Oyebanji and challenges of governing Ekiti

The starting point was unifying the seemingly divided state that arose from the inevitable, but shortlived political bickering that characterised the hotly contested governorship poll, which he resoundingly won.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji appreciated the import of unity and harmony. Therefore, after assuming political control, he initiated reconciliation, and the strategy paid off for the homogeneous state. Today, Ekiti is peaceful and BAO, as the governor is fondly called by his teeming admirers, has no enemy, either in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or opposition parties-the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (PDP).

Apart from personal humility and inclusive style, what has really accounted for Oyebanji’s popularity is his track record of achievements in less than 300 days in office. With meagre resources, he has rekindled hope for good governance and a brighter future for the far-flung, hilly state.

However, there is a lot more to accomplish in Ekiti. It can be argued that the agrarian state is constrained by location. It has not yet become a strong industrial or business hub, although the potentials are there, in terms of its viability for agricultural innovation and development, agri-processing and natural endowment. Beside, the revenue base is small. It has to be creatively expanded. Although Ekiti has produced many eminent Nigerians in all fields, it has remained a largely rural state.

The state appears to have been neglected by the distant Federal Government. For example, federal roads in the state, particularly Ado-Ikere Road and Itawure(Efon-Alaaye)-Erio-Aramoko-Igede-Iyin Road, have been abandoned.

Early in the year, the Erio/Aramoko portion broke down completely. It became a nightmare for commuters. As the road was largely deserted, there were reports of invasion of some suspected criminals and kidnappers.

Also, as the bridge linking Ado with Ilawe-Ekiti got damaged, movement of people and goods along the route ceased. Motorists agonised. It was a big relief when Oyebanji fixed the dangerous portions. Simultaneously, the roads, which link Osun to Ekiti, were rehabilitated.

Reality has now dawned on Ekiti people, led by Oyebanji, that they need to make special request to the Federal Government to urgently address federal infrastructural deficits in the state as President Bola Tinubu settles down for governance.

However, Ekiti’s destiny is in the hands of its people. Having hit the ground running on assumption of office, the governor is mobilising the indigenes for the tasks of development. According to observers, he is poised to build on the achievements of his successor.

Oyebanji has set a standard for himself by rendering accounts every 100 days. The implication is that he has to gird his loins, work hard and achieve breakthroughs worthy of report before the gathering of indigenes-traditional rulers, community leaders, representatives of labour unions, politicians, clergy, retirees, and other leading lights.

Indeed, there is no serious Ekiti man who perceives the Government House, Oke Bareke, as a relaxation centre. The challenges are enormous. Education, which is Ekiti’s pride, health and power sectors call for attention. There is dearth of infrastructure across the over 120 towns and villages. Youths clamour for a new lease of life through job opportunities. Workers cannot tolerate delay in salary payment, Ekiti largely being a civil service state. Old men and women in retirement do not joke with their pensions. Rural dwellers are pressing for local amenities from council chairmen at the grassroots.

An experienced administrator, Oyebanji, who is conscious of the rising public demand for improved welfare, unfolded a six-point development agenda. It encompasses youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture, infrastructure and industrialisation, arts, culture and tourism.

After a realistic assessment of the challenges and mapping out solutions, Oyebanji sought for help from the appropriate quarter. The governor visited Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to meet with heads of strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and other development partners to seek their intervention.

A teacher at the Ekiti State University, ‘Yemi Ayodele, said Oyebanji has deployed his intellect and wisdom in governing the state. Another resident of the capital town said: “Ado is a lively capital now; there are even street lights,” referring to how the impassable city roads have been fixed.

He also applauded him for restoring security through the task force, pointing out that armed robbery, kidnapping and molestation have drastically reduced.

“So far, he has surprised many,” added Ayodele, who teaches at the Social Science Faculty, urging him to sustain the tempo.

Civil servants have also showered encomiun on the governor for paying the backlog of salaries and bonuses, barely six months in the saddle. The sustenance of welfare package had enhanced industrial relations.

The Oyebanji administration was confronted by two major political crises. The first was the leadership crisis that hit the House of Assembly, following the demise of the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye. The second was the dispute between the state government and the 16 monarchs called ‘Pelupelu.’

There was conflict as two lawmakers claimed that they had been chosen as Speaker. Oyebanji calmly resolved the logjam without injuring the sensibilities of parties to the dispute. “He demonstrated leadership and tact,” recalled an outgoing lawmaker, who added:”Due to the cordial executive/legislative relationship, the budget and other bills were passed without uproar and tension.”

A told civil servant in Ado, who reflected on the protest by a section of the Council of Traditional Rulers against the state government in the past said: “The royal fathers are at peace with our governor; there is no ill-feeling. I think he has made himself accessible and he has a way of tackling questions like that with his humble and simple approach.”

Oyebanji’s opponent at the poll, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, who recently visited the governor, praised him for what he described as his impressive performance. Instructively, the governor had in the process of fence mending visited Kolawole in his native Efon-Alaaye after the election.

The PDP chieftain, whose colleague in Southest zonal chapter, Sanya Atofarati, had criticised Oyebanji for shoddy performance, differed. Kolawole, a former Environment Commissioner, said the governor has demonstrated visionary and purposeful leadership to the admiration of the people.

Stressing that Oyebanji was well prepared for the task, he added:”He is one of the pioneer people that spearheaded the creation of Ekiti State. If I am not mistaken, he was the secretary to the committee. So, doing well now is part of the project, long ago. So, there is no strange thing about performance because I would not have expected anything short of that.”

