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PDP leaders mobilise support for Jonathan, Folarin in Oyo

By Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan
26 January 2015   |   8:52 pm
• ‘Buhari will banish freedom of speech, re-enact Decree 4’ MINISTER of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide Monday warned the Oyo State electorate against voting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the next month election, saying that he would re-enact the experience of Decree 4 with which…

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• ‘Buhari will banish freedom of speech, re-enact Decree 4’

MINISTER of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide Monday warned the Oyo State electorate against voting the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the next month election, saying that he would re-enact the experience of Decree 4 with which he clamped journalists into prison when he was Head of State.

Speaking at a rally organized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for President Goodluck Jonathan and its governorship candidate in Oyo state, Senator Teslim Folarin, the minister said that Buhari who had threatened that Ikoyi Prison would receive many visitors if he should become president, would banish freedom of speech and journalists would be worst for it.

 She therefore asked the electorate to vote for Jonathan who, during his tenure, signed into law the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) which allows for freedom of speech and expression among Nigerians.

According to her, many journalists and broadcasters would be thrown into detention if Buhari should come back. “When he was Head of State, the Decree 4 he promulgated was used as an instrument to gag Nigerians, especially journalists. There was no freedom of expression and speech. Many journalists and freedom fighters were clamped into prisons. President Goodluck Jonathan never did this. Instead, he allowed the FOI bill to be signed into law. Your vote for Jonathan will ensure your freedom of speech and expression”, Akinjide said to the mammoth crowd of PDP loyalists at the rally held at Bodija Oju’rin in the state capital.

She recalled that Jonathan has had to his credit fair representation of women in his administration, and that he has been a friend to farmers. “Vote for Jonathan on February 14 and let your votes be Valentine present for him”, she pleaded.

Speaking for Folarin, the Minister said that other candidates in other parties had been tested, but Folarin who is a young person “is capable, competent. He is my younger brother and he has promised to work with President Jonathan to ensure we get Ibadan state,” she said.

Among the dignitaries present were five of the governorship aspirants who had earlier expressed their disapproval of the congress that produced Folarin. They are Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Mr. Femi Babalola (Jogor), Prof. Soji Adejumo, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, and Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan.

Others present included Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo (Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland), former Deputy National Chairman, South, and PDP leader, Chief Lekan Balogun, Senator Hosea Agboola, state party Chairman, Yinka Taiwo and Alhaja Modinat Abosede Adedibu.

 Others were the House of Representatives members, Muraina Ajibola, and Olusegun Odebunmi, Asimiyu Alarape (former House of Assembly Speaker and Director-General, ‘Teslim Folarin Campaign Organization’) and Moroof Atilola (former Speaker, Oyo Assembly), among others.

  Folarin, in his address, said the opposition parties had been saying that if he should emerge the party’s flagbearer, they would simply go to sleep. “Now that I have emerged, they can no longer sleep. They have been tearing my posters all over the place, destroying our bill boards. Vote them out,” he said.• ‘Buhari will banish freedom of speech, re-enact Decree 4’

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