It’s not astonishing that the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, within eight months in office is being commended daily for providing good governance in the state despite not having a full cabinet in place.
His footprints are boldly seen in road construction and maintenance, education, agriculture, health care, economy and social services to better the Ekiti people.
Could one say that the governor, who some have described as the lucky man must have understudied the basic needs of the people of Ekiti State and prayed inwardly that God should place him in a position of authority while serving as the Personal Assistant to the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and later Secretary to the State Government during former Governor Fayemi’s regime?
Not that alone, he must have gathered his political prowess and economic knowledge as a lecturer and banker coupled with the fact that he was the youngest and Secretary of the group that drew the blueprint of Ekiti state.
On assumption of office, Oyebanji kicked off ‘operation no pothole’ in the state capital, Ado Ekiti. The Ministry of Works and Transportation which was on sabbatical in the previous administrations was mobilized to carry out the filling of all pot-holes across the state capital and Ikere Ekiti inclusive. At a time commuters were complaining about the poor state of Ekiti roads until Oyebanji intervened.
Some of the roads that have been rehabilitated include Matthew Street, Mugbagba Street, Ijigbo Roundabout, Atikankan, and Olukayode Stadium-Okuta Gbokutalori-Old Garage Road. Others are Atikankan-Isato Oke-Sadiat Hotel Road, Basiri Road, Adebayo Road,
Agric Olope-Moferere-Odo Ado road, GRA 3rd Extension road, Oke Ila-Housing Corporation road, Oja Oba-Post Office-Palace road, Oladele Street at Awedele.
As I write, many road constructions are going on in the state, some of them are Omisanjana- Shepherd-Sije – Ajebamidele roads with standard drainages and many more. The beauty of these developmental interventions is that some of the streets had been cut off but now those communities have not only felt the impacts of government but their daily businesses have improved and the challenges they encountered on the roads have gone forever.
The accolades are reverberating daily because the governor knows the needs of his subjects and promotes local content, which is why he embarks on projects that directly impact the lives of Ekiti People.
Curiously, the governor recently procured thirty-eight vehicles that were distributed to all Heads of Local Government Administration from the Ekiti State Motor Dealers Association which was the first in the history of Ekiti State.
Buttressing this, Oyebanji hinted that he wanted every sector to feel the impact of government in their businesses, unlike in the previous administrations, where vehicles were contracted to cronies of politicians from other states and countries. ‘What a local intelligence that makes the beauty of Democracy in Ekiti State!
Also, at Eid-el-Kabir, Governor Oyebanji bought all the Rams distributed to notable Muslim leaders in the state from ‘The Ekiti Ram and Goat Sellers Association’. The purpose of this was to encourage Ekiti Livestock sellers and to reduce capital flight. We should not forget that every politics is local and Ekiti people also pay taxes and invariably contribute to the state’s economic growth in one way or another. Hence, Oyebanji thought it wise to carry them along and give them what belonged to them.
While applauding the governor for the initiative, the Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Bello Liaz said”
“We appreciate the state Governor, His Excellency, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for according to us the recognition and deeming it fit to patronize us WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. We are incredibly grateful for his support for our business.
“The Governor in his action demonstrated his commitment to boost local content policy and reduce capital flight which will further add to the economic growth of the state .“We, the local livestock sellers want to use this opportunity to pledge our full support for the administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and pray for his success in office”
Also, Chief(Mrs) Mary Adewole who is the leader of local livestock sellers at Adere market appreciated Governor Oyebanji for excellent performance and fulfilling his promise to them.“The Governor has not betrayed the trust reposed in him. He has kept to his promise and we pray for his success in office”
Oyebanji’s interventions on health and education are impressive, believing that Ekiti deserves better and more functional services across the state. The state government ensures that all health centres in the state, including Oba Adejugbe Hospital and Agric Olope, are working perfectly to reduce the influx of people thronging Ekiti State Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
Put succinctly, Governor Oyebanji in partnership with the World Bank tagged ‘IMPACT PROJECT’ recently distributed #4.6 million cheques to 177 Primary Health Care (PHCS) in Ekiti State totalling #841 Million for quality health services to reduce under-five mortality rate and for the masses to have access to qualitative and affordable health care services. The fund was meant to procure drugs and necessary equipment.
