The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as part of the campaign for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Asides the President who addressed the mammoth crowd that came to witness the rally, other speakers at the rally were Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who also doubles as the President Jonathan’s campaign coordinator (South West) and National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu.
Addressing the issue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s age, Governor Mimiko said: “They don’t belong to this generation. Some of them cannot even click a computer yet they want to be president in Nigeria in 21st century. We say no. we say no, I don’t have much to say. We want a 21st century compliant president. We don’t want those that should have retired to play with their grand children at home to be our leaders.”
The governor was not done as he took a swipe at the high-handedness of Buhari while he was serving as military Head of State. He further stated: “Some violent politicians are claiming ownership of South West but I do tell them that such ownership does not extend to Oyo State. Have you seen how massive we are? They say they want to rule you again. Ask them what they did for Nigeria, for the youth, for women, when they were there. The only thing he did was locking up their leaders like Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Olabisi Onabanjo for 300 years. Is that what you want?”
Takig the podium, Mu’azu reiterated the issue of Buhari’s age and his purported inability to to come to terms with 2st century methods. Mua’zu enthused thus: “Why you should vote for the president. Our president is a very young, energetic and humble president. Number two, your gubernatorial candidate (Teslim Folarin) is young. Am I (Mu’azu) not young and energetic? Our president did his NYSC in Oyo State. Therefore the party that belongs to the younger generation of Nigeria is the PDP and our president is your president. He is humble and educated president.”
President Jonathan on his part spent time talking on the issue of women development, the office of first lady and the need for qualitative education.
Mr. President said: “We must encourage women. We are in the Southwest, which is an area that has produced so many great women. I’m sure more than 50 per cent female professors in this country come from the Southwest. Some parties have said they would scrap the office of the First Lady, office of the governor’s wife, and office of the local government chairman’s wife; they are going to ban Army Officers Wives Association, Naval Officers’ Wives Association, Police Officers’ Wives Association etc. I can tell you that these offices are helping to mobilise our women. These offices encourage all Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
“The money the first ladies spend does not come from government budget. They run NGOs. Nigeria has a lot of philanthropists who want to spend on good causes. They use some of these funds to help our women.
“I know that in the Southwest, you have trained your daughters in the best universities in the world. You cannot train your daughter in Cambridge, Oxford University and others and expect them to be mere baby factories.”
On education, the President said: “This government has built more tertiary institutions than any other government. For instance, we established 14 new universities. Twelve of them are conventional universities while two are for police training and maritime professional training… I believe that without education, we cannot change people. I am here today because I have education. That is why I believe that every Nigerian child should have the Goodluck opportunity… I will not build prisons for you. I will build schools for you.”
