April 11 polls: Obasanjo campaigns for APC candidates in market

 

FROM SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeo­kuta, the Ogun State capital, has openly solicited for votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elec­tions.

Obasanjo urged Nigeri­ans to go to Saturday’s polls and do a repeat of the vot­ing with which they over­whelmingly produced the APC presidential candidate, Major General Muham­madu Buhari (retd) as the country’s next president.

The former president, whose presence in the popu­lar Itoku Market in Abeoku­ta South Local Government Area caught many residents unawares, told newsmen that Nigerians should re-en­act what they did during the March 28 polls with their votes on April 11, when they will cast their votes for the governorship and state House of Assembly mem­bers.

Obasanjo, a two-term president and former chair­man of the Board of Trust­ees of the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) had arrived at the market at about 4.30p.m.

His presence at the mar­ket soon attracted many residents, who kept shout­ing, “Sai Baba Obasanjo! Sai Buhari! Sai Amosun!”

While in the market, the former president visited the stalls of adire (local fabric) and herb dealers, with trad­ers and others in the market trailing him everywhere he went.

Addressing the traders, Obasanjo pointed out that since he returned from Abu­ja after serving as president, he had not visited the mar­ket, but felt it was appropri­ate to do so during this Eas­ter season.

Speaking in his native Yoruba language, he said: “Since I came back from Abuja, I have not come here to say hello to you. But, it occurred to me that I could do it during this Easter pe­riod and that is why I have come. How is business and hope you are all doing well?”

The jubilant traders re­sponded chanting, “ Sai Baba Obasanjo! Sai Buhari! Sai Amosun.”

Obasanjo initially re­frained from making po­litical statement, but as he made to enter his car, news­men took him on his mis­sion to the market and he said: “Since I came back, I have not really visited any market. I have come to do two things. I have come to give them Easter greetings and to find out how they are doing in their market.

“This is my community. As a member of the com­munity, I want to know what’s going on and what’s happening in the commu­nity.”

On what advice he would offer traders regarding the April 11 elections, Obasan­jo said: “They should do exactly what they did last Saturday.”