Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake and Senate majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, have said Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji ensured a more inclusive political arrangement in the state than his predecessors.
They spoke at the launch of third expanded national MSMEs clinics and commissioning of some four projects in Ado- Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Alake who commended the governor for forging a convergence of interest for the progress of the state said, “We are also very lucky that we have somebody who is level headed, who is piloting the affairs of Ekiti today. And I say this with empirical verification. My profession is journalism and we don’t say things without personal conviction. I am saying this from ocular proof, what I have observed in the last several years.
“We’ve had governors in Ekiti that came and introduced dichotomy into the budding politics of Ekiti State. We’ve had governors that came and alienated critical stakeholders in the administration of the state, thereby stultifying the progressive emancipation of Ekiti State. We’ve had governors here, in the recent past, that demarcated and stifled the participation of those brains that we have in Ekiti scattered all over the world, through extreme, myopic perception, narrow-mindedness and parochialism.
“But today, we are lucky that BAO came and forged a convergence of interests, and it is only through this convergence that you can have peace, and it is from peace that progress develops. So, from every available angle you look at it, Ekiti is lucky to have a man of peace, a man of progress,” the minister said.
On his part, the Senate majority leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who represents Ekiti Central described the governor as a bridge builder who has provided a role for everybody in the state.
“For the very first time, I am in the Senate being sure that I can concentrate on the job of which I was elected, being sure that I have a governor who has my back and who is watching my back and that is why I am able to concentrate on my job in Abuja.
“That is also why I am able to do all I can see with the vice president and Mr president to see what kind of project I can attract to Ekiti because I have a governor with whom I am in partnership and it is a partnership that is working for Ekiti. The governor once followed me, spending a whole day to inspect all constituency projects that I am executing in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
Governor Oyebanji had earlier in his speech said that the era of politics is gone and that they are presently in the era of governance.
According to him, “We are one in this state. It is only in unity that we can attract the much needed development to Ekiti state. So we cannot afford to be fighting with each other. Some of you that have concerns with my relationships, especially within our party APC, with some of our leaders, you can now see the beauty and joy of being united. I cannot carry this load alone.
“I need the best brains, even the people from opposition. I need those that are non-political, as long as they love Ekiti State, I need them to help me so that I can help you people. So please, don’t read meanings to my relationships with people.
“I know that the best way to develop the people is to bring everybody together. Are we not happy seeing Senator Bamidele, Dr Alake and the PS State House together accompanying the VP to the state. We gain nothing by fighting each other, development can only happen in a peaceful atmosphere,” he said.