… says guber reelection not worthy of Violence

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has canvassed for a peaceful conduct of the June 20 governorship election, saying his re-election bid is not worth the blood of any citizen of the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag bearer spoke on Friday while addressing rallies at Emure, Ise/Orun and Ikere Local Government Areas in continuation of his campaign and statewide engagement with citizens and stakeholders ahead of the governorship poll.

Rounding off the campaign for the day in Ikere Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji emphasised his stand against violent and bloody electioneering, urging members of his party to remain calm, work assiduously and reply to the opposition with a resounding victory on June 20.

The Governor noted that since he started the statewide citizens’ engagements and campaign tour on Monday, there has been no record of violence anywhere, and he wants the momentum of peaceful conduct and issue- based campaigns sustained throughout the electioneering period until results are declared.

He had earlier in the day made a case for a peaceful and violence-free election at Emure Ekiti, his first port of call, where he appealed to APC members, members of other political parties and all citizens and residents of the state not to be involved in any act that could lead to loss of lives at the poll.

The Governor specifically stressed that his quest for a second term in office should not come at the expense of human lives, as he hopes to secure a historic re-election under the atmosphere of peace and harmony for which the state has been famous under his watch.

Showing the statesman in him who prioritises the welfare of his people, Oyebanji again reiterated the readiness of his party and its teeming members to toe the line of peace before, during and after the election to allow for a successful conduct of the poll.

He said, “As we go back to our wards and polling units, let us be at peace with one another. The APC is a party of peace, a party of order and a party of process. We should not fight with anybody. We started the campaign on Monday, and we have not had a problem anywhere, and that speaks to our party’s love for peace and unity.

“Our ambition, my ambition, and the ambition of every other person in Ekiti State are not worth the blood of any Ekiti man. By God’s grace, this election will hold, and we will all be alive and in good health when our government is re-elected. All of us shall have our share in the prosperity it will bring.”

He used the opportunity of the Ikere rally to commend the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, whom she praised for her steadfastness, loyalty and being a good ambassador of the town and a co-pilot in the success story the administration has become so far.

The Governor said his administration’s projects in Ikere, including Ikere-Igbara Odo Road, Ikere-Ilawe Road, agric project, Moshood Road and Ikere-Akure Highway executed by the President Bola Tinubu Administration, should motivate the people to retain APC in power both at the state and the federal levels.

He urged party members to embark on an aggressive membership drive and mobilisation by making friends with eligible voters with voter’s cards for the minimum target of 500,000 winning vote tally to be realised.

Speaking in Emure Ekiti and Ise Ekiti, the Governor urged party leaders and members to work on non-party members and other citizens who possess voters’ cards as the APC hopes to secure 80 per cent of the votes of registered voters in the local government areas.

Scores of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members joined the APC at the Emure rally, hinging their action on the popularity of the Governor and the impact of his administration on the lives of the people.

Oyebanji said he was happy with the sense of appreciation of the people of Emure on projects delivered in the town, which include roads, schools, youth in commercial agriculture, security of lives and property, adding that the people of the state are benefiting from key projects executed by the Tinubu Administration.

He said: “As you all know, APC is a party of peace, law and order, and we desire a peaceful election. My (second term) ambition is not worth the blood of any Ekiti man or woman. Let us be at peace with ourselves. I have absolute confidence in the ability of the Emure electorate to vote wisely and vote for our party.

“APC is the only party that can give prosperity, peace, employment and amenities that make life easier for our people. Journey from Akure to Ikere now takes less than thirty minutes because of the work done on the road through President Tinubu.

“Ikere-Emure Road has been done, and the only thing we can do to make our President happy is to vote for his party because APC is the only party that can give prosperity, peace and employment. Let us sustain that and ensure the continuity of good things.”

“The only thing we can do to say thank you to President Bola Tinubu is to vote for the party. APC is the only party that can give prosperity, peace and employment. To ensure the continuity of all these things, we need to vote for the APC.

“The target we set for our party is 177–0. We are expecting nothing less than 80% of the total registered voters. Let us go back to our wards and units to canvass for votes. If you vote for us, you have voted for progress and development.”

Addressing the rally in Ise Ekiti, the Governor assured that work would soon start on Ise-Ijan Road to boost transport, commerce, agriculture and connect the local government area with other parts of the state.

He further disclosed the intention of his administration to commence on the Olowe Museum to boost arts, culture and tourism in the ancient town and its environs.

Describing Ise/Orun as critical to the success of the APC in the governorship poll, Oyebanji said the good work done in the council area since coming to office should galvanise the residents to cast their votes for the ruling party.

The Governor urged the people of the state to vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the governorship election and presidential elections because of the positive impact on the lives of the citizens in terms of policies and projects executed so far.

All the spokespersons of the towns visited pledged massive delivery of votes in favour of the Governor and his party in appreciation of the benefits so far reaped from his administration.

The Governor, during the tour, paid courtesy visits to the palaces of the traditional rulers, who all prayed for the realisation of his second-term ambition. The monarchs all commended the Governor for living up to expectations since the assumption of office in 2022.

The rallies were attended by House of Representatives member for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Hon Adeniyi Ojuawo; House of Representatives member for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2, Hon Femi Bamisile; the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye; Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Bolaji Olagbaju; husband of the Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro and other top officials of the campaign council.