A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Ajibulu has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider Ekiti State for an additional ministerial slot in view of the state’s contributions to the party’s victory.
Ajibulu, who coordinated a number of Tinubu Support groups explained that going by the volume of support and contributions Ekiti offered towards the victory of Tinubu in the last Presidential poll, the state deserves more than one slot aside from the appointment of Dele Alake from the state.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, APC stalwart argued that, if states like Lagos and Ogun could get two and three slots respectively,” nothing stops Ekiti which was the first state to open the floodgates of victory for APC in the last Presidential poll, to enjoy the same treatment.
“Let me start by appreciating Mr President for choosing one of our own in Ekiti, Dele Alake as Minister-designate. I must quickly add that Ekiti, considering the volume of support and contributions to the victory of President Tinubu deserves more than one slot.
“If some states like Ogun and others could get three slots, Ekiti should be considered for another slot. It is on record that Ekiti is the first State to open the floodgate of electoral victory for Tinubu in the last Presidential election with over 200,000 votes.
“Again, President Tinubu should not forget in a hurry, many of his former comrades and political allies, who fought alongside him in the trenches during the struggle for democracy. The reward system should be excellent and enduring.”
Ajibulu also admonished states and federal government to ensure the honest distribution of palliative to deserving Nigerians, particularly the poorest of the poor.
“While I will encourage President Tinubu to fashion out more policies and programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, I want to say that the bulk of the responsibility lies with the governors now. Since more funds are now being allocated to the states as a result of the revenue accrued from the stoppage of fuel subsidy payments, the state chief executives should allow their people to feel the impact of the huge resources coming in.
“The federal government should do more in fighting insecurity and protect Nigerian farmers. The fear of kidnapping and banditry is driving many farmers away from their farms. Let’s go back to the farm and produce more food for the people.
“In addition to this, Ekiti is so lucky to have Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as governor. The man has been performing excellently well. He is connecting and relating with the people well. Oyebanji would be about the only governor in recent times who is being praised by both members of the ruling party and the opposition. My prayer to God is to give him the courage and good health to sustain the good work. Ekiti is enjoying the best of times with Oyebanji as the governor.
“Going through the items, as declared by Governor Oyebanji as palliatives for Ekiti people, I think it is the best so far. What is left now is for the governor to institute a strong mechanism to monitor the honest and total implementation of the social intervention programme.
“More importantly, the governor should ensure that the informal sector of the state economy are also captured by way of providing interest-free or soft loans to boost their businesses too. They are also feeling the heat of the current economic hardship.”
On the non-confirmation of the former governor of Kaduna State by the senate, Nasir El-Rufai for the ministerial slot, Ajibulu said, “Mr President must be careful in the way he handles the matter concerning key personalities in the APC. El-Rufai as a governor played a significant role in the emergence of Tinubu, first as the APC Presidential candidate
“The huge contribution of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who persuaded the Northern political elite, particularly the twelve Northern governors, to allow power shift to the South. It is an open fact that El-Rufai waged relentless war against the cabals under Buhari’s administration to ensure the emergence of President Tinubu.
“Mr President needs to rescue El- Rufai from the old and new cabals who may want to take a palm of flesh from the former governor who thwarted their evil plots against Tinubu. Let Mr President tell the whole world that Yoruba, as a people, has integrity and we are not ingrates.
“We all know the capacity of El-Rufai when it comes to performance and service delivery. I think Tinubu needs a bold, brilliant and committed politician, like Elrufai around him, most especially now that the country is going through one of her toughest times in history, ” Ajibulu said.
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