By Lekan Adejuwon
It was a glorious home coming for the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress ADC, Dr. Wole Oluyede this morning as he made a triumphant entry to his native town Ikere Ekiti amidst pomp and funfair.
Indeed the sleepy community in the Southern Senatorial district of Ekiti State came alive as mammoth crowd of indegenes and members of the African Democratic Congress including loyalists and lovers of the governorship hopeful, trooped out to catch a glimpse of the ‘Home Boy’ to town.
Oluyede had briefly stepped out of the country to tighten ends in preparation for the epoch elections, coming up on June 18, 2022.
Vehicular movement swelled and indigenes trooped out in their numbers to converge at the Amoye Grammar School end of the town, in a show of solidarity for one of their own in the race to Oke Ayaba Governor’s office which had been elusive to the zone since the creation of the state on October 1, 1996.
Business activities were grounded as many small business entrepreneurs voluntarily closed shops while a chunk of the popular motorbike riders (Okada), abandoned commercial service to provide complimentary glamour to the colourful event, with theatrical riding displays.
Traffic snarl ruled the day while the roads leading to the palaces of the two monarchs in the town, the Ogoga of Ikere and the Olukere, were congested by massive jubilating crowd, many of who came from different parts of the state for the carnival-like event.
Oluyede, flanked by his beautiful wife, Kemi, was received the waiting hands of party faithful, including his deputy, Mrs Hidiat Simbo Popoola, Director General, Wole Oluyede Campaign Organisation (WOCO), Mrs Motunde Abiodun Fajuyi, among other top dignitaries and political bigwigs, who were being treated to good melodious music and solidarity songs. The team immediately dissolved into the fanfare with sweat provoking dance steps.
In his welcome address, the ADC candidate said;
“I am here to liberate my people. I am here to take Ekiti to the Promised Land. We will not watch and see our people perpetually being humiliated by those who have no plans for us. I am here to set our people free and then restore our economy.Today, I enjoin all of you to come with me and let us rescue our state from the claws of our oppressors.
“We shall not waver, we shall not surrender, we shall not rest, until our today is bettered for a promising tomorrow. We shall all join hands in this struggle to save our state,” he said
The motorcade later moved to the two palaces of the top traditional rulers where Oluyede received their blessings before climaxing at the Post Office area of the town.
The coming on board of the medical doctor, business man-turned politician is perceived by many as a game changer in the politics of Ekiti ahead of the June 18 governorship polls
