As the ruling All Progressives Congress, Ekiti chapter, kicks off its campaign for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second term bid on Monday, April 27 ahead of the June 20 poll, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adesola Adedayo, has advised the youth groups in the state to visibly join the campaign train and mobilise zealously for the the governor.
Adedayo, who is the BAO/ MCA campaign Director in Moba Local Government, stated clearly that the youths joining the campaign becomes expedient to be able to reciprocate the youth centric policies executed by the governor in the last three and half years.
The APC Chieftain and Director, Youth Mobilisation Committee of BAO/MCA Campaign Structures, said these, in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, where he said the youths would form a strategic component of the campaign to appreciate the governor’s fatherly love.
For their involvement to be positively impactful, Adedayo urged them to take their campaigns to all the tertiary institutions of learning, youth groups across schools, 140 towns , non- governmental organizations, hospitality centres and faith based institutions, and preach why Governor Oyebanji is the best man to lead Ekiti till 2030.
Adedayo revealed that Governor Oyebanji has demonstrated immeasurable love for the youths through introduction of various policies in agriculture, digital education, sports , politics, tourism and education to uplift the productive population in the state.
Cataloguing areas where the governor has touched the lives of the youths positively, the commissioner stated that the youths must work aggressively for Governor Oyebanji’s reelection to further enjoy the more political appointments, youth in commercial agriculture programme, employments across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, training in ICT, sports development, scholarship and bursary schemes, among others.
“Let me restate here with all sense of patriotism and responsibility that Governor Biodun Oyebanji deserves your support in terms of vigorous campaigns and voting in this coming election on account of the benefits you have enjoyed in the last three and half years.
“As of today, no fewer than 4,500 are now commercial youth farmers through government/YSJ farms partnership, who are making millions on yearly basis. With Governor Oyebanji in the saddle, the dignity of farming has been restored and Ekiti now has the least food inflation in Nigeria.
“As at the last count, over 20,000 youths have been offered gainful employments in the formal and informal sectors. Many of those in the informal sectors have benefitted soft loans to boost their businesses to reduce the incidences of unemployment and high poverty in the state.
“Let me also place on record that not less than 1500 youths were trained in digital education in one swell swoop courtesy of the responsiveness of Biodun Oyebanji’s administration and love for the youth population.
“For the first time in Ekiti, we have a governor who has expanded the Scopes of educational scholarships and bursary schemes to cover more youths, while there had been a significant increase to be able to make tremendous impacts expected from students.
“In the area of sport, Mr Governor has done our youths proud. Recently, the players of the female wing of the Ekiti football team were airlifted to Yola, Adamawa State capital to play their counterparts in a football March. His government is constructing a N7 billion worth sports complex to bring innovation and more discoveries at the grassroots.
“Periscoping all these parameters, Governor Oyebanji deserves the support of our youth population. As as the campaign begins on April 27 for the June 20 poll, they should troop out en masse to mobilise vigorously for the governor to show appreciation to a leader who has touched their lives positively in all facets of the economy”.
Pointing out that Governor Oyebanji places high premium value on peace and political tolerance, Adedayo appealed to the youths to shun thuggery before, during and after the poll for Ekiti to experience peace and unity.
Adedayo specifically urged the youths to rebuff violent entreaties from the opposition and enemies of the state, who are poised to heat up the polity and create atmosphere of violence that could lead to bloodshed during the electioneering campaigns and the June 20 poll.
