YAQOUB POPOOLA
Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, says she feels proud and fulfilled that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration has the highest number of elected and appointed female officials among the 36 states, thereby making the administration the most women-friendly in the country.
Speaking against the backdrop of the spiraling inflation crisis in the country, Dr. Oyebanji, predicted an economic boom for Nigerians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, saying efforts were being made to redirect the economy to the right path to benefit the masses.
Dr. Oyebanji, said: “The Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service are women and Accountant General are women. We currently have six female lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, seven female local government Chairmen, and 33 female Councillors, and many women were appointed as Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants Special Assistants, and Permanent secretaries.
The First Lady spoke on Tuesday in Oye and Ikole Local Government Areas, during a courtesy visit to female groups in the councils to appreciate them for their support for Governor Oyebanji.
At the event in Ikole Ekiti, the rank of the opposition People’s Democratic Party further depleted, as members, led by the ex-Chairman of Ikole Local Government, Mrs Abiola Kayode, defected to the All Progressives Congress to back Oyebanji’s progressive governance and politics.
Addressing the women at the carnival-like ceremony, Dr. Oyebanji appreciated them for standing firm behind her husband in the last two years, saying this has helped in smoothening politics and raise the bar of governance in Ekiti.
She said the steady progress being enjoyed under Oyebanji’s leadership was accomplished because the governor earned the trust and loyalty of the citizens, expressing joy that Ekiti has the highest number of elected and appointed female politicians under his hubby.
Dr. Oyebanji saluted her predecessor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, for setting the high pace for women’s recognition in Ekiti politics, saying the tally had risen under the current administration, thereby giving the womenfolk more recognition and respect in the scheme of things.
Mrs. Oyebanji, said the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, had empowered women farmers in the state besides other empowerment programmes the federal government was devising to buffer the effect of the economic crunch on the citizens.
Dr Oyebanji disclosed that the Office of the President’s wife donated a whopping sum of N50 million to each state of the federation to empower women for rapid economic recovery, revealing that Ekiti benefited from the gesture.
“Meeting people, especially women is part of progressive culture. Governor Oyebanji is a good product, even Vice President Kashim Shettima attested to this. He is passionate about Ekiti and you can see all he has done in terms of development.
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“My office has Adire Ekiti has trained over 400 people across two senatorial districts on how to produce Adire local fabric. The next set of 200 participants is due to resume training soon. We have a special programme that has benefitted thousands of vulnerable people like widows and orphans. I am not doing these for you to praise me, but to add value to your lives and whatever I do is to support my husband.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji is a compassionate and God-fearing leader because he is homegrown. He is very passionate about the people. I urge you to continue to stand firm by this man you know very well”, she said.
“Let me assure you that the tally will continue to increase, it won’t come down, because you have a governor who is passionate about the female gender”.
Speaking copiously about the six-point agenda of Oyebanji’s government, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, maintained that her principal has fulfilled his electioneering promises to the people in firm alignment with his policy thrust.
Tracing the trajectory of politics in Ekiti under progressive governments, Mrs Afuye, commended Mrs Fayemi for fighting for the implementation of 35% political appointments for females in the state, saying the current First Lady is sustaining the tempo and even surpassing the records.
She expressed confidence that Ikole and Oye local governments are populated by progressive politicians, who will not betray the cause and will rev up the pedal of support to ensure that Oyebanji returns in 2026 to complete his lofty developmental agenda.
“Governor Oyebanji has just spent two years in office and he has done this much, let us support him for a second term to be able to turn things around completely. He has touched the six pillars all around. He is constructing roads, employing people, paying salaries, reinforcing security, promoting education, agriculture, and many others.
“I want to appeal to political appointees to make themselves accessible to the people and share the gains they are getting across because the governor can’t do it alone. Let us support our people and make them happy the way Governor Oyebanji planned it”.
Applauding Ekiti citizens across the State for their solid backing for the governor, the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe, described the government of Oyebanji as women-friendly, particularly in the allotment of elective and appointive political positions.
Predicting the 2026 poll, the former State APC Chairman, said: “The Governor has done his campaign by his performance. He has done creditably well. Begin to support and pray for him that he should remain steadfast with this progressive path he is toeing”.
A woman leader and former Commissioner in Ekiti State, Mrs. Ronke Okunsanya, urged the women to solidly stand behind the Governor’s reelection bid and prevent the PDP from poaching the party’s ranks ahead of the 2026 poll.
High-profile politicians at the event are Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Empowerment, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, Special Adviser on Governance, Barr. Odunayo Ayeni, a top-rated female politician, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle, former commissioners, women leaders, traders, and young women politicians, among others.
