All former governors of Ekiti State have again reiterated their support for the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term in office.
The former governors cited Oyebanji’s demonstrated capacity and all-round development of the state for their position.
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 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 of APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma; his counterparts in Kaduna, Uba Sani; Kogi, Usman Ododo; Edo, Monday Okpebholo; Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori; and Ondo, 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 on 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 State people in terms of delivery, peace building and entrenchment of politics of unification rather than that of bitterness and division.
Fayemi, who described himself as the “John the Baptist” of the Oyebanji election in 2022, said the governor is “a child of destiny”, expressing gratitude to Ekiti State 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 .
He said: “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, a campaign of record, a campaign of performance, it is not going to be a campaign of recrimination and violence.”
Speaking pointedly, 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 Peoples 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.
He 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.
He said: “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.”
Waxing philosophical, Adebayo, the first governor of the state, said he was proud to have mentored Governor Oyebanji in the art of leadership, adding that he deserves to be supported by all the citizens.
He said: 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, Oni was emphatic that the the aggregate of the opinion polls across the strata of Ekiti pointed to the fact that they wanted the governor back.
He said this was earned through the governor’s hardwork and humility.
