… extol Oyetola’s leadership quality, urge party to pick guber candidate in Osun West
As part of effort to aid the return of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to government in 2026, the leadership and members of motorcycle and tricycle operators popularly called Okada riders and Keke Maruwa operators have declared their unflinching support and readiness to mobilize and vote massively for the party come 2026.
The motorcycle and tricycle riders in the state equally commended the leadership qualities of the immediate past Osun State Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola since his appointment, reaffirming their solidarity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government and the policy reforms being implemented through his Renewed Hope Agenda.
This is even as the excited Okada riders and Maruwa operators under major associations and platforms, such as Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN); Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association of Nigeria (MOTOAN); Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria (MTUN); Autobike Owners Association of Nigeria (AOWAN); Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) among others, implored the APC leaders to pick a credible candidate from Osun West Senatorial District so as to ease their mobilization process.
The motorcycle and tricycle operators made the solidarity statements on Friday during a special meeting held with the Marine and Blue Economy Minister and others party stalwarts, at Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.
Oyetola was represented by the immediate past Special Adviser on political matters and former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere.
Speaking intermittently, the State Chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (Okada ACOMORAN), Comrade Ismaila Tiamiyu; State Chairman, MTUN, Comrade Adebayo Tajudeen; State Chairman, ACOMORAN EXPRESS, Comrade Ajisefini Mukaila; State Chairman, TOAN, Comrade Adewale Folorunso and State Chairman, MOTAN, Comrade Najeem Bello, said the groups have concluded plans to work assiduously for the return of progressive government next year.
They expressed confidence in the ability and capacity of the current opposition party in the state to disloge Governor Ademola Adeleke-led government in the State, saying no effort would be spared to ensure all round victory for APC in the next governorship election.
Comrade Tiamiyu said: “We are here to reaffirm our unalloyed support and solidarity to the immediate past Osun State Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola over his quality leadership while serving the state as well as his support thus far since his appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is on record that the progressive government from the era of former Governor Adebisi Akande to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola did excellently well for all the strata of our members while administering the affairs of the state. Their eras saw to the collective and individual empowerments of our members through prompt support and social interventions that truly and genuinely impacted the lives of our people.
“But it is unfortunate that the recognition and support for our members ceased to been almost immediately the current government led by Senator Ademola Adeleke came on board in November 2022. The current government through its anti-masses policies and vendetta motives proscribed many of the existing associations that cater for the needs of our people. The current government has successfully subjected our people to untold hardships at different occasions as many of our members have been denigrated and neglected for no just cause.
“These and many more have been the challenges facing our people in the last three years of the PDP rule in Osun. And as a responsible and hardworking groups we felt it is reasonable to give our support to the party that has been giving us the due recognition and desired support. As we all know, the good days we recorded in the history of our existence in Osun were made possible under progressive governments and as such, we are firmly and irrevocably committed to return APC to government next year by the grace of God.
“Our members across the state are resolute to work for APC before, during and after the next governorship election to ensure that progressive government returns to government”, he added.
Corroborating the statement, Comrade Ajisefini Mukaila and Comrade Adewale Folorunso said their members were resolute to mobilize massively from the grassroots to the state in order to ensure victory for the APC.
To Comrade Adebayo Tajudeen, the MTUN State Chairman, said they are ready to do the bidding of the former Governor Oyetola and support whoever he so anoints as his candidate for the next governorship election.
Comrade Tajudeen added that the members of the groups would also do everything possible to support and vote massively for the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential election come 2027.
Speaking, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola appreciated the groups for their open declaration of support and solidarity.
The Minister assured them of continued support in the daily discharge of their legitimate duties.
Oyetola who implored the leadership and members of the various groups to continue to maintain peace and harmony for the betterment of all implored them of immediate restoration of their scrapped structures and platforms when the APC returns to government next year.
He said: “We are fully aware of your tribulations at the moment occasioned by the proscription of your associations and structures by the current government. We know what your members are passing through today. We know how you have been treated for no just cause.
“Just as we appreciate the bold step taken today to renew your support and solidarity, we want to reassure you that your lost glory under the current government would be restored by God’s grace immediately our party returns to government next year. We will address all your yearnings and demands and ensure that life is not only worthy of living for all but also ensure that prosperity is guaranteed.”
Former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye expressed profound gratitude to the groups for their continued support and solidarity thus far.
Omowaiye who was represented by the former Senior Special Assistant on Students Affairs and Social Mobilization, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji lamented the anti-people and unfriendly policies of the Ademola Adeleke’s government that had disrupted the legitimate activities of the Okada riders and Maruwa operators in the state in the last two and half years.
He enjoined them not to panic from the antics of the government officials to bully them for taking a right decision of supporting the progressive party, saying no amount of intimidation can rescue the Adeleke’s government from the looming loss in the next governorship election.
In their separate remarks, some of the groups’ executives ; Comrade Adewale Omotade, Comrade Julius Olawumi, Comrade Atolagbe Ismaila, Comrade Badejoko Olalekan, Comrade Adewale Simiyu among others threw their weights behind the leadership of the groups just as they reaffirmed their readiness to mobilize across the nooks and crannies of the state to return APC to government.
