Osun 2018: Thousands Join APC Mega Rally In Ile Ife
By Sodiq Lawal
As the Osun 2018 Governorship Election is 18 days away, the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) on Tuesday afternoon at Technical College, Ifewara in Ile-Ife began its array of Mega Rallies ahead of the election to garner support for their governorship candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
Groups of women, men, and residents of Ile Ife, under in their large numbers on today staged a mass rally in support of the governorship candidate.
The groups who stormed the major road leading to Ooni’s Palace, were seen carrying various placards with inscriptions such as “Ilerioluwa for 2018, “ among others.
They were seen marching down from Lagere road down to Iremo to Technical College, Ifewara singing solidarity songs in support for the governorship candidate.
Even though everything was set for the mega rally that heralded the beginning of the campaign, the large turnout of supporters mainly from the ruling APC and other well wishers at the homestead of Oyetola’s main challenger from Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore left no one doubt about the immense popularity of Oyetola.
Presently, there are sea of heads, mostly APC supporters in and outside Ile Ife at the Government Technical College, venue of the event, waiting in solidarity to welcome Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola to the ancient city.
Traders, Artisans Make Brisk Business
Reports also say that scores of traders have expressed optimism that if the candidate emerges, will vehemently develop the economic of the state.
The traders in their hundreds noted the increase in sales of product and goods as the APC began their rally in the ancient city.
Traders who took advantage of the mega rally to display their wares while food vendors, souvenir sellers, photographers among others, made brisk business.
A head of market women at Oja Titun in Ile Ife, Mrs Roshidat Amoo, told our correspondent that the mega rally have helped traders as passerby trooped to various shops to buy goods.
“I am not an APC member but am very sure if Oyetola emerges, our economy will be back to normal,” she said.
Meanwhile, our correspondent revealed that transportation workers have increased in their numbers, as they were seen taking advantage of the mega rally to make a brisk business.
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As the Osun 2018 Governorship Election is 18 days away, the ruling All Progressives Congress will on Tuesday afternoon in Ile-Ife kick off its array of Mega Rallies ahead of the election.
Since the announcement of Gboyega Oyetola as the candidate of the APC on July 20, several developments have enveloped the political landscape of Osun and the ruling party itself with defections, alignments and re-alignments.
The latest came last Saturday as three members of the State House of Assembly left the party for the Action Democratic Party ADP where the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti is contesting to replace Governor Rauf Aregbesola in November.
However, at the Flag off of the Federal Government’s Tradermoni scheme in Iwo on Monday, Governor Aregbesola again extended olive branch to the decampees noting that they have more to gain returning back to the party before the Noah’s ark is closed.
He assured them of relevant positions and juicy appointments if they return to their former homestead.
The party with the defections is not leaving any stone unturned, it is working assiduously to capture the electorate once again with its long list of achievements for the past 8 years as a premise for continuity.
Last Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola stressing the party is not considering less than a resounding victory in the polls that is less than 3 weeks away.
Today’s Rally begins at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi with the traditional Royal Homage after which the train moves to the Technical college, Ifewara Road, Ile-Ife.
OsunDefender will be bringing you updates from the rally.
