Osun 2014: When Omisore launched out

Osun 2014: When Omisore launched out

OSOGBO, the Osun State   capital literally stood still, last weekend, when one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, declared his intention to vie for the governorship seat in the forthcoming election.

Aside Omisore, other aspirants who have thrown their hats into the ring include former Minister for Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi and former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Oluwole Oke.

As early as 8 am, people began to troop into the Freedom Park, Osogbo, venue of the ceremony. As a result of the massive turnout of people, all the major roads in the state capital were blocked with cars struggling to make way to the venue, thus culminating in traffic gridlock that lasted for  several hours.

Notable people at the event included former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mr Abosede Ogunleye;  former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Osun State chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; Chief Bose Adedibu, Prince Buruji Kashamu, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Folashade Grace Bent, Ambassador Gunju Adeshakin and Senator Olu Alabi.

Fuji maestro, Alhaji Abass Akande popularly known as Obesere was on ground to entertain those present at the event.

I ‘ll restore our people’s hope – Omisore

Speaking at the event, Omisore vowed to take over the governance of the state after the  August 9 election and restore people’s hope. He alleged that the people of the state had been subjected to harrowing poverty and deprivations  by Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

He described the flag-off of his campaign as “unstoppable march to take over the reins of power from the anti-masses government of the APC.

“I am on a rescue mission to halt the rot and degradation in all the sectors of the state. We are concerned about the undue suffering and dislocation the present administration has unleashed on the citizenry. We are also appealing to them to continue to endure as hope and succour are already under way.”

Unfolds eight-point agenda

While highlighting his eight-point agenda to address the myriad of problems  faced by the people, he decried “the pauperisation of the masses through inhuman taxes, demolition of markets without alternatives, destruction of the state education heritage and creation of religious crisis in the state.”

The former chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, who spoke in Yoruba, promised to restore dignity to the education sector, focus on agriculture and rural development, among others. “I am here offering myself for service. I am here to right the wrongs and set our state on sustainable path. By the grace of God, my government will be your government,” he said.

To ensure a credible election in Osun State, he appealed to Nigerians to prevail on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, to respect the Federal High Court judgement which established that the incumbent Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ambassador Rufus Oluwatoyin Akeju, was a card-carrying member of the ACN now APC and bar him from conducting election in the state.

Vision: On his vision, if voted governor, the former lawmaker said: “Women, children, young people, men, the aged, as well as our people in rural and hard-to-reach areas will have access to equal and fair productive and economic assets that can enable them live healthy and productive lives.”

He said part of  his strategies to move the state forward include developing viable human capital and harnessing technology for growth, promoting partnerships, deepening regional co-operation and ensuring national integration.

Show of solidarity: PDP bigwigs at the occasion took turns to show solidarity to Omisore

Leading the pack was  former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who appealed to the  Osun people to allow Omisore to govern the state.  “Omisore should be allowed to govern Osun because the crowd here has shown that the people of the state are tired of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,” he said.