Support grew for Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) Monday as more leaders and groups joined the mobilisation train of the All Progressives Congress foremost govermorship aspirant that traversed the Ekiti State Southern local governments of Ikere, Emure and Ise/Orun in consultation visits to seek members’ support ahead of the January 22, 2022 party primaries.
Led by Mr Samuel Abejide, former State Chairman of APC, Chief Jide Awe; former Vice Chairman, Mrs Kemi Olaleye; former APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun; Chief Remi Oguntuase, Rt Hon Dapo Karounwi, Folorunso Olabode, Prof Adio Folayan, Cyril Fasuyi and Soga Davis, among other leaders, the team was received by drumming and dancing supporters of the party in the three local governments.
Like in the previous outings, on the consultation train were Road Transport Employees Union leader, Rotimi Olanbiwonnu ( Mentilo) and his National Union of Road Transport Workers counterpart, Oso Farotimi (Oshopolo), who led a massive number of road transport workers to lend support for Oyebanji’s aspiration.
On Monday also, several groups mobilised to join consultation drive to drum support for Oyebanji’s aspiration, citing the assistance the politician had rendered them in the past.
Olatubosun described Oyebanji as a thorough-bred Ekiti man who had all his education in Ekiti State and who owed his successes to his Ekiti background that shaped his world view, including understanding the needs of Ekiti people.
He listed various government positions held by Oyebanji in the past, saying that he held those positions to affect the lives of Ekiti people positively and stressed that the experience of such a personality was needed by the party leadership to continue the development agenda of Governor Kayode Fayemi to shape the lives of Ekiti people for good.
Describing Emure, Ise/Orun and Ikere local governments as very special to APC, he praised the local governments’ leaders for their impressive turn-out to support Oyebanji’s aspiration.
Abejide said Oyebanji was considered by the party leadership as the most suitable to succeed Governor Kayode Fayemi considering his vast experience, track records of performance and popularity among Ekiti people. He said he was presenting Oyebanji to the three local governments on behalf of APC leaders.
Awe praised members in the three local governments for their loyalty to the party and urged unity among them, saying working together was key to the success of APC in the forthcoming governorship poll.
He also praised the leaders in the three local governments for always leading the way in the strengthening of the party cohesion for the successful outings in previous elections.
Awe presented Oyebanji to all elected and appointed party members in the local governments and charged them to work for his success in the January 22, 2022 primaries and June 18, 2022 governorship election.
Oyebanji thanked top leaders and members for coming out in large numbers to receive him, saying he would remain faithful to them as a trusted leader.
He said: “I will remain truthful in my life to Ekiti people to enable me enjoy the confidence of our people. It is a pledge I plan to keep so that together we can work in trust to make Ekiti great.”
Oyebanji added: “I have spent 11 years working with Ekiti State govermment since its creation 25 years ago and so I know the terrain and I understand what our people need. I have learnt the ropes from Governor Niyi Adebayo and Governor Fayemi and so if anybody is deceiving you that he will fix Ekiti State, ask him where he got his experience.”
He added that the party leadership saw the quality in him, hence their support for him to seek election in the 2022 poll.
Going memory lane, he spoke about when he as a 26 years old he went to join Ekiti leaders on the Committee on the Creation of Ekiti State at the Ewi’s Palace in Ado-Ekiti with a position paper, saying that at first, the leaders never took him seriously until they read his paper, which, he said, the leaders adopted and then chose him as the Secretary of the committee.
He urged violence-free contest, promising to deliver a quality leadership for Ekiti people.
In the consultation team visit were Road Transport Employees Union leader, Rotimi Olanbiwonnu ( Mentilo) and his National Union of Road Transport Workers counterpart, Oso Farotimi (Oshopolo), who have been leading a massive number of road transport workers to lend support for Oyebanji’s aspiration.
