The Aare Bobatolu of Ire Ekiti, Chief Oluwafemi Osasuyi, has appealed to security authorities to release Chief Tayo Alabi, who was reportedly arrested and detained by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

Chief Alabi was said to have been arrested on Tuesday over allegations linked to comments he allegedly made concerning what he described as the lack of support by Governor Biodun Oyebanji for Ire Ekiti-born politician, Bimbo Daramola, during the recently concluded APC House of Representatives primary election. He was later arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court on a charge of alleged stealing and subsequently remanded.

Reacting to the development, Chief Osasuyi expressed concern over the arrest and subsequent detention of Chief Alabi, describing the situation as unfortunate and capable of creating tension within the community.

He urged the relevant authorities to ensure Chief Alabi’s release while allowing due process to take its course, stressing that every citizen has the constitutional right to express opinions on political matters without fear of intimidation or harassment.

Chief Osasuyi also called for a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the allegations against Chief Alabi to establish the facts and ensure that justice is served.

According to him, democracy flourishes when citizens are free to express their views and participate in political discussions within the ambit of the law.

The community leader further urged security agencies to exercise professionalism, fairness, and restraint in handling politically sensitive matters while safeguarding the rights of all citizens.

Chief Osasuyi appealed to residents and stakeholders in Ire Ekiti to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, expressing confidence that the truth would emerge through due process and that justice would ultimately prevail.

The Special Outreach Team for the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has intensified its grassroots campaign with a visit to Iwaro Community in Ado-Ekiti.

The team, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Tosin Aluko, engaged residents on the achievements of the Oyebanji administration and appealed for their support in the forthcoming governorship election.

Speaking on behalf of the community, High Chief Elemukose commended Governor Oyebanji for several development projects executed in the area. He cited the provision of a new transformer, road construction, installation of concrete electricity poles, solar street lights, and other infrastructure projects that have impacted Iwaro and neighbouring communities including Alafialoro, Wonder City, and Akinjobi.

The community leader, however, appealed to the governor to facilitate the immediate energisation of the newly installed transformer. He also requested the establishment of a Primary Health Care Centre, dualisation of roads, and grading of adjoining routes to improve the welfare of residents.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Tosin Aluko highlighted the administration’s achievements across key sectors and reiterated Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to the continued development of Ekiti State.

She urged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards from June 2 and encouraged parents to ensure their children participate in the election process. According to her, the party is targeting about 500,000 votes in the election and called on community members to contribute towards achieving the goal.

The campaign outreach ended with residents expressing overwhelming support for Governor Oyebanji’s second-term bid and pledging to mobilise votes for his re-election.

Nigeria’s First Lady and National Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday commissioned a state-of-the-art ICT Experience Centre at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, describing the facility as a strategic investment in digital education, innovation and youth empowerment.

The ICT centre, which was facilitated through her Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with Tetfund was part of efforts to expand access to technology and digital opportunities for young Nigerians.

Dignitaries at the event include, Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, his Ondo State Counterpart, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele among others.

Speaking while commissioning the ICT centre, Senator Tinubu said the facility would provide students and other beneficiaries with the skills and tools required to thrive in the digital economy and compete favorably in the global digital stage.

Stressing the importance of equipping young people with relevant technological knowledge to enhance innovation, entrepreneurship and national development, the First Lady noted that the ICT Experience Centre represents another milestone in the Renewed Hope Initiative’s interventions aimed at empowering women, youths and students across the country.

She expressed confidence that the facility would serve as a hub for learning, creativity and technological advancement within the university community and beyond.

“I’m really happy to be in Ekiti, this is part of the programme that the Tinubu administration is rendering in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative which I chair, and Tetfund, we were able to give this center to you and I pray that more will come to the state. We have done a lot of work in Ekiti State though the office of the First Lady”, the First Lady asserted.

Earlier in their separate remarks, the Chancellor of the University, Dr Tunji Olowolafe and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Babatola Ayodele, expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady for facilitating the project. They described the centre as a valuable addition to the state’s educational infrastructure and a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to human capital development.

They maintained that the facility would significantly enhance digital learning, research and innovation and pledged to make effective use of the centre in advancing academic excellence and technological development at the university.