A HONEST REVIEW, CRITICAL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF GOVERNOR BIODUN ABAYOMI OYEBANJI 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

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A HONEST REVIEW, CRITICAL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF GOVERNOR BIODUN ABAYOMI OYEBANJI 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji was sworn in as the 7th Executive Governor of Ekiti State on 16th October, 2022 by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, having emerged on the strength of the popular votes of Ekiti people at the gubernatorial election that took place on 18th June, 2022.

A critical assessment and honest opinion of the good people of Ekiti State confirmed that Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has started well and if he continues in this direction, BAO may end up being the best Governor in the history of the State.

Though, 100 days may not be ideal to holistically evaluate an administration, but it is enough to make known where a regime is heading to. The first step he took in the first week revealed to a very large extent, what may be the eventual results.

On assumption of office, His Excellency, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji hit the ground running as he held series of meetings with relevant stakeholders within and outside the State. He received in his office the elected representatives of the Ekiti people at the National Assembly on the need to re-appraise operational strategies and facilitate monumental development of the State through collaborative efforts and this has been yielding impressive results.

The Governor in the course of his agility to fast-track developmental projects in the State has visited some notable Federal Government parastatals and agencies to seek for collaboration and support. He did not only have deliberations with the Senate President and his counterpart at the Green Chamber but also visited the Minister of Works and Housing to renegotiate the abandoned Akure – Ado-Ekiti dual carriage road. The road has been a source of migraine to the affected communities and motorists over the years. In addition to the ongoing efforts to complete the abandoned recreation facility at water works in Ajilosun area, the Ado-Ekiti township road which had been in a state of disrepair had been gradually rehabilitated in phases.

I want to commend MHR Fatoba Olusola and our Distinguished Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele representing the Central Senatorial District for their timely intervention in rescuing the good initiative to bring back to live the uncompleted projects in the State. We have started getting the feedback from Ministries and Departments such as Humanitarian, SMEADAN among others, as part of productive efforts of our performing Governor.
Further to the above, Mr. Governor in his wisdom paid homage to some notable stakeholders in the State such as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, Chief Deji Fasuan, Aare Bamofin Afe Babalola, and other relevant people who played one vital role or the other in the creation of Ekiti State.
A struggle he was actively involved as the Secretary to the Committee on State creation.

The visitation was not limited to His Excellency, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State and his successor in office, Mr. Ayodele Fayose but was extended to the great icons such as Chief Wole Olanipekun, Adesina, Femi Falana before embarking on thank you tour across Ekiti State to express profound appreciation to all the Obas and the various constituents that freely elected him to the office. In fact, it was observed that for someone to be elected as Governor and give this type of appreciation back to his people was unprecedented in the State. This has further proven the real Omoluabi BAO is made of.

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, a very humble and intelligent graduate of Ekiti State University, a homegrown and home-based son of a retired teacher claimed that his parents trained and brought him up with cooperative loans and promised during his campaign that he will be paying salaries/cooperative deductions as and when due. It is a thing of joy to note that since assumption of office, His Excellency has not only been paying salary to time, but cooperative deductions are being remitted on monthly basis in line with Mr. Governor’s promise.

Ekiti State workers who have been denied their leave bonuses for the past fifteen years will start getting their entitlements. Recently, the Governor met with the pensioners in Ekiti State and set up a Committee to fashion out a process to defray their backlog of gratuities. This left Ekiti people with confusing agitating minds about previous administrations on why they played games with the welfare of workers in the State.

It was also heartwarming for government workers in the State that His Excellency Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji paid one month outstanding salary out of the backlog of unpaid salaries inherited by former Governor Kayode Fayemi from his predecessor, Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Let it also be on record that he was the first Governor to pay December salary before Christmas celebration.
It should be further noted that in spite of paucity of funds in the State, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji was able to embark on urbanization and beautification of the State capital with sincere road network rehabilitation in Ado-Ekiti and lighting up of dark places at night, while plans are underway to deliver more people oriented-projects in other Local Government Areas of the State by the middle of year 2023.

The Governor who is a product of Ekiti State University, has combined both the experience gained directly from Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a core gentle man with decency of the isan/Americana lifestyle of Dr. Kayode Fayemi with the street interaction of Mr. Ayodele Fayose to become a complete and perfect expectations of Ekiti electorates, no wonder he plays ‘ayo olopon’ with the people, visit areas that need urgent attention of government. Even when he delegates, he still do the needful. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is a natural leader with good mind to elevate Ekiti State and Ekiti people out of poverty, a request which I personally made is becoming a reality today.

I am not unaware that some government agencies are making frantic efforts to empower cooperative societies on agricultural revolution. I am equally aware that a lot of employment opportunities will be made opened, with particular reference to the approval of Mr. Governor for the recruitment of teachers to fill some of the existing vacancies in public primary schools in the State. This is to further strengthen teaching and learning activities in the basic education sector of Ekiti State.

Upon a review of the robust pedigree of the administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in the first hundred (100) days in office, it is wonderful enough to commend BAO and there is a staunch belief that hope of Ekiti people would not be disappointed.