All former governors of Ekiti State, have, again reiterated their support for the re- election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term in force, citing the Governor’s demonstrated capacity and all – round development of the state for their stand.
The former governors: Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Ayodele Fayose, Chief Segun Oni and Dr Kayode Fayemi, said the June 20 governorship election is going to be a referendum and not a fierce contest giving Oyebanji’s excellent record of performance in the past three and a half years.
Branding Oyebanji as representing what they christened “Ekiti Agenda”, the former governors who spoke at the flag off of re- election campaign in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, urged the electorate to massively vote for him and his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye in the impending poll for the good works being initiated by their administration to continue unhalted.
At the well attended event, the Governors of Imo State and Chairman, APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, his counterparts in Kaduna, Uba Sani, Kogi, Usman Ododo, Edo, Monday Okpebholo, Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori and Ondo State, Lucky Ayedatiwa, were all present to solidarise with one of their own.
In the same fashion, the National Working Committee of the party, led by its Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwadta, National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola and other national leaders, were in hand to lend support to the second term ambition of the governor.
Going by the way they spoke in turns, it was a consensual agreement among the former governors that Governor Oyebanji has surpassed the expectations of Ekiti people in terms of delivery, peace building and entrenchment of politics of unification, rather than that of bitterness and division.
Former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who described himself as the “John the Baptist” of the Oyebanji’s election in 2022, said Ouebanji is “a child of destiny”, expressing gratitude to Ekiti people for their groundswell of support for his government.
Reminiscing on how Oyebanji emerged, Fayemi regaled the public with how his candidacy was vehemently opposed in 2022, disclosing that those who were aggrieved then are now his ardent campaigners and supporters due to his capability and humility .
“I am happy that he has not disappointed me, he has not disappointed the state, the country and our great party. That is why we have all the governors and former governors here supporting him and asking the electorate to reelect him.
“We know that this election has been won, but please, don’t take anything for granted, let us go home and campaign. This is going to be a campaign of issues, campaign of record, campaign of performance, it is not going to be campaign of recrimination and violence”, Fayemi clarified.
Speaking pointedly, former Governor Ayodele Fayose, said he decided to back Governor Oyebanji in running the affairs of the state smoothly, because he represents what he aptly called ‘Ekiti Agenda”.
Fayose, the leader of the People’s Democratic Party in Ekiti State, averred that by political standing and affiliation, he ought to be the face of opposition, but decided to defer his anti-government posture until Governor Oyebanji wins reelection in 2026.
Fayose warned those having opposing views to play by the rules and stop acting as if they were out and desperate to destroy the house from the rooftop.
“I am supposed to be the face of opposition in Ekiti State, but I have to do what I called Ekiti agenda. I am first Ekiti before becoming the governor. With the way this governor has united all of us together, I see him as representing Ekiti agenda and I have to support him.
“I will begin my opposition after he wins reelection. But for this coming election, we are standing and supporting him”, Fayose said.
Waxing philosophical, the first executive Governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, said he was proud to have mentored Governor Oyebanji in art of leadership, saying he deserves being supported by all the citizens.
“Ekiti people, if your child is doing well, one can’t but be happy. Governor Oyebanji has done well. He has made all of us happy. Let us all come out on June 20 and cast our votes for him.
“We are happy with what we have seen in the last three and half years. Let this good performance continue”.
Lauding the governor for his impressive performance, former Governor Segun Oni, was emphatic that the aggregate of the opinion polls across the strata of Ekiti pointed to the fact that they wanted the governor back, which he said was earned through the governor’s hardwork and humility.
“Just take a look at what all the speakers have said, this is: Governor Oyebanji must come back again. Let us go back home and mobilise in all our units, wards and local governments to realise this. It is a done deal. All Ekiti people are behind him.
“For the first time, let us elect a governor with a minimum of 500,000 votes in Ekiti. This has not happended before, but let us achieve it this time. God will be with us”, former governor Oni stated.
In his short speech, Oyebanji who told the cheering crowd that he has fulfilled the social contract he signed with the people in 2022, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for exhibiting special interest for the development of the state and its people .
Oyebanji said: “We were here in 2022 to sign a contract with you. We thank God that we have been able to fulfil all these contracts. But all these were made possible because President Tinubu takes special interest in this state.
“In the 29 years of Ekiti creation, no President has been fair to Ekiti like President Tinubu. He reconstructed Ado-Akure road, Ado-Ifaki road and the notorious Ado-Aramoko road had been awarded for reconstruction among other projects.
“The way to repay him is to come out on June 20 and test the microphone by giving us here in Ekiti a minimum of 500,000 votes, so that the good jobs we are doing can continue”.
