… Urges residents to be security conscious during yuletide
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has reiterated his commitment to the general welfare of the people of Ekiti State saying he is not unmindful of his contract with them.
Oyebanji stated this on Thursday during the 2022 Carol Service and Lessons at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti even as he urged the people to celebrate the yuletide in moderation and be conscious of safety and security of their environment.
The Governor who harped on the need to demonstrate generosity of spirit, urged well to do citizens in the society to imbibe the spirit of Christmas, which entails sharing what they have with the less privileged.
While expressing his appreciation to members of the committee in charge of the carol service and end of the year programmes headed by the First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the Governor said he remained thankful to God for how far he has helped his administration in its first two months to positively touch many lives.
He also called for prayer for the State and Nigeria as a whole as the country prepares for the 2023 general elections. Similarly, he urged Ekiti people to vote massively for candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the coming election, adding that it is in the interest of Ekiti State that the former Lagos State Governor wins the election.
“Let me start on a note of appreciation to God Almighty and to the organizers of this programme. I’m extremely grateful. My appreciation also goes to all the teams that came here to sing.
“Tomorrow I will be two months in office. I give God the glory and I thank Ekiti people for their support. I thank God for speaking and for standing with us. Jesus is the reason for this season, and I wonder who could have carried our burden if Jesus had not been born and because we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, I am confident that it is well with Ekiti State.
“I want everyone to demonstrate love to one another especially in this yuletide season. We should celebrate in moderation; we should share with those who don’t have. As a government, we would try as much as possible to reach out to a lot of people in this state, as individuals too, we should try to reach out to a lot of people. So, I call for moderation and I also call for your prayers as we move on to year 2023.
“I’m sure what God spoke to us; all will be well in Ekiti State. We handed over this state to God on October 16th and I told God that I’m just a vessel in your hand, you called me forth to do this, I don’t know how to do it and because you have called me, anything that we need to make a success of the assignment, God will provide. I don’t want us to have any fear of tomorrow, tomorrow can only be better with God on our side.
“As I wish you merry Christmas and happy New Year in advance, I enjoin you to be peaceful and celebrate with caution and be security conscious. One thing you can be sure of is that this government will not disappoint you. I’m mindful of our contract with the people of Ekiti State, as soon as the House of Assembly passes our budget, you will see us in action. I thank God that the last two months have been eventful, it has been revealing and I thank God that we are on track, God has been faithful.
Lessons were read in turn by the Governor; the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Wife of the Governor, Dr (Mrs) Olayemi Oyebanji; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bunmi Adelugba; Head of Service, Barr. Bamidele Agbede; Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice John Adeyeye; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Dayo Apata and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon among others.
In his sermon, the Regional Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Shopia Ajayi Region, Pastor Stephen Jayeoba described Christmas as a special time of worship to God for redeeming humanity from the shackles of satanic domination.
The Cleric, who charged Christians to spread the good news of the birth of Christ not only through words but through our action among fellow human beings, called on every individual to be a change agent in their different communities.