The member representing Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopa-Muro Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide, has called on the Yoruba people living in the North to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The lawmaker elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) made the call while speaking to journalists in Abuja at the 10th anniversary and election of new executive members of the Association of Yoruba Traditional Leaders/Obas of Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory.
Abejide, the Asiwaju of Yoruba in Kano, called on the race to rally behind him and support President Tinubu’s policies and programmes, saying that, as a group, they will reap the dividends of democracy.
He stated that the Yoruba people in the country are a foremost tribe that excels anywhere they find themselves.
“People like me, I lived in Kano for about 32 years. And I entered Kano as nobody, but I came out as somebody, through the grace of God. And our population in Kano State, if you count us one after the other, we are not less than 5 million Yorubas living in Kano State alone.
“We can even determine who will be governor of Kano State. That is how important we are in Kano.
And I believe in other areas of Northern Nigeria. Let me congratulate you on your 10th anniversary.
All the traditional rulers here today, I want you to know that I, Elder Leke Joseph Abedjide, will support you if and only if you walk along with me to support the president.
“Most of you are doing very well in your chosen endeavours. My Yoruba King, Otisense, the Oba Yoruba of Kano State, is doing well. I see the chairman today, Oba Funtua, doing very well. And many of us here in our chosen endeavours. They are not sitting down to go and beg. They command respect among the populace even beyond the Yoruba race.
“I want you to join me in whatever I do. I told my people when I was contesting the election for my second term in the House of Representatives, follow me; if you follow me and the president wins this election, you will see what I will bring home, and by tomorrow, I’m going to flag off a 57.2-kilometre road. It is not my power; it is because I have a father behind me. Therefore, if you follow me and do what I say you should do, you will see what happens in this association.
“It is not me that is doing it alone, but it’s because I have a father backing me. I want us to speak with one voice anytime when the time comes; once we do that, I can always get things for you as an association. I am the Asiwaju of the Yoruba people in Kano state, and I say it here today. I am also the Asiwaju of my place, community, and federal constituency,” Abejide added.
