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Like Ajimobi did in Oyo State, Oyebanji wants to break second term jinx in Ekiti

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Lassa fever: Ondo records 106 cases, 8 deaths Prof. Francis Faduyile, Special Adviser to Ondo State governor on Health Lassa Fever By Segun Giwa Akure, Jan. 29, 2023(NAN) Ondo State government has said 106 cases of Lassa Fever and eight deaths have been recorded in the state this year. Prof. Francis Faduyile, Special Adviser to the governor on Health, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure. Faduyile said the confirmed cases were in six local governments of Owo, Akure North, Akure South, Ose, Akoko South-West and Idanre. According to him, Owo has the highest cases of 68, Akure North (13), Akure South (11), Ose(9), Akoko South-West(5) and Idanre (1). “Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 23, we have had 268 suspected cases of Lassa Fever, 106 confirmed cases and unfortunately eight deaths,” Faduyile said. He explained that the prevalent period of the disease was during the dry season and part of the rainy season when farmers were cultivating lands for farming. “The farmers during this period will do a lot of bush burning and when they burn the bush, the rats will move from their natural habitat to a place safer and a lot of them tends to come towards homes in that surrounding. “The first way to prevent Lassa is to stop bush burning, and we have sensitised against this,” he said. Faduyile advised people not put their foods where rats can have access. “We have observed that some of our cultural activities like spreading cassava on the road to dry are harmful because rats can come around eat out of the cassava and drop faeces or urine on it. “Besides, we have observed that our level of hygiene, if it is not well improved, it can attract rats, because rats are scavengers and when there is uneaten food, that is not covered, they tend to come,” he said. Faduyile noted that the government has embarked on advocacy through the local governments and traditional rulers as well as other preventive means to stem the disease. “Every year there is ‘deratification’, that is to kill all the rats, and we have started it this year which has been largely successful. “Also, there have been a lot of advocacy to medical personnel for them to have high index of suspicion for any fever,” he said. Faduyile said the government has improved the state Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, to a standard that can take care of Lassa fever.
Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji

As the late Abiola Ajimobi did in Oyo State, Gov. Abiodun Oyebanji has expressed the strong desire to break what he calls the second term jinx in Ekiti State.
Ajimobi’s 2015 feat was so historical in Oyo State that it was tagged ‘Ko sele ri’, meaning it had never happened.
In Ekiti, no governor has also had the second term at a stretch.
As a result, Oyebanji  appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to help end the state’s second-term governorship jinx.
He made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja at the party’s national secretariat while submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to re-contest the governorship election.

The event drew Ekiti political heavyweights, including lawmakers and members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

Oyebanji noted that since the creation of Ekiti, no governor had served two terms consecutively, a situation he described as hampering the state’s growth and development.

“Since Ekiti was created, no governor has done a second term in a stretch. This has continually retarded our progress as a state.

“If the people have gathered in this number to plead with you, then we see it as a jinx that must be broken.

“We see it as a reproach that has slowed our growth. We do not want the current gains to be reversed,” the governor said.

Oyebanji expressed confidence that the party’s national leadership would conduct a free and fair primary election scheduled for Oct. 17.

He said that although members had the right to contest, only loyal and qualified candidates should be considered for the governorship ticket.

He assured that he would participate fully in the primary election, noting that he had no cause for fear.

“We have no cause to fear. But the APC leadership must see this as a precursor to 2027. I plead, help us break this jinx,” he said.

Oyebanji promised to focus more on education, innovation and technology if elected for a second term.

He dismissed reports of division in the Ekiti APC, stressing that the party remained united and strong in the state.

“Ekiti APC is one of the strongest in Nigeria. We are united, working towards one goal of safeguarding and developing the state,” he maintained.

He also affirmed that his relationship with former Governor Kayode Fayemi remained cordial, noting Fayemi’s active involvement in party activities in the state.

“He will attend our forthcoming stakeholders’ meeting in Ekiti. Talk of division is mere propaganda. APC in Ekiti remains indivisible,” Oyebanji said.

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, speaking at the event, said Oyebanji had the backing of all well-meaning Ekiti indigenes, including Fayemi, the former governor.

He added that Oyebanji had excelled in human capital development, maintaining political stability and delivering infrastructure across the state, thereby deserving another term in office.

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