ýThe lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, on Saturday mobilised thousands of artisans and traders across Oyo State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
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ýOseni said the support base of the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), in collaboration with other stakeholders, was aimed at intensifying efforts to deliver one million votes for the President in the state.
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ýOseni, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said artisans and traders must see themselves as critical stakeholders in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the success of the administration depends largely on grassroots participation.
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ýThe federal lawmaker said this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations.
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ýIn a symbolic show of political readiness, scores of traders and artisans at the event displayed their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while Oseni urged eligible Nigerians yet to register to obtain their voter cards ahead of the next general election.
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ýHe cautioned against vote-buying and vote-selling, warning that such practices threaten the future of democracy and mortgage the destiny of younger generations.
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ýThe meeting, according to Oseni, was also convened to deepen economic support for members through empowerment programmes targeted at strengthening businesses and improving livelihoods.
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ýHe aswell announced that requests for a N250 million interest-free loan scheme for artisans and traders, construction of an artisans’ village with stable electricity supply, and health insurance support had received approval.
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ýAccording to him, the loan facility will be administered through a microfinance bank under the Remi Oseni Foundation to ensure transparency, accessibility and sustainability.
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ýHe added that road and infrastructure projects across communities would remain a major priority.
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ýOseni, who is seeking to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the next election cycle, also during the meeting explained his decision to pursue a Senatorial seat instead of his earlier governorship ambition.
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ýHe said the move followed consultations with party leaders and supporters.
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ýAccording to him, supporters deserved clarity on the political direction of the movement.
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ýHe said: ‘We convened this stakeholders’ meeting to review our present position. Before now, our focus was on leading Oyo State through the governorship. That was our clear objective as a movement, but today, it has become evident that God is directing us towards the Senate.
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ý’Our people needed to understand the reasons for this decision, the position of the party and what we have accepted in the overall interest of our political future. It is not enough for leaders to take decisions. We owe our supporters explanations and must carry them along.
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ý’We have encouraged them to embrace this opportunity in good faith and believe that greater opportunities still lie ahead.
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ý’Many of them felt our governorship ambition would have delivered greater benefits, but we have reassured them that the government remains supportive and the future is bright.
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ý’We have equally assured the President that our decision to pursue the Oyo South Senate seat will not affect the one million votes earlier promised him, because ROCOF structures across the 33 local government areas are fully mobilised and committed to his re-election.’
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ýSpeaking on the crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oseni said efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members, expressing confidence that outstanding differences would soon be resolved.
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ýHe described competing interests within the party as a reflection of the APC’s growing strength and political attractiveness.
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ýEarlier, the Oyo State Coordinator of ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations, Alhaji Munirudeen Adegoke, described Oseni’s empowerment drive as a strategic investment capable of reducing unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty.
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ýAdegoke said meaningful empowerment for artisans and traders must go beyond temporary palliatives.
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ýAccording to him, sustainable support requires deliberate policies that guarantee access to capital, improved infrastructure and social protection.