Why we are honouring Fayose, others with legacy projects in Ekiti — Oyebanji

Ekiti Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has offered explanations on why his administration decided to immortalise former governors of the State by naming newly constructed legacy projects after them.

Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of the ultramodern Kayode Fayemi Lodge at the Government House Complex, Ado-Ekiti, which was named after his immediate predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor Oyebanji said none of the former governors who had served before him named any project after themselves while in office, hence the decision of his administration to honour them with some legacy projects.

The commissioning was witnessed by the former Governor, Dr Fayemi, who unveiled the plaque and cut the tape of the new edifice, accompanied by his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

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Oyebanji explained that the Kayode Fayemi Lodge was the first of the newly constructed legacy projects to be named after the former Governors as a mark of honour and recognition for their selfless service to the State, adding that the one named after former Governor Ayodele Fayose would be commissioned on Monday while another one to be named after former Governor Segun Oni is due for commissioning at a later date.

The Ekiti State Governor used the opportunity of the ceremony to provide an insight into the economic agenda of his second term, stressing that the infrastructure and facilities being put in place would help attract big-time investors to the State.

“Today we are saying that our own prophet is valued by his people, what we are doing today is just to say thank you for your service to Ekiti, for your service to Nigeria, and for your service to the world,” he said.

Recalling his time as Secretary to the State Government during the second term of Dr Fayemi’s administration, Governor Oyebanji disclosed that the former governor rejected a proposal to name a government edifice after himself and instead named it after the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Fayemi, according to Oyebanji, insisted then that it was the duty of future administrations to determine whether he was deserving of the honour of naming a monument after him or not.

He explained that the new project aligns with Ekiti’s 30-Year Development Plan, stating that the second term agenda of his administration will prioritize crowding the state with investors and supporting small businesses.

Governor Oyebanji also reaffirmed his commitment to creating an enabling environment and ecosystem that will drive investment, support productivity, and ensure that Ekiti plays host to big businesses.

According to him, ” This is not a mere building, it is part of the infrastructure to drive shared prosperity, the second term of this administration will be devoted to supporting businesses, to ensure that we create an atmosphere that drives productivity, because it is only when an economy is productive that wealth can be created.”

Highlighting ongoing investments, Governor Oyebanji listed roads, the airport, electricity, and water as building blocks of industrialization, adding that investors consistently ask questions about safe and decent accommodation for long stays in the State.

He lamented that on many occasions the state has had guests who had to arrive in Ekiti State and go back the same day because of a lack of decent accommodation.

Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for federal support that has enabled projects across the state, stressing that the resources the President has made available are part of why his government was able to do all those things that made Ekiti residents vote for him.

Calling for reciprocity, the governor urged Ekiti people to mobilize massively for the President in the next election and set a new target of 600,000 votes for him.

” I believe we are going to get 600,000 this time, because those who contested against the ruling party in the last election have now declared support for the President, describing the coming election as “one state, one party, one candidate,” he stated.

Oyebanji, who described Fayemi as a boss, leader, benefactor, teacher and a man of honour, said the inauguration of the Kayode Fayemi Lodge was a gesture to say “thank you” for the selfless service rendered by the former governor across the two terms he served and to prove that he (Fayemi) is a “prophet that is valued at home.”

Responding, Governor Fayemi, who described the lodge as “a magnificent edifice,” thanked his successor for his thoughtfulness in not only conceiving the project and seeing it to a logical conclusion, but also extending the same gesture to other former governors who had served the state meritoriously.

Fayemi recalled that the new government house constructed during his first administration was named after the former military governor of the old Western State, the late Major General Adeyinka Adebayo; while the Ministry of Finance Complex was named after the renowned Economist, Prof Sam Aluko.

He added that newly constructed public schools were also named after distinguished Ekiti patriots like Chief Deji Fasuan, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Prof Banji Akintoye, Prof David Oke, Rt Hon Funminiyi Afuye and a British cleric and educationist, Rev. Harding during his second tenure.

The former governor said the honour done to Ekiti past heroes should inspire the younger Ekiti sons and daughters whom he described as “the successor generation” to sacrifice for the State for their names to enter into immortality and for them to be remembered for the impact and legacies they would leave behind.

The former governor added that Ekiti has succeeded in transitioning from one administration to another and now has the advantage of zero abandonment of projects, and continuous project completion under a “brand new Governor” that is committed to the conscientious implementation of the state’s 30-year development plan.

In their goodwill messages, the Catholic Bishop, Ekiti Diocese, Rev felix Ajakaiye, and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, and the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, thanked former Governor Fayemi for his selfless service to the State and praised Governor Oyebanji for deeming it fit to honour his predecessors in office.