President Bola Tinubu on Friday hailed Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his second-term inauguration, describing his re-election as a reward for the electorate’s assessment of his outstanding performance during his first term.
Tinubu, who noted that a second term places a greater responsibility on the governor to fulfil his promises, charged Oyebanji to consolidate his first-term achievements, which Ekiti residents rewarded with their votes during the June 20 election.
The President, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, during the inauguration of Oyebanji for a second term in office.
Tinubu stated that Oyebanji’s second-term inauguration represented a triumph of democratic accountability.
“Today marks the beginning of another long season of service in which every decision made and every naira spent will be judged by its impact on the people.
“While a first mandate might be inspired by promises, a second was earned through the judgement of those who had experienced the leader’s administration,” he said.
The President congratulated Oyebanji and his deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, urging them to sustain the spirit of inclusivity that contributed to their victory and demonstrate a greater willingness to place the interests of Ekiti State above political disagreements.
“Your mandate is honoured through an uncommon virtue: the capacity to listen without surrendering the courage to decide.
“You have renewed our privilege to serve. We owe you the discipline of a party that remembers who gave it power,” he said.
Tinubu added that the APC’s success across the federation must not be taken for granted, thanking the people of Ekiti State for giving the party another opportunity to continue its work.
He noted that the support received by the APC and his administration nationwide was rooted in an understanding of the necessary reforms undertaken to secure Nigeria’s economic survival.
Oyebanji and his deputy took their oaths of office for their second term, which were administered by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye.
In his address, Oyebanji pledged to prioritise job creation, agriculture, electricity, education, healthcare, infrastructure, industrialisation, and youth development over the next four years.
The governor expressed gratitude to the people of Ekiti for their support during his first term and their renewed mandate, while also calling on residents to support the re-election of President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima in the 2027 presidential election.
Oyebanji maintained that the continuation of the All Progressives Congress administration at the federal level was crucial to Ekiti’s development.
He stated that the success of his second tenure would be measured by the extent to which public investments translated into improved living standards, reduced economic hardship, and greater opportunities for the people.
“In Ekiti, the measure of our second term will be how much investment we have made to improve the lives of our people.
“In the new term, the projects that our administration will consolidate include road construction and rehabilitation, the expansion of electricity assets, improvements in healthcare facilities, and investments in education,” Oyebanji said.
The governor added that the next four years would focus on ensuring that public investments produce practical benefits for residents, particularly in agriculture, commerce, education, and healthcare.
“Our administration’s development agenda is intended to produce more productive farms, stronger businesses, useful skills, decent jobs, and greater security for families,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described Oyebanji’s return for a second term as a historic milestone in Ekiti State’s 30-year history.
Bamidele, who served as the Chairman of the Ekiti State APC Campaign Council Committee for the 2026 governorship election, noted that the governor’s re-election was significant because no governor had previously secured two consecutive terms since the state’s creation.
He said the development reflected Oyebanji’s ability to connect with the people, navigate the state’s complex political realities, and collaborate across diverse interests without seeking personal recognition.
Dignitaries at the inauguration included Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Among the royal fathers present were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adekunle.