A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state, Segun Ajibulu has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to consider an additional ministerial slot for the state.
Ajibulu stated that the state deserves an additional slot aside from the appointment of Dele Alake, going by the magnitude of support contributions the state offered towards Tinubu’s victory in the general election.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the APC stalwart argued that if states like Lagos and Ogun could get three slots each, nothing stops Ekiti which was the first state to open the floodgates of victory for APC in the last Presidential poll, to enjoy the same treatment.
He said,
“Let me start by appreciating Mr President for choosing one of our own in Ekiti, Dele Alake as Minister-designate. I must quickly add that Ekiti, considering the volume of support and contributions to the victory of President Tinubu deserves more than one slot. If some states like Ogun and others could get three slots, Ekiti should be considered for another slot. It is on record that Ekiti is the first State to open the floodgate of electoral victory for Tinubu in the last Presidential election with over 200,000 votes.
“Again, President Tinubu should not forget in a hurry, many of his former comrades and political allies, who fought alongside him in the trenches during the struggle for democracy. The reward system should be excellent and enduring.”
Ajibulu, who coordinated a number of Tinubu support groups, also admonished states and federal government to ensure the honest distribution of palliative to deserving Nigerians, particularly the poorest of the poor.
He added,
“While I will encourage President Tinubu to fashion out more policies and programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians, I want to say that the bulk of the responsibility lies with the governors now. Since more funds are now being allocated to the states as a result of the revenue accrued from the stoppage of fuel subsidy payments, the state chief executives should allow their people to feel the impact of the huge resources coming in.
“The federal government should do more in fighting insecurity and protect Nigerian farmers. The fear of kidnapping and banditry is driving many farmers away from their farms. Let them go back to the farm and produce more food for the people.
“In addition to this, Ekiti is so lucky to have Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as governor. The man has been performing excellently well. He is connecting and relating with the people well. Oyebanji would be about the only governor in recent times who is being praised by both members of the ruling party and the opposition. My prayer to God is to give him the courage and good health to sustain the good work. Ekiti is enjoying the best of times with Oyebanji as the governor.
“Going through the items, as declared by Governor Oyebanji as palliatives for Ekiti people, I think it is the best so far. What is left now is for the governor to institute a strong mechanism to monitor the honest and total implementation of the social intervention programme.”
“More importantly, the governor should ensure that the informal sector of the state economy is also captured by way of providing interest-free or soft loans to boost their businesses too. They are also feeling the heat of the current economic hardship.
“Beyond the palliatives, governments at all levels must guide against the current exploitation of unsuspecting members of the public by Petrol Marketers as well as other traders. There is a barrage of complaints of under-dispensing of petrol products to customers. It is high time we had a price regulation task force in Ekiti and other States. Nigerians are going through a lot already and they should not be subjected to more pain, through brazen exploitation. “Ajibulu said
