“I have never seen this kind of crowd before, not in the rain,” former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba, said on Wednesday at the launch of the Lagos chapter of the Action Congress (AC), the country�s latest mega party.
We are the only party of the progressives, Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, added as he urged those in other parties to unite to salvage the country from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The crowd at the Onikan Stadium, venue of the occasion, sang, drummed, and danced, and almost brought down the stadium.
For hours before and after the launch, the Third Mainland Bridge and several roads leading to the stadium witnessed an unprecedented traffic jam as commuter buses and private vehicles headed for the venue that had been filled to capacity two hours before the event.
Helicopters distributed hand bills and one brought a top contester for the governorship, Jimi Agbaje.
Former South West governors were present, among them Bisi Akande.
Tinubu promised that the AC would end unstable electricity supply within the first four years in office.
He described the PDP as a party of “failures and murderers,” stressing that the time has come for Nigerians to sweep it out of power as the trillions spent by Abuja in the last seven years have not changed anything.
He pledged improved welfare package for the police, with a minimum N50, 000 monthly salary. And that a government controlled by the AC “would improve on education standard as well as the health sector. It is a shame that two survivors of the recent military air crash have to be taken to South Africa for treatment.”
Former PDP National Chairman, Audu Ogbeh, urged the people to embrace the new party as a turning point in the life of the country, to free itself from the PDP.
Former Communications Minister, Dapo Sarumi, said Nigeria did not bargain for what it got from the Federal Government which has “inflicted more pain on the people” despite the huge sums realised from the sale of oil.
Others present included AC National Chairman, Hassan Zurumi, Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Olorunimbe Mamora.
Governorship aspirants who had a field day were Deputy Governor, Olufemi Pedro; Health Commissioner, Tola Kasali; Hakeem Gbajabiamila; Adiukwu-Bakare; Agbaje; Ganiyu Solomon; Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Oyinlomo Danmole� Omotilewa Aro-Lambo; Kaoli Olusanya; Bayo Erikitola; Rahman Owokoniran; and Kunle Lawal.