TheCable

Some loyalists of Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held the inaugural meeting of Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Network Vision in Akure, Ondo state capital, on Tuesday.

At the meeting were Odele Akanni, national coordinator, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Network Vision; Sola Amodeni, former commissioner for physical planning and urban development in Ondo; Demola Ijabiyi, a former Ondo lawmaker; Samuel Ade Pelemo, BAT vision state coordinator; Akinlolu Ayodele and his deputy, Bukky Oluderu (FPA).

In his goodwill message, Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, who is the national grand patron/convener of BAT Network Vision, eulogised Tinubu for his leadership roles.

Ifeoluwa Oyedele, a guest speaker at the event, emphasised the qualities of Tinubu and enjoined people of Ondo to join hands with the progressives.

In his own speech, Odele Akanni, national coordinator of BAT Network Vision, said the movement became imperative in view of the need to liberate Nigerians and make them value democracy.

Akanni expressed optimism that the network will definitely achieve its purpose of putting Nigerians in the right frame of mind ahead of the 2023 elections.

He described Tinubu as an exemplary leader worthy of emulation, saying as a man who always add value to peoples lives, he needs to be given the opportunity to showcase his wealth of experience to the larger society.

Both the coordinator and the deputy said BAT vision is not a group, but a movement to “showcase the values and promote the essence of Tinubu’s leadership qualities”.

Oluderu said the meeting was to garner all minds together under the umbrella of BAT network vision, focusing on how the APC national leader will attain victory as president in 2023.

She said the platform would be used to test run the 2020 guber poll in the sunshine state.

Amodeni, who extolled the leadership virtues of the former governor, said: “I believe in Tinubu’s vision,through his leadership at the national level of governance, Nigeria will not be the same in handling the menace of unemployment, insecurity and economic stagnation.”

The former commissioner said the “present hardship in the country”, especially on economy and security did not start with the APC.

“Eight years of the administration of Buhari can not even solve the multi-dimensional problem in the country,he is just laying the foundation that the likes of Tinubu can build on solidly,if he is given the mandate to rule after 2023.”

He supported the closure of land borders in Nigeria, saying most of the fake drugs, illegal arms and ammunition and other contraband were brought into the country through the land borders.