November 05, (THEWILL) – Ekiti State wore a festive mood from last Monday as stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stormed the 16 local councils in a Town Hall Meeting that climaxed Thursday.
Ise/Orun, Ikere and Ado local councils transformed what was intended to be a meet with party stakeholders at the grassroots level into a rally as mammoth crowd gathered to welcome the team of leaders of the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), who packaged the tour to sensitise members ahead of the APC primary elections, slated for January 2022.
Ise/Orun, Ikere and Ado councils are homesteads of Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Dr Oluwole Oluyede and Senator Babafemi Ojudu, respectively.
The event which kicked off Monday with the Moba Local Council, took leaders of SWAGA round all the headquarters of the 16 councils in Ekiti State, where all Wards and local council Leaders trooped out with other SWAGA loyalists to welcome them with pump and pageantry.
SWAGA is a political pressure group within the APC, tipping the Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as presidential choice for the party in the apex election billed to hold in 2023.
Top shots of the APC who are indigenes of Ekiti State from within and outside the country also trooped into State to show solidarity in the ongoing move to rally support, as well as persuade Tinubu to throw his cap into the ring to clinch the presidential ticket at the appointed time.
SWAGA was first launched in Ibadan, capital city of Oyo State in January and had spread its tentacles to Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos States in a festering drive by faithful of the ruling party to ensure credible leadership for the country and Ekiti State at the sundown of both administrations.
Ahead of theTown Hall Meetings, SWAGA members across the sixteen local government councils in the state have been holding series of meetings to lend befitting colours to the occasion as they gather at their headquarters, to witness the event which promised to be a gathering of who is who across political lines, showing solidarity with Tinubu, a man many believe has the needed touch to turn the country around for good.
National President of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, had hinted that the group has been soaring in strength and popularity since formation “because the overwhelming majority of APC faithful believe in the political sagacity, developmental zeal and business acumen of Tinubu,” which, according to him, “was earned over the years through dint of hard work and hearty commitment to the course of the masses. “
According to him, the need to rise and fight for the unity and greatness of the country is necessary in the face of growing tension in the country, due largely to efforts of some enemies of the country who are bent on decimating the country for selfish reasons.
He noted that the APC really need to put its house in order, preparatory to 2023 so as not to rescue defeat from the mouth of a tough won victory
Another leader in the fold of SWAGA, the Ekiti State Chairman, Senator Anthony Adeniyi (SAN), explained that the group had done a thorough homework and research before settling on Asiwaju Tinubu as one with what it takes to provide the needed direction for the country from 2023 when the incumbent administration would end its tenure.
Adeniyi, a former Minister and Distinguished Senator, who is also from Ekiti State has other notable Ekiti Politicians and dignitaries in SWAGA, such as, former House of Assembly member, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, Former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adewale Ominrin, former kere Local Government Chairman, Hon Banji Aluko and several others.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
