By Yaqoub POPOOLA
Politics is volatile in Ekiti , not because the state is one of the Oil producing in Nigeria .The seeming high level of political awareness in the nation’s fountain of knowledge, often make many political gladiators to have the notion “I could do the job better than the man at the saddle” This, hitherto accounts for the greater negative media reports on the state.
The good news today is that somebody is silently changing the narratives by introducing new dimension to politics and governance. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is charting an extraordinary strides in governance , relying on the strength of citizens engagement and grassroots approach to development.
In the last 365days ,the Oyebanji’s ingenious policy of ” Friend to all, enemy to none” seems to be yielding positive results. Unlike his predecessors,Oyebanji may not have enjoyed much of media presence but the impact of his governance is roundly felt by the critical stakeholders in Ekiti ,including the opposition.
Governor Oyebanji is leveraging on the profound humility of Otunba Niyi Adebayo , the intellectual prowess of Dr Kayode Fayemi and the streets appeal of Ayo Fayose to implement the homegrown initiative of Enginner Segun Oni for the good people of Ekiti .
Without sounding immodest ,we can conveniently say that Oyebanji enjoys the support of all as there is no stiff opposition to his leadership style .The governor had priotised the politics of robust engagement and inclusion while government is focused on basic and immediate peoples needs .
” The message is clear, any project without direct benefits to the people will not float under his watch .
” I am conservative, most of my colleagues now, they will check themselves before they bring any frivolous file on my table because they know that you have to put the people forward.
“The question I ask myself is, the man selling boli outside, the Okada Riders, those in Erekesan Market, they are also partakers in the allocation that come to Ekiti. Because at the end of the day, it is Ekiti State and the money belong to everybody. So, government must play a policy that will also affect those people and I am responsible to them because those people put me to this job through their votes and I keep telling everybody that when they went out to vote for us, every vote carry the same value. The vote of the Governor, and the vote of the man riding Okada, same value. So, access to government opportunities should also be equal, those are the principles that drive me.” Oyebanji reiterated
Oyebanji, as a good student of politics and leadership, may have carefully studied the strength and the weaknesses of his predecessors ,using it to develop a superb template for good governance. Oyebanji alluded this fact when he declared recently, during his first anniversary media interaction that ” I am a clone of Adebayo, Fayemi and Fayose put together”.
Legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Aare Afe Babalola recognized this fact when he said Oyebanji had brought a new dawn in the running of government in Ekiti State.
The founder ,Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti also remarked that Oyebanji has been correcting past mistakes of his predecessors in office and making people trust government the more .
Babalola said the creation of the state was an epic battle by proponents who did it with huge sacrifices and selflessness, by their refusal to control the levers of powers.
“But we are happy today that someone who served as the Secretary of the Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, a young man then, is now the governor of our dear state.
“Within this short period, Oyebanji has brought a new dawn in the running of the government of Ekiti State. He has been correcting past mistakes to make people have trust in the government.
In the last 365days many old members of his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) who left, due to some unresolved differences have returned while dozens of opposition members have also teamed up with the current administration.
Impressed by Oyebanji’s leadership style Fayose said: “You know me very well that I am not the one who will tell you what you like. I will always tell you as it is. We are all together for Abiodun Oyebanji, I am not a member of your party (APC) and I will not be. I am with you (Oyebanji) 100 per cent.
“Where is Bisi K ( Chief Bisi Kolawole, PDP governorship candidate)? We are going to support you (Oyebanji), you have come to visit me in my house several times. You are doing it differently and you will get a different result. This church will pray for you and you will do it (governorship) a second time.”
Fayose said the old practice in Ekiti State was more of a sitting Governor witch-hunting the predecessor. “ When I was here I was after Fayemi, when Fayemi was here he too was witch- hunting me. But you are doing it differently. You have United all of us and your performance is superlative.
“ On your matter, all of us are unanimous in our support for you. You are doing well, your leadership style is different and am not surprised your performance has been excellent. Ekiti will do well to have your for eight years. And all of us will support and mobilize for your to achieve that.
