– AS GOVERNOR BIODUN OYEBANJI PROCEEDS TO THE THIRD YEAR.
By congressman Bimbo Daramola
I start this write up with the excerpts from the scripture in Psalm 133 vs1-3 NKJV[New King James Version] that states inter alia:
“…Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments…”
Yesterday marked the end of the weeklong activities of the second year anniversary of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in the saddle as Governor of Ekiti State, having been elected and sworn in this day two years ago.
From the pictures that I saw, I noticed some commissioning activities by former Governors and I saw ground breaking of the 80 bed multi disciplinary medical centre to take to a new level, many notches higher the healthcare system of Ekiti, nearly replacing the weather beaten adjunct 51 year old Major General Adeyinka Adebayo legacy.
So all the events have been done in moderation and having very austere touch, nothing ostentatious or unusually self serving or self exulatory but significantly to symbolize the two years of the administration.
But by far what was touching the most for me yesterday at the thanksgiving service was the presence of many stakeholders in the church service and at the reception, a sight that was literally impossible in the Ekiti of our immediate past !
I saw of course His Excellency, Ayodele Fayose of the PDP, a man who had said severally that he will never join the ruling party in the State and Federal, the All Progressives Congress [APC], but that has not dimmed his conviction driven, sustained support for the incumbent Governor, his third successor, on the basis of what the Governor is doing and his Omoluabi.
When Governor Ayodele Fayose was governor, both in his first and Second terms, I am sure NO other Governor of Ekiti, be it from the AD, ACN or APC extraction would touch him with a 10 meter pole , not to talk of attending his thanksgiving service.
The only time we had anything covertly with him was when we needed him to shore up support for Governor Fayemi during our struggle days, and as soon as we got that, the romance ended regardless of his contribution…hmm
Anyway, For the second time, Governor Fayose , the Oshokomole, a brutally frank to a fault personality honored Ekiti and the incumbent Governor yesterday, yet again at the thanksgiving service, being the second time, he also was at the first anniversary.
The Senate leader Distinguished Senator Bamidele Opeyemi , again for the second time was there, he was at the first anniversary too, this time last year, I am not sure he was at any of such anniversaries in the last four years before Oyebanji s assumption of office . I am not sure.
But of greater significance at yesterday events, was the presence of the following personalities and their supporters at the church service, my dearest Uncles,Distinguished Senator Dayo Adeyeye, now Chairman Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Honourable Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, my brother, Honorable Oyetunde Ojo, M.D Federal Housing Authority (FHA), a number of guests like Honorable Odubote, former Member House of Representatives, an Asiwaju Bola Tinubu associate of many years and “Ana wa le’kiti”, yours truly, Uncle Owolabi, former Deputu Gubernatorial Candidate to His Excellency Asiwaju Segun Oni.
From the business circuit, I saw the mogul, my friend and brother Bashorun Tope Alabi, and a host of others that I may have missed [please bear with me] , with all certainty, I bet my life that all these people would have nothing on the planet doing at any thanksgiving anniversary in that State only a few years ago.
But today, to me I think it’s a watershed, the new pages in the history of our dear state is being written by the incumbent Governor, His Excellency Biodun Oyebanji.
The man I titled the “#FIWALOPO #OF #EKITI “.
In one of his interviews last week, he alluded to his inclusive politics as one of the planks that his administration is resting upon and agreed that that has helped him a great deal by reducing distractions.
So is this about reconciliation alone ? Is it about these individuals alone? Hell No!
But let’s be clear no meaningful and sustainable growth and development that can in an infernal, inflammable and frosty and feisty environment as I have written about in my published pamphlet that was circulated at the event.
If you have a lot of people tugging at your jugular , you would spend the four years battling and fighting wars both the seen and unseen, go and ask Governor Ayo Fayose, as headstrong and tough as he was, he got hit by the tornado of opposing tendencies, if you do not agree with me, ask Governor Segun Oni , and even Dr Fayemi, he got bruised and bloodied for it.
But who suffers the most for the war of attrition?The innocent people of Ekiti.
Who are the greatest casualties? The people , our state, the present and future generations and of course our progress is stifled if not asphyxiated .
But today it’s a new streak of light coming through with a Governor who is guided by history and above all by nature someone who I believe wants to do well and better than his predecessors.
