By Wasiu Owolewa
Being in a leadership position can be seen as an opportunity to serve or contribute one’s quota towards the development of the society or organization. One thing is to be a leader another thing is to have a human face with it. If you see a society progressing, go and look at the type of leader in charge of affairs.
It is on this note that I will like to make Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as a typical example of a leader with human face.
Before his emergence as the number one citizen of Ekiti state, this Ikogosi-Ekiti born politician has been known for his act of generosity. Testimonies of his act magnanimity spread like wild fire that it made large percentage of Ekiti people to ask him to throw his hat into the ring during the build up to the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Before he was being voted to power, some skeptics were of the view that the act of generosity of Mr. Oyebanji is for a political purpose that it would take another turn after his emergence.
The Governor seems to have proved these skeptics wrong because nothing has changed about his act of generosity. Instead his act of generosity keep on increasing.
Within the shortest period of assuming office more people have benefitted from his act of benevolence. Just of recent the Governor through his Senior Special Assistant(SSA), Mrs Sola Abe disbursed a whooping amount of nine million naira to vulnerable citizens who sought for one assistance to another from the state government.
Also the governor during an inspection tour to some road projects in Omisanja area in Ado-Ekiti put smile to the face of a female tricycle rider, Tola Adeleye who offered him a ride. The governor surprised the female rider with a new brand Keke NAPEP presented to her.
During the recent retreat for the newly sworn-in Commissioners and Special Advisers at Adetiloye in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji ordered for a comprehensive treatment for Mr Fatai Ogunsakin, a bricklayer who has been battling with elephantiasis since 1979. This act once agains shows how compassionate the Governor is.
I will not drop my pen without giving a personal testimony of Governor Oyebanji’s act of benevolence to me a year ago when I was between life and death. Without knowing me one on one though I was part of his media team that went round with him, he footed the remaining amount of my medical bill and sent me a reasonable amount of money for food and other things. He is doing this not for any political popularity but to the service of God and humanity.
With the above submission on Governor Oyebanji’s humanitarian service and act of benevolence, it will take no one any surprise why the state is currently in a steady progress.