Date Published: 08/14/09

Bankole canvasses support for Arise

SPEAKER House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will leave no stone unturned to return its candidate in the Ekiti North Senatorial District bye-election scheduled Saturday, Mr. Ayo Arise to the Senate.

 Bankole, who is the chairman of the PDP campaign committee for the rerun election, added that Ekiti people cannot afford to be in the opposition again, hence the need for a total victory for the PDP in the election.

 Addressing thousands of PDP supporters at Oye-Ekiti, venue of the PDP final rally for the senatorial election on Thursday, he said he was convinced that PDP will win the election convincingly, adding that the AC do not have any meaningful presence in Ekiti State.

  The Speaker, who arrived at Oye Ekiti at about 3.00 pm, enjoined electorates in the five local government areas where the election will be taking place to exercise their civic responsibility without fear of attack, adding that adequate security would be provided for the voters.

 “We have every reason to return Arise to the Senate because he did very well when he was there. He was a respected voice in the Senate and he will only go back to continue where he stopped. Unlike the candidate of the other party, who will be a back bencher if he gets to the senate, Arise’s front row is waiting for him.

 “Also, Ekiti State has no reason to return to opposition politics because PDP is the only party that can protect the collective interests of Nigeria. Also, the PDP is the only party that gives the youths the opportunity to reach their full potentials. I am here today because of Arise and I will make sure that every promise made here are fulfilled”, he said.

 In his own address, the Ekiti State governor, Mr. Segun Oni, the said PDP will record landslide victory in the election, saying it was not strategic for the AC to have picked its senatorial candidate from Ifaki, his hometown.

 Oni said the bye-election would further establish the superiority of the PDP to the AC in Ekiti State, adding that those that matters politically in Ekiti were committed members of the PDP.

 ''PDP is the only party in this state and those other people who are claiming to be politicians are only playing politics on the pages of newspaper through unending propaganda. As for this election, it is unfortunate that the AC is going to lose this election in the most scandalous manner because the party is fielding a candidate that has no home base. 

 ''I must say that it is a strategic blunder for the AC to have picked its candidate from Ifaki, my hometown. This is because I have been winning elections in that town since 1999 and this one is not going to be an exception,” Oni said.

 Expressing gratitude to the people for their support, Arise said he would redouble his efforts at attracting developments to the state if re-elected on Saturday.

 Deputy Governor, Sikiru Tae Lawal also urged vigilance among the people on Saturday, adding that the AC was only out to cause chaos during the election so as to justify their eventual failure in the election.

 Other chieftains of the PDP who graced the rally included Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Sola Akinyede, House of Representative members representing Ekiti Central (Constituency II), Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi, Ekiti North II, Hon. Duro Faseyi, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Mr. Yinka Akerele and Chief Dayo Okondo, among others.