.Rallies Support of Young Women in Politics
By Lekan Adejuwon
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has revealed the secrets of the widely acknowledged brilliant performance of her husband, Governor Biodun Oyebanji in office less than two years in the saddle.
Dr. Oyebanji attributed the successes recorded so far by the administration led by her husband to God’s grace, the Governor’s perception of governance as a ministry to minister to people’s needs and his humility which she said a been opening doors for Ekiti within and outside the country.
The First Lady who made the remarks on Tuesday when she hosted members of Young Women in Politics, an interest group in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the conference hall of her office in Ado Ekiti, the state capital assured that the Governor would sustain good governance for the benefit of the people.
The First Lady said Governor Oyebanji has no choice than to do well and justify the popular mandate given to him and make a great difference in the lives of the people of the state who overwhelmingly elected him into office to steer the ship of the state.
Dr. Oyebanji stressed that her husband was imbued with unquenchable passion for the development of the state and compassion for the people which serve as the driving force of his performance noting that he is in a hurry to turn Ekiti around as a model of good governance in Nigeria.
According to her, the Governor’s passion for overall and sustainable development of Ekiti has driven him to do within two years, what he supposed to do in four years with available and verifiable indices of governance on ground which are being acknowledged from far and near.
While noting that the Shared Prosperity Agenda of the Oyebanji Administration is still a work in progress, the First Lady charged to the Young Women in Politics to serve as propagators of the good works of the Governor in their wards, communities and local government areas as the regime approaches its midterm.
Dr. Oyebanji pointed out that Governor Oyebanji has been a supporter of women’s political ascendancy in the state having supported close to 200 women for elective and appointive political positions since coming to power in October 2022.
She also added that Ekiti State has become a model of women political empowerment with highest number of women in executive and legislative positions at the state and local government levels in Nigeria which was motivated by the Governor’s belief in the competence of the womenfolk.
“BAO (Governor Oyebanji) is a compassionate Governor, he sees governance as a ministry, he sees it as a platform for accountability and he has no choice than to do well because he is a Governor that has the interest of the people at heart.
“I want you to use your platforms to advocate for this government in your localities. Give your total support to BAO because Ekiti people know that this Governor has done so much; he has done in less than two years what he suppose to do in four years. His humility and simplicity has been opening doors for our state everywhere he goes,” Dr. Oyebanji said.
The First Lady urged members of the group (Young Women in Politics) to demonstrate humility and compassion in their relationship with the people of their localities in propagating the laudable policies and achievements of the Oyebanji Administration.
In her welcome remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, who noted that young people are the hope of the future urged the group to stay focused and be committed to the ideals of being change agents in their localities.
The Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju, urged members of the group to remain loyal to an administration that is poised to give women more platforms to rise politically urging them to close ranks to succeed in tasks ahead.
A former Commissioner in the state, Chief Ronke Okusanya, described members of the group as ambassadors of Ekiti, the APC-led government and Governor Oyebanji urging them to represent the Governor and the state very well wherever they find themselves.
The state APC Women Leader, Mrs. Caroline Egunlusi, said members of the body and other women in the state have another opportunity to rise politically with impending Board appointments urging them to keep working harder for them to get opportunities to make impact.
The Special Adviser on Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, said the Governor’s performance has put him in pole position to get another term in office charging the women to go round the state and keep showcasing his achievements in office.
The State Coordinator of the Young Women in Politics, Mrs. Aderemi Oluwatayo, acknowledged the better status enjoyed by members who have been privileged to occupy elective and appointive offices in the Oyebanji Administration charging members to sustain their support for the Governor.
