By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, has expressed appreciation to party leaders, stakeholders, ward chairmen, women and youth leaders across the constituency for their support, while appealing to aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation and work together for the success of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ajadi appealed his ongoing Thank-You Visit to party leaders and stakeholders, which took him and members of his entourage first to Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere Local Government Areas in Ogbomoso before proceeding to Oyo Federal Constituency.
Speaking at the Surulere Local Government premises, Ogbomoso, Ajadi praised Almighty God for making the gathering possible and thanked the chairmen of Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere, party leaders, and supporters for the love and support they had continued to show him.
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He also commended his Director-General, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda, for his commitment, while appreciating Hon. Ojo Sunday Makanjuola, popularly known as “Mr Project”, Hon. Ogundare Abideen Adeoye and other candidates and stakeholders present at the meeting.
Ajadi extended his appreciation to ward chairmen, youth leaders and women leaders for standing firmly with him and his political project. He subsequently appealed to any leader or member who might have been aggrieved to put aside differences and embrace peace for the collective interest of the party.
The senatorial candidate explained that the purpose of the visit was not to commence the formal campaign but to personally appreciate the people and political structures that had supported him before and after he accepted the APM senatorial ticket for Oyo Central.
The first leg of the visit attracted political leaders, council chairmen, candidates, women leaders, youths and other stakeholders from Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere Local Government Areas.
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Among those present were the Executive Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Hon. Adegbite Isaiah Alaba; the Executive Chairman of Ogo-Oluwa Local Government, Hon. Oluwaseun Adesoye Ojo; APM House of Representatives candidate for Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency, Hon. Ojo Sunday Makanjuola; Assembly candidate Hon. Ogundare Abideen Adeoye; Hon. Ebenezer Alawe; Hon. Alhaji Kabir Siyanbola; and other political leaders.
Adegbite, while welcoming Ajadi and his entourage, thanked Almighty God for the successful journey and said the people of the two local governments had been expecting the senatorial candidate.
He described the engagement as a genuine Thank-You Visit and appreciated the large turnout of party members and supporters.
The Director-General of the Ajadi Campaign Organisation and Oyo State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda, also thanked God for the safe trip to Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere and commended the people of both local governments for their impressive turnout.
Sanda extended greetings to the two council chairmen and acknowledged the presence of the House of Representatives candidate, “Mr Project”, as well as other candidates and leaders.
According to him, the turnout was significant because the party had not yet commenced its official campaign, stressing that the gathering demonstrated the strength of the grassroots political structure.
Sanda recalled the 2023 campaign in Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere, saying the turnout at that time was overwhelming and eventually translated into electoral victory for Makanjuola, popularly known as “Mr Project”.
He therefore challenged the gathering to reproduce the same level of mobilisation and performance in 2027.
Sanda explained that Ajadi had decided to embark on the Thank-You Visit before the commencement of the formal campaign because he wanted to personally appreciate the people for the support they had given him.
He assured the people of Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere that Ajadi was committed to representing their interests at the Senate if elected.
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The Director-General, however, used the occasion to address the issue of disagreements among some leaders, appealing to the stakeholders to reconcile and work together.
He warned that prolonged disagreement could affect the party’s prospects in the forthcoming elections and specifically called on the two council chairmen and other leaders to assist in resolving outstanding grievances.
Speaking on the political outlook, Ogo-Oluwa Council Chairman, Hon. Oluwaseun Adesoye Ojo, expressed confidence that the political performance recorded in the area in 2023 would be repeated in 2027.
Also speaking, Hon. Ogundare Abideen Adeoye, the current Assembly member for Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere and APM Assembly candidate, stressed the importance of justice and fairness in political organisation.
He urged political leaders to promote fairness, justice and inclusiveness in the interest of the party.
Makanjuola, the APM House of Representatives candidate for Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency, also responded to Sanda’s concern over the disagreements among some leaders.
He disclosed that a team had been put together to work towards resolving the issues and restoring unity among the stakeholders.
Ajadi Takes Appreciation To Oyo Federal Constituency
Following the engagement in Ogo-Oluwa and Surulere, Ajadi, Sanda and members of the entourage proceeded to Oyo Federal Constituency, where they met with prominent political leaders, candidates, women and youth leaders.
The constituency comprises Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West Local Government Areas.
Among those who attended the engagement were former Senator Monsurat Olajumoke Sunmonu, Chief Sunday Ogunlade, Hon. Gbenga Joseph Oyekola, Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly and representative of Atiba State Constituency; Akin Alawode; APM House of Representatives candidate for Oyo Federal Constituency, Barrister Temilolu Nurudeen Seun Ashamu; and other party stakeholders.
Women leaders and youth leaders from across the constituency were also present.
Sunmonu, while addressing the gathering, appreciated APM members for their support and commended Ajadi and his entourage for making the journey to Oyo.
She attributed the delay in their arrival partly to the poor condition of the federal road leading to the area and expressed concern over the state of road infrastructure.
She questioned why, according to her, the incumbent senator had not sufficiently addressed the condition of the roads or summoned the Minister of Works to account for the situation.
Sunmonu also recalled Ajadi’s earlier visit to Oyo when he was aspiring for the governorship, noting that he later accepted the senatorial ticket when it was offered to him.
She commended him for accepting the senatorial responsibility and urged party members to remain committed to the collective political project.
Chief Sunday Ogunlade called on eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announces the commencement of the collection process.
He stressed the importance of voter participation and urged party supporters to prepare adequately for the 2027 elections.
Sanda, while addressing the Oyo gathering, commended Sunmonu for what he described as her firm commitment to the candidates and the party.
He said the delegation had come primarily to thank the people of Oyo Federal Constituency, adding that the level of support witnessed at the meeting was beyond the campaign team’s expectations.
He reiterated that the engagement was a Thank-You Visit and not the commencement of the official campaign.
