Ekiti State governor’s wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has said she feels proud and fulfilled that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration has the highest number of elected and appointed female officials in the country, thereby making the government the most women-friendly.
Speaking against the backdrop of spiralling inflation in the nation, Dr. Oyebanji predicted economic boom for Nigerians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying efforts were being made to redirect the economy to the right path to benefit the masses.
She spoke in Oye and Ikole local governments during a visit to female groups in the councils to appreciate them for their support for Governor Oyebanji.
In Ikole Ekiti, the rank of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) further depleted, as members, led by the former chairman of Ikole Local Government, Mrs Abiola Kayode, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back Oyebanji’s progressive governance and politics.
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Addressing the women at the carnival-like ceremony, Dr. Oyebanji thanked them for supporting her husband in the last two years, saying this had helped in smoothening politics and raising the bar of governance.
She said the steady progress being enjoyed under Oyebanji’s leadership was accomplished because the governor earned the trust and loyalty of the citizens.
She expressed joy that Ekiti had the highest number of elected and appointed female politicians under her husband.
Dr. Oyebanji saluted her predecessor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, for setting the pace for women’s recognition in Ekiti politics, saying the tally had risen under the current administration, thereby giving the womenfolk more recognition and respect in the scheme of things.
Hailing the Federal Government for its support, Mrs Oyebanji said the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, had empowered female farmers in the state, besides other empowerment programmes the Federal Government was devising to buffer the effect of economic crunch on the citizens.
She said the Office of the President’s Wife donated N50million to each state to empower women for rapid economic recovery, noting that Ekiti benefited from the gesture.
Speaking about political appointments for women, Dr. Oyebanji said: “The Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service and Accountant General are women. We currently have six female lawmakers in the House of Assembly, seven local government chairpersons and 33 female councillors. Many women were appointed as commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and permanent secretaries.
“Let me assure you that the tally will continue to increase, it won’t come down, because you have a governor who is passionate about female gender.”
Speaking about the six-point agenda of Oyebanji’s government, Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye said her principal had fulfilled his electioneering promises to the people in alignment with his policy thrust.
Tracing the trajectory of politics in Ekiti under progressive governments, Mrs Afuye hailed Erelu Bisi Fayemi for fighting for the implementation of 35 per cent political appointments for women, saying Mrs Oyebanji was sustaining the tempo and even surpassing past records.
Lauding Ekiti citizens for their support for the governor, the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe, described the Oyebanji administration as women friendly, particularly in the allotment of elective and appointive political positions.
A woman leader and former commissioner in Ekiti State, Mrs Ronke Okunsanya, urged the women to support Governor Oyebanji’s re-election bid.
High profile politicians at the event were Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs Peju Babafemi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Empowerment, Mrs Kemi Olaleye; Special Adviser on Governance, Odunayo Ayeni; a top rated female politician, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle; former commissioners, women leaders, traders, young women politicians, among others.