Buhari Seeks Ekiti Obas’ Support for Re-election 

By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded with Ekiti obas to support his re-election bid and government for sustainable peace in Ekiti State and beyond . Buhari said he has not betrayed the country on the promises he made in 2015 to secure the nation, fight corruption and diversify the economy and make Nigeria self sustaining in terms of local production The president spoke in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday while interacting with Ekiti obas when his presidential campaign train visited the state.

The monarchs were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers and Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju. Present at the meeting were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ibikule Amosun (Ogun), former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Mr Olusola Oke, among others. Buhari, while addressing the obas, said his government had made landmark achievements since coming on board by ensuring that no town in the country is under the control of the Boko Haram insurgency. “Let me first thank the people of Ekiti for voting for Governor Fayemi in the July 14 election.

I love the pattern of voting and I am pleased with it. “When we were campaigning in 2015, we made some promises. Today, we have not reneged on them. As I speak with you, no part of the country is being controlled by Boko Haram. Before we came on board, 17 local governments were under the control of insurgents. We have technically retrieved those towns from them. “The era when mosques, churches, motorparks were being bombed was over. We have also stopped importation of rice by 90 per cent and we can now grow what we consume by stopping rice importation. Those who were engaging in acts of smuggling were being dealt with. We have now reached food security. “Apart from all these, we are also fighting corruption. We introduced Treasury Single Account to curb wastages, among others.

“I am now seeking your support so that we can continue to enjoy sustainable peace in our land. We hope to do more and that is why we are seeking the mandate of Nigerians, so that we can consolidate the gains of democracy for our people,” he said. In their position presented by the secretary of the traditional rulers and Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, the monarchs appealed to Buhari to appoint a minister to replace Governor Kayode Fayemi in his cabinet to represent Ekiti. “We want you to remember us more. The federal roads in Ekiti are in a deplorable state and we want you to fix them and make them motorable. You must also work hard to end ASUU strike, so our children can go back to school.

“We also congratulate you on the miraculous escape of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in an helicopter crash in Kabba on Saturday. His escape showed that God had prepared him for a special purpose. “Your success is our success, We assure you of our support in the arduous task to take Nigeria to the next level,” Oba Adewole said. Fayemi promised that Buhari will get 90 per cent of the votes that would be cast on February 16. “The government is planning to dualise Ado-Akure road, complete the federal housing units, the federal secretariat and the Lagos-Kano rail line. So we have no option than to return President Buhari, because Ekiti people are progressives,” he stated.