Residents of Ado West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have benefited from a palliative distribution programme organized by the council chairman, Hon. Adebolu Aladesanmi, as part of efforts to support vulnerable households and low-income earners in the area.

The programme, held at the Local Government Registry, Isato, provided food items and other essential materials to elderly residents, vulnerable families and other beneficiaries across the council area.

Speaking during the event, Hon. Aladesanmi said the initiative was aimed at providing relief to residents and demonstrating the council’s commitment to people-oriented governance.

He noted that the large turnout recorded at the programme was made possible through the support of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and announced that beneficiaries of the Owo Arugbo scheme would receive two months’ payments in addition to the distributed food items.

According to him, selected residents from various wards also benefited from the palliative materials.

“This is our way of showing that we see you, we hear you, and we are committed to prioritizing your welfare,” he said, pledging to sustain the initiative throughout his second term in office.

The chairman also called on residents to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election.

Also speaking, the Ekiti State APC Chairman, Hon. Sola Eleshin, commended Hon. Aladesanmi for reviving and sustaining the Owo Arugbo scheme, describing him as a visionary leader committed to the welfare of the people.

Hon. Eleshin urged residents not to stay away from the polls on election day, stressing that every vote would count in determining the outcome of the election.

He disclosed that Ado Local Government has about 89,000 registered voters and challenged residents to deliver at least 85,000 votes for the APC, noting that as the state capital, Ado should set the pace for other local government areas.

The APC chairman described the party as a platform open to all and encouraged members and supporters to intensify grassroots campaigns ahead of the election.

In his remarks, Ado APC Chairman, Hon. Mike Akinleye, urged residents to continue praying for Governor Oyebanji and to ensure they vote for the right candidate during the election.

He also advised voters to contact party agents if they encounter any difficulties while casting their votes.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ado Local Government, Hon. Chief Bosun Osaloni, appealed to residents to support the APC at the polls, saying such support would strengthen ongoing development efforts by the government and the Ado West LCDA administration.

He assured beneficiaries that the palliative distribution would be inclusive and reach people across the council area.

Some of the beneficiaries who received the food items expressed appreciation to the council leadership for the gesture and appealed for the continuation of the welfare programme to cushion the effects of economic hardship.

Residents of Emure Ekiti have been urged to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and remain committed to the re-election bid of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

The call was made by Erelu Tosin Aluko during a strategic grassroots engagement aimed at strengthening support for the governor and increasing voter participation across the community.

Speaking during the visit, Aluko said the growing support being enjoyed by Governor Oyebanji across various communities was a reflection of the administration’s impactful projects and people-oriented policies.

She highlighted the government’s interventions in key sectors, including healthcare, education, road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture, and social investment programmes, noting that these initiatives have continued to improve the welfare of residents across the state.

She also charged party members and supporters to intensify door-to-door mobilization efforts, engage eligible voters, and create awareness on the importance of PVC collection ahead of the election.

According to her, the forthcoming poll offers the people of Ekiti another opportunity to consolidate on the achievements recorded under the Oyebanji administration and attract more developmental projects to their communities.

The engagement also provided an avenue for direct interaction with residents of Emure Ekiti, who expressed appreciation for the governor’s inclusive style of governance and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting his second-term aspiration.

… As Gov discloses plan to boost security with 1,000 forest rangers

Farmers in Ekiti State, under the aegis of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have donated a sum of five million naira to the re-election campaign of the state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, citing the need for continuity of his positive dosposition to agriculture developement as well as developments in other critical sectors of the economy for their decision.

The farmers made the donation during an engagement with the Governor at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Ado- Ekiti on Monday also assured the Governor that no fewer than fifty thousand farmers will vote to re- elect him in the June 20 election as a way of demonstrating their appreciation and backing for his administration.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, the National Vice President (Youth) and the State Chairman of AFAN, Chief Tunde Adeyemi and Mr Sunday Adekogbon respectively, cited the Governor Oyebanji’s tractorization programme, subsidized farm inputs, rural roads rehabilitation and construction as well as empowerment programme as some of the reasons for supporting his re-election.

The farmers said the Oyebanji administration from inception has been treating farmers like kings, having prioritized agribusiness development which has repositioned agriculture from subsistence level to an investment-driven venture.

“As stakeholders in the agricultural sector, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting your administration’s vision. Together, we can strengthen food security, empower young people through agriculture, create employment opportunities, attract investment, and position Ekiti State as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural states.”

While describing the Governor as one of the most progressive subnational agricultural models in Nigeria through his deliberate policies, strategic investments, and consistent engagement with farmers, the farmers said Oyebanji has been able to turn the state into a reference point for agricultural development, food security advancement, and rural transformation.

The farmers also expressed their appreciation for Governor Oyebanji’s aggressive rural road infrastructure with particular emphasis to the construction and rehabilitation of the Aba-Ibadan-Igbara-Odo Road and the Agamo-Ipere-Iludun Road which have provided direct access to farms and significantly eased movement of farm inputs, equipment, and harvested produce to and from the farms.

Governor Oyebanji in his response, expressed deep appreciation for the farmers’ financial support for his re-election bid and assured them that his administration will not relent in its efforts to reposition the sector as a pathway to job and wealth creation.

“What is happening today is a bit shocking to me and I get emotional when things like this happen because ideally, it should be people like us that should be supporting you, but when farmers congregate together and donate money to a cause, it speaks volume and I really want to thanks and say God bless you.

“Things like this impose a lot of responsibility on me to ensure that I continue to do those things that are pleasing to God and to you.” The Governor added.

Disclosing some of his plans and policies aimed at further boosting agriculture in the state, Governor Oyebanji said his administration was at the verge of employing 1,000 forest rangers in the drive to provide adequate and effective security for farmers to enable them function in secure environment as well as put a stop to threat of banditry and cattle grazing of farms.

He added that his government is executing a 1,000km rural road upgrades targeting farming communities in the drive to connect remote agricultural areas and help reduce post-harvest losses and boost grassroots economy.

Oyebanji also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing necessary resources and infrastructure to boost food security and empower young farmers noting that the federal funding has been critical in scaling agribusiness, clearing lands, and attracting youths back to farming in Ekiti State.

“The rural roads that we are doing we’ve only done like 135 kilometres, we have awarded close to 400 kilometres, we are going to 1,000 kilometres. Before I came here we also had another approval from Islamic Development Bank for rural roads totalling over 600 kilometres, so by the time we do that we’ll have done, upgraded and put asphalt on nearly all the farms roads in the state.

“The other one we are doing that is very important to you is to secure the environment, and that is why we got the agro rangers, and very soon we are going to put on the field 1,000 forest rangers just to ensure, because you need to function in a secure environment and you realize that the rates of banditry, cattle grazing on farms has gone down a bit. He stated.

Also at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo among others.