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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Dr Wole Oluyede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, has declared that it is his turn to lead the state and that it is the turn of Ekiti South Senatorial District to produce the next governor in the state.
Oluyede who lamented that Ekiti South has been marginalised over the years, said for the sake of equity and fairness it is time power shifted to the zone, and he is the right candidate to break the jinx.
Since the state’s creation in 1996 and the inception of democratic government in 1999, the region has not produced a governor and the Central and North Senatorial Districts have dominated the position since 1999, leaving the South with only deputy governorship position.
Oluyede made the declaration when he was addressing thousands of PDP supporters and stakeholders during the party’s mega rally in Ikere-Ekiti.
“Ekiti South deserves to produce the next governor of Ekiti State. I am very proud of Ikere people, they will vote for me hundred per cent. The people of Ekiti South will vote for me because we need to have the fair share of the commonwealth of Ekiti State.
“There are some people who are claiming that it is their turn. I am saying it hundred per cent it is my turn and I am going to have it and one thing I promise the people of Ekiti State is that I will be the best governor that Ekiti has ever produced because I am prepared for it and I have every blueprint to do it right.”
He thanked the people of the state for their impressive turnout at the rally, for their love and support for him and for firmly standing by him during the period of the litigation.
” This turnout is one of the best surprises I have ever had. I wasn’t expecting it. This is beautiful. It actually assures me that Ekiti people are ready for a good change. They are yearning for it.
That good change is possible if you all elect me come June 20th.
” I am very grateful to you all, the people of Ekiti who despite all challenges, all twists and political intrigues that were thrown at us I am grateful that you all stood by us .”
He also expressed appreciation to the judiciary for dispensing right justice, describing it as the last hope of the common man.
” Also, I have to thank the judiciary for being the best of element, they looked at the laws and the processes and they judged right. I have faith in them and I believe Nigeria will still be a better place. And I believe so much that Ekiti will be a better place when they choose the next government coming around on June 20 which will be me by the grace of God.”
The candidate maintained that despite living and working in Australia, he comes to Ekiti regularly and he is priviy to the happenings in the state, and he has remained committed to the development of Ekiti more than anybody in the state.
” Yes, I work and live in Australia like many people say but I don’t think that there is anybody that has been involved in politics in Ekiti, that has lived in Ekiti more than I have done in the last 12 years. Just imagine somebody having to travel about 16,000 kilometres and he is in Ekiti every month. I have investments in Ekiti.
“And I am more grounded in Ekiti than anybody. I was checking my passport yesterday because I got a new passport on February 22, 2022 and when I was counting how many times they have stamped me in and out of Nigeria from Australia, it is actually 37 times , so what that means is that I come home regularly. Most people don’t even know that my wife has actually lived in Ekiti for more than two years because we run some businesses here. I have invested here and I am interested and dedicated to making Ekiti a better place to live in and we have every reason and every resource to do that and that is what we are going to do.”
Oluyede who expressed regrets over the leadership style of the All Progressives Congress -led government and how the economy among other areas have deteriorated under the current administration in the state, opined that campaign promises made to the people must be fulfilled.
“Most of Ekiti people will agree with me that this state is not better than it was. It is actually worse than it was when Biodun Oyebanji got in. The economy has tanked. The roads are worse. More people are unemployed. People are less wealthy than they were, they are less healthy than they were, they are less safe, so by all means Governor Biodun Oyebanji should leave. One thing I am very sure of is that whatever we voted Oyebanji to do in the last four years he hasn’t done anything about it and that is why he has to leave. That is why we have to find another government.
“The essence of governance is to make things better in all indices of life. Ekiti is not doing better than it was three years ago The only reason if this was a class that Oyebanji would want to come back to this class is that he failed and he is going to repeat it and everybody agrees with that but we are not looking for a failure at this time, we are looking for somebody that will succeed. I am very sure that Oyebanji has no business being the governor of Ekiti State come October 16, 2026.
” I wrote a paper on things that need to be done for Ekiti ten years ago. I looked at it on my way down here nothing needs to be added to it. Our secondary schools are not even teaching to the standard of the world right now. We need Mathematics teachers, we need Science teachers .We need technology teachers. We need Engineering teachers, that is what will move the world forward. That is what will move Ekiti forward. We are not getting those. Schools are not being funded. Hospitals are not being funded. We have no protocols to make our people healthy. We have no plans to create wealth , so what are we doing?
” A few years ago they were talking about inviting investors. I haven’t seen the investors. Why are they not coming? We should ask ourselves this question. We built an airport and yet we have no good roads leading to the place. What about the rising insecurity? The state government has refused to arrest the situation. So, we really need to rethink how we govern and why we govern ”
He dismissed insinuations that he has issues with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some members of the state’s PDP loyal to the Minister.
” I have no problems with the former governor of Rivers State and the current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. He did well as a governor in Rivers State. He is doing well as the Minister. Why should I have an issue with him? I am a member of the PDP. He is a member of the PDP. I don’t have any issues with him. The only people I have issues with are those who are members of the PDP in Ekiti State and are saying they are supporting somebody else in another party, those are the people I have problems with. Even if we have political issues or political disagreements we can always settle it that is what politics is all about.
