The people of Oyo State have been urged to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and all Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates in February to ensure the creation of Ibadan State.
Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, made the call during the PDP campaign for Jonathan and Senator Teslim Folarin, its gubernatorial candidate in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.
Akinjide said Jonathan had signified interest in the creation of the state and such would be achieved if re-elected and with Folarin as the governor of the state.
She said: “You should please go out and convince others to collect their voter cards.
“Tell them to vote for Jonathan and Folarin.
“It is by doing so that we can get Ibadan State.
“Vote PDP, vote Ibadan State.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister used the occasion to dispel the rumour of being at loggerheads with Folarin.
She said: “Folarin and I are brother and sister.
“We are not fighting.
“We are together.”
Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, former National Deputy Chairman of the party, said Folarin was the best candidate for Oyo State governorship.
Adeojo said Senator Rasidi Ladoja of Accord Party, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Labour Party had been governors and old.
He said: “Two of them have cases in court with the Economic and FInancial Crimes Commission.
“Folarin has none and he remains untainted.
“He is young and neutral.
“Vote for him.”
Senator Lekan Balogun called for massive votes for Jonathan, Folarin, Senator Ayoade Adeseun and other candidates of the party.
Balogun said: “We are going to beautify Oyo without inflicting sufferings on the people of the state.”
NAN reports that the event, attended by a mammoth crowd, had in attendance General Raji Rasaki, former Military Administrator of Lagos and Ogun States; and Senator Hosea Agboola.
Others were Alhaji Yinka Taiwo, the Chairman of PDP in Oyo State; Asimiyu Alarape, the Director-General of the Teslim Folarin Campaign Organisation; and a host of party supporters.