By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
The Lokoja Youths Association (LYA) has shifted its campaigns to markets across the state ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
The association is canvassing support for the Governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Vice Admiral Usman Oyibe Jibrin (Rtd).
On Friday, members of the association were at the Lokoja New Market, in Lokoja Local Government Area where they were well received by the market men and women.
The President of the LYA, Alhaji Ibrahim Salisu, told National Watch that the association has set for itself a mission of capturing about one million votes for usman Oyibe Jibrin in the next governorship election.
He said in the coming weeks, the members would be visiting other major markets in all the 21 local government areas of the state.
“We have promised to galvanize one million votes for Jibrin in the November 11, 2023 governorship election and if we really want to execute that project we have to go to the people that matter and we know that markets are places where we can find people from different strata of the society including religion, ethnic and social order.
“When we take the message to the market, we are speaking with all Kogites. We are storming all major markets across the state to tell them about Usman Oyibe Jibrin and they will, in turn, take the message back to their various communities,” Salisu said.
Salisu further added that it was strategic to kick start the initiative in Lokoja New Market being the state capital.
“If we are saying that we want to touch the grassroots and we didn’t reach the markets, it means we are not serious about our mobilization for Jibrin.
“Our task has been made simpler since Usman Oyibe JIbrin is a ‘credible’ candidate that can easily be sold to everyone that knows his track record.
“This retired Naval Chief had influenced many projects to Kogi State when he was the Nigeria Chief of Naval Staff. That is why we have come solidly behind him to encourage all Kogites to accept his candidacies,” Salisu stated.
According to the LYA president, Usman Oyibe Jibrin, during his service as the Nigeria Chief of Naval Staff facilitated the establishments of Lokoja Navy Base and barrack, Navy Command in Idah and the Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Okura in Dekina local government area, among others.
On their part, representatives of the Lokoja new market trades assured they would be actively involved in the coming polls as they are keen to elect only those with their interests at heart.
Hajiya Fatima Musa, who represented a section of the traders, said virtually all the traders have collected their Permanent Voters Cards PVC, and are ready to exercise their civic duties.
“We don’t vote for money, we vote for competence and Usman Oyibe Jibrinn is our man,” she said.
Recall that Usman Oyibe Jibrin who is fondly called AKPABANA, on Thursday paid a visit to the Attah Igala, HRM Matthew Alaji Opaluwa to seek royal blessings.
During the royal visit, he was given tumultuous welcome by his supporters at the palace.
