‘Wike, el-Rufai, Akeredolu’ — APC diaspora group to honour contributors to Tinubu’s victory

 

The Diaspora Support For Asiwaju (DSA North America), a group of Nigerians supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC), says it will honour notable individuals that contributed to Bola Tinubu’s success as the president-elect.

 

In a statement issued by the group during the weekend, the celebratory dinner and award night will hold in Abuja on Tuesday.

 

Top members of the APC and key figures from the opposition who were believed to have contributed to the APC’s success at the polls would be in attendance.

 

Folasade Olumo, convener of the group and the deputy women leader of the United States APC chapter, said the event was inspired by the relentless contributions of nationals living in the diaspora who made valuable contributions to the “renewed hope campaign” despite not being physically present.

 

 “For those of us in the diaspora, we were very involved in the campaign and the election, even though we don’t live in Nigeria permanently. However, there is no place like home, and we strongly believe in Asiwaju’s capacity to lead our country and deliver on his promises because of his antecedents,” Olumo said.

 

“For this reason, we resolved to contribute our quota to the campaign and some of us also came home to participate actively in the electioneering process.

 

“Now that elections have been won, we believe that it is important to give honour to whom it is due, and that is why we are organising this event to properly acknowledge the efforts of those who stood by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and made significant contributions to his victory at the polls.”

 

Awardees include James Abiodun Faleke, the federal legislator and secretary of the APC campaign council; Nasir El-Rufai, the outgoing governor of Kaduna; Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo; Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, and Nyesom Wike, outgoing governor of Rivers state who, despite being in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), supported Tinubu’s emergence.

 

Others include Adams Oshiomole, former APC national chairman; Dele Alake, media veteran; Betta Edu and Zainab Ibrahim, APC national women leader and deputy; Asabe Vilita Bashir, who coordinated the women’s wing of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign, and Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, veteran fuji musician and long-time Tinubu associate.

 

A special royal award would also be presented to Olushola Alao Olugbon, the olugbon of Orile-Igbon.

 

Aminu Bayero, the emir of Kano, and Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife, are to serve as the royal fathers of the day, while Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau, is expected to chair the occasion.