Adebayo Adenrele
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has been named Governor of the year 2023 by a Pan-Yoruba media online, Irohinoodua.
This was contained in a statement signed on behalf of the editorial board of the media outlet by Adewunmi Akinola and Omolade Adegbuyi.
The editorial board said the governor was selected based on important political, cultural and economic considerations.
Irohinoodua described his achievements within one year as indications that Oyebanji is a great leader to watch in Nigeria’s search for global standards in the country’s political and economic renaissance.
Irohinoodua said Oyebanji in just one year, facilitated the installation of 3.5MW Independent Power Plant, connecting Ayekire/Gonyin to the National Grid after 10 years of neglect, reconstructed and launched massive road projects which included but not limited to the building of 43.4km farm roads in six Local Government areas of the state, backed by the recently launched 77kms roads to advance the Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), the notorious Ado-Ilawe Road, asphalt overlay of Ado township roads in the midst of on-going agrarian revolution.
The Editorial Board noted that the Governor deserves full commendation for providing 50 percent subsidy for cocoa, cashew, coffee, rice, maize, cassava production apart from the huge funding provided for Livestock Productivity and resilience Support, (LPRES) with huge harvest outcomes beginning from the year 2024.
They wrote, “These radical steps are bound to transform agriculture in the entire South West and place Ekiti on the map of sustainable food production. He has brought back the prospect of Ekiti State reclaiming her lost glory as one of the most successful producers of Cocoa and Coffee in Nigeria.
“We are impressed by his partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pro-CASHEW Programme which has led to the establishment of the first government owned scion garden and polyclonal cashew demonstration farm in Nigeria.”
It cited the Governor’s recruitment of sign language experts into public schools and public institutions as a show of deep concern to meet United Nations standards on People With Disabilities, (PWD) while his commitment to promote feedback mechanism by setting up Emergency Command Centre is remarkable.
Irohinoodua said Oyebanji has shown commitment to productivity by setting targets for all his aides and by imposing sanctions on those found wanting, an indication of his commitment to fight corruption and instil discipline with the framework of good governance in the state.
“He has ensured 90% CONHESS and 100% hazard allowance for health workers in all the local government areas while 50,000 indigenes in five local government are now covered under the Ulera Wa Health Insurance Intervention. With 17 Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) established to meet discovery and response to health emergencies in 17 Local Government Areas with the plan to extend the scheme across all the local governments, Ekiti State is in the process of building a primary health culture that ensures health workers visit homes of locals to provide medicare services within the shortest period.
“He has espoused the Yoruba concept of Omoluabi in the finest manner. Humanity and humility are essential ingredients absent in leadership in Nigeria. Oyebanji has combined both traits in the most astonishing manner. He has adopted the Philosophy of Collective Leadership through constructive engagement with the different layers and social strata in Ekiti State bringing the concept of servant-leader to the door steps of the people of the State.
“This remains a huge source of inspiration to people who aspire to public office anywhere in Nigeria’, the group said. He is known for meeting people on the streets and in their homes sharing their experiences, fears and aspirations thereby closing the gap between people and their elected leaders with a people’s sense of ownership of governance enforced.
“He does this with neither photo opportunism nor attempt to harvest political capital. We find the Ekiti State Governor, His Excellency Abiodun Oyebanji as the greatest bridge builder in the year 2023. Politically, He sought and found conflict prevention and peace building necessary for sustainable development in his state.”
