The Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who also represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District has reiterated that the federal government will bring more developmental projects to Ado Ekiti as a form of reciprocating the good gesture bestowed on two members of the National Assembly including the Senate President by His Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe at this year Udiroko festival.
The Senator Leader stated this in his speech at this year Udiroko festival held on Wednesday, August 21st, at Ewi’s palace in Ado Ekiti. He said, “two of our distinguished colleagues including the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Kabiyesi, you have honoured with two Chieftaincy titles and this means so much to us and I want to say thank you on their behalf. You have done this as an institution not just an individual and we are grateful for that. By the grace of God, the Deputy Senate President and I will deliver your message, they will reciprocate with developmental projects in Ado Kingdom.
“The Deputy Senate President and I will ask Mr President of the Senate to be very clear as to which project he is bringing to Ado Ekiti in the 2025 budget allocation. We also will ask our distinguished colleague who has also been honoured, distinguish Senator Olamilekan Adeola or who we call “yayi” the project that he is also bringing to Ado Ekiti.”
The Senator stated further that Udiroko festival is gradually taking its rightful place in Ekiti State just like what the State Governor, His Excellency Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji noted that, Ekiti people are happy for what is happening at Udiroko festival.
Bamidele noted further that the Udiroko festival in Ado Ekiti is gradually spreading across to other towns in Ekiti State noting that, Odun Oba in Ikere Ekiti, Iyin day and others are gradually moving closer to Udiroko festival in celebration.
The Senate Leader said God has ordained the Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe as a worthy leader of note and prayed that God will continue to sustain and fortify him with knowledge and understanding.
The National leader expressed his happiness for being present at this year Udiroko festival adding that, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio could not attend because he is out of the country on national assignment. He noted further that why he could not miss this year Udiroko festival or give any excuse was because the Kabiyesi and some of his chiefs personally visited the National Assembly to invite all these distinguished Senators and it’s honourable for him and his colleagues to reciprocate by being present at the event.
He noted further that part of his promise when he was seeking re election to the National Assembly, with the Kabiyesi was to take the issue of Udiroko festival seriously which by the special grace of God he did not joke with it, and this is the reason why he has to travel right down from the United States of America where he is on National assignment to grace this august occasion.
The lawmaker however thanked the paramount ruler for all his support to both the Ekiti State Governor under Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the government of His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu noting that money cannot buy this wonderful support and prayed that God will continue to support the royal father.
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”.
“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.
The peak of the event was the announcement of cash donation of fifty million naira by the Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio twenty five million naira by the Deputy Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Jibril Barau, who represented the Senate President, twenty million naira by senator Olamilekan Adeola and joint donation of fifteen million naira by senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and senator Fatoba by the Senate Leader.
