Ekiti State’s Gov. Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji aka BAO marks his second year anniversary in office today! He is unlikely to roll out the drums and waste millions of Naira of Ekiti’s hard-earned money that the state can ill afford. Others will do but this governor is not cut out for that. Publicly shy and silent achiever, he is humility personified. If you are searching for the archetype Yoruba Omoluabi, BAO is one. He has been caught on camera prostrating full length for Ekiti Obas and elders like Aare Afe Babalola, legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Although Ekiti is not one of the country’s richest states in terms of allocation from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue, reports from the state indicate that BAO has managed the state’s meagre resources with the fear of God. Ekiti needs the even keel with which BAO has steered its ship. The location of this state of “The Land of Honour” at the northernmost tip of the South-west has meant security challenges from rampaging Fulani herdsmen, which reached its apogee during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. Successive Ekiti governors have battled this scourge with varying degrees of success.
Only last January 29, 2024, two Ekiti Obas were accosted and gunned down in broad daylight. I was a member of the AFENIFERE delegation that went to commiserate with the governor. I asked and he told me that the state and, indeed, the entire South-west governors, were making arrangements to use Forest Rangers (what our people used to call “So’gbo-So’gbo” or forest guards) to checkmate the marauders. I can still recall that my father wanted me to enlist as a forest guard when I left secondary school in 1974 because, according to him, they make money there! Corruption did not just begin today!
Ekiti’s tourism potential is another sector that interests me. During the tenure of Gov. Fayemi, my family enjoyed the holiday of a life-time at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts. My wife and children still ask: when are we going back there! BAO’s administration has given pride of place to showcasing Ekiti’s tourism potentials and I think the good initiative should continue. It will pay off over time if he faints not.
Ekiti was noted for education. Every household is said to boast at least a professor! The story is told of how SL Akintola, foremost orator and one-time premier of the Western Region, squared up to another orator but of an opposing party, K. O. Mbadiwe (corrupted in Yoruba as M – BA – D’IWE: If I turn into a book); Akintola dared K. O. to turn into a thousand books and see whether Ekiti will waste any time in reading him! TI O BA D’IWE, EKITI O KA O! It is of the same Ekiti that Akintola boasted had all manner of professors: Professor Igun, Professor Aluko, Professor Akala, Professor Atioro! BAO’s investment in education, to return the state to its place of glory is, therefore, not misplaced.
But this is just half-way through the first term; BAO needs all the support and encouragement to continue the good work. It is not yet “Uhuru” as the finishing line is still far ahead. A lot of work remains to be done. Tell BAO there is no resting on his oars until he leaves Ekiti far better than he met it!
* Former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, BOLAWOLE was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of The WESTERNER newsmagazine. He writes the ON THE LORD’S DAY column in the Sunday TRIBUNE and TREASURES column in NEW TELEGRAPH newspaper on Wednesdays. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.