Like never before, Ekiti State, fondly called the Fountain of Knowledge’, welcomed one of their own last week, Femi Ojodu, the renowned journalist who fought the military regime many years ago in Nigeria, but is now a politician and a top aide to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mammoth crowd filled with members of All Progressives Congress, APC, and other parties, trooped out to sheer Ojudu in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, for his formal declaration of his intention to contest the July 2018 governorship election in the state.
During the event, vehicular movement swelled and indigenes trooped out in numbers to show solidarity for the only son of the soil in the race for the Oke Ayaba plum office which none of their own has occupied since the state was created on October 1, 1996.
Business activities also suffered a little hitch as many small business entrepreneurs close down shops while a chunk of the popular motorbike riders (Okada) abandoned commercial service to provide complimentary glamour to the colourful event with a theatrical riding display.
Traffic snarl ruled the day as the only route allowed for passage by the seating governor could not accommodate the massive movement of participants who came in from different parts of the state.
The journalist turned politician entered into the receiving hands of party faithful who were being treated to good melodious music coming from popular Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa. Ojudu immediately dissolved into the fanfare with sweat provoking dance steps.
“I am here to liberate my people. I am here to take Ekiti to the Promised Land. I am learned. I will not watch and see my people perpetually being humiliated by those who have no plan for us. I am here to set our people free and then restore our economy. Today I declare my intention to run as the governor of this State.
“Today, I enjoin all of you to come with me and let us rescue our state from the claws of our oppressors.
“We shall not waver, we shall not surrender, we shall not rest until our today is bettered for a promising tomorrow. We shall all join hands in this struggle to save our state,” an energetic Ojodu told residents of the state.
The train later moved colourfully to the Ajilosun end of the town where the APC state secretariat is located to meet party leaders who received him before he made his declaration to contest.
The party leader were full of praises as they all eulogized Ojudu and commended him profusely for his past developmental activities in the state and the country in general.
