Kayode Babatuyi
All thanks to God that men do not have the powers to determine the fate of other men, If wishes could make things happen, I would have stopped, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji from becoming the Governor of Ekiti State, infact, if I have my ways, I will stop him NOW.
On the 5th of September, 2024, I had the opportunity to join General Managers of media houses in Ekiti State and cabinet members of the Governor Oyebanji’s administration on a tour of some government’s projects which was led by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun.
What I saw in the first day of the tour brought about my curiosity to want to wish that Oyebanji was a president or become a president one day. Perhaps, maybe I should just say that states across the country should borrow his pattern of governance because it is working.
I make bold to say without mincing words that Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is a MODEL of what governance should be. If some of his strategies in Ekiti State are applied at the Federal level and in other states, Nigeria will rank among the best in the world.
During that tour, I saw two major features of good governance which has been missing over the years in Ekiti and even Nigeria at large and these are QUALITY and SINCERITY.
These two major features are the reasons roads like Ado-Ikere, Iyin- Aramoko, Ado – Afao, Ikere- Ise and other roads in Ekiti State have been constructed several times and yet still remain an eye sour except for those that are undergoing repair by this government.
These same features were also responsible for the huge investment in projects that are today serving no purpose instead lying fallow and begging for attention.
But, I saw a new Ekiti where abandoned projects are resuscitated without unnecessary noise, I saw a new Ekiti where communities are getting desired needs and not white elephant projects that is rather a burden than blessing, I saw projects that would serve the test of time, I saw projects that would save government from future cost of maintenance, I saw self sustaining projects in education, health and Agriculture.
One major project that caught my attention most were the special schools which were renovated, equipped with modern facilities including therapeutic machines through donations made from the 56th birthday of the Governor, what an Irony?
In some of the communities visited, people of different age groups spoke to me about how they were overwhelmed by the various intervention programmes of this government. At a community called Ilukuno, a woman who was overwhelmed disclosed that she left her food and came out to show her joy about the ongoing road projects in the community with a promise that when the road is being officially commissioned, she would pound yam and make special soup to commemorate a new dawn in her community. You can imagine that.
If Oyebanji matches on like this and if those two major features of Quality and Sincerity are sustained, Ekiti will become a model for new Nigeria in no distant time.
It is not as if there are absolutely nothing more to be done, there are much more but with time, I believe we will have less to yearn for. As much as my wishes couldn’t change anything now, I take solace in the fact that I am part of new Ekiti and will continue to hope for a better Nigeria one day some day with Governor Oyebanji or who ever God disposes.
Please note that this write-up is absolutely my personal opinion as an Ekiti person and has nothing to do with any of my offices.