Other interventions include: ‘Ulerawa'( Our flagship Health Care Insurance Programme) meant to register one million Ekiti residents, Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), and Impact Malaria Project. These programmes cater to the wellness of the Ekiti people.
According to the Governor, “To address this challenge of mortality rate, the state government has already put in place a suite of supply and demand side interventions, with the primary goal of reducing our mortality rates by 2030. Under the demand side interventions, for instance, the government established Ulerawa, which aims to provide an explicit but guaranteed package of primary care services for 1 million persons by 2025.
” This is proof of our readiness to seize all opportunities available to us to improve the health of the Ekiti people and an indication of the confidence our partners have in us”
On Education, Governor Oyebanji believes that education is the bedrock of meaning. Hence, he prioritised education. Interventions on education, which, among others,s include the employment of one thousand teachers and 200 non-Teaching staff, payment of #376-197-500 WAEC fees for 17332 students, payment of #22,350-000 bursary to 149 Ekiti indigenes at Nigeria Law Schools ( Each student got #150000), giving #2,106,65,500 as running grants to public primary and secondary Schools, #44 695-600 has been released to Technical colleges in Ekiti as grants, accreditation of courses, payment for 2023 May/June NABTEB examination fees and #1,204,452,353.76 was paid as SUBEB Counterpart Fund in December, 2022.
Also, Oyebanji has paid #36,459,385 for public primary school candidates for the 2022/2023 placement/common entrance examination. Disbursement of grants to 203 public secondary schools for construction and renovation.
Prioritising the welfare of both teaching and non-teaching staff for effective service, the governor disbursed car loans of #91,500,000 and #67,800,000 housing loans to 215 and 317 staff, respectively and regular payment of salaries, allowances and deductions.
Moreso, provision of laptops to students under the Agile programme, and training and re-training of teachers regularly. Oyebanji provided solar-powered boreholes, borehole reticulation and three buses at Government Technical Colleges in Igbara- Odo, Ijero and Otun Ekiti.
Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji did not stop at that. He embarked on the renovation of schools at Ipole Iloro Commercial Grammar School, a Special School for the mentally retarded, Ido Ekiti, a school for the deaf, Ikoro Ekiti, Elo High School, Ayetoro, procurement of customised plastic furniture to Ilukuno Community Grammar School, Ilukuno Ekiti and ILMS, High School, Esin Ekiti, and Ikole Local Government.
The civil servants’ salary, promotions and deductions are now being paid as at when due, ditto the pensioners, and his interventions in Agriculture are also massive. The Governor’s policies on Agriculture have not only encouraged both the old and young to go into farming, but young graduates are willingly delving into mechanized farming to make ‘ends meet’
Having examined some developmental programmes of Governor Oyebanji, he has never neglected the less privileged, recently over N9 million was spent on the needy, ranging from those that need funds for small-scale businesses, working tools, hospital bills and feeding fees, to mention a few. Many bills have been signed into law that will make lives worth living for the Ekiti people.
To encourage grassroots participation in politics and to bring governance closer to the people, the governor allows autonomy for local government, which is the third tier of government. Not long ago, Oyebanji announced that he has given money to all local government/ LCDA Chairmen to put in place projects that have a direct impact on the masses, to ensure total compliance, the government monitoring team have been going around to access the projects put in place by the Chairmen. This is in contrast to previous governments, where the only payment of local government salaries was made through the projects of local government chairmen.
Community development was not left out in Oyebanji’s interventions. No wonder, huge amounts of money were distributed to communities to fast-track development in their areas.
In conclusion, Oyebanji’s cordial relationship with the people of Ekiti State, irrespective of political parties, religions, and social and academic status, coupled with his humble/simple style of life helped him a lot to attract more accolades from the masses based on his achievements so far. I hope Ekiti has not seen anything yet; when he has a full cabinet in a few days we will know that BAO IS A GOD SENT! Because there are lots to be done.
*Ibitoye sent in this piece from Ekiti State.