On hand to receive Oyebanji in Emure-Ekiti are Hon Febisola Adewale, Hon Boluwade Bolics, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade, Hon Bunmi Adelugba, Hon Adu Joseph, Hon Bola Oluwole, Hon Adedayo Tosin, Hon Tosin Olotu, Mrs Biodun Adesina, Otunba Paul Awopetu, Pa Abel Ogundipe, Mike Adesanya, Chief Ayo Famojoro, Ojo Famojoro, Hon Clement Falajo, Hon Olu Okeya, Hon Famodimu Adaba, Sidikatu Lasisi, Akin Oladapo, Mrs Bola Akinmadeju, Biola Jejelowo, Bose Abu, Chief Aboluwodi Oshin, Alhaji Zakari, Bola Aderemi, Adeyonjo Olanrewaju, Abiodun Oladele, Kehinde Ogundare, Wesco Adegoke and Prince Ademola Ogunsina.
In Ise-Ekiti, top leaders in attendance are Rt Hon Adeniran Alagbada, Oluremi Ajayi Babington, Hon Femi Ajayi, Ropo Ogunbolude, Jimlas Kayode Fasae, Hon Deji Ajayi, Kayode Egunjobi, Omolayo Fayose, AVM Niyi Ojuawo, Tayo Idowu, Alhaji Badmus Ekundayo, J.S Alabi, Sunday Aguda, Mrs Iyabo, and all elected and appointed members in Ise and Orun-Ekiti Local Government.
A member of the House of Assembly, Hon Deji Ajayi, supported by Hon Femi Ajayi presented Oyebanji to the gathering as the consensus candidate of Ise/Orun Local Government.
In Ikere-Ekiti, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Funminiyi Afuye led other leaders, including Engr Tunde Fakoyede, Engr Bimbo Ogundipe (Ricabim), Hon Kayode Babade, Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi, Engr Gbenga Omole, Hon Bayo Asana, Bolu Komolafe, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua, Dr (Mrs) Funke Fajobi, Hon Akinniyi, Hon Femi Ayodele,Toyin Afolabi and Chief Tajudeen Adejumo, to urge support for Oyebanji.
Others are Soji Bamidele, Sola Amonimo, Prof Ayodele, Hon Aladejebi, Barrister Wole Adekola, Princess Taiwo Olowolagba, Rotimi Ayeni, Engr Adeusi Agogo, Niyi Fabiku, Ayodele Ajogbeje, Folake Okondo and Kayode Oyebode.
Speaker Afuye said that with Oyebanji, the party had spoken, reminding members that whatever they were today, the party made them so. He urged members to respect the supremacy of the party and work for Oyebanji’s success.
Other leaders from other parts of the state in attendance are Oska Seyi Ayeleso, Sunday Asunmo Galaxy, Bose Olowokere, Erelu Dupe Ogundipe, Mrs Aderemi Oluwatayo, Fola Richie-Adewusi, Lekan Ijidale, Dr Abibat Adubiaro, Kayode Alakinyede, Alhaja Kudirat Jimoh, Adeyeye Ajayi, Akinyemi Akinleye, Tosin Aluko, Hon Gboyega Aribisogan, Tope Olanipekun Tugere, Tope Agidi, Chief Moji Fafure, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Kayode Alakinyede, Adekunle Samadek, Dipo Akinwumi, Hon Kayode Fasakin, Kayode Olaosebikan, Biola Olowokere, Rotimi Ajidara, Femi Awe, Remi Osabusua, Biola Olowokere, Adedayo Daramola, Rotimi Orewole and Clement Famuagun.
Others are Hon Folorunso Ogundele, Bola Oyebode, Yeyeoge Adamolekun, Bunmi Awotiku, Gbenga Agbeyo, Adekunle Mayegun, Kayode Olaosebikan, Charles Osmond, Funke Owolabi, Bola Solanke, Mr Akinlabi Idowu Sodobe, Mrs Bukola Idowu Sodobe, Kareem Agunbiade,Gbenga Agbeyo, Hon Amire Kolade, Hon Lolu Adejuwon, Iyabo Fakunle, Hon Toyin Lucas , Hon Bolu Akomolafe and Princess Bunmi Agunbiade.
* Wole Olujobi, reporting from Emure, Ise and Ikere-Ekiti
