Artisans and and private sector association across Ekiti state on Monday publicly declared their unflinching support for the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the June 20 election, citing his unrivalled achievements in critical areas of development for their position.
The two unions, who were led by their presidents, Mr Ebenezer Babatunde for the Artisans, and Mr Abiodun Gbenga for Private sector, spoke in Ado Ekiti during an engagement with the Governor, praising the Governor for his superlative performance in infrastructure development, empowerment, health, education and support for the informal sector, among others.
The artisans and private sector, under the aegis of Congress of Artisans and Private Sectors commended Governor Oyebanji for his commitment to the welfare of workers and residents in general and thanked him for implementing trader friendly policies which have enhanced their businesses and boost small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
The two leaders, who expressed their members’ assurance in Governor Oyebanji’s ability to steer the ship of the state toward a more prosperous future if given another chance, emphasised that the Governor’s track record remains a testament to his competence and capacity as a leader.
They also expressed their appreciation to the Governor for appointing their members to senior level positions in his administration, promising to canvass votes for the Governor at the grassroots to ensure he wins across the 177 wards of the state.
Governor Oyebanji in his response, thanked the artisans and private sector players for their support in 2022 and urged them to make sure they collect their PVCs so as to be able to fulfill their promise of ensuring his re- election.
According to Oyebanji, the promises would materialise only if all of them o again their voters cards.
The Governor also frowned at the activities of some elements in the state who are deploying fake news to heat up the polity in the bid to attract political sympathy and blackmail the government.
The Governor also disclosed that his government has concluded plans to disburse loans to 2,000 women to support small businesses and economic inclusion in the state. He advised traders to form themselves into cooperative societies in order to access loans from banks and government since banks are not ready to grant loans to individual traders.
He said his administration has consistently supported local traders and small businesses through the local content law, which emphasizes that local businesses and artisans must be patronized.
Governor Oyebanji, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, described the informal sector as critical to his government as well as the coming election, adding that he had developed confidence in them over time and is optimistic about the support they have promised.
“I am appealing to those who have registered for voters cards to ensure they collect their cards as distribution will commence tomorrow. Note that anyone without voter’s card is not relevant to us during the election. Please go to your local government and wards, they will be available there from tomorrow, it may be difficult at the beginning, let us endure, it will ease in few days.
“We have just 19 days to election, please don’t fight with anyone, we are all one in Ekiti and I say whoever wants to serve his community will not wage war on the community. Few days ago, we have been hearing a lot of fake news about our security. I wonder how Ekiti indigene would spread fake news that a commuter bus was hijacked and all the passengers were kidnapped. This is condemnable and it shows the kind of people who are aspiring to rule Ekiti. If you don’t wish your people well, you cannot be a good leader. In as much as I don’t want to destroy anyone’s character, that is not my style, but at the same time, I condemn any attempt at faking news.
The Director General of the campaign council, Senator Cyril Fasuyi Called on every Ekiti resident to come out in their numbers and cast their votes for Governor Oyebanji stressing that they should not be lackadaisical about the election since the expectation of the party is not just to win but moving from the previous 200,000 votes in 2022 to over 500,000 votes in the June 20 election.
