IN a manner akin to passing a confidence vote in his sterling leadership qualities and political sagacity, three former Governors of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, Ayodele Fayose and Niyi Adebayo, on Saturday lauded the incumbent Governor of the state, Biodun Oyebanji for deploying the instrumentality of governance and politics to unite Ekiti citizens.
This came as Governor Oyebanji sought fruitful engagements on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement on the local government autonomy, in a fashion that would not contravene the judicial pronouncement, nor inflict suffering on the council workers and the masses at large.
The former governors spoke while commissioning different projects as part of activities marking the second anniversary of the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) administration in different parts of the state on Saturday.
The projects include the newly constructed Local Government Service Commission (LGSC’) office complex, the remodeled Otunba Niyi Adebayo Presidential Lodge and the Dehead/Faglo road and electrification project.
Showering accolades on Oyebanji while commissioning the LGSC office complex, ex-Governor Oni, who started the project in 2008, maintained that the governor was exhibiting extreme leadership acumen and magnanimity with manner he has united all leaders and political tendencies in the state.
Oni harped on the expediency of a sitting governor serving as a rallying point for all the citizens, regardless of political affiliations, describing this as sine qua non to development, unity and peace, adding that.
He said “With my invitation here today, Governor Oyebanji is showing magnanimity. This is a way of bringing people together. It shows our governor believes in unity.
“I understand other former governors; Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose, the Osoko and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the JKF, . all around to commission projects. All of us should be ready as citizens to do things together. This is a state that was created late and we need to move faster to be able to catch up with others who came earlier before us. We must have that spirit of togetherness.
Applauding Oyebanji for being steadfast in his developmental strides, former governor Ayodele Fayose, described the governor as a pride to all Ekiti citizens.
“I am very proud of you. You have done well. We will continue to be with you. You have gone far in terms of development. Let me wait for that person that will say you have not done well. I am not a member of your political party, and I will never be, but Ekiti comes first.
“Political party is just a vehicle to achieve our political goal. I am going to stand by you. In everything, Ekiti comes first. We are indeed proud of your achievements and the unique leadership style which has brought everybody together for the progress of Ekiti, our dear stst”, he said.
Commissioning the remodelled Presidential Lodge named after him, ex-Governor Niyi Adebayo, said Ekiti is lucky to have a hardworking person as a governor, who has been able to bring all Ekiti people together irrespective of political leanings.
“People shouldn’t try to create division among the leaders of this state who are ready to work together despite belonging to different parties and political persuasions. We are all together and we have the love of Ekiti at hearts. We made a lot of sacrifices for the good of the state. I am very proud of the governor and I am happy for being honoured today”, Adebayo stated, in an emotion-laden speech.
Speaking about the significance of unity to development, Oyebanji posited that the completion of the buildings were marks of honour to former Governors Oni and Adebayo, particularly for their generosity of spirit and accountability.
He said he was particularly happy to invite the former Governors to commission the projects while alive instead of having to name it after them after their passing.
“We should endeavour to celebrate our leaders while they are alive. i am particularly happy that all our former Governors are here to witness this.
“I am bringing all our governors to come and commission projects they started, which I completed, to send a signal that we must be together for Ekiti to move forward. You can imagine the development that we have been witnessing with them supporting me.
“Some of our politicians are using crisis to make money, it has become an economic means to some, so don’t cause crisis among these leaders. Let us use whatever we have to develop the society. With unity, there is nothing we can’t achieve”, he said.
Expressing his views on local government independence, Oyebanji, said his government recently gave a loan of N1.2 billion to local governments to pay gratuity of pensioners, which he said negated the tenets of autonomy, but clarified that this was demonstrated to buffer the sufferings of the retirees.
“That is why those who are pushing for local government autonomy should also look at some critical aspects. If we have strictly complied with the supreme court judgement, I wouldn’t have done that. But most of our people will suffer if we fail to do this. What we should be concerned about is: how do we implement this judgement without anyone suffering? But I haven’t seen such conversation.
“With local government autonomy, what happens to the local government service commission? What happens to the traditional rulers and those working in various palaces? What happens to local government workers that are not working in their local government of origin. All these are issues we must consider, Oyebanji advised.
“he however assured that his government woul put the interest of the council workers at heart in the implementation of the council authonoy so nobody suffers unnecessrily.
Present at the occasion are Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, former Deputy Governor Paul Alabi, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, a House of Representatives member, Hon. Sola Fatoba, former Ambassador to Netherlands, Dr Eniola Ajayi; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, Commissioners, labour leaders, Local Government staff, Special Advisers, politicians, among others.
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