The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, have promised to give Ekiti State favourable attention in the 2025 budgetary provisions to attract federal presence to the state in terms of developmental projects.
The top ranking Senators promised to facilitate this to complement the giant strides being made by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in the implementation of his six point policy thrust targeted at raising the bar of development in the state.
The Senators made the promise in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, during the 2024 edition of the annual Udiroko Festival held at the palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe.
At the event, the quartet of Senators Akpabio, his Deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau, the Senate leader and representative of Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and the Senator representing Ogun West, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, donated a sum of N110 million to support the development of Ado Ekiti capital city.
Speaking at the well attended event that attracted creme- dela -creme from the political, traditional and tourism settings, Akpabio, represented by Senator Barau, described Governor Oyebanji as one of the committed patriots, who deserves being supported by federal lawmakers for the state to develop better.
Besides the foregoing, Senator Barau saluted the contributions of Oba Adejugbe to nation building, branding him one of the most development-driven and respectable monarchs in the country, who has made surfeit of contributions to national cohesion.
“We are assuring you that the Senators will work hard to give Ekiti favourable attention in terms of project allotments in the 2025 budgetary provision. The mission is to support Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who is today one of the respected leaders of this country because he maintains cordial relationships with all the people.
“The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, is one of the foremost traditional rulers in Nigeria. With what I have seen here today, Udiroko festival is a wonderful event. Is a wonderful tourism virtue. We will draw the attentions of other prominent Nigerians to this festival”.
Akpabio commended the electorate in Ekiti Central Senatorial District for electing Senator Bamidele, saying: “We are proud of him, because he is doing well at the National level. We are going to do everything possible to join him in attracting federal projects to Ekiti State through favourable budgetary allocations”.
In his response, Senator Bamidele, promised not to disappoint the people of the state by making meaningful contributions at the National Assembly and by joining other patriots to project the image of the state.
Senator Bamidele described Udiroko as a huge cultural carnival, promising to join the state government in expanding the scope of the cultural fiesta and make it a veritable source of tourism in the State.
He also announced the donation of N110 million by himself and three other colleagues including Senator Akpabio to the development of Ado Ekiti capital city.
“I am happy with the development I am seeing today. Udiroko has become a household name in Ekiti. We have Odun Oba in Ikere and Ita Ijero festival in Ijero Ekiti. Kabiyesi, you have been blazing the trail, God will help you to succeed.
“I don’t joke with the promotion of Ekiti’s cultural heritage. I appreciate your support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With all of us working together, Nigeria and Ekiti shall be great.
“Those of us who are your representatives in Abuja won’t disappoint you. We value your support and we won’t take it for granted. I will personally ask the Senate President and other committed Senators to tell me the projects they will sponsor and brought to Ekiti in the 2025 budget”.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe, appreciated the Senators for their commitments to nation building and for strengthening the cord of unity among diverse ethnic groups in the country, saying their donations will be deployed to upscale community-driven development in his kingdom.
