Ekiti group backs Gov Oyebanji’s re-election bid

A renowned sociocultural group in Oke Ako Ekiti in the Ikole Local Government Area of the state, The Ako Indigenous Resolute Club of Oke Ako, has applauded Governor Abiodun Oyebanji for his giant strides in the development of the state in his first three years in the saddle.

The group also called Resolute Forum of Oke Ako, believes that due to Oyebanji’s sterling performance in his first term in office, the governor should be re-elected by the citizens of the state to conclude his landmark programmes in his second term.

In a statement by its chairman, Mr Olaiya Kehinde, and the general secretary, Mr Abayomi Adeleye, on Thursday, the Forum stated that Oyebanji had demonstrated uncommon capacity to bring development to all parts of the state.

“In our community in Oke Ako and its environs, for instance, Oyebanji’s Midas touch has revolutionised agriculture,” explained the group to justify its call.

“Access roads have been constructed to link Oke Ako with Iyemero Ekiti and Igbokoko farm settlement while another road is being planned in conjunction with the World Bank Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project.

“Also, the rehabilitation of the Aiyedun-Ipao-Oke Ako-Irele road is ongoing, and would soon be completed,” he said.

The Forum added that to further solidify the preeminence of Ekiti as a topmost agriculture base in the country,  the government allocated more than 10,000 hectares of land to two agric investors, YSJ and Oodua/SWACO, for massive farming in the community.

According to the body, “YSJ employed about 1,000 youths in planting maize, soyabean, cassava and other crops through the Bring Back Youths to Agriculture initiative.

“It is also noteworthy that the technical hub of the state’s agriculture programmes was established in our community where tractors and other farm tools are assembled.

“Hundreds of community farmers whose land and farmlands were acquired for the massive farming by the investors were handsomely compensated, thereby empowering the local farmers,” he said.

The Forum equally commended Oyebanji for restoring lasting peace to Oke Ako, which kidnappers and other criminals once turned to their hideouts.

It said: “We are all living witnesses to the untiring and consistent effort of the governor to ensure peace in our community and other communities in the state when some criminals attempted to make the state their operational base.

“The people of Oke Ako can now live and operate their businesses in peace due largely to the strategies put in place by our governor.”

It added, “In the light of his landmark achievements in his first term in office, the Resolute Forum believes the governor should be supported for a second term in office in order for him to complete the good programmes he has started.”

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