AS the campaign train of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Owerri, the capital of Imo state, one message was visibly clear, it came to renew the hope of the people of the state and that of the Governor, whose original name by coincidence is also hope. The sign of hope seems written everywhere in Imo today, just by looking at the roll call of the dignitaries that graced the rally, which held at the Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri. The stadium was filled beyond capacity, such that the Governor had to apologize to those that were unable to enter.
Top on the list of the dignatories was President Muhammadu Buhari, followed by the presidential flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Governor of Ebonyi state, H.E. David Nweze Umahi, the Governor of Lagos state, H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Deputy Senate President, H.E. Ovie Omo Agege and a number of party chieftains, who were there to market the Asiwaju and renew the hope of Hope, on his chances of victory for a second term.
According to the Imo state chairman of the APC, Chief Macdonald Ebere, the Governor’s name is Hope and the APC campaign slogan is renewed Hope, so we must thank God for bringing hope to renew the hope of Hope. “Indeed the Governor Imo state, His Excellency Chief Hope Uzodinma is today playing host to the champion of renewed hope for Nigeria, the Presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, he said.
Although many speakers have eulogized Governor Hope Uzodinma for the uncommon transformation he brought to Imo state, the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu spiced his eulogy with some philosophy, by juxtaposing the significance of today, to the name of the Governor and the renewed hope brought to the state by the Presidential candidate of the party.
My knowledge of Ibo is as poor as it could be, so I couldn’t make out what the chairman meant when he used his campaign voice to shout “KWENU”, but from the corresponding reactions of the crowd and the magnitude of heads that giggled possitively, alongside the amusement on the faces of supporters, I confidently concluded that there was a consensus of agreement, endorsement, or even straight solidarity with today’s import of a renewed hope to Hope.
In relating the rally, the message of hope to Governor Hope and the Presidential candidate, as well as the day, today, being Valentine, or lovers day, Senator Abdullahi Adamu praised the Governor highly, because he knows him well, having been together in the Senate. He therefore looked at the Governor on the right, and the Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the left, and aligned himself with the chorus of the crowd, that was singing, Lagos boy! Lagos boy!!, Lagos boy!!! He described the Governor as one that is bubbling with hope.
“Speakers before me have emphasized the significance of February 14 as a lovers day. So the APC has come today bubbling with love. Love to share with the good people of Imo state. We want to thank you for the wonderful reception this far. And we are more than impressed with the response of the people of Imo state this day in this Presidential rally. We have brought to Imo state on this lovers day, our Presidential candidate. We don’t want to continue with this candidate candidate, so he is the successor in office, by the grace of God, of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come May the 29th”-Sen.Abdullahi Adamu, Turakin Keffi. Indeed the crowd agreed with him through a very loud voice affirmation.
To add strength to the Chairman’s support, when called upon to the podium, President Muhammadu Buhari not only reiterated his commitment to the Asiwaju candidature, but renewed the hope of Hope, and quickly seized and raised the hand of Tinubu, to the sustained and enthusiastic shout of, Jagaban! Jagaban!! Jagaban!!! from the crowd.
Ibrahim is Director, Publicity for the APC
