Candidates, party faithfuls and supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2023 elections has on Monday took over Lagos roads as they embarked on a DEMOCRACY ROAD WORK to canvass votes for their presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo and other candidates of the party.
The supporters initially converged at the SDP Secretariat in Yaba at around 8 am from where they moved to Ebute Meta, Obalende, Iyana-Oworo, Maryland, Ikorodu Road then to Computer Village in Ikeja, soliciting votes for their candidates while dishing out message of hope via music, fliers, handbill etc.
Addressing the residents in Obalende and other areas, the vice-presidential candidate of the party Mr.Yusuf Buhari, urged those who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to take advantage of the deadline extension by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do so.
Buhari said the party chose ‘Walk for Democracy’ as part of the Lagos presidential campaign rally to reach out to the grassroots and educate voters on why they need to vote for SDP as the best alternative that would transform Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists, the Deputy Director General for SDP presidential campaign council, Mrs. Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, said the party is one of the oldest political parties in the country, urging Nigerians to vote for Adebayo as the next president.
Okunnu-Lamidi said “This is the party that gives mandate to Late MKO Abiola. The democracy at that period was truncated. This is thirty years after and we are in 2023, as luck would have it, we now have another candidate who understands the issues, and how to govern. He is very intelligent and well-educated. He is very much in tune with the reality of the grassroots, and that’s what is important, most of the candidates we have now have been in the system and are corrupted by the system, we can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. This is why it’s important that Prince Adewole Adebayo, who is the people’s choice, should be given a chance to govern the country”.
She said that the party will get rid of poverty in the country, saying that if poverty was eradicated, other issues like unemployment, insecurity and other challenges facing the country would be a thing of the past.
Okunnu-Lamidi said “Our campaign is all about farewell to poverty. This farewell to poverty is the same theme that MKO Abiola had, but guess what, thirty years later, poverty is getting worse, insecurity now has a grandchild called kidnapping, and all metrics you can use to measure poverty have increased. The number of people and the level of poverty itself also increased.
”We are here to eradicate poverty and insecurity. These things, once we take care of them, solve the whole issue, solve healthcare problems, and give dignity back to the citizens. Where there is dignity of lives, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will increase. We have the number, we just need to get productivity out of them. A hungry man can’t work and strategize and these are the things to fix in order to boost productivity and boost the economic status of everyone.
”I urge Nigerians not to sell their votes but vote their conscience and presidential candidate that would assist in reposing confidence in Nigerians”.
She added “We expect Nigerians to make a choice devoid of money, as you know the money that is being spent in politics, most of the politicians are not spending their money, rather they spend your money to campaign to you, to continue doing the same things. I expect Nigerians to listen to issues and stop getting swayed by the theatre they are bringing into it.
”They are not talking about poverty, they are not talking about how to address the problem of out-of-school children, they are not talking about finding lasting solutions to the flooding in Nigeria, they are not talking about the availability of potable water, good healthcare. What they are talking about is to keep dancing, keep thinking that politics is a game or theatre or a clown show. No, it is real because it affects your life.
”I am glad that we are finally getting to the issues and we are finally leaving that nonsense behind and bringing someone like Prince Adewole Adebayo who is young. Our candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo is 51 years old and he is capable of turning things for the better in Nigeria “.
The walk was led by the presidential candidate of SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo, running mate, Mr. Yusuf Buhari, the Deputy Director-General of SDP Presidential Campaign Council, Mrs. Khadija Okunu- Lamidi and other Chieftains.
The presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 25th February while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will be held on 11th March.
