Ahead of next year’s general election, an Igbo group, Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative, has organised a town hall meeting to canvass support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
At the event, which took place in Lagos recently, the group, among other things, sensitised the Igbo on the need to vote for the APC presidential flag bearer and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima during the election.
It is doing this by showcasing the landmark achievements of Asiwaju Tinubu. The group has also indicated how the APC can the election in Igbo-dominated states of the Southeast and beyond.
The founder of Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative and Convener of Igbokwenu4Asiwaju, Ambassador Ginika Tor, said the initiative was an APC-oriented political group created to support the party during the electioneering period.
Tor, who is also the commissioner representing Enugu State in the Federal Character Commission, said the group was designed to work with APC members, and involve members, beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects by promoting participation, active communication, and engendering feedbacks.
She said though the party had its reason for making the choice, the onus is to extensively explain to the public the rationale behind the decisions made by the party. This is to give people a better understanding of issues on the ground and to bring many more people on board through assurances of good governance.
Tor said: “Tinubu is a man that is tested and trusted. So, I’m putting in all my best, and everything to ensure that we promote and protect him so that my Igbo brothers and sisters can understand that information is power and knowledge.
“I felt that we must understand the depth of who this man is to take it down to our brothers and sisters. My NGO, known as Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative, came up with Igbokwenu4Asiwaju meaning “Ndigbo support for Asiwaju,” because I have seen that even in Lagos, we are beneficiaries of his benevolence and large-heartedness. It takes the same man who has laid the good foundation and background for it to be sustained up till today. So, I just felt this is the best time to give back to him through support for his presidential ambition.
“We gather you here today as champions, to exchange ideas with you, to cross-fertilize ideas with one another on the way to go. We want to pay back to this man that has given people, including the Igbo, opportunity. The APC presidential candidate picked Shettima as a running mate because he knows that, with him, he will win the election. He can also count on his loyalty which is what the country needs most now. One common thing in the two is that they have a good succession plan as they were leaving offices as two-term governors.”
Tor said before the emergence of Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate, she has been at the forefront of the Igbo presidency. But, at the end of the day, “a candidate emerged, not just a candidate but a man of great pedigree, a man who has built leaders, a man who is tested and trusted in an open, fair, free and equitable contest”.
She said: “I’m, therefore, putting in all my best and my strength to ensure that we enlighten the world, especially my Igbo people, to support this man of vision. This is a man who has laid the foundation of Lagos State where our businesses have flourished.”
The member representing Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr Jude Idimogu said the APC presidential flagbearer has contributed immensely to the growth and sustenance of democracy right from the days of military dictatorship.
He said Tinubu is well experienced in the game of politics, adding that religion does not know tribe or race and doesn’t put food on anyone’s table.
Idimogu said: “This project and its initiator came at the right time. It has been my greatest desire to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is always a winner. He has a Midas touch on almost everything. He is a detribalised Nigerian and a destiny helper.
“He has the brain and focus to ensure he succeeds. We are on track; more people are going to be convinced about his potential. It’s a matter of proper orientation and what our people stand to gain, especially those of us here in Lagos.
“As far as I’m concerned, we will ensure that the Igbo don’t make mistakes this time. They don’t hate APC only that they are not couched in the right language. What we are advocating is how to defend the interest of our brothers and sisters.
“Today, our people want to contribute by ensuring that the interest of our brothers and sisters are protected wherever they are. We have seen that vision in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”
Hamza Ibrahim Baba, Special Assistant to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and Convener Asiwaju Vendors Nationwide said he had worked with the Igbo in the pharmaceutical industry and realised that they are industrious and hardworking people, adding that he respects them for that.
He said: “Ambassador Tor supported and passionately worked in the direction of the Igbo presidency. I remember her telling me Hamza, this is our turn, and she was right. But eventually, when a winner emerged from a keenly contested primary election, Asiwaju emerged. We have no other option than to follow this man and the party we believe in. The moment we met together with Tor, we saw the need to come together to support Asiwaju because he is a man who knows the values of struggles as the Igbo man does.
“He’s like the Igbo man; he has an Igbo spirit to succeed in all he does. He is a businessman who had been in the private sector. The leadership Asiwaju provided has made it possible for businesses to thrive here in Lagos, and you are doing well here. This is a true Nigerian, a nationalist. I assure you that your businesses will prosper more under Asiwaju in anything you do either here in Lagos or outside Lagos.”
Also, the National Secretary, Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), Gboyega Bada, said the over 3.5 million voting population of the Igbo in Lagos can be a payback to Asiwaju for all he has done in the state. Bada said Tinubu has shown love to the Igbo and provided security in the area of their businesses, making it possible for them to get a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for their businesses, adding the Igbo control over 70 per cent of businesses in Lagos and Kano.
The convener of Igbokwenu4Asiwaju, Ambassador Tor said Idimogu is a man of repute. She said: “I met him when we came for the screening of APC aspirants here in Lagos. He never came to me for any favour, rather he went into the field, and I saw that fighting and marketing spirit in him. He is credible, accountable and reliable.”
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