By Banji Ayoola
An ex-envoy and eminent aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the seat of Ondo South Senatorial District in the Senate in the forthcoming election, Ambassador Sola Iji, will soon visit the six Local Government Areas and 66 wards in the District in continuation of his ongoing mobilisation of popular support for his bid.
Arrangements for the planned visits were finalised at a meeting he held with the Local Government Coordinators of his campaign, Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at his Igbobini, Ese Odo Local Government country-home.
These were contained in a statement by the Director General of Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, Onibudo Wole Iroaye.
All the 12 coordinators, two from each of the six local government areas constituting the district, including Ese Odo, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Iji said the coordinators were invited for their valued input into the campaign organisation’s planned movement into their local government areas and wards.
In his words: “We need to do this with your input. We cannot send the time table of our movement to you without your input. Hence we invited you to this meeting. Your input in respect of the prospect of covering the 66 wards in a short while is needed.”
He expected them in the course of discussion to identify areas that are contiguous which could be merged together for visits to save time, money and energy. Besides he said that the meeting was called to draw out and ratify the time table of the visits.
The former envoy commended the coordinators for the job done so far in their respective Local Government Areas, and especially for faithfully carrying out the assignments handed out to them at their inauguration.
He described their comments on ASICO’s social platform, which he said he had been reading, as “quite interesting and reasonable,” as he noted that the coordinators have been on the same page with the organisation.
Also, he appreciated them for submitting the names of the ward coordinators in their Local Government Areas.
However, he advised them to continue to contact and update their leaders who nominated them, as he noted that there were complaints by leaders that they were not being carried along. Specifically, he urged the coordinators to continue to have an interface with their leaders and carry them along about activities of ASICO.
He thanked them for attending the meeting as he stressed that the task before the campaign organisation is “onerous.”
Reacting, the coordinators were full of praises for Iji and ASICO, noting that the reports getting to them from the field gave them confidence that he will emerge victorious at the end of the day.
They assured him that people are interested in him across the Senatorial District and beyond, even beyond the state. They said they heard people generally saying that he has paid his dues in the party.
According to the statement: “They said that for somebody to have led the party for seven years from AD to AC to ACN, such a person who has devoted his time to develop the party should be allowed to represent the District, State or even the Nation at any capacity.
“The coordinators came out with beautiful ideas on how to go about what our principal said.
“They were happy and promised to ensure that we have hitch-free visit into each local government and ward. They also promised to work assiduously to mobilise support for him.
“It was a colourful meeting. The coordinators and notable leaders who attended the meeting were excited. They were happy that they were well treated by His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji.”
In his welcome speech, Iroaye said: “One area of my welcome speech which I will like to underline is the issue of our principal not coming out to meet the people early enough.
“This, as far as ASICO is concerned, is not due to negligence of any form. This is due to various consultations that our principal has been making in respect of this race.
“I must let you know that the decisions about who gets what, especially in a matter like this, are not restricted to our state alone. There are other stakeholders beyond our state that would want to have one input or the other before anybody gets what he or she wants.
“The cheering news, therefore, is that our principal, His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji, ASI, is a darling to the top leaders of our party both within and outside the state. This no doubt gives us joy and hope that by the Grace of God we shall triumph.”
The Director General said that as confirmation of Iji’s seriousness about this race, “I can say without fear of contradiction that we are the first aspirant to establish a campaign office in our Senatorial District.”
He said the office is precisely at Number 14, Ikoya Road, Okitipupa, directly opposite the petrol filling station beside Chicken Republic.
His words: “I am saying this for you to know that our principal has what it takes to undertake this political journey. We should not be panicked. This race goes beyond moving with jets.
“ASICO of which you are a significant part is on course to succeed. We shall win.”
He described the meeting as “another significant stride in the political journey of our group, ASICO,” noting that the Local Government coordinators were inaugurated about two months ago and directed to start work immediately.
Iroaye said: “Since then, till now, you have all been working assiduously to elevate our chances of winning the forthcoming Senatorial Election in the South Senatorial District of Ondo State.
“I want to say that the report we are getting about your performance is encouraging. I therefore say thank you for your strident effort so far.
“”I need to emphasise that we need to do more than you have already done so that at the end of the race, we can be victorious. There should be no room for complacency. Let us work harder than we have already done.”
