Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has commended President Bola Tinubu for taking what he described as bold and courageous decisions needed to reposition Nigeria’s economy, saying the country had long suffered from a lack of such leadership.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Television Continental (TVC) on Sunday, Oyebanji said the President’s reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the exchange rate, have provided more resources for state governments to fund development projects.
The governor noted that without these critical policy decisions, many states would have struggled to meet their basic financial obligations.
“Most governors would have been finding it difficult to meet basic needs of governance if not for President Tinubu’s bold moves. The additional revenue from these reforms has allowed us to focus on real development,” he said.
He likened the current economic hardships to the pains of childbirth, describing them as necessary for the country’s long-term progress.
“In the past, rather than address problems head-on, leaders would simply print more money to manage the situation. But now, we have a prepared president, who is intentional and courageous enough to take the hard decisions,” Oyebanji stated.
The governor predicted a resounding victory for Tinubu in the 2027 general election, expressing confidence that the President’s performance would win him greater support than in 2023.
“President Tinubu will be re-elected, and he will win fair and square, even better than in the last election,” Oyebanji asserted.
He urged Nigerians to endure the current difficulties, assuring them that the benefits of the reforms would start becoming evident before the end of 2025.
“Pain is a necessary condition for progress. We cannot build a great country by seeking quick fixes. We must embrace the hard but necessary changes needed for sustainable growth,” he added.
Oyebanji praised Tinubu’s economic reforms and tax policies, stating that they are already yielding positive results at the state level.
“In Ekiti State, for instance, our revenue allocation is among the lowest, yet we are managing a wage bill of about N8 billion monthly. Without the additional resources from the President’s policies, governance would have become almost impossible,” he said.
He concluded by saying that President Tinubu has the full backing of all governors across party lines, stressing that the reforms are aimed at securing the future of generations yet unborn.
