The supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar today trooped out in thousands in Oyo State to express their solidarity for him.
Recall, there has been lingering crisis in PDP following the group of five governors’ insistence that the party’s chairman, Iyorcha Ayu tenders his resignation after the primary election that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.
The walk which took off from Total Garden, Secretariat road in Ibadan saw the supporters of Jumoke Akinjide, Deputy Director-General Atiku campaign Council, Women Affairs, Wole Oyelese, former Mines and Power Minister, Ashim Gbolarumi, Former Oyo state Deputy Governor and a host of others routing for Atiku’s election, moving to Agodi Gate, locking down the streets to Itutaba,Oje,Isale Alfa, Beere to Mapo as the people were addressed at different junctions.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide stated the objectives of the “freedom walk” as creating awareness for the people of the state on why Atiku is the best for the Presidential job.
She used the ocassion to call the attention of party members to tommorow’s PDP gubernatorial campaign flag-off in Oyo State and directed that members should troop into the venue while also imploring them to stand against Makinde and his G-5 allies should they use the campaign venue to pronounce support for any presidential candidate other than Atiku Abubakar.
Oloye Akinjide catalogued the woes that have bedevilled the people of Nigeria under the APC administration for the past eight years—-the inflation rates, insecurity, economic downturn, removal of foods from homes and what have you, and the need to have an Atiku who has stated several times that he already has his bill to restructure Nigeria.
The PDP stalwart told the traders who besieged the campaign at Oje market that Atiku as a former customs officer understands how it pinches them when borders are closed by the Buhari government and knows how to alleviate the problem.
She reminded the people that Atiku has always been a friend of the Yorubas as his actions to make it possible for Abiola and Olusegun Obasanjo to win elections in 1993 and 1999 respectively are there as historical evidences. Party supporters, especially women chanted and danced gleefully to the music of Taye Currency, the Fuji maestro, in support of Atiku’s presidential election bid.
Security Agencies, the Police, Civil Defence Corp, Road Safety, DSS, all maintained an unprecedented security network to make the “freedom walk” a success.