…As Fayose hails Oyebanji’s exemplary leadership
By Opeyemi Adelakun
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has announced plans to immortalise more distinguished Ekiti personalities, including legal icons Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), as well as the late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, through the naming of legacy projects across the state.
Oyebanji disclosed this on Monday during the inauguration of the Ayodele Fayose Lodge, a new building within the Government House complex in Ado Ekiti named after former governor Ayodele Fayose.
The governor said the recognition formed part of his administration’s policy of celebrating individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Ekiti State.
He added that former governor Segun Oni would be the next beneficiary before the honour is extended to other eminent Ekiti sons and daughters.
According to Oyebanji, the late Gen. Abacha also deserves recognition for creating Ekiti State on October 1, 1996.
“After we are done with our former governors, we will name some legacy projects after illustrious sons of Ekiti and those to be honoured include Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun and the late General Sani Abacha who created Ekiti State,” he said.
“Before the end of our second tenure, we will find a befitting legacy project that will be named after General Sani Abacha because, for us in Ekiti, this state wouldn’t have been without him creating it.”
The governor explained that naming the new lodge after Fayose was in recognition of his contributions to the state, noting that the former governor had, during his administration, honoured several prominent Ekiti personalities without naming any project after himself.
“What we are doing today is to appreciate you for your service to our state, to let you know that we appreciate you and that we will continue to build on the blocks of courage and development which you laid,” Oyebanji said.
He expressed gratitude that the honour was being bestowed on Fayose during his lifetime rather than posthumously.
Oyebanji also thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Fayose as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), describing the appointment as another demonstration of the President’s support for Ekiti State.
The governor maintained that no previous administration had supported Ekiti as much as the Tinubu administration, citing increased federal allocations, infrastructure projects and appointments of Ekiti indigenes into key federal positions.
Following his recent re-election, Oyebanji urged residents to reward the President by delivering more than the 319,224 votes he secured during the governorship election when Nigerians vote in the 2027 presidential poll.
Speaking after commissioning the lodge, Fayose commended Oyebanji for fostering unity across political divides and according respect to all former governors irrespective of party affiliation.
The former governor said he had no regrets supporting President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the governor’s inclusive leadership style has restored peace and strengthened political harmony in the state.
Fayose also urged the governor to sustain programmes that directly benefit ordinary citizens and improve welfare packages for former governors.
He pledged to leverage his position as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency to expand electricity access to rural communities in Ekiti and across Nigeria while reaffirming his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe; former PDP governorship candidate, Chief Bisi Kolawole; and the Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rt. Rev. Olusola Ajayi, commended Oyebanji’s leadership and described the honour accorded Fayose as well deserved.
Leave a Reply