Baring any unforseen circumstances, a youth organization, Congress of Progressive Youth, CPY, has perfected a plan to lay siege on the residence of the Minister of Works and Houssing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, with the aim of drawing him out of his shell to throw his hat into the ring of the 2023 presidential contest.
This much was revealed in a telephone conversation with CompassNG by the Convener of the group, Comrade Adebayo Oyenekan, on Thursday morning.
Oyenekan said, “Fashola’s project toward 2023 is what all Nigerian youths should take as a patriotic venture toward the betterment of our future,” appealing to all Nigerians to key into the project for a better Nigeria.
Spelling out the modality for the exercise, Oyenekan confided in CompassNG that it will be peaceful, educative and entertaining, disclosing that “We will storm there with drummers, dancing, singing and playing all sort of games like Ludo, Scrabble, Whart and Ayo-Olopon.”
He added that there will also be quiz competition on global current affairs with prizes, adding, “It is expected that Fashola would present the prizes to various winners.”
He added, “It would be a carnival-like rally, as speeches will be made and drama sketches will also be featured. It will take us a whole week and we believe that before our departure, our target, Fashola, would consider our action as a patriotic one and do what the whole world is waiting for – his declaration for the 2023 Presidency.”
Recall that in an earlier interview, a respected political mobilizer and community opinion leader from Nasarawa State, Mallam Buhari AbdulKareem Haroon, also hinted about the acceptability of Fashola across the North Central states of the country and beyond.
Haroon, when asked what his group would do to draft the minister into the race, said, “There are several roads to the market. We have a committee looking into that. And I can assure you that we will stop at nothing to explore all the constitutionally permitted means of dragging him into the race. We are not even leaving out legal options to persuade him into joining the race.
Reiterating his group’s seriousness about the issue, Haroon added, “What we are talking about is what is the best for the generality of the good people of Nigeria, which all hands should be on deck to achieve. It is not about individuals or about selfish interest. It is a national project concerning you and I, as well as generations unborn. It would amount to unpatriotic conduct for any Nigerian not to buy into this Fashola project. It is a serious matter that should be embraced by all well-meaning Nigerians both at home and abroad.
“And let me disclose an open secret to you my brother. As we are speaking, a huge rally across the length and breadth of the six states in the North Central zone is in the offing. It would be so huge that Fashola would have no option than to succumb to the patriotic pressure to serve his country more as Mr President. The rally would address two issues. One, to convince him of our ability to mobilise the people for his Presidency; and two, to correct the erroneous impression flying around that the minister cannot boast of any visible political structure on ground.
“The rally is billed to take place latest in February and would take place in all major cities in the six states of the North-Central zone of the country. We therefore urge the artisans, activists, professionals, academicians, women groups, religious associations and other political organizations to be part of the rally aimed at seeing a better Nigeria.”
