Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has said he would not get distracted by underhand political schemings ahead of the 2026 governorship race in the state, describing the idea of a second term as the least of his worries for now.
The Governor also said work on the 1.2 kilometres flyover to be constructed between Okeyinmi and Ijigbo roundabouts in Ado Ekiti would commence early in the year to help decongest the business district and give the state capital Ekiti a facelift.
Oyebanji stated these on Saturday at the grand finale of the 2024 Week of Prayer organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in conjunction with the Ekiti State Government, held at Jibowu Hall, Government House, in Ado Ekiti.
At the intercessional programme, prayers were offered for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the success of his economic policies and programmes as well as for the security and progress of the country. The Biodun Oyebanji administration was also rededicated to God for guidance and leadership.
Addressing the congregation at the event, which was a follow-up to the maiden edition held on January 14, 2023, the governor said news had been filtering in that some politicians had started holding nocturnal meetings ahead of the 2026 governorship election, saying he won’t allow this to derail his focus in the interest of Ekiti citizens.
“They said some people have started holding meetings, I am not bothered by this. For now, 2026 is the least of my worries. What I am really bothered about is leading Ekiti to prosperity, and allowing God to guide us.
“I have made a covenant that there won’t be tolerance for corruption, dishonesty, and disobedience to orders, so I won’t allow second-term ambition to distract me. Human beings can play politics, but God is the master politician. He knows how to take care of everything”.
In his testimony, Oyebanji relayed to the congregation that prayer and faith in God have made governance an easy task for him, not brilliance, exposure, or any other factor.
“When I became the Governor, which I never believed in my wildest imagination, I was asked to state what I wanted to go and do. I said God told me to go and feed my people. That was why, in the first year, I dedicated to the welfare of my people. We were paying salary, pension, and gratuity.
“As we were doing all these, some people said what is going to be my legacy, they advised that I should go and do infrastruture. But I insisted that if I fed the people first, infrastructure would come. Because I was obeying God, money for infrastructure was being provided.
“Let me tell you that work will commence in the coming weeks on the flyover we planned to construct in Ado Ekiti to ease traffic in the business district around Ejigbo. This is just one of many other projects that will be undertaken.
“In the last one year, God has done in Ekiti what only Him can do. People are asking where he is getting the money.
“Some said I didn’t have the right connections. But, God, in His infinite mercy, has sent me on a mission and when God says I should move, I do that and we have been able to meet the expectations of the people.
“God just thrust me forward knowing that I wasn’t the most brilliant , the most connected and I didn’t have anything called political structures .The only thing I will continue to do is to exalt God in this position. There wasn’t any time I got worried that I am the Governor because I know He sent me on this mission”.
In his short Bible exhortation, the CAN Chairman in Ekiti, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, charged Nigerians to always embrace justice and fair play and run away from attitudes that can corrupt the system for the nation to enjoy peace, unity and prosperity.
Delivering the second sermon at the event, the National Leader of Intercessor for Nigeria, Pastor Stephen Olumuyiwa, urged the governor to work hard and redirect the state to the path of righteousness, honesty, integrity, unity, peace and prosperity in 2024 for Ekiti to savour more infrastructural facelift.
“Under Oyebanji, there should be no tolerance for corruption, dishonesty, disorder and injustice. There shouldn’t be disobedience to order. This country has good laws, but the problem is implementation. We don’t implement laws, even in the house of God. But this shouldn’t happen in Ekiti because the Governor has entered into a covenant to lead with the fear of God”.
Present at the event were Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Akomolafe, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Chairman, Council of Ekiti State Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro, royal fathers, priests, and civil servants, among others.
