Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has directed his Special Assistants on Federal Constituencies to deliver the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in their areas in the April 2024 Local Government Elections.
The governor said this on Tuesday while inaugurating the Special Adviser and Special Assistants on Federal Constituencies at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
He tasked them to work hard with him to extend dividends of democracy to the people at the federal constituency level, stating that there is a lot of work to be done.
He said: “I want to congratulate Hon. Dare Adeleke and his team. It is a lot of work absolutely and I will tell you why. During the last election, out of the 14 federal constituencies, as a government, we lost nine and we had only five constituencies that are represented by PDP.
“We had Ibadan North-West/South-West, Ibadan North-East/South-East, Ogooluwa/Surulere, Iseyin/Itesiwaju, Iwajowa/Kajola and Ibarapa Central/ Ibarapa North. We have to ensure that, at the federal constituency level, we are able to extend dividends of democracy to the people.
“Yes, we have members of the state assembly in most of these federal constituencies but you need to also let them feel a sense of belonging. That is on the one side. On the other side is, you need to mobilise our people to ginger party members.
“We have a local government election coming in April and I want our candidates delivered in all the federal constituencies. So, that is the big task ahead of you. Even this weekend, we also have a bye-election in Saki. So, you have to mobilise our people and one thing I can tell you is that I will give you all the support necessary for you to perform.”
The governor commended foremost politician, Chief Jacob Gbadebo Adetoro, who headed the body of SAs on Federal Constituencies during Omituntun 1.0, for doing a yeoman’s job mobilising people to solve problems in each of the constituencies.
He equally stated that he was confident that the Special Adviser on Federal Constituencies, who is to now coordinate the body, will do a good job, as he is a veteran who had also played at the national level.
In attendance at the event were the chairmen of the Oyo State Elders’ Council and the Oyo State Advisory Council, Dr. Saka Balogun and Barr. Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, respectively and Commissioners in the cabinet.
Others were Alhaji Nureni Akanbi; Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Advisory Council; Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, PDP State Secretary; Mr. Michael Ogunsina, PDP Youth Leader, among others.