Why Ekiti People Have Fallen In Love With Uncommon Governor Oyebanji
Governance is about improving the lives of people and the society at large. Ekiti State continues to witness tremendous progress under the leadership of the incumbent Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO).
This cannot be surprising in view of the fact that antecedents of BAO showed that he has for long being prepared to do well in government hence nobody should be surprised with the steps taken so far and policies being executed since his assumption of office.
He was there at the beginning to join the founding fathers of Ekiti State when he became the secretary of the committee for the creation of Ekiti State. He served in the government of the first civilian administration of Otunba Niyi Adebayo and the two terms of the Dr John Kayode Fayemi administration.
All of these experiences were there for BAO to know the strategy to use in bringing development to Ekiti State. He started by pumping money into the state through various programmes which have been beneficial to the people he is serving as Governor.
The first step he took was to reinstate the monthly deductions of civil servants in the state, which the government owed in arrears. He also paid off arrears of salaries owed civil servants and this has gladdened the hearts of workers who are in the frontline of the execution of government policies.
He has also started to pay part of the humongous areas of gratuity owed retired government workers. He did this by releasing 700 million Naira to state pensioners and two hundred and thirty-five million Naira to retired local government workers.
This is the single largest release of funds since government started to pay gratuity from the days of Fayose through the Fayemi second term administrations. This has brought a huge relief to retirees and they are now assured that they will get their reward here on earth and not wait till when they get to heaven.
The payment would not only improve the lives of the pensioners, it would also elongate the lives of many of them, who would be able to attend to their health challenges. This gesture has brought excitement and hope to the pensioners’ fold and they have not relented in praying for their Governor.
The government has also released money for various communities in the state to develop their chosen projects. The BAO administration recently released N4.6 million Naira to each of the 177 health centres in the state to carry out renovation, buy drugs, consumables and equipment. There are also other releases of funds made by the government.
The immediate effects of these releases is rejuvenation of the economy of the state, since with more money in circulation, there would be increased commercial activities and improvement in the lives of the people.
Artisans would have more jobs to do while their personal economy would improve. Release of funds to health centres would directly impact the health of the people through improved healthcare.
Another area of focus of the BAO administration that has impacted well on the lives of residents of the state is the transportation sector, where government is working on roads to ensure smooth motoring on major highways.
In Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, potholes have disappeared on major roads in the town while work is currently going on on the Omisanjana-Sije-Ajebandele road to link Ikere road. On completion, the road would provide shortcut for travellers going from Ikere to Ilawe-Ekiti.
No wonder why residents of the state are eulogizing the BAO administration for its unique concentration on their welfare. It is actually a people-oriented government that is in place in Ekiti State and this is needed for the improvement of the standard of living of our people.
Ekiti people have fallen in love with the BAO administration which has proved to be a people-oriented one. He is an unusual and uncommon Governor. The government is not far from the people as it takes steps almost everyday to touch the lives of the residents of Ekiti state.
Apart from loving their Governor, the people also have a huge respect for him that he actually deserves their mandate. They are happy that they are reaping the fruit of the investment of their votes in “Tiwantiwa Governor” who really has the love of his people at heart with what he has done so far to better their lives.
We hereby call on the people of the state to continue to support the BAO Administration with their prayers and performance of their civic duties including payment of taxes and rates for the government to have the resources to do more for them.
The Ekiti people have seen was the Governor is doing with the limited resources at his disposal and it is when the government has more resources that more people-oriented projects and empowerment programmes can be executed. So, we should not fail in supporting this government in paying our taxes.
BAO has started well and we pray he ends well and strong. He is on the right path to taking Ekiti to a higher pedestal of development. Our Governor needs our backing to realize the dream of making Ekiti a land of Shared Prosperity.
Signed
Chief Ibukun Adejoro
President
Comrade Femi Olofinbiyi
Secretary
Ekiti Movement for Peace and Good Governance