By Kehinde Olatunji
A team of support groups based in Manchester, Britain, yesterday, pledged their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential flag-bearer, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima as well as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat’s re-election in the 2023 general elections.
The groups, gave the assurances over the weekend during their convergence in London.
The Spokesperson of the Nigeria Diaspora for Tinubu (NDA Manchester), David Adeoye, explained that the convergence was borne out of the need for Asiwaju to replicate what he did for Lagos state when he was governor for massive development across the nation.
Adeoye added that they have started galvanising support for Tinubu since the commencement of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) registration exercise, owing to their firm belief that Tinubu can overhaul the nation’s economy and all aspects of citizens’ lives for the better.
He said: “I welcome you to this auspicious occasion of the convergence of various groups in Manchester in support of the aspiration of our leader, Asiwaju Tinubu to become Nigeria’s next President and the re-election of Governor Sanwo-Olu in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“Our vision is to promote massive support for their emergence as President and Governor of Lagos State based on their track records of excellent performances both in human and infrastructural development.
“You will agree with me that those in the diaspora played a huge and massive role in terms of diaspora remittance, those of us that have family and responsible breadwinners believe it is important for us to be part of the process to have a Nigeria of our dreams.
“He is a progressive father of the nation and apart from that, he is somebody that has affiliations across all the six geo-political zones of the country. Regardless of what anyone will say, he is a man that has laboured for the progressive cause of our nation and he’s a man that has helped a lot of politicians and even professionals in the country.
Adeoye noted that now that Tinubu is coming out to vie for the presidential office, Nigerians should see it as civic responsibility and ensure it becomes a reality.
“We want to give it everything we have to make sure that our national leader, Tinubu becomes the president of Nigeria. We in diaspora believe there’s a need for more sensitisation, mobilisation and information to propagate the entrenchment of democratic values for Nigerians.
“We have always been there and we will be there again and continue to do our best for the success of the campaign and for the re-election of Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“We believe our support will help propagate the social economic values of the Nigerian Community in the North West of England and most notably, Manchester.
“We also want to bring attention to the growing disparity within the APC-led government to the North of England by bringing leaders who can impact Manchester and its environs, inviting decision makers to earmark Manchester as a bilateral socio-economic hub, entrepreneurial base and political flagbearer with exposure and development ideas about the economic issues in Nigeria.
“We want to offer ideas, contribute and bring a number of developments including the reality of a existing second tier Nigeria High Commission to Manchester, especially the promised Passport office. This will not only alleviate the waiting times in London but also provide another option for Nigerians in the midlands, Tyneside, Northwest and Scotland.
“Attract political conferences and bring the presence of government in the North; establishment of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Enterprises branch. This will help the Black and African businesses bounce back, especially after the impact of COVID-19.”
Source: The Guardian
