Tinubu, Shettima, govs celebrate with Ekiti as Oyebanji begins second term

*Gov promises to expand economic opportunities for state, people

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday began his second four-year term in office with a promise to improve service delivery, expand economic opportunities and ensure that the benefits of governance reach more residents across the state.

Oyebanji, who was sworn in alongside his deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, by the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, said his administration would focus on translating its achievements in the first term into tangible improvements in the lives of the people.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Senator Jubril Barau ; Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of Steels Development, Dele Alake; House of Representatives member, James Faleke.

The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, led other APC governors to the event, including Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Usman Namadi (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).

The APC National Chairman, Professor Netawe Yilwatda and the secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru led other members of the National Working Committee to the event.

Former Governors Chief Segun Osoba (Ogun), Chief Bisi Akande (Osun), Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), and four Ekiti ex-governors, Kayode Fayemi, Niyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni, including an elder statesman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, also graced the event.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Emir of Borgu, Muhammed Sani Haliru Dantoro; the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti and chairman Ekiti Council of Obas, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe led other traditional rulers to the event.

The governor, who secured re-election with 85.7 per cent of the votes cast in the June 20 governorship election, said the renewed mandate came with greater responsibility and a determination to justify the confidence reposed in his leadership.

In his inaugural address titled “Making Progress Count for Every Home,” Oyebanji said the success of his second term would be measured not merely by the number of projects executed but by their impact on the daily lives of residents.

He said his administration would prioritise the needs of farmers seeking access to markets, young people looking for employment, pensioners deserving a dignified retirement, traders struggling to sustain their businesses and families hoping for better living conditions.

“Today, we begin another chapter. Our task is to turn the foundations we have laid into opportunities people can seize, livelihoods they can sustain and prosperity that families can feel,” he said.

Oyebanji acknowledged that, despite the progress recorded in his first term, some residents were yet to feel the benefits of government policies and programmes, promising to address outstanding needs and correct areas where his administration had fallen short.

He said the administration would sustain its six development pillars of governance; youth development and job creation; human capital development; agriculture and rural development; infrastructure and industrialisation; and arts, culture and tourism.

Reviewing his first-term performance, the governor said the state’s internally generated revenue had grown by more than 60 per cent, while his administration had kept salaries and pensions current and paid more than ₦19 billion in outstanding gratuities and ₦73 billion in pensions.

He listed road construction and rehabilitation, the development of the Ekiti State International Cargo Airport, expansion of electricity access and investments in infrastructure as some of the initiatives undertaken to strengthen the state’s economy and improve connectivity.

In the health sector, Oyebanji said his government had renovated and equipped primary healthcare facilities and general hospitals, improved facilities at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and recruited more health workers to improve service delivery.

He also cited the Ulerawa health insurance scheme, investments in newborn care and medicine storage, and additional hospital capacity as part of efforts to make healthcare more accessible to residents.

On agriculture, the governor said the administration had established farm clusters and created opportunities for young people to earn a living from agricultural production, adding that a livestock processing hub under development along Iworoko Road would create further opportunities in processing, cold storage and related businesses.

He pledged to strengthen the connection between education and employment by promoting practical skills, technology, innovation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, while the ongoing Ekiti Knowledge Zone project would help prepare young people for emerging economic opportunities.

Oyebanji also promised to expand opportunities for women entrepreneurs, traders, artisans, persons with disabilities and young people, stressing that development must extend beyond Ado-Ekiti to towns, villages and farming communities.

He said his administration would pursue reliable electricity for industries and businesses, work with the Federal Government to complete ongoing electricity transmission projects and continue investing in water, health and transport infrastructure.

The governor acknowledged the economic pressures facing households, particularly the rising costs of food, transportation and education, insisting that government policies and public expenditure must respond to the realities confronting ordinary residents.

“We must bring that understanding to every policy and every expenditure,” he said, adding that every naira entrusted to government must be treated as money earned through the sacrifices of the people.

Oyebanji pledged to remain accessible, listen to constructive criticism and work with people across political and social divides, while urging public servants to demonstrate promptness, courtesy and fairness in their dealings with residents.

He also called on the business community to invest in the state, educational institutions to strengthen their links with societal needs, and communities to protect public facilities.

The governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for Ekiti, particularly in advancing projects and meeting the state’s development needs, and pledged to sustain cooperation with the Federal Government.

He commended his political opponents in the June 20 election for their sportsmanship, saying political differences should not become obstacles to the state’s collective progress.

Second term brings greater responsibilities, Tinubu tells Oyebanji

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has charged Oyebanji to approach his second term with greater commitment, accountability and a renewed determination to meet the expectations of the electorate.

Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu at the inauguration, described the governor’s re-election as both a demonstration of public confidence in his leadership and a call to greater responsibility.

He said the renewal of Oyebanji’s mandate reflected the people’s assessment of his administration’s performance, adding that a second term imposed a deeper obligation on the governor to deliver measurable benefits to the electorate.

“The louder the applause, the greater the obligation it announces. 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,” the vice-president said.

According to him, the true value of public office lies in translating the trust of the electorate into tangible improvements in their lives.

READ ALSO: Ekiti APC promises improved governance as Oyebanji begins second term

“The first mandate may be inspired by promise, but the second is earned through the judgment of those who have experienced our leadership,” he added.

Shettima conveyed Tinubu’s congratulations to Oyebanji and the people of Ekiti, describing the governor’s renewed mandate as a triumph of democratic accountability and the product of the hard work through which political leaders earn public trust.

He also congratulated Afuye, commending her dedication and contributions to the administration, while acknowledging the roles of traditional rulers, religious leaders, public servants and other stakeholders in sustaining the peace required for development.

