Guber Primary: Jimi Lawal Charges PDP Members To Vote For Experience, Character, Good Qualification

Jimi Lawal

ABEOKUTA - A governorship aspirant under the umbrella of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Otunba Jimi Lawal has urged party members and delegates for the gubernatorial primaries in the state to vote for a candidate with good character, political experience, and good academic qualifications as the party's governorship candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Lawal stated this on Thursday at his public declaration as PDP Governorship aspirant in the state.

The Ex-Economic Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai explained that voting a competent governorship candidate as the party's flag bearer would give the party leeway to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at the Ake palace ground in Abeokuta, the legal professional cum politician highlighted Economic Development, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Security and Justice, and Governance as part of his five cardinal agenda for the state if emerged as the party's candidate.

He emphasized that the PDP administration will eliminate poverty in the state if elected in 2023.

Lawal who noted that Ogun State has the potential of becoming the fastest growing economy state after Lagos, said his government would focus on Human Capital Development comprising of Education, Health, Sports, Culture, and Entertainment.

He equally noted that if elected, his government would provide free and compulsory education from primary to secondary level for children between the ages of 6 and 18 years.

The PDP governorship aspirant stressed further that his government would enforce the arrest of any parent who allows the children to hawk during school hours.

"Let us vote for experience, character, and good qualifications. This is very important for us as a party to win the minds of the people.

"We have five cardinal programmes we have mapped out as our priorities. These cardinal programmes are Economic Development, Human Capital, Infrastructure, Security & Justice, and Governance. There is poverty and unemployment in the state. Our government will ensure to eliminate poverty. After Lagos state, Ogun state should be number two in Nigeria if we have good government.

"On Human Capital Development, our government will do free and compulsory education up to secondary school level. Our government will pay for JAMB, WAEC, so that there won't be reason for any parent to complain of lack of money to send their children to school.

"We will give free education to pupils between the ages 6-18year. No child should hawk during school hours. We will arrest parents who failed to send their children to school in our free and compulsory education."

Speaking earlier, the PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele said the party is big enough to be one party aspirant.

Ogundele stressed that the party would give level playing ground for all aspirants in the state to exercise their franchise and aspiration. 

The former lawmaker who took a swipe at the APC government said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is confused, clueless and visionless in tackling the rising insecurity situation in the country.

He lamented that the ruling party, APC, has messed up Nigeria and put Nigerians in agonizing situation, urging Ogun residents to vote out APC come 2023.

Also speaking, PDP chairman in Oyo State, Dayo Ogungbenro, said PDP is the only party that can salvage the nation from its present challenges, imploring the people not to hesitate to return the party to power in Ogun.

Ogungbenro said “for instance everyone in Oyo State has already agreed that Engr. Seyi Makinde deserves another term because as a governor elected on the platform of PDP he has continued working for the good of the people, he prioritizes the welfare of the people unlike APC that is making life difficult for Nigerians. So, the people of Ogun State should also maximize the opportunity next year and vote in PDP to end this agonizing and traumatizing APC government”.