The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo has reiterated the commitment of his party to end poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking during the campaign flag-off for the party’s Oyo North Senatorial District candidate Rt. Hon. Alhaja Mulikat Akande-Adeola in Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday, Prince Adebayo said successive governments have failed to honour their contract with the people.
He noted that the mission, purpose and agenda of the SDP is the welfare of the people.
He said, “We began the journey 30 years ago with Moshood Kashimawo Abiola; we began that journey by saying we will say farewell to poverty, but those who held power at the time did not allow our wish to come to pass. 30 years later, we had more poverty, and added to poverty is its grandchild – insecurity”.
“So we have now decided to select the important people, the committed people, the conscientious people, and compassionate people to come together and revive the Social Democratic Party.
“Our mission, our purpose, our agenda is the welfare of the people”, he reiterated.
The SDP presidential candidate further pointed out that according to the Nigerian Constitution, it is against the law for anyone to be hungry in Nigeria, and therefore his party will use the resources of the country to take care of the welfare of the people.
“It is against the law, going by the provisions of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution if you read Chapter 2 of the Constitution; It is against the law to have a hungry man in Nigeria.
“So, I cannot become president without swearing by the Constitution, without mentioning Chapter 2 of the Constitution, that I will use the resources of the country to take care of the welfare of the people”, he said.
He described persons in government who have neglected the welfare of the people as lawbreakers and criminals.
He said, “The wealth of Nigeria is not for taking care of politicians, there should be no difference between the house of politicians and the house of the ordinary person”.
On education, Prince Adebayo said that the gateway to prosperity is education, which is for advancement and empowerment. He assured the people of Oyo State that the SDP will invest in education, with not less than one billion per local government.
“We assure you the 13 local government areas of Orogun and the 33 local government areas of Oyo State that we will give you investment in education, not less than one billion per local government”.
While condemning the act of stealing Nigeria’s oil by those in public office, the lawyer-turned-politician noted that the money coming to Oyo and other states is less than the money being stolen.
He enjoined Nigerians not to hesitate to throw out the persons that have looted the nation of its wealth, and vote for credible leaders.
He said, “The American government says if they give Nigeria our gas money, Nigeria has more money than America; so don’t hesitate to throw them out of government.
“But let me tell you something before you curse politicians, before you say, God will punish them; make sure you’re not collecting their money, because if you say God should punish the thief, God will punish the thief and the person collecting the thief’s money”, he added.
The campaign flag,-off took place in the Iseyin Local Government Area of Ibadan in Oyo State.