In his bid to mobilize support for the governorship ambition of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, Hon Ayoade Rasheed Adegboyega, met student leaders from all tertiary institutions in the state.
ARA, as he is fondly called, who aspired to fly the APC flag for Oluyole federal constituency seat, had set up Bayoforce Advocate, BFA, a voluntary door to door campaign initiative for Adelabu.
At the meeting, the need for a change in the orientation of the electorate, most especially the youths, from a financial inducement participation in campaign activities state to a state where their participation will be based on their conviction that the supported candidate has the best manifesto among all contestant was discussed.
While speaking to the student leaders, he explained that he believes that in order to eradicate money politics, non-performance and lack of accountability by elected political office holders which has tremendous negative impact on our democracy, electorates must depart from the “nothing goes for nothing” mentality and ensure that they vote based on antecedent of the candidates and their respective plans for the state or country when elected.
This is just as he explained further that he understands “the youths are the ones that will help change the mentality of majority of the electorates because they are the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunties of most electorates and the ones who will define our politics in the nearest future. Hence his reaching out to them.”
On BFA progress he said “We currently have over two thousand registered participants on the platform across all 33 local government areas of the state and all the LCDAs. “This participants voluntarily agreed to engage in house-to-house campaign for Chief Bayo Adelabu as they believed in his seven points agenda to take Oyo state to the next level. If everyone of them can sacrifice just one hour a day to reach out to the undecided voters in their area, I am sure each could get an average three converts a day, this multiplied by the number of members we already have will go a long way in ensuring victory for Bayo Adelabu. The weapon is the seven point agenda and Adelabu’s antecedents as an astute banker and a philanthropist. I therefore implore you as student leaders to join this movement and enrol likeminds among you to make this project a success.”
He explained further that “the seven point agenda covers the following areas: Security, Agriculture( food security & Agric based revenue), Health, Education, Housing, Transportation and Environment. There are also special focus areas which includes – Sports, Tourism, Arts & Entertainment, Women & Children, Vulnerable & people with special needs, Civil service reform.”
After his presentation, all the student leaders present said they were impressed by the idea and they will support and mobilise students in their respective institutions for the success of the project.
However some of them implored ARA to help relay to the incoming governor the imperatives of special focus on the education sector.
Present at the parley which held at Neptunes Louge in Bodija are – Hall Mayor Bello University of Ibadan – Ahmed Abass Oladele, SUG President Federal School of Statistics – Fawohunre Adeyemi Anthony, Mufulanihun College of Education SU President – comrade Ismail Gafar Adedolapo, Federal School of Statistics Speaker – Afolabi Olajuwon Olajide, SUG President Polythetnic Ibadan – Akadiri Bayonle Seun, Hall Chair Kenneth Mellanby Hall UI – Olanrewaju Olansile, FOSSU President Federal School of Statistics – Taofeek Adewale Ifeoluwa, Mufulanihun SU Speaker – Abdulkareem Annafi Taiwo, Ex- UI FIBSU President – Oyetola Gbenga and Ex- general secretary UI SUG – Lawal Akinkunmi.
