Oyo market women seeks support for Makinde’s re-election 

The association of market women in Oyo state has thrown its weight behind the re-election of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde ahead of the March 18, 2023 governorship election. 

The traders from all 33 local governments, which included the Iya Loja and Baba Onise Owo among others, rated Governor Makinde as the best governor in the annals of Oyo State and all of Nigeria, stating that the purpose of the gathering was to rally support for the governor in the upcoming election. 

The disclosure was made on Tuesday by the Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Market affairs, Mrs Odunayo Danjuma, as they converged at the House of Chiefs in Agodi secretariat, Ibadan. 

Danjuma, who mentioned that the late Governor Makinde’s mother was also a member of Iya Loja at Gbagi, emphasized that Governor Makinde has been so kind to market women, especially during the COVID-19, as well as the way he has been taking care of civil servants, pensioners, among many other things for the development of the state. 

She claims that when the Oja Akesan was erupted by inferno, it was Governor Makinde who rescued them, and it is crucial for them to honor his great deed by giving him a resounding victory in the March 18, 2023, governorship election. 

She urged the members not to get sidetracked by the many forms of propaganda being spread throughout the state, pointing out that they have the population and numerical power to guarantee the governor’s win by a large margin. 

Earlier in her remarks, the former speaker, Alhaja Monsurat Sumonu, praised the 33 local government market women for their dedication to the re-election of the governor, saying they had been particularly gracious in their resolve to see that the governor is re-elected. 

She stated that the current administration cares deeply about their welfare and that any requests they have that were not met in Omituntun 1.0 would undoubtedly be met in Omituntun 2.0. 

She added that the quick intervention of the government for the rebuilding of Akesan market is just a tips of an iceberg as the government is prepared for many good things. 

Senator Monsurat emphasized that she wouldn’t lie to them or betray them, and urged them to support the governor on Saturday by casting a sizable number of votes for his re-election bid. 

One of the Babaloja’s spokesperson submitted that in order to thank the governor for all that he has done for them, they will undoubtedly ensure that Seyi Makinde wins the upcoming election. 

He noted that they are quite pleased with how the deputy governor and alhaja monsurat treated them and that they are prepared to support the governor in the upcoming election since the only way to thank the governor for his wonderful gesture is with a sizable number of votes. 

The second spokesperson, however, reaffirmed the association’s backing for Governor Makinde’s reelection and noted that market men and women consistently support the party in power.

She said the governor needs to be repaid with a sizable vote in light of his prompt payment of salaries to civil servants, pensioners, and others. 

She continued by saying that if it weren’t for Seyi Makinde, who rescued them during the fire at Akesan Market, many more people would have perished. 

They all maintained that Seyi Makinde would win the upcoming election due to the governor’s widespread support in Oyo State. They also promised to mobilize all of their members to turn out in large numbers to deliver Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday at the poll. 

Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, the deputy governor of Oyo state, expressed his joy that the market women were able to gather at the House of Chiefs in less than 24 hours to demonstrate their support for the re-election of Governor Seyi Makinde. 

He praised Senator Sumonu Monsurat in particular for her efforts in making the meeting such a success. 

While narrating the hardship experienced by marketers during the previous administration, he further reminded the market women of the efforts being made by the current government and its desire to ensure that the market places are in a calm condition.

According to Lawal, the Makinde-led administration has never once interfered with your market places or exerted any pressure on you to have an adverse effect on your business because the current administration is the government of the people. 

He recalled that the Governor visited the Spare part market shops during their campaign to inquire whether his government had ever bothered them, noting that everything done in the interests of peace would always be advantageous to everyone. 

Lawal emphasized the importance of timely salary payments every 25th of the month, saying that the money is being circulated even to market women which the previous administration failed to do for several months. 

He urged them to troop out en-mass and cast their votes in the forthcoming election for continuity, adding that the government of Governor Makinde is a government of the people especially with the way he handled the issue of Covid-19. 

“Governor Makinde declined to shut down his state during the COVID-19 because he didn’t want any of the market women, who depend on daily breads for survival, to go hungry. 

“I can tell you that you will enjoy more democratic dividends in the Omituntun 2.0 if you are successful in electing Governor Makinde in the upcoming election.

“Governor Makinde is the most popular. You could see what everyone are saying across Oyo state including children who are so passionate about his re-election. So, let’s monitor our votes for PDP after casting it and ensure that Governor Makinde is re-elected. 

“Once again, on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, I appeal to you that on March 18, 2023, please cast your votes for Governor Makinde and the House of Assembly candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

“I pray that all our children would be successful and we will all reap from the fruit of our endeavors”, he said. 

Among top government functionaries at the event include Oyo former speaker and distinguished Senator Sumonu Monsurat; Commissioner for Trade and Investment and Seyi Bayo Director General Campaign Organization; Chief Bayo Lawal; Commissioner for Information; Wasiu Olatubosun and Special Assistant on Trade Affairs; Chief Danjuma.