Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the Yoruba Nation to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its bid to implement key reforms aimed at revitalizing the country.
The Governor made this appeal on Saturday during the Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) Assembly, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos where past and present officeholders and political leaders from the six states in the region gathered to chat the way forward for the party.
Governor Oyebanji emphasized that the Yoruba people must play a leading role in defending the transformative policies of the current administration, assuring that the present economic challenges would soon be overcome.
Stressing that the policies and programmes being introduced by the President are crucial to rescuing the nation from its current difficulties, Oyebanji urged the Yoruba race to seize the moment to demonstrate unity and showcase the region’s renowned human capital, rather than allowing negative narratives to prevail.
“I just want to plead with us, that we have a sacred duty to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. History has put it on our shoulders now to stand by him. We don’t have a choice other than to give him our total support. We, from the south West don’t have a choice.
“It is not in our place to criticize this Government. We have access to the President through the Governors, through our party leaders. And if there are things we feel strongly about, we should put heads together and look for the right channel to pass it across to him. This is because we don’t know when we will have this kind of opportunity again.
“I also hope that one of the resolutions of this meeting will be to go back to our various states and replicate this kind of forum at every level.” Governor Oyebanji remarked
In his keynote address at the event, immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, reflected on the historical struggles of the Yoruba people for political prominence at the national level. He encouraged the Yoruba to remain steadfast in the face of present challenges and to continue advocating for their interests within the framework of the country’s politics.
Dr. Fayemi also called for a unified effort among political officeholders, particularly those within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reminding them of their responsibility to the masses, emphasizing the need to create jobs for the youth and address the growing insecurity in the nation.
“While we can be proud of the road we have travelled since 2015, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as a party or be complacent about anything. It is imperative that we openly and honestly acknowledge current challenges and develop a coherent and comprehensive plan that can enable us to confront them.
“This we must do by resolutely learning lessons of experience.
We should also be ready to mobilise ourselves for the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding the hope of our compatriots both in Project Nigeria and in our ability as a party committed to leading the charge against underdevelopment, disunity, and insecurity” Dr Fayemi said.
Other notable figures at the event included the Coordinator of the Southwest Political Caucus and Chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; former Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba who charged the Yoruba people to be patient and to channel their grievances through their governors, assuring them that President Tinubu remains committed to addressing all concerns brought to his attention.
Last modified: October 6, 2024
