Pacesetter Peace Team congratulates Senator ‘Soji Akanbi over 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council’s Membership Nomination

The leadership of the Pacesetter Peace Team (PPT) under the chairmanship of Barrister Ademola Adeniji has congratulated Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, the Okanlomo of Ibadan land and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, over his membership nomination to the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council.

In a congratulatory message issued yesterday by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the PPT and former PRO of the progressive party in the state, Hon. Dauda Kolawole, the group hailed Akanbi, the brain behind the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA-23) in Oyo State, as the secretary of the civil society mobilisation I of the campaign council.

The group described Akanbi’s appointment to the campaign council as a round peg in a round hole.

PPT lauded Akanbi’s efforts on the SWAGA-23 as the first support group to kickstart President Bola Tinubu’s presidential campaign from Southwestern Nigeria. “Early after the emergence of late President Muhammad Buhari for a second term in office, the frenzy of President Tinubu’s presidential ambition had taken over the southwest, with several first-class monarchs and leaders of strong power blocs already publicly endorsing him. All these were achieved without PBAT making a single public statement about wanting to be president of Nigeria, and this is because of the movement called SWAGA – South-West Agenda-23.”

PPT recalled, ‘Once the hurdle of APC presidential primaries was crossed, you, Senator Riliwan Adesoji Akanbi, launched another political weapon called COMBAT to ensure that you teamed up with the like-minded chieftains to deliver Oyo state, which understandably needed extra effort as it was under the grip of the opposition party, PDP, led by Engr. Seyi Makinde.  The Coalition Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (COMBAT) in Oyo State, solely funded by you, left no stone unturned in his quest to win for President Tinubu.

“Across the state, we are aware that you engaged directly with leaders of political parties, market men and women, artisan groups, pensioners, students, teachers and principals, associations of professional bodies, young academia of higher institutions, religious bodies, community leaders and social clubs. Add to that list the civil servants, NULGE members, road transport unions, tricycle and okada riders and so many more.

“We recalled that there was also the Strategy and Planning Committee, which was the think tank for the Tinubu ambition. This committee gave birth to the Tinubu-Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council, where you also played key roles in ensuring President Tinubu’s emergence.

“There was also the ‘Planning and Monitoring Presidential Campaign Council’, for which you were the Southwest Anchor while also Chairing the Planning and Strategic Committee. The truth is, if you were not leading then, you were working as a member of the committees. You were involved in all of them!

“Even during the 2023 primary elections, brouhaha, when the results of the state primaries seemed to have further polarised the APC in Oyo state and were threatening to slow down the Tinubu movement, you and selected people continued to consult with stakeholders and threw this mission wider beyond APC. You knew quite early that the secret to victory would be to sell your candidate directly to the people and get other neutral political power blocs to journey with the project. We are aware of all your efforts; we heartily commend you and pray that by His Grace, you shall reap the fruits of your labour.

“Once again, on behalf of the leadership and entire members of the Pacesetter Peace Team (PPT) under the chairmanship of Barrister Ademola Adeniji, we progressively congratulate you, Sir! Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment to the campaign council, and may Almighty God crown your efforts and that of the other members of the campaign council with a landslide victory of our father and leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come 2027. By His Grace, you shall not labour in vain, and Almighty God shall reward you abundantly (Amen).

The group used the avenue to also canvass support for the landslide victory of Asiwaju Tinubu as president, Senator Sharafadeen Alli as Oyo State governor and all APC candidates in the state.