Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has canvassed for more support from the people of Ado Ekiti during the 2018 governorship election, saying he wants 101,000 votes from the town.
Fayose, who spoke at the grand finale of the 2017 Udiroko Festival held in Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend, said he appreciates the 31,000 votes difference with which he won the governorship election in 2014, but said he wants more from the people. He added that he got the people’s votes in 2014 as a candidate and said “now that I am a chief of Ado- Ekiti, I am seeking your support. Ado people will vote for your flyover, Ado people will vote for your modern market. Next Udiroko, I want to come here with the new governor to celebrate with you.”
He said the jobs he had done for the community speak for itself and assured that “all ongoing projects would be completed before the end of his tenure. I will hand over the market to the people. The flyover would be completed by December. We will complete the high court complex and all other projects.’’
Governor Fayose stated that he had earned the support of Ado-Ekiti people and called for their continued support for his administration. He lauded “the Ewi, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, and other traditional rulers for their roles in peacekeeping in the state and keeping Ekiti as one.”
Addressing a large gathering of Ado-Ekiti sons, daughters, honorary chiefs, in-laws, friends and well wishers, Oba Adejugbe thanked Fayose for the various projects he had competed in his palace and the town, saying “we thank Governor Fayose for the numerous works in Ado- Ekiti.”
The monarch said Udiroko was significant to the people because “it marks the beginning of a new year for us, the Ado Ekiti people, and on this occasion, we appreciate God and pray for a prosperous year.” He repeated his charge to the youths to take to agriculture, saying “it is our natural occupation.”
The monarch said it is the numerous development projects in the town and in the Ewi’s palace that made the community decide to honor Fayose with the title of Apesin of Ado-Ekiti. Oba Adejugbe commended security agencies, especially the police and the state government for the peace being enjoyed by the people of the state and Ado in particular.
In his remarks, legal luminary and chairman of the occasion, Chief Afe Babalola, said it was a “glorious day” for Ado-Ekiti people” and described the 2017 Udiroko as “the most successful in recent history,” noting that Governor Fayose, a former Governor of Niger State and the Akinjagunla of Ado- Ekiti, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, had contributed to the development being witnessed in the town. The founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, ABUAD, urged Fayose whom he described as “a young, humble, dynamic, sincere and prudent governor “to continue with what he is doing and justify the chieftaincy title given to him. He also thanked those that made the creation of Ekiti State possible.
