As the race for the governorship of Kogi State begins, friends and associates of Smart Adeyemi, who is currently representing the Kogi West Senatorial District, have called on him to contest the number one position in the state.
As a sign of commitment, a bank draft of N50 million has also been presented to the serving senator by the group.
This is to facilitate the purchase of the nomination forms of his party, All Progressives Congress, which sale started last Friday.
While presenting the draft to the three-term senator, the group vowed to mobilise enough support for him to clinch the position.
The APC commenced sale of nomination forms for the governorship position last Friday and so far 10 interested aspirants have shown interest to contest.
A statement from the media office of Senator Adeyemi, signed by his Special Adviser, Adeleye Oluwafemi, made available in the early hours of Monday, stated that the presentation took place when the friends and associates, cutting across the three Senatorial Districts of the state, paid a courtesy visit on him at his Abuja residence on Sunday.
The statement read in part: “Today, the 19th of February, 2023, at the Maitama residence of Distinguished Senator Smart Adeyemi (CON), friends and associates of Senator Smart Adeyemi across Kogi State in Abuja, called on him to run for the gubernatorial race, equally raised fund to purchase the governorship form and promised to galvanise support across the entire state for him.”
The group hinged their support for the journalist turned politician on his courage, carriage, capacity, great antecedents, experience, exposure, vision, patriotism, detribalised nature, oratory prowess, maturity, passion and delivery capacity.
The group “noted with nostalgia the remarkable achievements of Senator Smart Adeyemi across the three senatorial districts of Kogi state and his quality representation at the floor of the senate.”
Fifty of the senator’s friends and associates contributed the fund and made the formal donation of the N50 million on behalf of others.
According to them, the bank draft was procured on February 17, 2023, but they were unable to present it to him as the senator was away for the APC presidential campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
While responding, Adeyemi thanked the group for the unanimous decision, and implored them to deliver the APC at the poll in the forthcoming elections by voting massively for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates.
Adeyemi described Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, and Shettima, his running mate, as personalities of intellectual capacity, track record and impeccable character, adding that they were the best combination to move Nigeria to another level of progress and prosperity.
The meeting had in attendance Nathaniel Taiwo, Ben Owoleke, Ade Olamife, Akin Akinola, all from the Kogi West Denatorial District; Omale Isaiah, Dan Ameh and Philip Omale from the Kogi East Senatorial District; and Chief Sule Ebira and Ahmed Yinusa from the Kogi Central Senatorial District.