By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed satisfaction that the state has excelled in many aspects of human development indices.
Specifically, the governor pointed out that the state has become a front-liner in education, life expectancy, access to quality healthcare services, physical infrastructure development, access to water, peace, ease of doing business, gender equality, and social inclusion, among others.
Governor Oyebanji, who counted many blessings that have resulted from the creation of the state 27 years ago as an important factor in Nigeria, noted that the state is building a formidable profile of a progressive and development-oriented state that is poised for inclusive prosperity for all.
Oyebanji, who also expressed his commitment to the dreams of the founding fathers to utilise the abundant mineral resources for its economic development, disclosed that his administration is already collaborating with appropriate federal government agencies that will invest in the exploration of the state God-given mineral resources to create wealth, increase the internally generated revenue and realise the shared prosperity agenda of the state.
The governor in a broadcast to the people of the state to mark the creation of the state on October 1, 1996, and the 63rd Independence anniversary of Nigeria, noted that there are abundant reasons to justify the creation of Ekiti State.
Oyebanji, as a young university lecturer then, served as the secretary of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, a body that included prominent traditional rulers, statesmen, captains of industry, and top bureaucrats among others, that fought for the creation of the state before the dream was realised.
He expressed delight that 27 years after, the state has moved on progressively.
The governor congratulated all Ekiti people on the 27th anniversary of the state’s creation and also thanked those whose toil and sweats brought about its realisation, saying: “As we are thankful to God for how long we have gone as a people, we also need to reflect on the unity of the past that gave us the state and the need to do even more to achieve more.”
The governor, however, used the auspicious occasion of the double celebration to appeal to the Organised Labour to sheathe its sword and exhaust the avenue of dialogue to resolve issues around the planned indefinite strike slated to commence today in protest against the removal of subsidy by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which it said has caused hardship in the country.
Oyebanji said: “On our part, we have undertaken some interventions to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal on our people. Apart from the direct food distribution and cash transfer to the most vulnerable, the government has also made buses available to staff and students, especially in the state capital, to ameliorate the cost of transportation. We, therefore, appeal to our local governments to replicate this in their respective areas.
“Beyond this, however, the federal government has promised that there will be a wage review across the board soonest. The good news is that even for those not earning salaries directly from government, with more money available for workers as more disposable income and more money for government to undertake critical infrastructure development, more jobs will be available and the circular flow of money will ensure that the current monetary challenges will give way to the envisaged shared prosperity.
“I, therefore, want to appeal to the organised labour movement to exercise absolute patience and dialogue in resolving the current economic challenges. We cannot afford to compound the already tense situation by shutting down this extremely fragile economy. It will be like cutting one’s nose to spite one’s own face. Whatever may be gained thereafter will be nothing but a temporary victory which would have done incalculable damage to the economy and which may be difficult to reverse in the immediate.”
He paid tributes to all former helmsmen of the state, including late Col. Inua Bawa, Navy Capt. Atanda Yusuff, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Oni, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chief Ayodele Fayose, late Brig.-Gen. Tunji Olurin, Rt. Hon Tope Ademiluyi, and Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi for the various roles they played in the development of the state.
