By News Editor
As the scrambling for the Local Government Chairmanship election gathers tractions in Ekiti State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) critical stakeholders in Ado Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA), has unanimously endorsed the Chairman of the LCDA, Engr. Toyin Ojo, for a second term, as the council boss commissioned several landmark projects in the area.
The stakeholders endorsed the Chairman as a sole candidate for the forthcoming local government election slated for December, 2023 to continue with the developmental strides being initiated across the metropolitan council.
The party described him as a focused and committed politician, who deserves being returned to the position on the premise that his achievements have endeared him to the people.
The party members gave the endorsements at separate meetings held in wards 4, 5, 8 and 12 in Ado Ekiti, on Friday, marking a familiarisation tour of the Chairman and his team to the council area.
The Chairman had earlier commissioned an ultra modern offices built and donated to the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State command, to bolster security of lives and property of the citizens.
Other projects built by Hon. Ojo include; a befitting council Secretariat, provision of boreholes, construction of several culverts and bridges across the council area and empowerment programmes for youths, widows, aged and people living with disabilities.
During the meetings, several members of the party used the ocassion to eulogise the Chairman, describing him as a visionary leader, who has touched many lives within a few months of his administration.
Speaking on behalf of other APC Chairmen in Ado metropolitan council and LCDAs, the APC Chairman in Ado Ekiti Local Government, Mr. Mike Akinleye, said the landmark projects executed by Engr Ojo in the last two years of his administration loudly attested to the fact that he has justified his qualification for a second term ticket.
He called on other members of the party to support the move by the leaders of the APC in the council area to return Engr Ojo to realise his quest to engineer more development in the council.
“Engineer Toyin Ojo always makes himself available for members of the party for any dialogue relating to the development of the council area and its citizenry. I implore our people to choose good work over non performance. He has only spent one and half years in office, I am sure that his second term will help in turning our LCDA around”.
Other members and Stalwarts of the party, who spoke during the meetings, eulogized the chairman of the council on the giant strides recorded within the shortest possible time he had been elected.
In his remarks, a member of the party from ward 5, Kajola area of the LCDA, Mr Kayode Orilabawaye, said the giant strides made by Engr Toyin Ojo, have endeared him to members of the party and these had propelled them to support him for a second term.
He particularly mentioned that the channelization of drainages across the local council and construction of culverts in his street at Kajola in Ado-Ekiti, prompted them to drum more support for the Chairman, urging him to re-contest for a second term.
“If we are to mention his achievements one after the other, time will not permit us. All I want to say is to advise our members to support him and ensure the success of his administration.
Against this backgrounds, the leaders were unanimous in endorsing Hon. Ojo for a second term, hinging their positions on the need for an uninterrupted grassroots governance.
In his separate reactions, Engr Ojo, described the events as epochal in the history of the LCDA, thanking members of the party for the unalloyed support given to his administration.
He explained that the endorsements for a second term by the leaders and other members of the APC in the LCDA, would further spur him to do more for his people, adding that his second coming would be an opportunity to improve on his current accomplishments.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), Justice Cornelius Akintayo, has commended the Chairman for building and donating an edifice to the commission, giving assurance that the Commission is ready and committed in delivering a free, fair and credible local government election in the State this year.
Akintayo said the SIEC is targeting one -man -one- vote and to provide an enabling environment, which will allow every eligible voter and political party fulfil their electoral rights ahead of the December 2023 council poll.
Akintayo spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while commissioning an ultra-modern office built by the management of Ado Central Local Council Development Council (LCDA) for the SIEC and the officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
The SIEC helmsman assured the people of the State, especially members of the political class of his desire and vision to conduct a credible exercise, however, soliciting the support of the people in making the exercise free and fair.
Speaking on the project, the SIEC Chairman commended the council boss, and called on the other LCDA in the State to follow the same path by providing an enabling environment for the commission to operate .
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Ado Central LCDA, Engr Ojo, said the NSCDC office was built to complement the efforts of other sister agencies on provision of security, explaining the SIEC building was constructed apparently to enhance more credible council poll in the area.
He solicited support of the people of the area, irrespective of their political parties to assist the commission in ensuring the success of the forthcoming council elections.
He explained that development at the rural areas is not about political party, but the people, noting that the best way to rightly assess the performance of the government at the state level was to look at the performance at the grassroots.
Ojo reiterated his readiness to continue to prioritize the needs and welfare of the people of the council area irrespective of their political parties and religious beliefs.
He equally promised that his administration would continue to strive and provide more security and safeguard the lives and property of the residents of the State.
