By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Ondo state, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has been endorsed by indigenes of Idanre in the Idanre local government area of Ondo State living in Europe.

Chairman of the Idanre Indigenes in the United Kingdom (UK), Otunba Olowoniyi Akinleminu, said that they endorsed Ajayi, because he picked an indigene of the town, Hon Festus Akingbaso as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.

Akinleminu, said “the choice of Akingbaso, a serving member of the House of Representatives, was the first time since 1952 that an Idanre Indigene would be chosen as the running mate of a front-line political party.

He added that “the PDP’s candidate had visited the UK and promised to revive the Mare festival, which has been abandoned, and make the Idanre Hills tourism attraction if elected as governor in the November 16 governorship election in the state.

Akinleminu said all the indigenes of Idanre living in different parts of Europe would come home to mobilize their kits and kin at home to vote for the PDP’s candidate and his running mate, who is an indigene of the town.

Meanwhile, Ajayi has returned to Nigeria from a one-week interactive visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with indigenes of the state living abroad.

During the visit, Ajayi hosted an all-embracing zoom meeting, which also accommodated many state indigenes in America and some parts of Europe. He was also a guest at a meeting organised in his honour by state indigenes.

Ajayi presented his blueprint to the diaspora citizens for scrutiny during the visit

The visit also enabled them to make their demands of the gubernatorial hopeful regarding their expectations from his government when elected as governor.

Ajayi’s blueprint enumerated plans of the candidate to revive the state’s economy, provide qualitative education, foolproof security, sports development, and youth development and empowerment programs, among others.

The UK indigenes, were optimistic that Ajayi will ” redirect the vehicle of the state back to a focused path from where it has since veered off because of the failure of the ruling party to provide leadership”

They promised to mobilise fully to ensure his success in the scheduled election.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Prof Gold Emmanuel, has declared her support for the PDP governorship candidate.

Prof Emmanuel, said she “is pleased with what the PDP candidate was bringing to the table.

Another participant, Awoyo Damilola Desmond, also registered his happiness with what he said the PDP candidate is bringing to the table and promised his readiness to support him with his people all the way”.