…Says visit to NUT, House is home coming
-If elected as governor ,you must be teacher’s friendly– Oke Emmanuel
The Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has described his candidature as answer to the prayers of Ekiti teachers in the 16 local government areas of the state.
Oyebanji, who stated this during an interface with leaders and members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT), on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, also described his visit to the secretariat of the union as homecoming for him
While taking the teachers through his trajectory, as a professional and public servant, Oyebanji said his candidature is a divine arrangement by God to better the welfare of teachers in Ekiti state, adding that his election as Governor would open door for other homegrown Ekiti men and women to attain the highest position of governorship in the state.
“Ekiti is 26 years old. This is the first time a home boy will have an opportunity to aspire to the governorship of Ekiti State. This is an opportunity for us that must not be missed because my humble background in Ekiti exposed me early to all the issues being raised by teachers. As a son of teachers, I was trained with salary of teachers and loan drawn from cooperative societies.
“The person you are seeing here today is a divine answer to your prayer. He is someone that knows where the shoe pinches.Again, I pray we don’t miss this opportunity”
“I am a product of one of you. One of you gave birth to me and trained me to become what I am today.
The same salary you are earning was the same salary my parents earned”
He added that he knew the import of their salaries, arrears, deductions and other entitlements and would not make them suffer for it if elected as governor.
Oyebanji also made it known to the teachers that he is the most experienced among the candidates contesting for the June 18 governorship elections, having been involved in the act of governance at different levels and period in Ekiti for 11 years out of the 26 years of the creation of the state under different administrations.
He stated further that he would bring to bear his wealth of experience towards the development and progress of Ekiti if given the support to emerge as governor come June 18.
Earlier, the NUT chairman, Comrade Oke Emmanuel relayed the sweet memory of his encounter with the flag bearer during his days as the state’s SSG and how he used his position then to support labour activities.
He also read to the teachers a letter of appeal for support for the APC guber candidate sent to the union by Oyebanji’s retired principal father.
Oke assured Oyebanji that Ekiti teachers were solidly behind him and would stand with him to win the election.
“I want you to take note of one thing. Very very soon, you will be sworn-in as Governor by God’s grace. These are teachers of Ekiti state and please don’t forget them. What I mean is that when they are showing you their support like this, they are well determined to support you to the end.
The NUT chairman on behalf of Ekiti teachers expressed optimism that teachers’ welfare would be better prioritized if Oyebanji emerged as governor.
The NUT boss however commended the Kayode Fayemi – led administration for his giant strides in the educational sector, which includes; renovation of schools, recruitment of teachers, regular payment of teachers’
salaries, arrears and other entitlements.
Oke called on the candidate to continue with this laudable feat if emerged as governor.
A Memorandum Of Understanding was presented to the governorship candidate by the NUT chairman on behalf of his colleagues.
The MOU according to the NUT boss contained some of the demands of Ekiti teachers which include, implementation of 65 years of age of retirement and 40 years of service for teachers, continuation of regular payment of salaries, deductions, arrears and leave bonus. Others are; financial benefit of teachers’s promotion and other implementations.
Oyebanji promised to take a good look at the document and assured them that their needs would be attended to if he is voted in as governor of the state.
