Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, openly solicited for votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
Obasanjo urged Nigerians to go to Saturday’s polls and do a repeat of the voting with which they mandated the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari as the country’s next president.
The former president’s presence in the popular Itoku Market in Abeokuta South Local Government Area caught many residents unawares. He told newsmen that Nigerians should re-enact what they did during the March 28 polls with their votes on April 11, when they will cast their votes for the governorship and state House of Assembly members.
Obasanjo, a two-term president and former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had arrived at the market at about 4.30p.m.
His presence at the market soon attracted many residents, who kept shouting, “Sai Baba Obasanjo! Sai Buhari! Sai Amosun!”
While in the market, the former president visited the stalls of adire (local fabric) and herb dealers, with traders and others in the market trailing him everywhere he went.
Addressing the traders, Obasanjo pointed out that since he returned from Abuja after serving as president, he had not visited the market, but felt it was appropriate to do so during this Easter season.
Speaking in his native Yoruba language, he said: “Since I came back from Abuja, I have not come here to say hello to you. But, it occurred to me that I could do it during this Easter period and that is why I have come. How is business and hope you are all doing well?”
The jubilant traders responded chanting, “ Sai Baba Obasanjo! Sai Buhari! Sai Amosun.”
Obasanjo initially refrained from making political statements, but as he made to enter his car, newsmen took him on his mission to the market and he said: “Since I came back, I have not really visited any market. I have come to do two things. I have come to give them Easter greetings and to find out how they are doing in their market.
“This is my community. As a member of the community, I want to know what’s going on and what’s happening in the community.”
On what advice he would offer traders regarding the April 11 elections, Obasanjo said: “They should do exactly what they did last Saturday.”