leadership must be handed over to the candidate from the South East, and people are now calling me names.
“They submitted that my decision is borne out of the hatred that I have for Tinubu. The question is, where are these critics when I stood solidly behind Tinubu during his challenges?
“Where are they when I supported his first and second term ambitions to govern Lagos State. Now that I am calling for equity and fairness, I have become his sworn enemy. They say that I am envious of his achievements.
“Nigeria’s presidency is neither about Ibo nor Yoruba. The legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo must be upheld. Awo detested the marginalisation of any tribe by any tribe.
“Chief Awolowo is an advocate of true federalism. This is what he fought for alongside the Late Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sardauna of Sokoto.
“Rotational presidency is non-negotiable,” Adebanjo said.
In his address, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi described the present situation in the country as that of a vehicle grounded by dead drivers.
He said that only the Labour Party has the wherewithal to fix the country, adding that the likes of Adebanjo are trying to build a new Nigeria through fairness, justice and equity.
“The Labour Party is laying the foundation for a new Nigeria that the citizen will be proud of.
“We will ensure that we move Nigeria from consumption to production. We will create jobs for youths, our youths are energetic and always ready to work.
“We will fight corruption. We will create wealth. We are not going to share our commonwealth. Nigeria, today has become a laughing stock.
“New Nigeria will not be built on religion, ethnicity. We will ensure that ends come to incessant strikes by members of the Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU).
“We will return Lagos to the financial centre of Africa while the lost glory of the ancient city of Ibadan will be returned,” he said.
Speaking, the national chairman of the party, Julius Agbure, said Labour Party has a solution to the myriads of problem confronting the country.