Oyebanji Came Prepared, Deserves Second Term, Tinubu Tells Ekiti Voters

By Joseph Sunday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s performance in office, telling Ekiti voters that the governor came into leadership fully prepared to serve the people. Speaking ahead of the June 20 governorship election, Tinubu urged residents to re-elect Oyebanji for a second term.

The endorsement came on Tuesday at the All Progressives Congress mega rally held at the 12,000-capacity Ekitiparapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti. The venue was packed with party faithful, allies from other political groups, and supporters across religious and ethnic lines, all showing solidarity with Oyebanji’s re-election bid.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu praised Ekiti citizens for their loyalty to the APC over the years.

He described the state as fortunate to have Oyebanji at the helm of affairs, noting that the governor’s actions and policies prove that true leadership is about serving people, not oppressing them or undermining their rights.

Tinubu highlighted Oyebanji’s humility, patience, and respect for traditional rulers and past leaders. He recalled his recent visit to commission projects in Ekiti, including one of the longest flyovers in the country. For the President, such achievements show Oyebanji has served well and remained focused on the people.

He also pointed out the absence of opposition posters across the state as a sign of Oyebanji’s wide acceptance. “On Saturday, go out and re-elect this humble and peaceful man to further serve you better,” Shettima said on Tinubu’s behalf. The President then symbolically handed Oyebanji over to former governors and first ladies, urging them to secure victory for him.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed the praise, calling Oyebanji trustworthy, gender friendly, and the most parliament-friendly governor in Nigeria.

He said market women, traders, traditional rulers, and students had all testified to the governor’s impact. Akpabio urged voters not to stay home on election day.

Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, described Oyebanji’s popularity as electrifying.

He listed gains in education, workers’ welfare, transportation, human capital development, and road construction, saying the governor had outperformed his predecessors. Sani called on Ekiti people to raise the vote tally higher than before.

Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the party’s visibility in Ekiti was unmatched. He noted that only the APC had campaigned market to market and house to house. Uzodinma pointed to the flyover stretching more than a kilometre as evidence of Oyebanji’s performance and popularity.

APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwadta, insisted the party’s confidence was rooted in Oyebanji’s connection to the people, not just in being the ruling party. “You constructed roads, take your votes. You gave scholarships, take your votes. You built hospitals, take your votes,” he declared, predicting an easy win on Saturday.

A visibly elated Governor Oyebanji, joined by his wife Dr Olayemi Oyebanji and Deputy Monisade Afuye, said he was not relying on federal might but on his record and the promises he kept since 2022. He appealed for a peaceful election and promised that his second term would surpass the achievements of the last three and a half years.

In a striking moment, former PDP governor Ayodele Fayose also backed Oyebanji at the rally. Fayose praised the governor’s ability to unite political heavyweights across divides and urged him to remain magnanimous. He predicted Oyebanji would make history as the first Ekiti governor to win re-election back to back.

The rally drew 18 governors, 24 senators, and other top dignitaries. Among them were Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Hope Uzodinma, Babagana Zulum, and Duoye Diri. Former governors Niyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi, Segun Oni, and Gboyega Oyetola were present, along with ministers, senators, and party leaders.