The Ekiti State Council of Traditional rulers has congratulated the governor-elect, Hon Biodun Oyebanji on his resounding and deserved victory in the just concluded June 18 Governorship election in the state.
The Council, which is the umbrella body for all Ekiti traditional rulers, expressed confidence and upbeat that Oyebanji ascendancy onto the state Governorship seat will usher in uncommon transformation that will change the socio-political and economic landscape.
The traditional rulers conveyed this in a congratulatory message signed by its Chairman, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon, on Monday.
They spoke in reaction to the declaration of the APC candidate, who garnered a total of 187,065 to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Engr Segun Oni, who polled a total of 82,211 votes, among other contenders.
The monarchs opined that Ekiti people hadn’t made any mistake for electing Oyebanji, who served as the Secretary to the Committee for the creation of the State, saying his victory buttressed the fact that there is always a reward for selfless service .
Oba Adejuwon said the long years of services in the public service, spanning over 11 years Oyebanji had served Ekiti in different capacities, had given a conviction that he possesses the cognate exposure, astuteness, competence to be able to deliver.
The monarchs saluted all the contenders for their peaceful conduct during the poll, adding that the serenity, calmness, and the spirit of sportsmanship that pervaded the hemisphere amplified the fact that they were all Patriots and good ambassadors of the ‘Fountain of Knowledge.
“Let me on behalf of the council officially congratulate the eventual winner of the Governorship election, Hon Biodun Oyebanji on his victory. We pray that his reign shall bring peace, unity, prosperity, and progress to our dear state.
“The overwhelming victory was a referendum on his personality and conviction by Ekiti people that he can superintend over Ekiti and deliver. He shouldn’t betray the confidence the populace reposed in him.
“Now that the election is over, the governor-elect should ruminate over how to get the best team that would build on the legacies that will be left behind by the current governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other governors that had ruled Ekiti and contributed their quotas.
“He should start reaching out to other contenders, who are also Ekiti Patriots, and assure them of his readiness to partner them in the task of building Ekiti of our dream.
“We commend the INEC and security agencies for their neutrality during the poll. I also salute the traditional rulers for collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure that Ekiti was not set on fire before, during, and after the election”, the statement concluded.