“ I am not in your party, and some people will say it is too early. It is not too early. You have done well and you deserve two terms so that Ekiti will benefit from your purposeful leadership. “ Fayose said.
After Fayose’s speech, Adebayo said: “This is the position of we, the former governors. Thank you very much.”
In his remarks, a former member of the National Assembly, Congressman Bimbo Daramola said ” Oyebanji puts an end to the politics of isolationism and exclusivism in Ekiti
“Mr. Governor this congratulation from me on the occasion of your One-year anniversary as Governor, of Ekiti State is not misplaced or uninformed going by comparative analysis of your one year in power and the immediate four years preceding you which were years of isolationism and exclusivism, your disposition to unite over narrow prism separatist agenda is an accomplishment in itself because as Yorubas say “Agbajo owo la fi nso aya”
“We thank God for what you have done in the last 365 days, across different areas and sectors of the state and in direct impact on the lives of the people.“I and the entire #nitoriojoolawa join you, your family the entire administration, and the entire Ekiti Kete in celebration of this day and more importantly the accomplishments over this period.
The Nigerian Medical Association, Ekiti State chapter also commended the governor for aceding to the demands of their members .
Dr Babatunde Rosiji while appreciating the governor said : “Your style of governance which is characterized by humility, astute administration of resources, and penchant for accountability has restored the hope of Ekiti people in government.
“The recent approval of pay parity for clinical workers in the Hospitals’ Management Board among many others such as the payment of the new hazard allowance and MRTF by your administration, are very positive steps which has helped bring some stability to our health systems in the State.
“We wish to specifically acknowledge your dogged determination to fix the many problems bedeviling the health sector in our dear State.
“You have shown a rare commitment and sincerity to the welfare of health workers in the State and this has helped slow the pace of brain drain in our State. While we appreciate the challenge of brain drain as an international phenomenon, your approach in the State has helped to dampen the effect and prevent a total collapse of our health systems.” Rosiji said
Outlining his achievements in the last one year , Oyebanji stated that a sum of N1.5 billion was distributed to equip and rehabilitate the 177 primary healthcare centres in the state to expand access to quality healthcare delivery, while he and his siblings are currently constructing a facility at Aramoko General Hospital in memory of his late mother.
The governor disclosed that his government is in the process of connecting the agricultural zone along Ipao-Oke Ako axis to national grid to propel the state to food security status.
He hinted that the old Civil Service Commission building at the old Secretariat at Oke Ori Omi, had been reshaped and rehabilated to house a new Customary Court of Appeal, which he said gave Ekiti the leeway to have such hierarchy of court for swift and expeditious administration of justice.
In addition , Oyebanji said a total of 2,000 teachers, were recruited and deployed to primary and secondary schools in the last one year to undertake subjects that can bolster Ekiti’s ranking in public examinations like NECO and WAEC.
“Also, we have awarded contracts for the construction of two Model Schools in Ikere and Ikole, so that our children can have more access to education. I am elated that a teacher in Ekiti won the best teacher in Nigeria in 2023 , while the St Louis ,Ikere Ekiti won the best Public School in Nigeria for the second time. These are signs that our government is doing well”.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State and former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Wale Ayeni said Oyebanji had performed below average.
Ayeni alleged that the governor was unable to stamp his feet in governance a year after assuming office.
Ayeni ,the Convener of Ekiti PDP Progressives said the governor was incapacitated as he could not to appoint Chief of Staff , a year after.
“The All Progressives Congress administration is not offering tangible dividends of democracy to the people. Governance is beyond payment of salaries and patching of roads in only the state capital.
“We know that the governor needs help; he would still need to come to us, and we will give him the help he needs. We need good governance, which is lacking in Ekiti for now.
“If you are contesting election, you must have a definite agenda and programmes, but someone has been in office for a year without a clear direction and focus. We need genuine development in Ekiti State. Except for the fact that the governor is trying to hide something.” Ayeni said .
Yaqoub POPOOLA is a journalist and Public Affairs’ Commentator
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