.. Opposition shuns debate
By Editor
Stakeholders drawn from various sectors of Ekiti socio-economic and polical spectrum last week, converged in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital to critically analyse the journey of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji- led administration ahead of the 2026 governorship election even as the government will be three year’s old next October.
The brain storming session was put together by Ekiti frontline non- governmental and advocacy group, Ekiti Future Agenda (EFA) at a special roundtable focusing on the appraisal and genuine evaluation of Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration in the period under discussion.
The event with the theme: ‘Approaching 2026: How far, How well, So far?’ focuses on Governor BAO’s 6-points agenda, drew participants from labour union, artisan, private sector, media, teachers, market women, students body, political class, amongst others.
However, members of the opposition party in the state were conspicuously absent.
In his opening address, convener of Ekiti Future Agenda, Mr. Adesina Adetola hinted that the motive behind the roundtable discussion was to beam the searchlight on the 6 pillars of Governor Oyebanji’s administration which include; Governance, Agriculture, Youth Development and Job Creation, Human Capital Development, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Arts, Culture and Tourism.
He noted that the administration’s performance in the key sectors of the six pillars would be assessed with relative sincerity that is devoid of partisanship.
According to him; “The event is expected to have a good number of polical stakeholders, union leaders, youths, students, professionals, artisans, market women, pressmen, members of the opposition parties among others and to be moderated by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Hon Taiwo Olatubosun while the Director General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OSTD) Engr. John Ekundayo will be the lead discussant.
Adetola noted that opinions expressed by all participants may not necessarily be the opinions of the organization while the major thrust of the engagement was the objective evaluation of the performance of the state Governor.
Leading the discussant team is Engr John Ekundayo, a core technocrat and DG Office of Transformation and Service Delivery OSTD who captured the sectoral performance index of Governor Oyebanji’s administration’s six pillars in a novel assessment digital mode called Ekiti Dash Board.
Using a slide to illustrate the ingenious innovation, the DG held most participants spellbound as he tracked all of the governor’s achievements in his six pillars of administration in the order of performance indicating empirical verification through the dashboard as a proof of Governor Oyebanji’s penchant for transparency in government.
He used the occasion to highlight the Governor’s remarkable achievements in infrastructure, education, agriculture, human capital development, workers’ welfare especially as the first state to implement the N70,000 minimum wage in Nigeria.
His words; “Since assuming office, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has championed inclusive participatory governance emphasizing transparency, infrastructural renewal and economic diversification”
The moderator of the program Akogun Tai. Oguntayo TA on Political Communications who represented the State Commissioner for Information then threw the floor open for reactions from representatives of different groups and Associations present at the roundtable.
Responding, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC in Ekiti State, Mr. Owoola Daramola said the Governor has performed above average citing improvement in road infrastructure, security, agriculture, prompt payment of salaries and gratuities amongst others. He however advised that the Governor needs to work harder and double his efforts in meeting the yearnings of the people
Speaking in similar vein, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress TUC in Ekiti Comrade Sola Adigun praised the Governor as a listening keader who has chosen the path of workers’friendly by paying backlog of salaries, gratuities and promotion saying that there’s no sector in the state that the Governor has not touched in the past.
Representing the media, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi in his assessment described the Governor as one big fish in the ocean as he reeled out a number of his modest achievements since he came on board. He however, drew the attention of Mr Governor to the demand for a befitting Press Center for members of the union.
Other speakers at the event included representative of the teachers, Mr Folorunso Ayeni who reiterated Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to education reform, Chairman, Artisans Union, Mr Ebenezer Fadipe who eulogized the Governor for his inclusive governance as he appointed two members of his union as Special Advisers in his governent.
Similarly, other contributors representing their various sectors include; farmers union, Nigerian Youth Congress, Market Women, private sectors. They all gave a vote of confidence to the administration of the Governor Oyebanji in the area of good governance praying for his second coming
