The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has led the statewide endorsement of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) for another term as he moved the motion at the landmark event.
Aribasoye, whose motion was seconded by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju-Egbeyemi, hinged the call for BAO to recontest on the various persuasive submissions about the Governor by high-profile guests and numerous attendees from across the 16 local government areas in the state.
The Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, venue of the mega endorsement, was filled to capacity, with the open space hardly recognizable amidst a sea of heads, all gathered to witness and participate in the endorsement of the Governor, whom they described as a man of the masses and a great performer.
Surrounded by other Assembly lawmakers, Aribasoye and Egbeyemi’s motion was greeted by a reverberating “yes” from the teeming crowd, with hands and flags waving in the sky to signify total support for the second-term agenda.
The Assembly Speaker had, at different endorsement fora before the mega event, thrown his weight behind Governor Oyebanji and his Deputy, Chief Mrs. Monisade Afuye, citing excellent performance, exemplary leadership, promotion of peace, and ability to bring leaders and people of different tendencies and affiliations together for the common goal of Ekiti’s development.
The mega rally had in attendance former Governors of the state, the Governor of neighbouring Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, serving and former members of the State House of Assembly and National Assembly from Ekiti, party leaders, various workers’ unions, pensioners’ groups, the informal sector, among several other groups.
Former Governor Ayo Fayose, who donned a fez cap bearing the logo of his party, the PDP, said that although he remains in his party, he is supporting Governor Oyebanji for his unique humility and impressive delivery.
Former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni also declared their support for the endorsement, saying Oyebanji has been exceptional in winning the hearts of all former Governors in the state and in earning the support of the general masses.
At the forum, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Federal Lawmaker Femi Bamisile led the motion that made Ekiti State the first in Southwest Nigeria to endorse President Bola Tinubu for another term in office, an action backed by all the political heavyweights in attendance.
A member of the Social Democratic Party in the State Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Omotayo, as well as former Senator Biodun Olujimi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Obafemi Adewale, both of the PDP, were also welcomed into the fold of the APC at the landmark event as they officially dumped their parties.
The high point of the mega event was the speech by Governor Oyebanji, in which he accepted the endorsement and call to recontest, expressing delight that the desire of the founding fathers of Ekiti State, to see an Ekiti, where all interests unite for the progress of the state is being fulfilled in his time.