Why Ibadan Book Club mobilized support for Gov. Seyi Makinde Re-election bid

 

REASONS WHY IBADAN BOOK CLUB MOBILIZED SUPPORT FOR GOV. SEYI MAKINDE RE-ELECTION BID

 

Ibadan Book Club is a group of intellectuals, writers, and book lovers in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, Nigeria. The group was established to promote reading culture and to provide a platform for literary discussions among its members. Over the years, the group has grown in membership and influence, attracting writers, scholars, and intellectuals from across the state and beyond.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator of the Club, Ayobami Odunyemi said Ibadan Book Club made a bold move by mobilizing support for Governor Seyi Makinde's re-election bid. The Club saw it as an opportunity to make a difference in the state's politics and to lobby the governor for the improvement of the state's education sector.

The Writers for Democratic Change was established by the Ibadan Book Club to drive the campaign for Governor Seyi Makinde's re-election bid. The movement comprised writers, journalists, and intellectuals who believed in the governor's vision for the state and wanted to contribute their quota to his re-election bid. The movement made several releases in support of the governor's re-election bid, highlighting his achievements in the education sector, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment. Below are the links to some of these releases: https://pmparrotng.com/2022/09/24/second-term-in-office-makinde-secures-support-from-oyo-writers/, https://pmparrotng.com/2022/09/27/makindes-leadership-style-hailed-by-oyo-writers/, https://www.blueprint.ng/2023-oyo-writers-declare-support-for-makindes-second-term/. The Movement is also the author of the popular writeup, “Why Governor Seyi Makinde Deserves Second Term, 30 Good Reasons Why You Should Vote For Governor Seyi Makinde This Coming Saturday and others.

Some key political stakeholders in the state were briefed about the movement's activities, including Governor Seyi Makinde himself, the Commissioner for Information, the Oyo SUBEB Chairman, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The movement also engaged in door-to-door campaigns, rallies, and other forms of political mobilization to garner support for the governor's re-election bid.

One of the reasons why the Ibadan Book Club supported Governor Seyi Makinde's re-election bid was his contribution to the education sector in the state. The governor had embarked on several projects aimed at improving the quality of education in the state, including the construction of new schools, renovation of existing ones, and the recruitment of more teachers. The Ibadan Book Club saw this as a step in the right direction and believed that the governor needed a second term to consolidate on his achievements.

Another reason why the Ibadan Book Club supported Governor Seyi Makinde's re-election bid was to lobby the governor for the improvement of the state's libraries. The group had been using the premises of the Oyo State Library Board since 2021 for their monthly reading activities. The group saw the need for the library to be upgraded to an international standard, and they believed that supporting the governor's re-election bid would give them the opportunity to make their case.

The Ibadan Book Club had featured over 60 writers since its inception, and the successors of Mrs. Adebola Akinlolu, who granted the group permission to use the library, had continued to allow them to use the premises for their monthly readings. The group believed that refurbishing the library would not only benefit them but also the entire state, as it would provide a conducive environment for learning and research.

The Ibadan Book Club made several correspondences to the governor, highlighting the need for the library to be upgraded to an international standard. They believed that this would not only benefit the state but also attract scholars and researchers from across the country and beyond. The group saw the governor's re-election bid as an opportunity to push their agenda and make a difference in the state's education sector.