…Hails President Tinubu’s unflinching support

By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed satisfaction with the giant strides made by the state since it was established as a political entity exactly 28 years ago.

The Governor noted that the creation of the state on 1st October 1996 accelerated the development of Ekiti, culminating in it becoming a trailblazer in every aspect of human development under his leadership as the Chief Executive over the past two years.

Addressing the people of the state in a broadcast to mark the 28th anniversary of Ekiti State’s creation and the 64th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, Governor Oyebanji also hailed President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for Ekiti’s development since assuming office on May 29, 2023.

Governor Oyebanji said Ekiti is “grateful for President Tinubu’s numerous interventions and the approval of critical federal infrastructure in the state, as well as his support, particularly in tackling the security challenges we faced earlier this year.”

He noted that the presidential interventions have provided Ekiti with the right atmosphere for growth as a state.

He took the opportunity during the broadcast to eulogise the former Military Administrators and former elected Governors who preceded him for their contributions to the growth and development of the state, upon which his administration is currently building.

The Governor paid tribute to the Founding Fathers, especially the Royal Fathers, who championed the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State through the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, chaired by Chief Deji Fasuan.

He also expressed gratitude to Aare Afe Babalola for his contribution to the realisation of the Ekiti Project.

While paying tribute to traditional rulers and other Ekiti patriots for their roles in the struggle for the creation of the state, Governor Oyebanji also lauded the Ekiti State National Assembly Caucus, led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Ekiti State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, and other political officeholders for their contributions to governance.

Citing empirical evidence of the social and economic growth being witnessed in the Land of Honour, Governor Oyebanji stated that Ekiti is building a strong profile across all development indices, as attested by recent figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), achieved through the robust implementation of his administration’s six-pillar development agenda.

He said: “There is no doubt that the creation of Ekiti State has accelerated the development of Ekitiland. Today, we are more than happy to affirm that Ekiti is now a trailblazer in every aspect of the human development index, with those who started before us now struggling to catch up with us in critical development indices.

“For instance, in the recent data on education by the National Bureau of Statistics, Ekiti was adjudged the second most literate state after Lagos in the South West, and one of the most literate in Nigeria. Similarly, the same Bureau also reported that Ekiti has the least out-of-school children in the South West.

“We are very proud to say Ekiti is a front-runner in education, life expectancy, access to quality healthcare services, physical infrastructure development, access to water, peaceful coexistence, ease of doing business, gender equality, social inclusion, among others. Gradually and assuredly, Ekiti is building a formidable profile as a progressive and development-oriented state poised for prosperity for all.”

While acknowledging some of the challenges being faced in governing the state, including macroeconomic, security, infrastructural challenges, and low industrial presence, the Governor said the six-pillar agenda of his administration was carefully crafted and is already yielding results across all sectors.

He added: “To respond to these challenges, we devised the Six Pillars of Administration with the primary objective of ensuring shared prosperity for all. It is gratifying to note that our efforts are already bearing fruit across all sectors. We are not only meeting targets but surpassing them in many instances.

“We believe in inclusive growth and sustainable development without leaving anyone behind. As can be seen from our efforts so far, our Government is very focused and strategic in our development drive. We want to ensure every policy and programme of government is connected to the chains of the Ekiti Development Master Plan and the Six Pillars of Administration to deliver the shared prosperity promise.

“We are also deliberate in our plan that every government expenditure must lead to job creation, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. In the last two years since we came on board, we are glad to report that we have made significant strides in various aspects of governance in line with our social contract with the people of Ekiti.

“Law and order are the primary responsibilities of any government. Accordingly, we have made security of life and property our topmost priority. Like many other parts of the country, we have had to contend with occasional opportunistic attacks by ‘hit-and-run’ kidnappers, and I am glad to report that we have been able to bring them to justice while continuing to do our best to prevent future occurrences.

“Similarly, we have been able to end the frightful incidence of street hoodlums who troubled the city of Ado-Ekiti in recent months. We have arrested them, and they are currently facing trial. I, therefore, want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to protect you, while also appealing to you to assist the government by providing helpful information that can aid security agencies in preventing and combating crime in our dear state.”

The Governor assured the people of the state of his commitment to the social contract he has with them, stressing that their welfare and well-being remain the primary focus of his administration, and expressing gratitude for the trust they have placed in his leadership.