•We are acting on Makinde's precedence of working for other political party - Gbolarumi
The members of Arewa Community across Oyo State on Thursday endorsed the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 governorship election, Senator Teslim Folarin.
The Arewa group while speaking at the residence of former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Hazeem Gbolarumi said they unanimously agreed to work for the APC Guber flagbearer to enjoy dividend of democracy which they have been deprived by incumbent governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The members of the community also noted that Gbolarumi has been good to Hausa people and a reason they obey his instructions. Speaking through their representative, Bappa Hurso, the General Secretary of the group, he said Arewa people don't forget good things people do for them, a reason they can't forget Adedibu and Gbolarumi.
He added: "We want peace to reign supreme like time of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. We want you to fulfill all your promises to us and don't make us regret that we support you. We are still in PDP because of Gbolarumi but we agree to vote for Folarin to obey Gbolarumi's instruction.
"With due respect on behalf of our Emir Sarki Hausawa Bodija and executive members of Arewa Community, Bodija Ibadan, we promise that come next Saturday, we will ensure that we vote for APC to make Teslim Folarin our next governor in the state.
Addressing the Arewa Community, Barr. Gbolarumi commended the people for their loyalty to him saying he deemed it fit to invite them to meet Folarin. He also thank them for defiling all odds to attend the meeting despite their tight schedule.
Gbolarumi noted that he was told Gov. Makinde has earlier invited them to a meeting but because of their alloyed loyalty to him, they refuse to endorse him. "I thank you that you are honest with me and you always follow my instructions. I know you're PDP but Makinde causes this for setting precedence for directing PDP in the state to vote for Tinubu.
"I want to tell you that Makinde wanted to deceive you for calling you to meet him to endorse him. This was how he deceived us and made us to labour in vain. Also, Makinde is wicked, that was why he made his presidential candidate, Atiku to lose and he worked for candidate of another political party.
"Folarin is one of us, from Adedibu source. Adedibu is brain behind where Hausa people are presently staying in Sabo, Ibadan, though the land was owned by me but Adedibu renovated the place for them", Gbolarumi stated.
The APC governorship candidate, Folarin however thanked the Arewa people for their support while he maintained that he share same identity with them, revealing how his later father worked in the North and also spent his childhood life in the North. He said: "Gbolarumi is my brother and leader. Makinde is favoured to be given the political position but he misused the position by misbehaving to his elders in politics. He is not one of us, a reason for his behavior. I promise to fulfill all my promises and I will come back to appreciate you after winning the election", Folarin stated.