By Dr Aruleba Oke
Early this morning, the reverberating effects of Robert Nesta Marley’s song : “Who the Cap fits, let him wear it” sonorously courted my drinking lobes(ears). This at once took me on a mental trip to our dearest Ekiti State and the forthcoming June 18th 2022 Gubernatorial elections.
Many are called but few are chosen. The scripture is infallible!
Many candidates from different political parties are jostling for the coveted Oke Ayaba Seat of Power.
Prominent amongst the candidates in Ekiti gubernatorial race are : Oluyede of ADC, Chief Segun Oni of Labour Party, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of APC and Chief Bisi Kolawole of PDP and a host of others.
But the million-dollar question is: WHO DOES THE CAP FIT? Far from act of hero-worship, the APC Gubernatorial Candidate , Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji by virtues of his pedigree has scored more marks in Ekiti Gubernatorial fitness test far and above others in Ekiti 2022 race.
From whom much has been taken, a lot more should be given in appreciation. Therefore, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji deserves to wear the cap in Ekiti.
He is a home- grown Administrator and Technocrat. He was the former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government. His foray into public service dated back to creation of Ekiti State, when at a very tender age, he was the Secretary of the state creation committee. Providence has a way of positioning future leaders strategically to be nurtured for higher assignmfents in the service of Ekiti State.
Like the Biblical Joseph, he was one of the important aides to Governor Niyi Adebayo. Due to his exemplary performance , he was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the governor of the state. He is endowed with the unique trait of being loyal to a fault: this is a Hallmark of the next Ekiti State governor.
An apt delineation or portraiture of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji character was done by one of his staunchest supporters, Engineer Ayo Abe when he said:” Oyebanji has all it takes to govern Ekiti State and I have heard the rare opportunity of assessing him as a man and as an administrator as well as a public servant.”
He has dutifully committed 25 solid years into public service.
Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s usual apopthegm is” I won’t be an accidental or appointed governor” And this truism is firmly etched in his mind.
He is a homebased politician, nay, an insider, who has received a cutting-edge tutelage in the art of governing a complex State like Ekiti.
In a moving and graphic detail, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji proudly said:” Out of the 25 years of the creation of Ekiti State. I have received 12 years of tutelage as a public servant.”
His pedigree of being a well-grounded political mentee of both Governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Governor Kayode Fayemi has auspiciously positioned Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in a more vantage stance politically far and above any political opponents in the contest for the Ekiti gubernatorial race.
Writing a compendium of politics and governance in Ekiti State will be grossly incomplete without giving a space to the vital contributions of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji to the development of Ekiti State.
He was Special Assistant (Parliament Affairs) to the the Governor of Ekiti State (8th June 199-2000); He was Special (Parliament Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (8th June 1999-2000); Special Adviser (Parliament Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (1st Aug. 2000-Sept. 2001); Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State (September 2021-May 29, 2003); Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009-December 2010); Commissioner, Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Ekiti State (23rd December 2010-December 2011); Head, Office of Transformation Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State ( December 2011-9th January 2013); Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State (10th January 2013-16th October 2014); Secretary, Ekiti State Government (16th October 2018-Till date).
Oyebanji was instrumental to the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State (1996). He was also Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.
No man can gain speed running with one leg. The combination of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and Chief Mrs Monisade Christiana Afuye opens a vista of breaking the jinx of patriarchal domination in Ekiti politics.
Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye is a blue-blooded princess. In short, she is a scion of the Great King Alowolodu of Ikere Kingdom. Her upbringing in the royal family effectively prepares her for the higher assignment in the service of Ekiti. She is highly disciplined and trustworthy. She is God -fearing as well as passionate about people. Her being the APC women leader lends credence to the fact that she is a people’s person. Chief Monisade Christiana Afuye is a political Amazon and a go-getter with a large following.
Vote APC
Vote BAO/MCA
Vote Peace, Progress and Development of Ekiti State.
(Dr Aruleba Oke ,
A university lecturer,
Ikere Ekiti Indigene
08027906799
07065430944
leorexinitiatives@gmail.com).