And I believe he is on the way there, so if we have all the tendencies sheath their swords, achieved by Governor Oyebanji’s determination and sensitivity, we would expect a more United state, and a more stable political order, where the leaders from whom we can continue to tap and distill value have compelling renewed obligation to the new trajectory that Oyebanji wants our state to go on , and I believe we are on that track .
This is a notorious fact to me as the learned people will say , and it is in this context that I believe nobody should wait till INEC says we can before we ask for a better Ekiti, encourage the move to our beautiful future or before we start talking about it.
We do not need the approval of INEC to recognise, advocate and support a man who has showed that he wants a better state for us and he is working assiduously toward that and the imperative of being encouraged.
Ekiti people would say “ke eegun oni ba jo ire lua, se lo ye ki ori ya atokun re..”
The time has come that we must truly as a people agree on what we want and we must identify that, “ ..if the 40, i mean 40 communities that Biodun Oyebanji had reconnected to national grid and by that action have seen and are enjoying power for the first time in 15 years say 4 + 4, why should anyone say they must wait till INEC allows them to live their own realities…? He who feels it knows it!
After all the pains of being in darkness for 15 years didn’t start two years ago..
So is the job done? No!!!
Has Ekiti become London in 2 years ? No,
Did Oyebanji say I have finally turned Ekiti around, made everyone richer ?No,
Fixed all the decrepit infrastructure in two years ? No,
But has he impacted Ekiti in many areas in two years YES, in some areas more than those who had Eight years!
I can say clearly from what we have seen in two years with more sensitivity , continued inclusiveness and unshaken focus and determination, Oyebanji would pale to insignificance the Eight years of some people , the morning they say shows the day.
So for those who have felt the wave of Oyebanji and cannot deny it please go on with your advocacy and informed agitation for the continuity of Oyebanji and those who are yet to , I encourage you to escalate your positive agitation for attention. He will listen to you.
At the end of the day it will be the referendum of Ekiti people and the hand of God and not by any man.
It’s time for sincerity to our common cause.
The well attended thanksgiving also had our Kabiyesis in attendance and their beautiful Olori’s , I am happy at the corporate recognition of the Oloris, before some Kabiyesis will be tagged PDP kabiyesis, they won’t even be there.
To all of us partisan players and political people , Nobody can sort everyone of us at thesame time , Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr Ayo Fayose, Dr Fayemi Asiwaaju Segun Oni all of them did not solve all our individual problems in all of the time they were in office , particularly the once’s who had Eight years, how much more someone just going on the third year, who has appointed a good number of people in regular positions and boards, this has not been so, at least this number in this short time.
I will appeal that we should be cognizant of our personal ambitions and wishes but also realise that ASIPRATION is corporate and AMBITION is personal, both are legitimate but remember, “Oja ilu lo n ka ilu “Oja enikan o le ka gbogbo Ilu “
In attendance were other personalities, like Deputy Governor H.E Chief Mrs Monisola Afuye, Senator Yemi Adaramodu [Agbaman}, Cyril Fasuyi, Serving Members HoR, Akinlayo Davidson, Akin Rotimi, Steven Fatoba, Rufus Ojuawo, and formers like Oyetunde Ojo, Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, Hon Wunmi Ogunlola [WOO], and members of the State Assembly led by the Speaker and the Deputy, cabinet officials, My Sisters, Motunde Adelabu, Kemisola Olaleye and a host of other Eni bi Eni, Eyan bi Eeyan. Aseyi sa modun oo
Ire loju wa ma ma ri le’kiti,, lagbara Olorun.
Let’s make up our minds to continue to give this Governor a chance and avail him our fullest support and not allow anyone no matter his position to throw discord in the way to the attainment of our fullest potentials and possibilities as Ekiti .
I look forward to a more glorious third year with more undeniable and dizzying proofs that will finally put all willful doubters to permanent quietude .
God bless Ekiti State
Best Wishes Governor Biodun Oyebanji and my appreciation to your pretty wife and our delight to look at brainy First Lady, Prof Mrs #Olayemi #Oyebanji, without leaving out My Auntie , the Deputy Governor, Chief Mrs Monisola Afuye and the hardworking cabinet
God bless Y’all. See you at the third anniversary by the grace of God
Congressman Bimbo Daramola
#bimboEkiti
#nitoriojoolawa