President Bola Tinubu, has hailed the Ekiti State Governor,Biodun Oyebanji’s statesmanship disposition to governance, urging him to continue with his leadership style.
The president also promised to stand by him in order to make greater positive impacts in the lives of the Ekiti people.
Tinubu gave the assurances in Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, during a thanksgiving service commemorating Oyebanji’s second anniversary, held at the Cathedral Church, Anglican Communion, Okesa, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
Most thrilling to the congregation was the presence of former governors Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose and Kayode Fayemi at the church service, while both Christian and Muslim clerics offered prayers for the governor and the government of the state.
The president who was represented by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said he was pleased with the giant strides being made by Oyebanji to develop the state, in addition to his leadership style which, according to him, has attracted more citizens of the state to participate in the governance process.
“I don’t want to stand here and tell the governor that the president loves him, you know he loves you and you know he is supporting you. I have taken time to tell some people who were raising issue of misplaced priority against the new flyover you are constructing that it shouldn’t be a thing of worry. I told them you are enjoying special presidential intervention.
“I have assured them that you will go out of your way to create opportunities for Ekiti in every other sector by working round the clock. We don’t need any clairvoyance to tell us that our governor has performed well. He has served well and he deserves our support to make him succeed,” he said.
He said Ekiti would be the first state, where all APC members and movers and shakers of politics would pick a consensus candidate as governor, assuring him that the lawmakers were ready to form a workable partnership with Oyebanji for Ekiti to develop.
“You are a statesman, pls remain as a statesman. Stay focused and allow politicians to play their games. Don’t be distracted. Be ready to double up and deliver for Ekiti masses,” Bamidele added.
In his short address, Oyebanji sang some songs of praises to appreciate God for his mercy and provision for the state under his watch. He also thanked all the former governors, national and state assembly members and every other critical stakeholder for the success recorded so far. He specifically thanked President Tinubu for his support for his administration.
Speaking on behalf of the former governors, Fayemi appreciated God for the government of peace being enjoyed in the state under Oyebanji, adding that this has made the state peaceful and developing.
Fayemi, supported by former governor Niyi Adebayo and Ayodele Fayose said Oyebanji was presently preoccupied with governance and was not really subsumed by ambition, assuring the people that his endorsement for a second term, as being done by various groups, has their blessings.
“There is no point repeating the obvious, all the former governors all shared the same view. We thank God for the harmony our governor has promoted. I pray that God almighty will continue to guide him to deliver, because Ekiti people will ultimately be the beneficiaries of the harmony that we enjoy in the state.
“I love the way the governor went out of his way to regularly seek advice from those of us who had occupied the office before him. He did this in a way that none of us is excluded from governance. I pray he grows further in this wisdom,” Fayemi said.
However, during the commissioning of De-Head/Fagloroad and electrification project, Oyebanji disclosed that he had connected over 40 towns to the national grid since assumption of office two years ago, with the intention to upscale the local economy and add modern touch to the grassroots.
Oyebanji said he decided to construct the road with solar lighting to increase nightlife in the area and bring an upswing to the economic development of the populace, adding that putting electricity along new roads remains his standard practice.
“This road was started by Governor Ayodele Fayose, but I completed it. That is why it is good for a leader to perform while in office. By my assessment, all our past governors have done well, they deserve our respect.
“In the last 24 months, I have connected over 40 towns to national grid. Some were reconnected back after decades of power outage, while some never had light at all. No town can develop without electricity and to develop the local economy, we are focusing on grassroots electrification to boost our economy at the rural level,” he said.
Commissioning the project, Fayose, who started the project, commended the contractor for completing the project in record time.
He said he was enthralled with the way Oyebanji completed some projects started by his predecessors, which he said further testified that there is unity of purpose among all Ekiti leaders.
Gbenga Sodeinde
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