
REACTIONS AS EKITI MAN OFFERS FREE MONTHLY POUNDED YAM IN SUPPORT OF OYEBANJI’S SECOND TERM BID
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the decision of Ekiti man for offering free monthly pounded yam for members of the public in support of Governor Biodun Oyebaji’s second term bid.
A video by Insight TV sighted online had showed the Coordinator of Anti-Gracing in the state, Adeniyi Adedipe popularly known as ‘Apase’ who claimed he decided to initiate the move tagged “Baoress For Bao” to attract residents ahead of next elecrion.
He said though the pounded yam is free, anyone who drinks would have to pay at a spot said to have been christened ‘Ojude BAO’.
Reacting to this development, a socio-cultural organisation, Agbajowo Foundation said the situation would bring ridicule to the level of intelligence and exposure Ekiti people are believed to parade.
In a statement signed by the Director of Publicity of the group, Jumoke Fakuade and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, she said such resources would have been diverted to more intelligent ideas.
In her words, “there was a period the phrase”stomach infrastructure” originated from the state as promoted by former Governor Ayo Fayose which is almost becoming a norm among political leaders”.
“The sponsors of such free monthly pounded yam has just given an impression that all a politician needs to win an Ekiti voter is a plate of pounded yam”.
“It only creates an impression that we as a people are graduating from the “dibo ko se’be” era to “jeun ko dibo” era which is actually not good for a people reputed for producing one of the best sets of intelligent and brilliant people in the country”.
However, other members of the public are of the opinion that such move is allowed to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis.
They also called on other political gladiators to pick other days of the week and offer a different types of meal for interested members of the public.
According to Mr. Segun Adisa, “I want to even call on other political gladiators in other political parties to pick other days of the week and offer varieties of food like noodles, spaghetti, rice and even ‘fufu’ to reduce the level of hunger in the society”.
The question however on the lips of many is whether this initiative would even achieve it’s set targets as the state goes to the poll in June 2026 for governorship.