FAYEMI’S SYMBOLIC COMMENDATION FOR OYEBANJI AND UNENDING BLESSINGS OF CONTINUITY IN EKITI
The BAO Impact Series No. 21
BY ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA
Saturday, 18th of October, 2025 was a day that a great message was sent not only to the people of Ekiti State but to Nigerians and others in the global community that Mr Biodun Oyebanji is a Governor in whom his immediate predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, is well pleased.
It was a day the Itapa-Ijelu-Omu Road was officially commissioned for public use by Dr Fayemi at the request of Governor Oyebanji and his administration as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Oyebanji Administration.
The road was one of the projects started by the Fayemi Administration which the ex-Governor could not complete before he left office in October 2022 after ending his second term. Oyebanji inherited the road project alongside others and he went ahead to complete them.
The road serves the communities along that axis in terms of transportation, commerce, agriculture, tourism, social engagements and interconnectivity among other benefits. The story of the Itapa-Ijelu-Omu Road and its completion is another benefit of continuity that the people of Ekiti State have reaped from electing Governor Oyebanji in 2022.
It was a glorious day for Governor Oyebanji who received glowing encomium in the presence of the residents of the three communities along that axis which falls under Oye State Assembly Constituency 2, Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1 of the House of Representatives and Ekiti North Senatorial District.
Apparently impressed by the decision of the incumbent governor to continue with the project, commit the state resources to it, supervise it and ensure that it is completed and commissioned, Dr Fayemi could not hide his joy and excitement on how the project turned out after his departure from the Ayoba Villa.
While making his speech, the former Governor counted not less than eight road projects across the state started by his administration which his predecessor has completed and also reserved a special commendation for him for the new Ado Ekiti Ring Road project on which he drove during his latest visit to the state.
It was not only the former Governor that was excited, the people of the three towns who are now seamlessly connected and can now commute without any stress are equally excited and they prayed profusely for Oyebanji for coming to their rescue.
They prayed for the Governor for not looking the other way and leave the road project abandoned but for choosing to continue with it and see it to a logical conclusion. Their excitement were shared by the local traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and political leaders.
Led by the Owajumu of Omu, Oba Joseph Adeoye and the retired Bishop, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Akure, the Right Reverend Michael Ipinmoye, they appreciated the Governor for according a priority to the project by also showering the state’s number one citizen with the gifts which the Governor graciously accepted.
Although the Governor appreciated the gifts, it was the prayer of the communities that he appreciated the most because that was what he needs to keep him steady and focused on rendering immense service and sacrifices to the people to take Ekiti to a higher orbit of development among the comity of states in Nigeria.
Back to former Governor’s encomium on Governor Oyebanji for the work done on the road and for the honour of extending an invitation to him to commission the project, it speaks to the fact that Ekiti is lucky to have two eminent sons who know the value of the people and contributing to the peace being enjoyed in the state by their mutual respect for each other and cordial relationship they enjoy.
Their relationship bears testimony to the fact that Fayemi is not a meddlesome and a demanding predecessor who constantly breathes down the neck of his successor while Oyebanji is not a petulant and insolent successor who shows disrespect to his predecessor and never believes in the legacies he left behind.
The mutual respect the two men have for each other has not allowed Ekiti to be plunged into an intractable and protracted successor-predecessor imbroglio and battles that Nigerians had witnessed in many states of the federation since the return to democracy in 1999.
Oyebanji had at several public fora praised Fayemi for the support he has been rendering to his administration behind the scene which has opened the doors of opportunities to Ekiti because of the desire of the former Governor to see his successor succeed in office better than him.
This is genuine statesmanship on display from Fayemi. Oyebanji has also demonstrated a commendable sense of humility and statesmanship in exhibiting diligence on his gubernatorial duties of making Ekiti better and also according his predecessors huge respect which in turn has earned him their support and endorsement.
At the road commissioning ceremony, Fayemi and Oyebanji have shown the stuff Omoluabis are made of by upholding and promoting Ekiti development in the interest of the people of the state.
Fayemi was right to have described Oyebanji as his “greatest achievement.” Seeing his successor taking the strides of development of the state to an Olympian height is a great fulfillment for a leader that has done his own bit and now witnessing the state’s transformation on a more stellar scale under his predecessor.
Ekiti is the biggest winner; Ekiti is the greatest beneficiary of the continuity from the Fayemi Administration to the Oyebanji Administration and the state will benefit more if Oyebanji remains in office till 2030.
Fayemi has left a record as the first Governor to achieve a back-to-back handover of power to a successor from his own party but Oyebanji is primed for an unprecedented record of becoming the first Governor to be elected for an unbroken, uninterrupted eight years that will benefit Ekiti immensely
Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print Media)