June 12: Mandate Group Launches 40m Membership Drive For Tinubu, Shettima

The group which was created in the early 90s as an independent campaign group while Tinubu was the governor of Lagos.

 The group played a significant role in ensuring a  sustainable leadership group in Lagos and in ensuring the incursion of the Tinubu group into other South West States and the subsequent emergence of Tinubu as the President of Nigeria.

At rally held at the Police College ground in Ikeja, Lagos which witnessed a large turn out the group said it hoped to realise the 40 million membership target across the 36 states in the next 12 months.

The group said it is aware of challenges currently facing Nigerians but added that, it has received assurances from President Tinubu that in the next few months, the economy would bounce back and the country would regain her strength and fortunes.

According to the leaders of the group Abdulai Enilobo and Prince Wale Arogundade described the current situation of things in the country as a process of ‘removing the landmines’ in order to clear the route to stability and prosperity of Nigeria.

‘This is a historic gathering. We are proud of thousands of people that have gathered here today to mark the 31 years after the annulment of June 12 election.

” On this occasion, we hereby launch the 40 million membership drive in the 36 states and Abuja. The membership mobilisation will move with the speed of light,”’ Enilolobo said.

He added ‘We announce here to the world that the Mandate Group has put in place the structure in all the 36 states of the Federation. We started in Lagos as a pro-democracy movement. From the month of July, 2024, the Mandate Forum  New Agenda is to begin the launching of state chapters in each of  the 36 states of the Federation. At present the Mandate Group has 580,000 members in Lagos.’ He said.

Enilolobo explained the National Mobilisation Strategy is to have 40 million members across the 36 states of the Federation in the next 12 months adding that,already contacts have been established with each of the 36 states and very soon, the leadership would begin the launching of the state chapters.

‘The Mandate Group will mobilise students, workers, artisans, teachers, fishermen and men in the creeks, normads in the Savanah, farmers in the Middle Belt, workers in the industrial plains. The mission is to defend the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima and to defend democracy. The Mandate Group has thus assumed the status of a National Movement for the defence of democracy and for the promotion of unity, justice and liberty in Nigeria.’

Arogundade added that ‘President Tinubu is the first leader that was not a product of the clique that has ruled Nigeria since 1960, adding that he is a product of radical and progressive struggle.

“It is the first time Nigeria is being led by a product of pro-democracy movement in Nigeria.We have the historic responsibility to mobilise support for him all over the country.”

According to him membership of the group spread  across political parties, adding that its  membership is not restricted to All Progressives Congress, (APC) also that those that do not have  political affiliation are welcome.

Enilolobo also announced that the group shall be  launching  an endowment fund that would be used to empower members to enhance their economic wellbeing.

The crowd that attended the event  caused traffic in most part of the state as it was s large gathering.

Speaking on the significance of June 12, he said it is a unique day in the history of Nigeria.

‘As we celebrate the June 12 Anniversary, we also remember the historic contributions of the current President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He commended  the president for the exceptional sacrifices made to entrench democracy in Nigeria.

The group therefore called on Nigerians from all walks of life, to stand up and defend democracy.