Tinubu seeks support for Oyebanji’s re-election

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday urged the people of Ekiti State to re-elect Governor Biodun Oyebanji in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Tinubu, who lauded the people for standing firmly by the party through its political trajectory, noted that the state was blessed and fortunate to have a leader like Oyebanji at this time.

The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the mega rally to conclude the All Progressives Congress governorship campaign, said Oyebanji had successfully demonstrated to the Ekiti people that he came fully prepared for leadership that would benefit the citizens through his excellent performance.

The President, on the occasion, handed Oyebanji over to all the former governors and first ladies, tasking them to work assiduously and deliver victory for him in the election.

The mega rally was attended by 18 governors, 24 senators, members of the House of Representatives and APC leaders, including Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Governors Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Hope Uzodimma (Imo).

Others included Prof. Babagana Zulum (Borno), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

Tinubu said, “Governor Oyebanji is a man who understands the nitty-gritty of leadership. He believes you have to be in good accord with farmers, traders, students and even the downtrodden as a leader.

“He has carried himself with humility and led 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 attests to the fact that he has served you well. His being on good terms with all the former governors and political leaders shows how beneficial his leadership has been.

“I have gone round, and I didn’t see the posters of any opposition candidate. This attests to his acceptability and inclusive spirit. On Saturday, go out and re-elect this humble and peaceful man to continue serving you better.”

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, described Oyebanji as a peaceful, humble and gender-friendly governor, adding that his performance had resonated across every corner of the state and that the governor’s unifying spirit and ingenuity surpassed those of his peers.

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Akpabio urged Ekiti people, “On Saturday, don’t sit back at home. Go out and vote for him and, by next year, go out again and vote for President Tinubu. May God reward you as you vote for him and honour our party.”

The Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, expressed confidence that victory was assured in the poll, describing Oyebanji’s popularity as electrifying and saying he commands high regard among Ekiti citizens.

Sani said the governor had surpassed every other governor who had governed the state in the areas of education, workers’ welfare, transportation, human capital development and road construction. He urged the people to raise the bar of votes for him in the election so that the dividends of democracy would continue unabated.

Also, the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, said all the governors on the platform of the party were standing in solidarity with Oyebanji, adding that the organic support he enjoys across the state attests to his acceptability.

APC National Chairman, Yilwatda, said the party was winning on the strength of Oyebanji’s robust connection with the people.

He said, “Governor Oyebanji, you have done well. You constructed roads, take a bow and take your votes. You awarded scholarships, take a bow and take your votes. You have built hospitals and other monumental projects; take a bow and take your votes. On Saturday, you will only wake up, take your bow and take your votes.”

Reacting, a visibly elated Oyebanji, flanked by his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, and Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, said he was banking on his superlative performance and on keeping faith with the electioneering promises and social contract he signed with the Ekiti people in 2022.

Oyebanji urged the electorate to remain peaceful on election day, stressing that he had performed remarkably well in his service to the state and deserved re-election.

The governor assured the people that his second term would be more remarkable than what he had achieved in the last three and a half years.

A former governor of the state and Peoples Democratic Party leader, Ayodele Fayose, said he decided to back Oyebanji because of his unifying spirit, lauding his political ingenuity in being able to unite all warring political heavyweights in the state.

Fayose urged Oyebanji to continue to be magnanimous in victory and keep uniting Ekiti people as he had always done. He also expressed confidence that the governor would set a new record on Saturday as the first Ekiti governor to win re-election back-to-back.