Ekiti poll: Oyebanji warns opposition against fake news

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has urged opposition parties to refrain from using fake news to gain political traction ahead of the June 20 governorship election. He characterized the spread of misinformation as a form of blackmail and an attempt to destabilize the state's political atmosphere for sympathy.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti during an engagement with artisans and private sector associations, Oyebanji emphasized unity within the state. "We have just 19 days to the election; please don’t fight with anyone. We are all one in Ekiti, so whoever wants to serve their community will not wage war on the community," he stated.

The governor specifically condemned the dissemination of false reports about insecurity, such as the alleged hijacking and kidnapping of passengers on a commuter bus. "There has been a lot of fake news about insecurity. I wonder how any Ekiti indigene would spread fake news that a commuter bus was hijacked and all the passengers were kidnapped. This is condemnable, and it shows the kind of people who are aspiring to rule Ekiti," Oyebanji said.

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We have just 19 days to the election; please don’t fight with anyone. We are all one in Ekiti, so whoever wants to serve their community will not wage war on the community.

He announced plans to disburse funds to 2,000 women to bolster small businesses and promote economic inclusion. Oyebanji also advised traders to form cooperative societies to access loans from banks and government agencies, noting banks' reluctance to lend to individual traders. His administration, he added, consistently supports local businesses and artisans through a local content law.

Leaders of the Congress of Artisans and Private Sectors, Mr. Ebenezer Babatunde and Mr. Abiodun Gbenga, declared their members' support for Oyebanji's re-election, citing his achievements in infrastructure, empowerment, health, education, and support for the informal sector. They praised his commitment to worker welfare and trader-friendly policies, expressing confidence in his leadership for a prosperous future.

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There has been a lot of fake news about insecurity. I wonder how any Ekiti indigene would spread fake news that a commuter bus was hijacked and all the passengers were kidnapped. This is condemnable, and it shows the kind of people who are aspiring to rule Ekiti.