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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has constructed legacy projects in the state. The newly constructed projects were named after former governors of the state in appreciation of their selfless service to the state and country.
Governor Oyebanji said none of the former governors who served before him named any project after themselves while in office, hence the decision of his administration to honour them with some legacy projects.
The Governor made the remarks on Friday during the inauguration of the ultramodern Kayode Fayemi Lodge at the Government House Complex, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where he disclosed that the new projects would help drive the economic agenda of his second term and also serve as residential facilities for investors.
He explained that the new project aligns with Ekiti’s 30-Year Development Plan, stating that the second-term agenda of his administration will prioritise attracting investors to the state and supporting small businesses.
Governor Oyebanji also reaffirmed his commitment to creating an enabling environment and ecosystem that will drive investment, support productivity and ensure that Ekiti hosts major businesses.
“This is not a mere building, it is part of the infrastructure to drive shared prosperity, the second term of this administration will be devoted to supporting businesses, to ensure that we create an atmosphere that drives productivity, because it is only when an economy is productive that wealth can be created.”
The commissioning was witnessed by former Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, who unveiled the plaque and cut the tape of the new edifice, accompanied by his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; the Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, HRM Oba Adu Adejimi Alagbado; and the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Sola Elesin.
Oyebanji explained that the Kayode Fayemi Lodge was the first of the newly constructed legacy projects to be named after former governors as a mark of honour and recognition for their selfless service to the state. He added that the project named after former Governor Ayodele Fayose would be commissioned on Monday, while another named after former Governor Segun Oni is due for commissioning at a later date.
“Today, we are saying that our own prophet is valued by his people. What we are doing today is just to say thank you for your service to Ekiti State, for your service to Nigeria, and for your service to the world.”
The Governor, who listed roads, the airport, electricity and water as building blocks of industrialisation, noted that investors consistently asked questions about safe and decent accommodation for long stays in the state. He lamented that, on many occasions, the state had hosted guests who had to arrive in Ekiti and return the same day because of a lack of decent accommodation.
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Recalling his time as Secretary to the State Government during the second term of Dr Fayemi’s administration, Governor Oyebanji disclosed that the former governor rejected a proposal to name a government edifice after himself and instead named it after the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Fayemi, according to Oyebanji, insisted at the time that it was the duty of future administrations to determine whether he was deserving of the honour of having a monument named after him.
Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for federal support that has enabled projects across the state, stressing that the resources made available by the President were part of the reason his government was able to undertake projects that earned him the support of Ekiti residents.
The governor urged Ekiti people to mobilise massively for the President in the next election and set a new target of 600,000 votes for him as a way of reciprocating the President’s support.
” I believe we are going to get 600,000 votes this time, because those who contested against the ruling party in the last election have now declared support for the President, describing the coming election as “one state, one party, one candidate,” he stated.
Oyebanji, who described Dr Fayemi as a boss, leader, benefactor, teacher and a man of honour, said the inauguration of the Kayode Fayemi Lodge was a gesture to say “thank you” for the selfless service rendered by the former governor during the two terms he served and to prove that he (Fayemi) is a “prophet that is valued at home.”
Apparently elated by the honour, former Governor Fayemi, who described the lodge as “a magnificent edifice”, thanked his successor for his thoughtfulness in not only conceiving the project and seeing it through to completion but also extending the same gesture to other former governors who had served the state meritoriously.
Fayemi recalled that the new Government House constructed during his first administration was named after the former military governor of the old Western State, the late Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, while the Ministry of Finance Complex was named after the renowned economist, Prof. Sam Aluko. He added that newly constructed public schools were also named after distinguished Ekiti patriots such as Chief Deji Fasuan, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof. David Oke, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye and the British cleric and educationist, Rev. Harding, during his second tenure.
Speaking further, Dr Fayemi said the honour done to Ekiti’s past heroes should inspire younger Ekiti sons and daughters, whom he described as “the successor generation”, to sacrifice for the state so that their names would enter immortality and they would be remembered for the impact and legacies they leave behind.
The former governor added that Ekiti has successfully transitioned from one administration to another and now enjoys the advantage of zero project abandonment and continuous project completion under a “brand new Governor” committed to the conscientious implementation of the state’s 30-year development plan.
In their goodwill messages, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaiye; the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado; and the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, thanked former Governor Fayemi for his selfless service to the state and praised Governor Oyebanji for deeming it fit to honour his predecessors in office.
Other dignitaries at the colourful event included the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaiye; the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, HRM Oba Gabriel Adejuwon; the Onipole of Ipole-Ekiti, HRM Oba Babatola Oladele; the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rev. Olusola Ajayi; the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere; the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ekiti State Chapter, Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye; former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari; members of the State Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, chairmen of local governments, market women leaders, among others.
