Elderly citizens in Ekiti State have commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for its handling of pension payments and support for senior citizens, expressing confidence in the government’s commitment to their welfare ahead of his second-term inauguration on Friday, October 16.
The commendation came on Monday during an engagement organised by the governor’s wife, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, at her office in Ado-Ekiti, where about 500 elderly citizens from the state’s 16 local government areas received food packages in recognition of their contributions to the state’s development.
Speaking at the gathering, Dr Oyebanji said the initiative was designed to recognise the elderly as important members of society and ensure they were not excluded from activities marking the governor’s second-term inauguration.
She explained that the programme followed engagements with youths and women, adding that the government considered it necessary to extend the celebration to senior citizens who might be unable to attend the inauguration ceremony.
The governor’s wife reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of elderly citizens, assuring them that the government would sustain its support in the second term. She urged the beneficiaries to accept the food packages as a token of appreciation and continue to pray for the governor and his administration.
She also commended the government’s efforts in addressing pensioners’ concerns, particularly the payment of pension arrears and regular monthly pensions. According to her, the administration would continue to prioritise the needs of elderly citizens, while she urged them to support President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, also praised the governor and his wife for their support for senior citizens. She described the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the governor’s re-election as encouraging and called on the elderly to support the APC and its candidates in forthcoming elections, including the President, National Assembly members and local government officials.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Pastor Adepeju, said the engagement was organised to honour elderly citizens for their contributions to Ekiti State. A former commissioner in the ministry, Mrs Ronke Ogunsanya, also commended the administration for its attention to the elderly, noting that the beneficiaries had continued to express appreciation for the governor’s support.
Also speaking, an APC elder, Pa Gabriel Oni, praised the administration’s contributions to the state’s development, while the Chairman of the Ekiti Elder Council, Pa Mogaji, congratulated the governor on his re-election and appreciated him and his wife for their continued support.
The gathering brought together pensioners, members of the Elder Council, government officials and representatives of senior citizens from across the state.
