Ado-Ekiti — The Convener of the Oluyede Progressive Alliance for Renewed Hope Agenda (OPARHA), Dr. Oluwole Olumayokun Oluyede, has commended the Ekiti State Director of the City Boy Movement, Asiwaju Oluwafemi Kasali, and his team for what he described as a brilliant display of organisation, commitment and grassroots mobilisation.
Oluyede, in a message of commendation following the successful programme of the movement in Ekiti State, also saluted the Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, and the national leadership for bringing the movement’s grassroots engagement to the state.
The national delegation of the City Boy Movement, led by Shoga, was in Ekiti for a series of activities, including a Town Hall meeting, street engagement, the inauguration of the Ekiti State Executive Council and the unveiling of the movement’s State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.
The programme, held under the theme “Leaving No One Behind,” was designed to deepen grassroots engagement, strengthen the movement’s structure and expand its presence across Ekiti State. The Ekiti chapter had earlier announced the programme as part of efforts to consolidate its grassroots structure under the leadership of Kasali.
Oluyede said the successful execution of the programme demonstrated the level of dedication and organisational capacity within the Ekiti chapter, particularly under the leadership of Asiwaju Kasali.
He specifically praised Kasali and members of his team for the brilliant job well done, noting that their efforts in coordinating the various activities and mobilising participants deserved recognition.
According to him, the successful programme was not merely about the inauguration of an executive council or the unveiling of a secretariat, but a practical demonstration of the importance of taking political engagement directly to the people.
Oluyede said the Town Hall meeting and street engagement were particularly significant because they provided opportunities for direct interaction with people at the grassroots.
He therefore urged Kasali and his team to sustain the momentum and build on the success recorded, stressing that the real work begins after the inauguration.
The OPARHA Convener recalled that he had earlier announced his intention to deploy a broad grassroots mobilisation strategy across Ekiti State, including engagement across the 16 local government areas and 177 wards.
He said the successful City Boy Movement programme represented the type of grassroots structure and engagement required to achieve meaningful political mobilisation across the state.
Oluyede therefore charged the City Boy Movement leadership in Ekiti to work harder, expand its reach and continue taking its message to communities, wards and households across the state.
He urged the youths in the movement to remain committed, disciplined and focused, saying their energy and organisational capacity would be important to the mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The OPARHA Convener also commended the National Director-General, Hon. Shoga, for providing leadership and ensuring that the City Boy Movement continues to strengthen its grassroots structures across the country.
He said the presence of the national delegation in Ekiti had further encouraged the state chapter and demonstrated the importance of collaboration between the national and state structures.
Oluyede noted that his earlier commitment to grassroots mobilisation was clear: “We are not going to sit in Abuja and expect votes to come from Ekiti. OPARHA will go to the people.”
He said the same principle should guide all genuine grassroots mobilisation efforts, adding that political engagement must go beyond meetings among political leaders to direct conversations with ordinary citizens.
Oluyede further called on the City Boy Movement to continue building an inclusive structure that gives young people, women, community leaders and other stakeholders a sense of participation.
He said the “Leaving No One Behind” theme adopted by the movement was particularly important because successful grassroots mobilisation requires broad participation and sustained engagement.
The former Ekiti governorship candidate congratulated Asiwaju Oluwafemi Kasali and his entire team once again, describing their successful hosting of the national delegation as a “brilliant job well done.”
He urged them not to rest on the achievement but to immediately consolidate the gains by taking the movement deeper into the grassroots.
Oluyede said the task ahead was enormous and would require teamwork, commitment and consistent engagement across the state.
He expressed confidence that with sustained efforts by Kasali, his team and other stakeholders, the grassroots mobilisation structure in Ekiti could be significantly strengthened ahead of 2027.
The City Boy Movement has described its mission as a grassroots and youth-focused platform, with its national leadership headed by Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga. Its Ekiti chapter is led by Asiwaju Kasali Oluwafemi as State Director.
