In the spirit of Ramadan fasting and promotion of Nigeria’s religious and ethnic bonds, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has distributed food palliatives to hundreds of Arewa Traders and other nationals from the Northern part of the country.
Mrs Afuye branded the gesture as a demonstration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration’s favourable disposition to religious and ethnic tolerance and generosity as well as make all citizens feel recognized as members of the same family.
Areas visited by the Deputy Governor, according to a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the number two citizen, Victor Ogunje, were the popular Atikankan area in Ado Ekiti metropolis and Shasha market in Ikere Ekiti, where there were large concentrations of Hausa community.
Interacting with the beneficiaries, Mrs Afuye saluted Muslim adherents for their solid support for Governor Oyebanji since inception of his administration, urging them to use the rest of the ramadan fasting to offer prayer supplications for the state.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the Arewa community to continue to perceive themselves as strategic partners under Governor Oyebanji’s leadership, assuring that they won’t be alienated outrightly in governance and politics.
She stated that Governor Oyebanji, by actions and deeds, had proven to be a detribalized and non-discriminative leader, by effectively integrating the non-indigenes and the vulnerable into the focus of his policy thrusts since coming on board in 2022.
Mrs Afuye commended the Hausa traders for their high political awareness and support for the government, promising that the Ikere Local Government will attend to the road facility and transformer being requested in the market, among other infrastructures that can uplift their well-being.
“I am proud of Hausa traders in this market and the landlords in general for their support. During election time, you used to turn out high votes, especially for APC. I want to assure you that this government will continue to recognize and reward your contributions.
“The government believes in peace. I appeal to you, continue to live in peace with your hosts. We are all Nigerians. We should live together as one family. I congratulate you on this Ramadan season and the coming Eid-fitr celebration”..
The Chairman of Hausa traders, Shasha Market, Alhaji AbdulAhmed Yaro and the unit leader for the community, Ibrahim Yunusa, saluted Governor Oyebanji and his Deputy for their immeasurable love for non-Ekiti nationalities resident in the state, assuring total support for them in the June 20, 2026 election.
Specifically, they saluted Mrs Afuye for fraternising with the Hausa traders at Shasha market at regular interval, describing such display of respect as the first of its kind in the political history of the state.
“We are happy that Governor Oyebanji and his deputy recognize the Hausa traders here in Shasha market. We are grateful. In fact, this is the first time since 1999 that a Deputy Governor will be visiting us regularly in this market to make donations. We really appreciate this gesture.
“Help us tell the governor that we are with him in the coming election, we are going to support his reelection 100%, because we don’t have other places to run to. We believe that Ekiti is our home. This is the state where we do our businesses and having other investments.
“We are particularly happy because of the peace we are enjoying with our Ikere hosts. We are assuring our governor that we will continue to promote the bond of unity we have established with Ekiti people”.
Also, the representative of Yoruba Landlords at Shasha Area, Mr Festus Komolafe, praised governor Oyebanji for ensuring peace through consistent preaching of religious tolerance in the state.
Komolafe promised full backing of the landlords in the area for the governor’s second term bid, adding that they will continue to cohabit with other Nigerian nationalities in the area to elevate the level of peace being savoured in the state.
The beneficiaries offered prayers for the Deputy Governor for her exemplary generosity and prayed for the success of the Oyebanji’s administration, particularly the realization of his second term ambition.
On the entourage of the Deputy Governor were: the Chairman of Ikere West Local Council Development Area, Hon Rufus Olorunfemi, former House of Assembly member, Hon Tokunbo Omotayo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Victor Adeniyi, political office holders, traders, among others.