A former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has praised Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for his impactful leadership and dedication to the state’s development, stressing that the state has witnessed unprecedented progress under his leadership.
Dr Mimiko, who gave the commendation in Ado Ekiti during a courtesy visit to the Governor’s office in Ado- Ekiti, said Governor Oyebanji has successfully combined competence and character to drive meaningful development in the state.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the visit, Dr Mimiko, who applauded the giant strides made by Governor Oyebanji in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and youth empowerment, noted that his rare blend of qualities has enabled him to implement impactful policies, foster unity among stakeholders, and prioritize the welfare of the people.
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with Oyebanji even before the creation of Ekiti State, Dr Mimiko expressed satisfaction with the pace of progress in Ekiti, noting that Oyebanji had shown preparedness for governance, having undergone the required tutelage and imbibed essential political values.
“Well, let me start by saying that what I have seen in terms of outcomes, I am not disappointed. I feel good about it and like I said Biodun Oyebanji is prepared for the job, he went through required tutelage because apart from the technical competence, there is also the character. This is a man who is good in the head and is good in his heart and that has translated to the transformation we can see in the state.
“The Governor has also deployed his personality cachet which is why every past Governor in the state irrespective of political persuasion have endorsed him for second term which speaks a lot about what he has been able to achieve and also his relationship with people, I am very proud of him”, the former Governor asserted.
In his response, Governor Oyebanji, who expressed gratitude to the former Ondo Governor for the visit, described Mimiko as his political mentor and the leader who discovered his political talents, said the visit was long anticipated.
Governor Oyebanji, while explaining how Mimiko introduced him to politics and instilled in him values of honesty, competence, and integrity, attributed much of his leadership style, including his simplicity and focus on people-centred governance to the mentorship re received from Dr Mimiko.
Speaking about the former Governor, Governor Oyebanji said “Governor Mimiko is a mentor to me and I used to tell people that if Ekiti State was not created, I would have been a critical part of his government. I worked with him closely and I studied him. He was my first political contact and he instilled some values in me. Values of honesty, values of competence, of been satisfied with little, and values of living for the people were picked from him” the Governor stated.
