Edo 2020: Atiku, Tinubu Canvass Votes For Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are neck deep in the political fray canvassing votes for their respective parties’ candidates.
Deploying both conventional and social media platforms to weave inspiring campaign messages for Edo people, the two political heavyweights separately boasted about their parties flag bearers’ magic touch to change the State’s fortunes in the next four years.
Vote Continuity, Greater Edo – Atiku
Leading the charge for Governor Godwin Obaseki’s return to Osadebe Government House in Benin on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s ticket, the Wazirin Adamawa urged Edo people to “vote wisely and defend their votes.”
The PDP Presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections said all duly registered voters of good conscience, who truly care about the wellbeing of Edo, must turn out enmasse to cast and defend their vote for Governor Obaseki
According to him; “The democracy that we enjoy today was bought at a great price. We can only deepen and sustain it by respecting the sanctity of the ballot and necessary review of our electoral processes.”
On having a secured environment for voters to determine who governs them in the next four gears, the nation’s former Number two man said; “As the great people of Edo State go to the polls to elect their governor this weekend, they need to be provided with a secured environment to cast their votes and be assured that their votes will count.”
Atiku, whose message was captured on his official facebook page, said a vote for Governor Obaseki, is voting for continuity and Making Edo Great Again (MEGA).
Reject Gov Obaseki – Tinubu Charges Edo People
But making a strong case for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, APC’s standard bearer in the Saturday poll, the National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu urged Edo people to outrightly reject PDP and its candidate, Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Describing the governor as a candidate not deserving of Edo people’s votes, Tinubu said; “Obaseki does not deserve any democratic ballot paper. Don’t vote for him, I appeal to all of you.”
The former Lagos State governor also tagged Obaseki as a dictator who undermined democracy in Edo State by ensuring 14 members of the House of Assembly were not sworn-in.
Asiwaju Tinubu said Edo electorate must reject the governor’s second term bid at the polls “Like he rejected the 14 members of the House of Assembly.”
Speaking in a sponsored television broadcast, the APC Leader said having not been in the trenches, Obaseki does not understand the value and pains associated with democratic struggle.
Going down memory lane, the former Lagos state governor said: “I, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, want to appeal as a committed democrat, and the leader of all democrats regardless of our political parties, to our conscience and commitment to democracy today on the forthcoming election in Edo state.
“I want to appeal to you to reject Godwin Obaseki in this coming election. I have suffered with many others to bring about this democratic regime, that today, we are enjoying in the country.
“Then, Godwin Obaseki didn’t participate in any aspect of the struggle to enshrine democracy in the country.”
He said having suffered, alongside many others, to gain democracy for Nigeria, only those with deep knowledge of democratic struggle should be trusted with political power to better the people’s life.
He however charged the voters to maintain peace and shun violence before, during and after the Saturday’s poll.
