By Wole Olujobi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for showing strong leadership in his governance style, saying the governor prepared very well for leadership before seeking Ekiti people’s mandate to govern them.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima in Ado-Ekiti at the mega rally concluding Oyebanji’s election campaign for the June 20 governorship poll, Tinubu said the governor’s performance demonstrated that the milestones he achieved was a result of visionary leadership backed by sound mentorship over the years. He urged Ekiti people to vote for the governor in the weekend poll to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy.
He praised Ekiti people for supporting Oyebanji through peaceful conduct that created opportunities for the governor to concentrate in the tasks of governance.
At an electrifying mega rally in Ado-Ekiti that drew national and state leaderships of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyebanji and Deputy Governor Monisade Christiana Afuye concluded their governorship election campaigns that primarily featured house-to-house campaigns ahead of the June 20 election.
The rally at the Ekitiparapo Pavilion drew massive crowds of supporters, who, as early as eight o’clock had arrived the venue for the programme scheduled to commence at 11am.
The rally came a day after local government workers in the state held a campaign rally at the Fajuyi mini-pavilion at the city centre, where they delivered their message of approval and support, marking the end of their state-wide campaign for Oyebanji, who they praised for changing the face of local government administration for effectiveness, including expanding the service for career progression for workers.
Shettima recalled that he was in Ekiti State few days ago to commission the newly completed flyover, among other projects, that demonstrated the leadership qualities in the governor.
His words: “Governor Oyebanji is a man who knows the nitty gritty of leadership. He believes you have to be in good accord with the farmers, traders, students and even the downtrodden as a leader. He has carried himself with humility, and leads with patience. He came prepared for governance. He came as a governor and gave respect to leaders and traditional rulers. I am happy that he has kept the machinery of governance focused on the people.
“I came to Ekiti recently to commission some projects, I saw one of the longest flyovers in the country in Ekiti, which attested to the fact that he had served you well. His being in good terms with all the past governors and political leaders show how beneficial his leadership has been.”
Praising the governor for his pro-people stance in his governance style, Shettima said he was impressed by the manner Oyebanji had conducted himself admirably among contending political persuasions in the state, yet he was able to unite the people to post good results in governance.
“I have gone round, I didn’t see the posters of any opposition standing. This attested to his acceptability and inclusivity spirit. On Saturday, go out and re-elect this humble and peaceful man to further serve you better,” Shettima said, as he handed
Oyebanji to all the past governors and First Ladies, urging them to work very hard for victory on Saturday’s poll.
Those in attendance included 18 governors, among whom were governors of Borno, Edo, Delta, Ogun, Sokoto and Ondo states, including 24 Senators and 18 House Representatives members.
Others included former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Dr Kayode Fayemi, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, and former Governor Ayo Fayose, APC National Chairman, Prof Nantawe Yilwatda; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who is also the National Chairman of Biodun Oyebanji Campaign Council; Governor Hope Uzodinma, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, State Chairman of APC, Sola Elesin; House of Assembly Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye, former Osun Governor Gboyega Oyetola, former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari, Dr Dele Alake and several members of the National Assembly.
Fayose, a member of PDP, who said he represented the opposition politicians in the state at the rally, expressed joy that Oyebanji would be making history in his re-election victory after uniting the past rival governors to work together to produce, for the first time, the first governor to win his second term election back-to-back.
Yilwatda called for a prayer for the repose of the souls of victims of kidnappings in parts of the country. He praised Oyebanji for good performance, citing the flyover and other roads he constructed for the benefit of residents, including giving farmers opportunity to reach their farms through rural access roads.
He enjoined residents to go out on Saturday to vote for Oyebanji.
Akpabio, who described Oyebanji as a humble leader, praised the governor for his landmark achievements and urged voters to cast their votes for him to continue to deliver quality service for Ekiti State.
Elesin thanked the Vice President for his presence, which he said signified the unity of purpose within the party ranks. He thanked President Tinubu for providing a purposely leadership, saying his interventions in Ekiti development provided great opportunities for the party to seek the continuation of Oyebanji in governance to build more on the milestones recorded in the first term.
Bamidele appreciated party members for attending the rally in large numbers, saying that for the remaining days before the election, Uba Sani, who is the chairman of the National Campaign Council will take charge of the campaign.
Sani thanked members for patience displaced in the scorching sun, saying that he was not surprised that people stayed with Oyebanji to ensure success in the election.
He listed the milestones by Oyebanji, saying the party would surpass 187,000 votes in the last election, stressing that this time around, it will be a minimum of 500,000 votes.
Describing Oyebanji as a humble governor, the Kaduna State governor explained that such conduct attracted all the former governors and leaders in the opposition to support him.
He said with the support Oyebanji was getting from the cross-sections of the society, the people would give him their votes on election day.
Uzodinma said the national leadership of the party was in Ekiti to support Oyebanji for the general acceptance that he had received from Ekiti people.
Describing Oyebanji as a performing governor, he said the party is already supported by the people, but that the party would continue to canvass for votes in the next phase of house-to-house campaign. He also praised Ekiti people for their peaceful conduct for which they are renowned and urged them to vote peacefully on election day.
Oyebanji in company of his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, and Deputy Governor Monisade Christiana Afuye, thanked the leadership of the party and Ekiti people for their support, and expressed happiness that Ekiti people came out in large numbers to attend the event.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for assisting the state through several intervention schemes that allowed him to deliver good services to the people.
Oyebanji listed numerous achievements in the last three and half years and urged Ekiti people to vote on Saturday for the continuity of good governance.
Others at the event included Senators, House of Reps members, State Exco members, Director General of Biodun Oyebanji Campaign Council, Senator Cyril Fasuyi; members of Ekiti State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, party exco, leaders of NUT, NULGE, NLC, pensioners, Christian association and Muslim organisations, among other top leaders of the party.
- Olujobi is Deputy Director, Media and Communications, BAO Campaign Council
