Senator Remi Tinubu speaking to supporters of Ekiti State governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO)
Women are critical and pivotal to the electoral success of any political party and the nation’s first family appears serious in tapping into their huge electoral capital to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO).
The demonstration of this gesture came to the fore on Saturday, May 30 when the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, stormed the Land of Honour alongside other All Progressives Congress (APC) women top brass to canvass for votes for Oyebanji, the party’s flag bearer in the Ekiti governorship poll scheduled for June 20.
It was a glorious day for Governor Oyebanji and his wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, as they beamed with smiles while welcoming the nation’s First Lady who was joined on the trip by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; APC National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile Idele and wives of governors across the federation.
The Nigeria’s First Lady succeeded in killing three birds with one stone. First, she inaugurated a brand new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti which was facilitated through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). Second, the President’s wife also held an interactive session with Ekiti traditional rulers during which topical issues affecting the nation were discussed. Her third and last assignment for the day was the official flag-off of the APC Women Campaign rally to boost efforts to mobilize votes for governorship candidate, Governor Oyebanji at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The launch of the APC Women Campaign for Oyebanji officially marked the commencement of what promises to be a rigorous campaign round the state to be led by the governor’s wife, Dr Oyebanji.
The crowd that welcomed the First Lady, Senator Tinubu
The crowd that welcomed the First Lady, Senator Tinubu
About a week to the visit, the excitement had started to build with awareness and publicity blitz by the APC apparatchiks and the state government. This made the visit to be a major talking points on the streets, in pubs and other relaxation centres, in markets, at schools, major street junctions, bus stops, newsstands, offices and business centres.
Upon arriving at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Senator Tinubu was overjoyed by the mammoth crowd that had massed at the arena since 8.00 am waiting for her enthusiastically and did not disperse until her arrival at the venue around 4.08pm. Instead of going to the State Box that has been prepared for her and her entourage, the First Lady went round the arena greeting the crowd in acknowledgement of their patience. Her walk round the stage, accompanied by Governor Oyebanji and wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji as well as the Senate Leader and other eminent personalities elicited huge excitement from the crowd. Thereafter she mounted the rostrum for her main assignment.
It was a day the First Lady would not forget in a hurry because of the massive throng that welcomed her at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. Cultural troupe, itinerant singers and drummers, party members especially the womenfolk in their commemorative ankara fabrics sang, danced and married throughout the time the waiting lasted.
The airport reception masterminded by the welcome party led by Governor Oyebanji and his wife treated the First Lady and her entourage to the warmth and hospitality of the Ekiti people and the impressive welcome followed Mrs Tinubu to EKSU, Jibowu Hall of the Government House where she met the Obas and Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
The visit offered the Oyebanji Administration and opportunity to showcase some of the key projects executed and commissioned for public use. For example, the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport was the first port of call for the august visitors and the facility saw the landing of about seven aircraft which brought the eminent guests to the city from various destinations.
Having done with the ICT Centre commissioning at EKSU and meeting with Ekiti monarchs at the Government House, the First Lady headed to Ekiti Parapo Pavilion and appreciated the love and sacrifices made by the crowd who had patiently waited for her arrival. Mrs Tinubu appreciated the APC women in particular and the Ekiti women in general for their support for Oyebanji and the party which was instrumental to electoral successes recorded in the past.
In appreciation of Ekiti women support for the APC government at the state and federal levels, Mrs Tinubu directed immediate empowerment of 2,000 petty traders with N50,000 each to boost their trade a gesture which drew huge applause from the crowd. The largesse totalled a sum of N100 million.
Mrs Tinubu did not mince words in admitting that the primary reason why she was in Ekiti was to canvass support for Oyebanji. She said: “We came because of BAO (Oyebanji), don’t you see that today’s event is a honour to me? You can see that I’m wearing BAO’s campaign dress. Ekiti women, we have come here to thank you and show our appreciation.
“Please, help us vote for BAO in this coming election (in Ekiti) and in January 2027, vote for Mr President as well. Because you and here since morning and you did not leave this place, I have told (Ekiti) first lady to carry out an empowerment for 2,000 women. This is not loan but N50,000 for each beneficiary to boost their business.
“By God’s grace, your trade will continue to increase and your work will prosper. You will not fall sick, your children will not fall sick and your children will be fortunate in life. “You have seen what is happening in our states because under Mr President, you have seen that more money given to states for them to work and the states no longer owe salaries. Things are going on fine in Ekiti and I am very grateful to you for your support for BAO and his wife.”
Governor Oyebanji in his remarks hailed the President and his spouse for their love and support for Ekiti which had seen its government and people benefit from policies, financial support and programmes, most especially the RHI which has benefitted a good number of people from the state.
He pledged a tally of 700,000 votes from the people of Ekiti State for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election in appreciation of what he described as “unprecedented support the state had so far received from the President” which has positive changes the face of the state and bettered the standard of living of its people.
Oyebanji said: “I want to appreciate President Tinubu’s strong support for Ekiti. All what we have done like roads, bridges, regular payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, empowerment of our people and many other benefits wouldn’t have been possible of not for the support of President Tinubu.
“On behalf of all the women of Ekiti, we are grateful to you for your support for our women, children, market women l, students, people living with disabilities, the aged people and the vulnerable people. We have promised in 2027, we are doing to give Daddy 700,000 votes.”
The wife of the Governor, Dr Oyebanji said Ekiti people are happy with the mother of the nation hailing the nation’s first lady’s support for aged women and widows whom she had financially empowered time and again since the Oyebanji administration came to power.
Mrs Oyebanji noted that women deliver highest number of votes in Ekiti and their votes are for her husband, Governor Oyebanji at the Ekiti governorship election and President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election adding that “the votes will be full for APC” at the elections. The rousing reception accorded Mrs Tinubu in Ekiti resulted from the impact of her RHI on the various segments in the state who had benefitted from various interventions to boost their trade, businesses, health, education and improve their standards of living. These include scholarship, financial largesse and academic equipment for students, financial support for the aged, empowerment for market women and female farmers.
Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media.
