By Charles Abere
The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has appealed to the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria at large to cooperate with Nigerian President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Governor Oyebanji made this appeal while rendering account of his stewardship at a Special Stakeholders Engagement held at Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area of the State to mark his 300 days in office.
Oyebanji who said the President means well for Nigerians urged all to be patient with him believing that there’s going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Presenting the achievements so far recorded since he came on board as the Executive Governor of the State, BAO said it’s done in fulfilment of part of the promises he made to Ekiti People during his electioneering campaign that, he would be giving feedback to them and take responses from them at the same time.
Describing himself as the employee of the entire people of the State, he noted that he was able to be where he is today because they all voted him to be there.
Giving the success being recorded in every sector of the State, Oyebanji disclosed that the bus terminal in Ado-Ekiti which was commenced by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been completed by the present administration and that it’s now ready for commissioning.
The Governor explained that the team in charge has been pressuring him to commission it but said that he told them that he would like to see the utilisation plan for the structure.
“I am not going to commission a project that would not be put to use for the next seven months. So they are engaging the drivers union. I thank the leadership of the union, they are cooperating with the government. Once we have the utilisation programme, we will commission it and we will start to use it and it will reduce the traffic in the popular Ojo Oba area of Ado-Ekiti”.
Roads construction and rehabilitation, the Governor said rehabilitation work is going on in Agric Olope, Moferere area of Ado-Ekiti. Adding that Igbara-Odo/Ikogosi road has been awarded and that work is going on there.
“Ado/Iworoko road, work is going on there. Rehabilitation of Ilawe/Erijinyan road is almost completed. Reconstruction of Ikere/Ilawe road is going on. We are also working in some areas in Ado-Ekiti, but we have to stop now because of the rain. Ado/Ilawe road is being rehabilitated. Ilawe/Igede road is being rehabilitated as well. The Governor explained.
“I want you to know that as we reconstruct new roads in Ekiti State, we also have to repair the old ones. The two have to go hand in hand. We are doing a lot of road rehabilitation. I have sent contractors to go and examine Ikere, Ise/Emure road because the road is getting spoilt already and we wouldn’t wait until it collapses. We are also in the process of working on Ikere/Igbara-Odo road.
Stressing further, “On Agric and Rural Development, you will realise that we have worked back the ministry of rural and community development to ensure that as government concentrates on big task of infrastructural renewal, our communities are not left out of this. The ministry is to ensure that they work hand in hand with our Royal Fathers, Community Development Associations to identify projects that community will do.
“I am also aware that in the Ministry of Agric, they have provided subsidy on seed for rice, maize, cassava, cocoa and cashew farmers. What that means is that if a particular seed costs ten naira, that farmer will pay just five naira.
“We have also provided counterpart funds for most of our projects in the ministry of agric and very soon, you will see that in action. I have mandated the Commissioner for Agric to set up a structure in each local government to take this gospel to the farmers because the ministry is doing a lot and if they are doing all these without people knowing it, there’s no way they can benefit from it.
However, the Governor also recounted achievements recorded in education, governance and other sectors as he promised more developmental programmes for all the people in Ekiti.
The engagement which had Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries and other government functionaries in attendance as well as the traditional rulers of various towns and communities in the State was well attended by the citizenry.
