The spotlight was firmly on Ekiti State on Tuesday as Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima touched down at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in a presidential aircraft marked 5N-FGW at exactly 10:24am, marking his second official working visit to the state in less than a year.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji led a high-powered reception team that included Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, former Governor Engr Segun Oni, and Speaker Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye.
The Vice President’s itinerary was packed with symbolism and substance, beginning with the grand breaking ceremony of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone along Ijan road, Aso Ekiti, before proceeding to commission the newly built zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Speaking through Vice President Shettima, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a sweeping endorsement of Governor Oyebanji’s performance, declaring that the governor deserves re-election in the June 20 governorship election based on the rapid socio-economic transformation witnessed across the state since October 2022.
President Tinubu described Oyebanji as an Omoluabi and noted that within three and a half years, the governor has successfully transformed Ekiti into a modern state, with the federal government ready to always identify with such developmental strides.
In a dramatic moment of reciprocity, Governor Oyebanji announced the naming of the 1.2 kilometre flyover at Ajilosun-Ijigbo as the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Flyover, Ado Ekiti, in appreciation of the President’s support since May 2023, which has resulted in massive allocation increases and project deliveries.
The President, represented by Vice President Shettima, made a passionate political appeal to Ekiti voters, reminding them that in the 2023 presidential election, Ekiti State gave President Tinubu 201,494 votes representing 67 percent of total votes, with the APC candidate being the only one to secure 25 percent across all three senatorial districts and all six House of Representatives seats.
President Tinubu declared that the flyover and numerous previously inaugurated projects have proven that the APC delivers result-oriented governance and improved living standards, urging the electorate to keep faith with Oyebanji who he said has transformed the agrarian state into a modern state.
At the Ekiti Knowledge Zone groundbreaking, President Tinubu hailed the project as a masterpiece aligned with the Singaporean vision that economies can be unlocked through education and technological innovation, describing Ekiti as the home of scholars and the EKZ as capable of radicalising the potentials of talented Nigerians for global relevance.
Governor Oyebanji revealed that the EKZ, originally conceptualised on August 12, 2013 under Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration and designated as a Free Trade Zone by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, has already attracted 80 million dollars in financial capital through the federal government and African Development Bank.
The governor assured that the first phase alone will create over 20,000 jobs, while the entire project is expected to generate approximately 100,000 jobs across research, science, technology, industry, and education development.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, acknowledged that the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu administration has brought fiscal stability and regular salary payments, while urging the federal government to urgently tackle insecurity.
Vice President Shettima promised to return to Ekiti within a week to mobilise votes for Oyebanji, particularly reaching out to northern communities, with the firm declaration that BAO deserves to be re-elected, BAO has done his best, and BAO has transformed the state.
The event was witnessed by Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, former Governor Segun Oni, Deputy Governor Chief Mrs Monisade Afuye, Presidential aide Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, and the Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Aladesuyi, among other political and community leaders.
