By Mary Izuaka

 

Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has donated 25 vehicles to the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement in Kogi State to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Mr Ekpemupolo, the movement’s Grand Patron, announced the donation through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Kestin Pondi, at the inauguration of the movement’s Kogi State structure in Lokoja on Monday.

He said the vehicles would support the movement’s campaign to mobilise voters for Mr Tinubu’s second term.

Mr Ekpemupolo, represented by Mr Pondi, argued at the event that the president had shown courage by removing the petrol subsidy, supporting direct allocation of funds to local governments, and allowing states to regulate electricity.

According to him, the reforms have increased resources available to state governments to pay salaries, pensions and execute projects.

“If somebody has done so much for you, what do you do for the person? You give him more,” he said.

He urged members of the movement to take the president’s message to homes, workplaces, churches and markets, adding that Nigerians should give Mr Tinubu another four years to consolidate his reforms.

He acknowledged that the reforms had brought challenges but maintained that the country would eventually benefit if citizens remained patient.

In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, commended the movement for providing vehicles for grassroots mobilisation but said vehicles alone could not guarantee electoral success.

“Vehicles do not win elections, but people win elections, conventions win elections, and organisations win elections,” Mr Ododo said.

He urged the movement’s coordinators to explain the administration’s policies to Nigerians, listen to their concerns and answer questions with facts.

The governor said Mr Tinubu inherited serious economic challenges and had chosen to confront them through reforms, adding that the country needed continuity to consolidate ongoing development efforts.

He listed infrastructure and development projects in Kogi State which he said had received the president’s support, including the proposed Economic City and Free Trade Zone and the Kogi International Airport project.

He also cited renewed attention to the Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Expressway, development of universities and primary healthcare centres, road construction, support for farmers and empowerment initiatives.

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Mr Ododo thanked Mr Tinubu for supporting security operations and backing efforts to establish state police, saying improved security would enable farmers to return to their farms and businesses to operate without fear.

He pledged to lead the mobilisation effort in Kogi State.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Sunday Asuku, called on residents, youths, students and farmers to mobilise support for Mr Tinubu’s re-election, describing the president’s reforms as necessary for development.

He also cited the administration’s engagement with organised labour and efforts to prevent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as reasons for supporting Tinubu.

Asuku urged members of the movement to take the campaign beyond political gatherings by engaging voters from door to door, city to city and settlement to settlement.