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Governor Oyebanji has accused the opposition political parties of using fake news to gain relevance ahead of the governorship poll.
The governor, who made this allegation while meeting with artisans and members of the private sector association across Ekiti state, used the occasion to thank them for their support in 2022.
The two unions were led by their presidents, Mr Ebenezer Babatunde for the Artisans, and Mr Abiodun Gbenga for the Private sector.
The artisans and private sector, under the aegis of the Congress of Artisans and Private Sectors, commended Governor Oyebanji for his commitment to the welfare of workers and residents in general.
They also thanked the governor for implementing trader-friendly policies, which have enhanced their businesses and boosted small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
However, Governor Oyebanji, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, described the informal sector as critical to his government as well as the coming election, adding that he had developed confidence in them over time and is optimistic about the support they have promised.
He urged them to make sure they collect their PVCs so as to be able to fulfill their promise of ensuring his re- election.
The Governor also condemned the activities of some elements in the state who are deploying fake news to heat up the polity in the bid to attract political sympathy and blackmail the government.
The Governor also disclosed that his government has concluded plans to disburse loans to 2,000 women to support small businesses and economic inclusion in the state.
He advised traders to form themselves into cooperative societies in order to access loans from banks and the government, since banks are not ready to grant loans to individual traders.
He said his administration has consistently supported local traders and small businesses through the local content law, which emphasizes that local businesses and artisans must be patronized.
“I am appealing to those who have registered for voter cards to ensure they collect their cards, as distribution will commence tomorrow. Note that anyone without a voter’s card is not relevant to us during the election. Please go to your local government and wards, they will be available there from tomorrow. It may be difficult at the beginning, let us endure, it will ease in a few days.
“We have just 19 days to the election. Please don’t fight with anyone; we are all one in Ekiti, and I say whoever wants to serve his community will not wage war on the community. A few days ago, we heard a lot of fake news about our security. I wonder how Ekiti indigene would spread fake news that a commuter bus was hijacked and all the passengers were kidnapped. This is condemnable, and it shows the kind of people who are aspiring to rule Ekiti. If you don’t wish your people well, you cannot be a good leader. Inasmuch as I don’t want to destroy anyone’s character, that is not my style, but at the same time, I condemn any attempt at faking news.
The Director General of the campaign council, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, called on every Ekiti resident to come out in their numbers and cast their votes for Governor Oyebanji, stressing that they should not be lackadaisical about the election since the expectation of the party is not just to win but to move from the previous 200,000 votes in 2022 to over 500,000 votes in the June 20 election.
The unions at the parley declared their unflinching support for the re-election of the Governor in the June 20 election, citing his unrivalled achievements in critical areas of development for their position.
