...as Ewi of Ado Ekiti declares October 18th Afe Babalola Day
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured that the Federal Government will undertake significant projects in Ekiti State next year to bring about economic and meaningful development across the state.
He gave the assurance at this year’s Udiroko Festival, which marks another calendar in the history of Ado Ekiti.
At the well-attended programme, which was held at the Ewi’s palace, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, the Senate President, represented by his deputy Jibrin Barau, acknowledged Ekiti’s consistent support for the current administration’s policies.
Senator Akpabio explained that such support informed the federal government’s decision for the proposed projects to be sited in the state while assuring that all abandoned federal projects would be completed.
The Senate president also highlighted the Udiroko Festival as a unique event which deserved national recognition and pledged to advocate for the presence of prominent Nigerian political leaders at the subsequent festivals to enhance its visibility and prestige.
Also,the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the National Assembly, through the 2025 budget appropriation act, will bring more federal developmental projects to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District emphasized the significance of the festival, noting that it reflects the true culture of Ekiti indigenes and residents.
He commended the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, for his support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government at both the state and federal levels.
His words, “Udiroko is now popular across Ekiti. We thank God that our Kabiyesi is doing well as a leader.
“I thank our Kabiyesi for his support of the government at the federal and especially our state here, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“We will reciprocate with developmental projects in Ado Kingdom. Both the Deputy Senate President and I will ask the Senate President to be specific about which projects will he brought to Ado-Ekiti in the 2025 budget allocation.
“We will also ask our colleagues, whom are being honored here, about the projects they are bringing to this place.”
In his address, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, expressed joy that the festival was taking an international dimension and called for love among the people to shun acts that could breed disaffection in Ekiti, especially among the Stakeholders.
On his own, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, who could not hide his joy, used the Udiroko festival to call on Nigerians to endure the current government policies aimed at repositioning the country.
Oba Adejugbe, however stressed the need for the federal government to address some of the challenges facing the country, particularly in the area of security, economy and infrastructure.
The monarch used the forum to announce October eightheen as Aare Afe Babalola day, saying would create opportunities to appreciate the contributions of the legal icon to society development in the area of Agriculture, Education, legal profession, infrastructural development among others.
In an interview, some of the leaders of the different ethnics living in Ado Ekiti including that of the idoma people living in Ado Ekiti, the Ochidoma Agaba idu of Ekiti state, otache Oyigicho lauded the fatherly role of Ewi of Ado Ekiti and promised to continue contributing to development of Ekiti State.
