Vote APC candidates on Saturday, Oyo must align with mainstream – Sen. Balogun

Sen. Kola Balogun (APC-Oyo South), has called on the people of Oyo State to vote the APC governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, and all APC House of Assembly candidates on Saturday, March 18.

Balogun told newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan, that the state can’t afford not to align with government at the centre.

Our correspondent reports that Balogun congratulated the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, and all elected APC National Assembly candidates in the state.

It was also reported that the APC won the three senatorial seats and eight out of the 14 House of Representatives seats in the state, while two constituencies were declared inconclusive.

The lawmaker said that the people had voted the APC in the Feb. 25 elections and should follow-up with that by voting APC on Saturday, so as to know who to hold responsible.

“I thank the people of Oyo State for voting the APC candidates on Feb. 25. I am calling on them to vote all APC candidates on Saturday, March 18.

“They should vote for APC all the way because, they had voted for the party in the last election and they should follow up with that for them to know who to hold responsible.

“We can’t afford not to align with the mainstream because the factor is very important. Also, our party needs God’s factor and I strongly believe that APC will emerge victorious,” he said.

Balogun said that the APC has prepared well to win the election, adding “when you’ve tasted power and lost it, you must work harder to get it back”.

He expressed confidence that the Tinubu-led administration would transform the nation for good, saying he has been doing that already.

The lawmaker said that Tinubu is known for his ability and capability to put things together, especially assembling a functional and efficient team.

“You don’t have to be a super genus to run the country, which was what he did in Lagos. You don’t have to be a civil engineer to run the country.

“As I’ve always been saying, no imbecile can be an outstanding Senator. If you’re in the Senate, you have to stand up and make your point.

“So, I believe that Tinubu must have started working and merit must count! There are some key economic sectors that require meritocracy,” he said.

Balogun charged the newly-elected members of the National Assembly to be ready to make sacrifices and focus more on service delivery to satisfy the people.

He said that for them to have emerged victorious, they must have sacrificed a lot, urging them to understand what was known as self denial to satisfy their people.

“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate my younger ones who have won the elections in the state and across the country in the House of Representatives and Senate, I wish them best of luck.

“I want to advise them that for any one to occupy any office, especially public office, they must have sacrificed a lot.

“So, they must understand what is known as self denial to satisfy their people,” he said.

He said that he was winding down his tenure as the Senator for Oyo South Senatorial district as a fulfilled man, adding his family was proud of him.

The lawmaker said that he has fulfilled almost all the promises he made during his campaign, adding his footprints are everywhere.

“I am doing what God has sent me to do because public office has to do with the people’s trust. We are all accountable to God almighty.

“My family has always been proud of me. I get my report cards from professional bodies like NUJ, artisans as well as traders. It is not how long but how well.

“I don’t make promises on what I won’t be able to do. So, it is important that all those who are coming should know that promises are debts,” he said.