In the opinion of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, one-time governor of the state and former Trade and Investment Minister, the job of governor in Ekiti is stressful. After reviewing Oyebanji’s achievements, he said God is with him. “God will continue to give you strength, courage and wisdom to lead Ekiti to the desired land,” he prayed.

Oyebanji, who had served as Adebayo’s Special Assistant and Chief of Staff, thanked his former boss for mentorship, for polishing the rough engine in him and for correcting him with love when he was under his tutelage.

The deputy governor, Monisola Afuye, gave insight into why the goernor was able to warm himself into the people within a short time. She explained that her boss has a listening ear, adding that there is no gap between him and the masses. “The strong ties he has with the people remains the magic wand,” she stressed.

The deputy governor maintained that since Oyebanji enjoys acceptability, he is also able to get enough information to act on how to get rid of crime perpetrators in the state.

It was a day of accountability in Ido-Ekiti, where the governor tendered his score card in the last 200 days. It trailed the initial 100-day review in Ado-Ekiti. Obviously, the governor bore the burden of history; he is always inspired by his involvement in the memorable spade work that led to the creation of the state in 1996.

Reminiscing on that historic past, he said:“I don’t have any excuse for Ekiti people not to perform. For this reason, at 26, I was part of the people that fought for the creation of the state. I worked with two governors, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi. That is why, in terms of intense pressure, I am taking my time to see that we do the right thing for Ekiti people.”

Oyebanji said Ekiti deserved a government of the people, for the people and by the people through the active involvement of the people in governance. Thus, as attested to by dignitaries , his policies and programmes have been dictated by need analysis.

The administration attempted to convert the state into a huge construction site. Among the roads that were tarred or rehabilitated are Ado-Ilawe-Erijinyan-Ikogosi, Ado-Ijan-Ikere, Oke-Ila, Oke Oniyo, Ilumoba-Ijesa-Isu, Ado-Ekiti, Ise. To curtail flooding, Ureje and Elemi Rivers were dredged.

“We have done 7,949 metres of channelisation and dredging to prevent flooding in Ado and Ikere. All roads we are going to construct are ones that will bring prosperity, boost trading, farming and ease movement of farm products to the market. We will be strategic by targeting our agric belt,” Oyebanji said.

The Independent Power Project initiated by Fayemi is not abandoned. Oyebanji said the initiative will be pursued because the amount spent on diesel for generators is “unsustainable.”

On assumption of office, the governor, in defence of the core legacy of the founding fathers of Western Region, and consistent with the vision of his immediate predecessor, declared free education at both primary and secondary school levels. The state now has one of the highest school enrollment. In addition, the state embraced the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGGILE) programme of the World Bank. Apart from regular payment of teachers’ salaries, necessary deductions are paid to their cooperative societies, which guarantee loans to workers.

In addition, the administration has embarked on the recruitment of 1,000 primary school teachers to fill existing vacancies. No fewer than 650 secondary school teachers were recruited by the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission. The move, apart from resolving dearth of teaching personnel, also reduced graduate unemployment.

Oyebanji said he had injected N31 billion to the. state’s economy in terms of salary, gratuity and pension in the last 200 days. He has paid N6.2 billion as subvention to the State’s tertiary institutions, approved N700 as gratuity for retired state workers, N200m, N200m for local government retirees as at that time, and N1.2 billion to the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board for capital projects.

Governmdnt has paid N300 million for the 2023 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for students and N600 million counterpart fund to State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for local contractors to be paid in the state.

In terms of salary, N11.28b was paid to workers, N11.42b to local government, N4.2b for state pension, N3.70b for local government pension, N200m for state gratuity and N235m for local government gratuity. “Retirees should enjoy their money while still alive,” Oyebanji said.

The governor said $80m from the African Development Bank (AfDB) was injected into the local economy to create jobs through the Ekiti Knowledge Zone recently granted a free trade status by the Federal Government. The move was commended by the Secretary of Ekiti State chapter of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, Musa Tijani, who said the government was on the right course.

To boost job creation, Oyebanji said his administration will focus on agriculture, tourism, digital economy, entertainment and sports development. On agriculture, he said his government will support farmers with fertilisers, seedlings and farm implements.

Currently, 500 Ekiti youths are undergoing training under the Ekiti Digital Economic Initiative. Also, through a strong collaboration with the private sector, there is a move to re-invest on the popular Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort Centre.

To stem brain drain, outstanding allowances for doctors and medical personnel are being settled. “We also distributed N70m to help the poor and N76m as business support grant,” the governor said.

Collaborating, the deputy governor explained that at a time, N28m was distributed to poor indigenes for medical treatment while the governor personally footed bills for some indigent persons. Through the governor’s wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, new tricycles were given to many women in Ado.

Oyebanji has also tried to fund the 16 pre-existing local governments and the area councils. The local governments enjoy autonomy. Today, local government chairmen are flagging off and commissioning projects.

To attract, retain and sustain investors in Ekiti, the governor promised to provide security, social facilities, and guarantee flexible tax policy.

Two challenges are before the governor now. The first is that he cannot delay the composition of a full state executive council again. Also, as the state prepares for local government polls, his party has to nominate competent and loyal party men and women who will fly its flag as chairmanship and counclorship candidates. The right people at the grassroots will drive his vision and succeed in bringing dividends of democracy to people in the local areas.