…… applauds rapid Infrastructural Development in Ekiti.
Oriola Afolabi
It was carnival like in the City of Ado Ekiti, the state capital as the Progressive Grassroots Development and Support Foundation brought together, people from across the sixteen Local Government Areas in Ekiti State to publicly declare their support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji ahead of 2026 Election.
Speaking at the forum, the State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye tasked Ekiti people to take a que from Lagos by sustaining continuity in order to fully implement the blue print agenda of the All Progressives which centered on human, economic, health and agricultural development.
Chief Afuye pointed out that all the appointments made in the last two years were aimed at reducing unemployment rate with emphasis that no Ekiti abroad among those employed but people living across the sixteen Local Government areas.
“I feel honoured that several interest groups have come out openly to endorse Governor Oyebanji for second term even when the government has just got to the middle of its first term. This buttressed the fact that we have worked hard to gain the trust of the people”,Chief Afuye said.
The Deputy Governor who maintained that the endorsements were not misplaced, said Governor Oyebanji has worked round the clock to provide security and good governance, saying the occasional cases of insecurity being witnessed, had been adequately addressed to ensure safety of lives and property
“Recently, Governor Oyebanji approved N70,000 as Minimum Wage for workers, assuring that the implementation will begin from December 1, 2024, besides prompt payment of salaries, deductions, pensions and gratuities” said Chief Afuye.
“We have demonstrated enough commitments to job creation and youth development. In the last two years, over 4,000 youths had been employed into the state civil service, while over 20,000 productive population had been gainfully engaged in agriculture, skills acquisition schemes, small and medium scale enterprises, among others.
Earlier, the Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro expressed joy for the support and promised more dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe described Governor Oyebanji as a man of peace who always seek and yearn for the progress of Ekiti and people in the state.
He said a support for his second term in office is a step to further advance the spate of economic and infrastructural development across towns and villages in the state.
Chief Awe said “Ekiti Economy is built on the solid foundation by Governor Oyebanji’s administration to bring about rapid development and ensure that all citizens irrespective of culture and political ideology enjoy the dividends of democracy and urged the people to sustain the current tide of development by giving their total support to the present government”
To fortify the APC, the former State Chairman appealed to members of the foundation to approach their wards and embark on aggressive mobilisation that will reposition the party ahead of the 2026 poll.
The Convener of the programme and Coordinator of Progressive Grassroots Development and Support Foundation, Mrs Yemisi Babatunde said that the foundation’s support was borne out of interest to ensure that Ekiti sustain the current pace of economy and infrastructural development, having seeing Governor Oyebanji’s passion for Youth, women and agricultural development as well as meaningful peace achieved in term of security across towns in Ekiti.
Babatunde said: “2026 election is a done deal for Governor Biodun Oyebanji. We will work hard to deliver him, because Ekiti people are feeling the impacts of good governance under Oyebanji, especially the youths, widows, traders, orphans, women groups”.
The Forum also featured empowerment for about fifty people across the sixteen Local Councils in the state including a young lady, Miss Bolaji Damilola who lost her job recently.
Other high profile Dignitaries at the event were the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kehinde Ajobiewe; a top female politician, Erelu Kemi Elebute Halle; Technical Assistants, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, among others.
