Adebayo Adenrele
…canvasses for Tinubu as President
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has called on the Social Democratic Party candidate during the June 18 governorship election in the state, Engineer Segun Oni to return to All Progressives Congress, APC for the development of the state.
Oyebanji stated this today, after the Ekiti State Governorship Petition Tribunal Judgement re-affirmed his election as Governor of the state.
Addressing a crowd of jubilant supporters at the foyer of the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, he also hailed him for challenging the electoral process, adding that it is hightime Oni accepted defeat honourably.
Oyebanji, who described the ruling of the tribunal as a “landmark judgement”, thanked the judiciary for living up to its reputation as the bastion of democracy.
He urged his supporters to celebrate in moderation and avoid any form of name calling or hostility against members of the opposition party.
“Engr Segun Oni still remains a leader in this state, and I have absolute respect for him and will continue to accord him due respect. The door of our party is open to as many people as want to join us and I will be waiting patiently to receive Engr Segun Oni and his people back to APC, because this is where they belong.
“It is a victory for democracy and I dedicate this to the Almighty God and the people of Ekiti state, it’s a validation of what they did during the election and I thank the Judiciary for upholding our victory as a party.
“I actually don’t have opponents in fairness when it comes to issue of Ekiti State, Ekiti is a small state, we are homogeneous, we are one and the right I have to the governorship of Ekiti State is the right every indigene of the state has to that office.
“I see it as a contest and I hereby call on Engr. Segun Oni to join hands with me to develop the state. He is my leader, I have absolute respect for him and that respect has not diminished so I will be linking up with him so that we can work together. He was part and parcel of this party before and I want to call him back to his former party and the more the merrier.
“I commend the judiciary for this landmark judgement. It speaks to one thing- when God is in a matter, everything will end well.
“The judgement is to God’s glory and to the benefit of Ekiti people. I just want to plead with all of us. We are one in Ekiti State. The party that has gone to court did so in exercise of its fundamental right.
“I want us to celebrate moderately. I don’t want us to quarrel with anybody. I don’t want us to abuse anybody.”
Speaking further, Oyebanji stated that the state chapter of APC will soon unfold its campaign for the 2023 presidential election, adding that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains the best of all the candidates in terms of competence, character and level of preparation for the job.
He urged all Ekiti citizens to key into the campaign for the Tinubu presidency, assuring that the state would witness tremendous progress under his presidency.