2023: Oke-Ogun leaders want Lawan to contest for President

Ahmad Lawan

Leaders of Oke-Ogun zone in Oyo State have urged the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan to contest the 2023 Presidential election in view of his antecedents as an experienced politician and bridge builder in country.

Their appeal came barely 24 hours after Lawan denied having interest in the country’s number one seat in 2023 or the nearest future.

The leaders comprising of traditional rulers and politicians from the zone made the call during a thank-you visit on the Senate President after attending public hearing on a bill seeking for establishment of Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in Oke-Ogun zone.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Barrister Ahmed Raji, SAN, said that traditional rulers and political leaders from the zone would be happy if the proposed university is established and Ahmad Lawan becoming its visitor and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North in the Senate becoming the host in the nearest future.

“Mr Senate President, we have followed your trajectory over the years and happy to submit that while in the House of Representatives, you made your impacts felt and in the Senate, you have made your marks.

“The people of Oke-Ogun want you to use such a trajectory in getting the planned Federal University of Agriculture and Technology passed into law and implemented.

“They will be happy to see you as Visitor to the university in the nearest future while our son, in whom we are well pleased, Senator Abdulfatahi Buhari serves as the host (governor),” he said.

Raji lamented that of all the 30 federal institutions in Oyo State, not a single one is sited in Oke-Ogun zone despite having 60 per cent of the landmass of the state and 10 out of the 33 local government councils.

“Mr President, leaders of the Oke-Ogun zone would be most appreciative if after the passage of the bill, you grant us the honour of personally delivering it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent,” he pleaded.

In his response, the Senate President, however, said agenda of the Ninth Senate remains his focus and not any distraction whatsoever.

“We have promised Nigerians that the Ninth National Assembly will work for them and will won’t allow ourselves to be detracted from getting that done.

“Every part of the country must have a tertiary institution, the very reason the bill for Federal University in Oke-Ogun will be pushed by us with the strong belief that President Buhari will sign it into law being somebody who believes in fairness and justice.

“I wish Senator Buhari well in his future ambition but as for us in the Ninth Assembly, Nigeria and Nigerians remain our focus,” Lawan said.

Earlier, Senator Buhari had informed the Senate President that the delegation was in the National Assembly to thank him over the bill and to also plead with him to use his exalted office in ensuring that the establishment of the proposed university becomes a reality.

The delegation include some members of the House of Representatives from Oke-Ogun, former Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, seasoned administrator, Dr. Dele Ajuwon and traditional rulers led by the Okere of Shaki, Oba Khalid Olabisi Oyeniyi, among others.