By Lekan Adejuwon
Against the backdrop of attacks by some online media against the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a group under the aegis of Ekiti Progressives Coalition has issued a statement applauding Governor Biodun Oyebanji for condemning the act.
In a statement jointly signed by Engr. Bimbo Ajayi, the President and the Secretary Chief Sola Ajisegiri, said:
“We the entire members of a socio-political group, Ekiti Progressives Coalition, commend the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for condemning recent attacks on his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, by some individuals on various online platforms. We are extremely delighted and deeply elated that the recent acts of name-calling, blackmail, falsehood peddling, scapegoating and unprovoked tirades targeted against the former Governor was roundly condemned by the incumbent Governor during the celebration of 200 days of his administration in Ido Ekiti on Friday.
“Governor Oyebanji has proved to be an uncommon Omoluabi by condemning an ignoble venture by some fifth columnists and their sponsors who were believed to be carrying out the ignoble acts because of their morbid fear that the ex-Governor is in a pole position to be nominated as the Minister to represent the state in the next cabinet to be formed by the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“We commend Governor Oyebanji for not only dissociating himself from the attacks on his predecessor on the various social media platforms but also denouncing comparisons between his administration and the immediate past administration led by Dr Fayemi that were being mischievously done by mischief makers.
“These comparisons were intended to spark a cold war and possibly an intractable personality crisis between the predecessor (Dr Fayemi) and the successor (Mr Oyebanji) for the selfish gains of the promoters of the intended clash which the man of honour (Oyebanji) has nipped in the bud by publicly disowning the promoters.
“Governor Oyebanji, by his now famous Ido Ekiti declaration has shown himself to be a thoroughbred Ekiti son and has lived up to the tag of “omo ti a bi ninu ogba ti ko lee si isu yo.” He, by his action, has acknowledged the contribution of Dr Fayemi to the experience he has gained in governance which played some part in taking him to the exalted seat he occupied today.
“It is our firm belief that history will be kind to Governor Oyebanji for not allowing his predecessor to be rubbished for political expediency and for demonstrating maturity in governance and for working towards ensuring that nothing is done to truncate the peace and tranquility being enjoyed in the state.
“Mr Governor has done well by saying it loud and clear that his administration and that of former Governor Fayemi are one. He has cleared the air by saying that his administration was an offshoot of that of Dr Fayemi thereby reiterating the fact that the immediate past government deserves to share in the plaudits being heaped on the current administration by all and sundry from far and near.
“Ekiti State needs a peaceful atmosphere for the good works done by the Fayemi Administration which the Oyebanji Administration is building on to continue. Ekiti is on the right track of sustainable development with the 30-year Development Plan launched and started by the Fayemi Administration which the Oyebanji Administration is implementing conscientiously.
“To the credit of Governor Oyebanji, he has not abandoned any of the projects inherited from former Governor Fayemi in line with the Ekiti Transition Law which mandates a succeeding administration to continue with the projects left behind by an exiting administration. The Oyebanji Administration has continued work on the Ekiti Traditional Rulers’ Chambers, Ado Ekiti City Centre Bus Terminal both of which will be commissioned very soon and Ekiti Agro Cargo International Airport which had just attracted an Air Force Base and Ekiti Knowledge Zone which has just been granted the status of Free Trade Zone by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“All these and many others are the gains of continuity in governance that was achieved for the first time under the same party in Ekiti State in which God graciously allowed former Governor Fayemi to hand over to incumbent Governor Oyebanji to continue all the laudable policies, programmes and projects both of them participated in formulating and implementing.
“Ekiti State is greater than everyone of us and nobody should be made objects of hate speeches, abuses and tantrums because of quest for any public position by some gladiators and their supporters. We believe that what will be, will be, no matter the intensity of opposition and pull-him-down syndrome.
“The President-elect knows the qualifications, pedigree, exposure, experience and the contents of curriculum vitae of the individuals he wants to appoint to ministerial positions. Asiwaju Tinubu should be left alone to make his choice without let and hindrance because after he might have been sworn into office as President, the buck stops on his table.
“We enjoin the good people of Ekiti State to keep on praying for Governor Oyebanji to succeed on the task on his hand to take the State to a higher pedestal of development and for the State to take its pride of place in the comity of states in Nigeria”.