The vice-president urged the governor and members of the ruling party to embrace inclusiveness, discipline and humility, and to place equity above partisan interests in the next four years.

He stressed that Oyebanji and other elected officials must remain conscious of the people who entrusted them with power and ensure that governance delivers greater dividends of democracy.

In a related development, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described the re-election and inauguration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for a second term as a historic milestone in Ekiti State’s 30-year journey, saying it reflects the state’s political maturity, steady development and the benefits of collective efforts across successive administrations.

Bamidele, who spoke on Friday said although Ekiti had yet to attain the development aspirations of its founding fathers, the state had made significant progress since its creation in 1996.

He commended members of the political class, irrespective of their political differences, for contributing to the state’s development, particularly since the return to democratic governance in 1999.

The Senate Leader cited the development of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport as an example of how successive administrations had contributed to projects conceived, initiated and completed at different stages of governance.

He said the airport, which welcomed dignitaries attending the inauguration, demonstrated the value of continuity and cooperation among successive governments in advancing the state’s development.

Bamidele, however, described Oyebanji’s return for a second term as the most remarkable aspect of the occasion, noting that it was the first time in Ekiti’s 30-year history that a sitting governor had been re-elected to continue in office for another term.

According to him, the development was particularly significant to Ekiti because it marked a new chapter in the state’s political history.

He also praised Oyebanji for his humility, accessibility and ability to connect with ordinary residents despite the demands and privileges of high public office.

The senator said the governor had demonstrated the capacity to navigate the state’s complex political and social environment while working harmoniously with different interests without making personal recognition or political credit the overriding consideration.

Bamidele attributed the administration’s achievements and the governor’s re-election to his ability to foster cooperation and build consensus among stakeholders, stressing that the state could achieve greater progress when its leaders worked together for the common good.

“Today, we are celebrating history. In 30 years, Ekiti has developed. We are not yet where our founding fathers wanted us to be, but we know that we are making steady progress,” he said.

He urged the people to celebrate the milestone as a testament to the importance of continuity, cooperation and collective responsibility in the pursuit of Ekiti’s development.

The speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye congratulated the governor on earning the renewed trust and mandate of the Ekiti electorate, commending his efforts to secure another term and thanking the people for their confidence in his administration.

The Speaker also rejoiced with Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, on the successful completion of the first term and their inauguration for a second tenure, describing the development as an opportunity to build on the achievements recorded over the past four years.

“Your first term was exceptional. You led with humility, wisdom, inclusiveness, and a deep love for Ekiti. You united us, restored hope, and delivered on your promise of shared prosperity with visible results across the state.

“In four years, you have transformed the state in several areas, building on the foundations laid by your predecessors while adding your own giant strides through impressive performance and the delivery of democratic dividends to the people,” he said.

Aribasoye commended the governor for respecting the independence of the legislature since assuming office, noting that the administration’s disposition towards legislative independence and executive-legislature harmony had enabled both arms of government to work effectively and productively in the interest of the people.

He expressed confidence that the second term would witness greater strides and successes, citing the governor’s wealth of experience in public service, including his years as a government appointee before becoming governor.

“The second journey will no doubt be characterised by experience, familiarity with the terrain, continuity of initiatives, consolidation of gains and a safe landing at the destination,” the Speaker stated.

On his part, the Executive Director of the South West Development Commission, Chief Lateef Ajijola, congratulated Governor Oyebanji on his inauguration for a second term in office, urging residents to sustain their support for the administration’s development agenda.

Ajijola described Oyebanji’s return to office as a testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership and the people’s desire for continuity, stability and sustainable development in Ekiti State.

He commended the governor for his commitment to good governance, people-oriented policies and the pursuit of shared prosperity, expressing optimism that the second term would bring further progress across critical sectors of the state.

The South West Development Commission executive also called on residents, political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and other well-meaning citizens to rally behind the administration in its efforts to improve the welfare of the people.

According to him, collective responsibility, unity and constructive engagement remain essential to consolidating the achievements of the first term and delivering greater dividends of democracy.

Ajijola further expressed confidence that Oyebanji’s second tenure would provide fresh opportunities to deepen development, strengthen public confidence in governance and advance the socio-economic growth of Ekiti State.

The immediate past Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Taiwo Olatunbosun, expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji will record greater achievements in his second term, particularly in economic development and infrastructure.

Olatunbosun, who spoke on the sidelines of Oyebanji’s second-term inauguration in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, said the governor would consolidate the gains of his first tenure and deepen his administration’s developmental strides across the state.

He expressed optimism that the second term would bring improved service delivery, sustained economic growth and more infrastructural projects to enhance the living standards of residents.

The former commissioner urged the governor to sustain his commitment to good governance and people-oriented policies, expressing confidence that his administration would build on the achievements recorded in the last four years.

The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Professor Babatola Ayodele, also congratulated Governor Oyebanji on his second-term inauguration, expressing optimism that the renewed mandate will bring greater development and prosperity to the state.

Ayodele described the second term as an opportunity to consolidate the achievements of the first administration and implement more impactful programmes in education, infrastructure, healthcare, economic growth and human capital development.

He expressed hope for increased support for tertiary education and stronger collaboration between the state government and EKSU to advance teaching, research, innovation and community development.

The Vice-Chancellor also stressed the importance of peace, unity and inclusive governance in achieving sustainable development, urging residents and stakeholders to support initiatives that promote harmony and collective progress.

He wished Oyebanji a successful second term, praying for divine wisdom, strength and good health as the governor continues to steer the affairs of the state.