“But I will have problems with anybody who thinks that for no good reason at all other than selfishness is saying he is supporting another governor or another party. He is not productive. It doesn’t make sense in any way.. I have no problems with anybody who is a member of the PDP and I am ready to work with anybody who is a member of the PDP whatever their colour.”
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Oluyede used the occasion to urge the people of the state to obtain their voters cards and vote for him at the June poll, assuring that he will secure the lives of the citizens and the future of their children and families.
“Vote your conscience. Nobody can buy your conscience and don’t sell it. Vote for your future and the future of your children.. Don’t sell your vote, instead demand for standard things, basic things from people that you are going to vote for. And I want to make this point clear to all Ekiti people, that in the history of Ekiti State there is nobody else that is as prepared to be the governor of Ekiti State than I have been.I have the qualifications. I have the commitment and I have made investments in time, in money, in sacrifice. So, I am the best person to rule this state right now. I am prepared for it.”
The deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin, thanked the people of the state for standing by them during the period of their travail. He urged them to vote massively for Oluyede in the coming election, assuring that he will liberate them from hardship, lead them to prosperity and restore Ekiti State to its pride of place.
The state’s Chairman of the party, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyeni, in his remarks, expressed confidence in the candidacy of Oluyede, adding that the candidate has come to serve and rescue the people and not to starve them.
He urged the people of the state to support Oluyede with their votes at the poll for them to experience true development and economic prosperity.
“This is where I belong. This is my own candidate. As far as PDP Ekiti State is concerned, because he was duly elected at the primaries.
“Even after going through one or two issues, but like I said, the eagle has landed.
” This is the train of salvation. Come on board and vote for Dr Wole Oluyede. He will give you better lives, ensure rapid development, economic prosperity and true governance. We are set for victory and I can assure you with all the parameters available it is a sure bet that Dr. Oluyede will win the next governorship election coming up June 20, 2026.
On his part, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the Southwest, and Director of Media and Publicity, for PDP 2026 Governorship Campaign Council, Chief Sanya Atofarati, said ” We
thank you people of Ekiti State for your support, encouragement and prayers all through the period of litigation. And if you look at it, these litigations were very unnecessary but it was a deliberate effort to undermine the PDP, to silence the opposition voice especially knowing full well that the sitting
government has performed so woefully.
“For the past three years that Governor Oyebanji has been in office what has his administration been able to achieve?, here queried.
” The ongoing bridge construction in Ado-Ekiti, the less than one kilometre bridge has been under construction for the past three years and this same governor has the temerity to contest, to ask the people to vote for him to continue in office .
” This government has plunged the people into abject poverty. Look at the state of our economy, the worsening insecurity, the state of our infrastructure, our education sector, health and other sectors. No government since 1999 has ever had as much as Oyebanji has had. He has nothing to show for it. He has nothing to justify the huge allocations to the state.
” We thank the people of Ekiti State particularly, the people of Ikere-Ekiti
who have come out in their large numbers today to show that you want the position of the governor
and you understand since 1999 the South Senatorial District which has the highest number of local governments, has been denied the opportunity of producing a governor so you are having it as first of the opportunity.
“This is the senatorial district with the largest voting strength, so as you can see you have demonstrated that you are ready and you will vote for PDP and its candidate Dr. Wole Oluyede.”
Former Senator Duro Faseyi also addressed supporters, urging party faithful to mobilise voters across the state.
He thanked the people for remaining steadfast with the PDP and called on them to “go back to their wards to canvass at all levels for the PDP candidate Dr. Wole Oluyede.”
Similarly, Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council(IPAC) in Ekiti State, Adeniji Akapo Philip, described the coming election as a struggle between the ruling elite and the masses.
“It is going to be a battle between the ruling class and the people of Ekiti State and we are with the people of Ekiti State,” he said.
Other party leaders who spoke at the event included Chief Adeola Ogunrinde, who represented the party’s National Executive Committee, and Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, who praised party loyalists for remaining united, Hon. Segun Adekola who commended the love and support of party faithful , Mrs Lanre Fajuyi, who offered prayers before the commencement of the event.
Also speaking, Hon. Yemi Ajanaku thanked Ekiti residents for their support while stressing that Ikere-Ekiti deserved the governorship position.
“We thank Ekiti people for their stand, I know Ikere people will not settle for deputy governorship but for governor this time around,” he said.
The Ebira community leader, Seidu Saroke , also expressed appreciation to Oluyede for his support to the Ebira community, particularly for completing a hall and market project in Ise-Ekiti.
The leader of the Hausa community, Musa Konga, the leader of the Tiv community,, representative of Traditional worshipers in Ikere-Ekiti, Mrs Alaba Arifalo, Students Union groups, women associations, all expressed confidence in the candidacy of Oluyede and pledged to support his emergence at the poll.
