By Lateef Ibrahim
Politicians and political groups in Ekiti State have been advised to play politics of responsibility and avoid bitterness in their activities.
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Ekiti State Chapter which gave the advice said politics of ideas should be embraced for development against falsehood and blackmail.
Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the state capital the group Chairman, Pastor Victor Akinola said there is the need for everyone to always exhibit a high sense of decorum, truthfulness and integrity before, during and after the forthcoming 2026 governorship election in the state.
Akinola who briefed the newsmen alongside the group Secretary, Ayodele Lawrence Ajayi and other executive members described as blatant lies and falsehood, the message being peddled by some individuals under aegis of Make Ekiti Great Again (MEGA) against Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
He said CNPP is an umbrella body of registered political parties in Nigeria and an important stakeholder in ensuring that good governance thrives in every part of Nigeria, including Ekiti State.
Akinola added that, as partners in the Ekiti project, the body will not fold its arms and keep silent when some individuals or groups go to the airwaves to churn out deceit, lies, misrepresentation and distortion of facts all in a bid to score cheap political points ahead of the poll.
He said, “As the 2026 governorship election draws nearer, political parties are at liberty to conduct primaries that will produce candidates that will be ready to offer better alternative governance blueprints and not to resort to deliberate falsehood and and claims that are not backed with concrete evidence .We have no other state than Ekiti.
“Individuals or groups wishing to occupy positions of power to make positive changes are free to do so by joining any of the registered political parties of their choice, canvass for the votes of the electorate who have the power to speak with their votes.
“The recent press briefing by promoters of MEGA can be best described as a tissue of lies, cocktail of falsehood, salad of blackmail and blatant misrepresentation, distortion of facts on what is on ground in Ekiti and a failed attempt to distract a performing Governor Oyebanji, who is doing is best to positively turned the fortunes of Ekiti around with verifiable indices on ground.”
The CNPP boss who noted that the body is firmly on ground in Ekiti State said the impact of governance of the Oyebanji Administration is being felt through the implementation of his administration six-pillar agenda which include Governance, Youth Development and Job Creation, Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Infrastructure and Industrialization and Arts, Culture and Tourism.
Speaking further, he said, “When lies, falsehood, half-truths and misrepresentation of facts are left unchallenged, there is a high risk of them being believed and taken as the gospel truth by the unsuspecting members of the public who are consumers of news on the print media, electronic media, internet and social media platforms.
“As responsible and patriotic citizens of Ekiti State, we are compelled to debunk the lies churned out by those who spoke in the name of MEGA. These individuals are non resident in Ekiti so they are not in tune with the reality on ground and that is why they have stayed outside to throw stones at their father’s land and we are in receipt of credible intelligence that they are being sponsored by politicians.
“Their allegation that roads are in ruins, schools are collapsing and hospitals are without beds or medicine are false and far from the truth. Governor Oyebanji has carried out comprehensive rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction of roads in all parts of the state which were commissioned during the first and second anniversaries of his administration.
“With all these verifiable indices, which are evidences of good governance and exponential progress under the leadership of Governor Oyebanji, only mischief makers can come out with distorted narrative to blackmail an administration that is doing its best for the people of the state in order to deceive other Nigerians who may not the intent of such malicious and wicked deceit”.
The CNPP appreciated President Bola Tinubu, for all his support for the state, particularly in the areas of approval of capital projects and increase in the federal allocation which the Governor has severally acknowledged widely during all his broadcasts to the people of the state.
“Mr President is a supporter of Ekiti and he has demonstrated this in his actions and gestures”.
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