Emmanuel Onwusoro, Ado-Ekiti
“The worst thing that can happen to a leader is to look back and find that there is no one following”. — President John Kennedy (1917-1963)
The stakeholders’ special engagement in Omuo-Ekiti,in Ekiti East local government area of Ekiti State, by the governor,Biodun Oyebanji, was a forum to showcase his stewardship for the last three hundred days in office. The attendance was a reflection of a good following,an assemblage of those who have faith in the developmental drive of their leader as espoused by the late American president,John Kennedy.
The governor said the gathering was informed by the age-long description of “democracy as the government of the people,by the people and for the people”.
By the same token,some experts posit that government is a social contract between the people who submit their interests to the leadership who in turn manages those interests for the good of the people.
He reminded the people that during electioneering, he asked for their votes and promised to be constantly in touch with them with a view to getting their feedback if given the mandate. The governor said it was the votes of the electorate that made the government to be in power. In other words, it was time to pay back. According to him,” you voted for APC,you did not vote for BAO, so if I want APC to succeed,I must be a good ambassador of APC”.
This, he stressed will be hinged on the mantra of “Continuity And Shared Prosperity” of the state because it is believed that the government of his fore-runner, Dr Kayode Fayemi had done so well, and it is better for him to continue as a believer in shared prosperity. Shared prosperity, he reiterated, is a reflection of the good virtues of Ekiti people who are as well seen as educated people anywhere you go to in Nigeria. “They will tell you that Ekiti is the intellectual capital of the country”.
The Ekiti helmsman maintained that Shared Prosperity is also important because if a people have these kind of characteristics they should not be poor. He believed that prosperity can be dispensed and shared among everybody in the state because not everybody is equally educated, not equally talented, does not have equal opportunities to facilities. Hence,the governor remarked”, there are some steps as a people,as a government we have to take to ensure the wellbeing of the people. The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step and by God’s grace we shall get to our destination”.
Giving his scorecard for three hundred days in office, governor Oyebanji said it was anchored on the six-point agenda of his government aimed at driving the prosperity agenda. He explained that his achievements cut across diverse areas such as human capital development,education,agriculture employment,security,workers welfare,infrastructure among others.
“Between April and July 2023, we have one hundred projects that are standing across the state”.
He underscored the vital role of infrastructure, emphasizing that lack of it discourages investors to Ekiti. The governor promised to electrify Ekiti communities for businesses to thrive. While moribund industries will be revived for the economic development of the state. With energy being fundamental for the economic growth of any society,the number one citizen of the state explained that the state’s Independent Power Project,IPP, will soon be completed. Adding that these are some of the ways the shared prosperity dreams can be realized.
Oyebanji also appealed to the people of the state to support the Tinubu-led administration because he means well for the county,despite what is going on.
At the end of the programme,the governor solicited reactions from the stakeholders, giving credence to the believe that elected leaders should meet the people in their constituencies and collate their feelings and aspirations about government programmes and policies.
The event was attended by government functionaries, market women, artisans, the traditional institution,labour leaders and other segments of the society.
A similar programme had taken place in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital and Ido-Ekiti,in Ido/Osi local government area.
