The heavens opened up just about the time the rally was about to start, but it could not dampen the spirits of ACN supporters who were eager to hear from their party leaders and their gubernatorial candidate for the October 20 election, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Free-flowing messages of hope and promises of a new day spurred a wind of change that swept through the campaign arena that Tuesday. Suddenly, it seemed like a re-enactment of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when politics was the core of people’s existence. Reminiscent of the crowd-pulling rallies of those times, the ACN rallies from Ikare to Ondo town and finally Ore, signaled the re-birth of the political activism for which the South-west is traditionally known.
If the three Senatorial districts expected a huge turnout for the ACN rallies, it is debatable if they were ever prepared for the massive crowd of fanatic followers and the attendant carnival of songs.
The leadership of the party did not disappoint it followers. They handed out crisp political messages to their teeming party members. The rallying cry was the need to vote out the inept government of the incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The leaders not only demanded votes but justified why Mimiko needed to be kicked out with votes.
On the podium in each of the rallies podium were political heavy-weights. Chief Bisi Akande, the party’s national chairman; Chief Tayo Alasoadura; the man of the moment, Akeredolu; Senator Borofice, Wale Akinterinwa, Lai Mohammed, Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola; the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and several front liners of the party across the country stepped out to be counted.
The widely-acclaimed ‘Political General’, Asiwaju Tinubu led the onslaught against Mimiko and his Labour Party. But first, he educated the followers about why the ACN is a better alternative. Speaker after speaker took Mimiko to the cleaners and challenged the people of Ondo to embrace the new dawn being ushered in by the ACN. The rendition of political songs preceded most comments and the crowd responded in appreciation.
Like Siamese twins, Asiwaju Tinubu and Ogbeni Aregbesola threw the crowd into political ecstasy each time they spoke, delivering ‘upper-cuts’ on Mimiko, especially why Mimiko and his party must be voted out of the state Government House. The central message was that if in three and half years and with all the billions of naira received by Mimiko government, Ondo remains a glorified state with snail-pace development, then the electorate need not be told to do the right thing – vote Mimiko out on election day.
“One hospital, dilapidated roads, massive employment will cease to be your lot if you vote Mimiko out of power,” Tinubu said. He did not stop there as he exposed Janus-faced Mimiko as an ingrate, a modern-day serial political betrayer and one individual who cannot be trusted. Revelations about how Mimiko rode into power, the promises he made and broke, and the funds that secured his victory among others came in torrents.” The best way you can judge Mimiko and settle this score is to get into that voting booth and thumbprint for the party of the broom…”, added Tinubu.
Mimiko was practically on trial and the crowd listened with rapt attention. The crowd was never disappointed nor tired of such messages. The rallies also showcased the performing governors ACN-controlled states and the push to have Ondo join the Southwest integration train for accelerated development.
Ondo, it was said, was found missing in the train towards integration which is already in motion in the country. The candidate himself, Akeredolu engaged the crowd. He marshaled arguments to convince Ondo people that it was time for service and that he was a better alternative. His message of renewal, progressive change and massive employment went down well with the mammoth crowd.
It was another spectacle at Ore, the last stop for the senatorial district rallies of the party. It was, for Labour party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a clear notice that the political battleline had been drawn. The crowd that turned out to embrace the party was massive in every respect.
What seemed at first like a carnival turned out a political rally of note, with thought-provoking pointed political messages. Ore turned out the biggest recruiting ground for the ACN ahead of the October 20 poll. As the Ore campaign wound down, the ACN and its followers were more than convinced that they had a good song to sing after the October 20 election in the state.
Today, as the October 20 moment of decision beckons, Ondo people appear eager to reap the fruits of people-oriented governance that ACN is known for.
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