Funmilayo Okunade
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has appealed to the people of the state to support his government with prayers to enable it succeed and deliver on its promises.
Oyebanji made the appeal on Sunday, during Ekiti Christains’ Pilgrims Welfare Board’s thanksgiving to mark the pilgrims’ safe return from the Holy Land in Isreal.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the service was held at the Christ Apostolic Church, Rejoice Arena, in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor, who was represented at the church service by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, appealed to the pilgrims to manifest the lessons learned in the holy land in their various positions.
He implored the people of the state to cooperate with his government as he had started fulfilling some of his campaign promises such as road rehabilitation, wealth creation and employment.
Oyebanji also said that his government had been able to pay salaries of workers regularly as part of efforts to boost their morale for more efficient service delivery.
“What we need from you is prayers and support, continue to pray for this government as we are determined to make the welfare of the people a top priority.
“This is a government that is ready to be selfless and make the right sacrifices to make Ekiti great and bear good fruits.
“You can all see the aggressive road rehabilitation we are undertaking across our state and the priority we place on employment.
“ We have started the recruitment process for the employment of 1,000 primary school teachers.
“We will continue to work hard to make our people happy by delivering on all our promises, we won’t disappoint the citizens that elected us.’’
In his sermon, Pastor Segun Awolumate appealed to Nigerians to stop tagging their leaders “messiahs” saying only God could deliver a nation from afflictions.
“Those our leaders we referred to as messiahs always failed in Nigeria because God will never share his glory with anybody.
“It also happens in our families. The expectations of wives from husbands are so high and most husbands become frustrated as a result of this.
“Things they ought to call on God to do, they will rely on their husbands and this is exactly what is happening to us in government,’’ Awolumate said.
Awolumate advised the pilgrims to rededicate themselves to God and humanity, saying it was a way to make their voyage to the holy land rewarding and profitable, physically and spiritually.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary, Ekiti Christains’ Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr Malomo Agbaje, urged the people of Ekiti to take advantage of another opportunity to travel to Israel in November.
NAN also reports that the deputy governor led the Ekiti contingents on the 10-day pilgrimage to Israel.
(NAN)
