L-R: Wife of Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, Olori Sidikat Babalola; Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Chairman, Ekiti Council of Obas (Onitaji), Oba Adamo Babalola; and Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, when the governor's wife visited Onitaji in his palace during the ongoing market outreach programme initiated by the First Lady, at Itaji-Ekiti.
Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Obas, Oba Adamo Babalola, (Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti) has said that the activities and novel programmes of the Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, are noteworthy and unprecedented.
The monarch eulogized the First Lady’s “remarkable contributions” to the success story of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration during a visit to the palace, on Monday.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi said that she decided to use the opportunity offered by her Market Outreach programme to Oye Local Government to pay homage to the monarch.
The governor’s wife is touring markets in the 16 local government areas of the state to empower the traders with cash grants and to present brand new buses to them.
Receiving the First Lady and her team in the palace, the monarch said Erelu Bisi Fayemi towered over her predecessors in terms of achievements.
Oba Babalola added that she was a perfect match for the governor, whom he also described as a gentleman who would go down in history as a selfless leader who turned around the fortunes of Ekiti.
He said, “It’s not as if Ekiti is that rich. But the governor has been evidently prudent with the little resources accruing to the state. We have had governors and first ladies in this state, but we never had it so good.
“Some people will rather stash the state resources abroad to feather their nests. The administration led by Governor Kayode Fayemi is doing very well and we don’t have to mince words in praising them.”
Acknowledging the possibility of having dissenters among the citizens, he said it was part of human nature not to be pleased with the guts of a performer and his or her revolutionary trends.
Advising the first couple not to be deterred by illogical criticism, he said that there were palpable evidence of the hard work of the governor and his wife across the state.
The governor’s wife also visited the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju, in his palace, where the monarch disclosed that he prayed for Governor Kayode Fayemi to win the governorship election when he visited the palace during the thick of electioneering.
He commended the governor for appointing the new chairman of the state traditional council from Ekiti North senatorial district.
As was done in the markets already visited, the governor’s wife presented an 18-seater bus to the Oye local government market women at Oja Oba Oye, while 15 markets association received cash grants to boost their businesses.
The enthusiastic traders also received plastic basins, standard measure bowls and waist band pouch for storing money, among others.
Erelu Bisi Fayemi described the market place as a place where crucial decisions on the economy, politics and social affairs are taken.
The governor’s wife reiterated the commitment of the present administration to take the state to greater heights.
Reconciling the feuding parties among the market leaders, she advised the women to close ranks and eschew rancor and divisive tendencies.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi, had urged the beneficiaries to use the money to strengthen their businesses.
Admonishing men against assaulting or molesting females, the commissioner warned that offenders would be brought to justice under the relevant laws of the state.
She advised women to report any act of violence against them to enable the law to take its course.
Adewusi further cautioned parents against sending children of school age on errand, especially hawking, during school hours. She stressed that parents of any child caught on the streets during school period would bear the consequence.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oye Local Government, Mr. Dele Ogungbuyi, acknowledged the success recorded by the state government in the areas of women empowerment, prevention of child abuse and protection of women’s rights, among others.
The Iyaloja of Oye Ekiti, Chief Anthonia Adegboyega thanked the government of Ekiti state for remembering the market women and lifting the status of women in the state.
Last modified: September 2, 2013