Ona-Ara Local Government students and youths have began to move from house to house to canvass support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2023 election.
They said it was at the instance of Engr. Dotun Sanusi, Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts, who they said has done a lot for them.
Sanusi, according to them, is their pathfinder and whoever he asks them to support is the best candidate.
Speaking with journalists during the house-to-house mobilization, Saka Monsurat, explained that “I have been living in this area for more than a decade. Before Engr. Dotun Sanusi started Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts, it was like we were living in hell. It was when he came that this area got electricity. He bought and installed over 200 poles. Our road that had made many car-less was rehabilitated with his personal money in conjunction with the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSTROMA. Many of our young ones have been given employment in his numerous businesses which spanned agriculture, hospitality, education, sports and tourism. This man would not relent in supporting us. So anything he asks from us, we will do it. He is the one we have always seen when we have issue.”
Leaders of youths and students’ groups who spoke separately said some of them were already for Tinubu before Sanusi invited them. They expressed happiness Sanusi is supporting Asiwaju, adding that some of their colleagues are in schools because of his financial gesture. Apart from their colleagues who have been employed, they said Sanusi had sponsored them to skill acquisition programmes.
For weeks, Sanusi, who is the Mogaji of Olugbade compound and Otun Apesinola of Ibadanland, has been mobilizing support for the aspiration of the former Lagos governor.
Only last week, traditionalists gathered at Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts, to offer prayers and support for Tinubu. Before then, representatives of Christian groups, numbering close to a thousand, converged had converged at the same venue.
Sanusi, it would be recalled, had commissioned a door-to-door campaigners for Tinubu. The volunteers, drawn from all the wards in Oyo State, began work immediately.
Before then, the University of Ibadan graduate had mobilized Ibadan compound and village heads as well as the leadership of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII for him. Shortly after that, he had mobilized no fewer than 10,000 members of Odu’a Peoples Congress, OPC, Agbekoya Solidarity Movement of Nigeria and Landlord Volunteer Groups for the same task. Last weekend, Islamic clerics, including the chief Imam, Sheikh AbdulGaniyu Agbotomokekere, and leadership of Asalatu groups were at Ilaji Resorts, where they prayed and endorsed Tinubu as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
During some of the meetings, Sanusi had told them that for Nigeria to move forward, electorates need to look beyond religion, adding that Tinubu is the solution to the current woes bedeviling the country.
The women, youths and students who were received at the facility Sanusi, represented by Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, explained that everything he has been doing for Tinubu was out of love for the country and not for material gain.
”I am happy to have you here today. It pleases my soul. I want you know that everything I am telling you today is nothing but the truth. I love Nigeria than anything and because of that, I believe we cannot fold our arms and allow things degenerate. I am not a member of any party. There is nothing I want to do with it. God has been merciful towards me and I am always grateful for that.
”You are very important to the continued existence of this country. Why did I say that? You are women, youthful and some of you are students too. So whatever happens affects you in one way or the other. I pray nothing bad happens. I know you are not pleased with the situation of the country. I am not talking from ethnic perspective, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the best among those contesting to solve our problems. He has done in Lagos. His mentees are everywhere doing well where they are. This man is a talent spotter. He won’t have problem forming his cabinet. He looks prepared. Let’s support him. I am grateful for the love you have for me. I won’t take it for granted”, he added.
