A notorious Boko Haram Commander identified as Bulama Bukar, has surrendered to troops of the 5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Gubio in Borno State.

Bukar operates a terrorist camp in Tapkin Chad at Gilima village of Borno State, Naija News understands and several weapons and other items were recovered from him.

The development was made known on Wednesday in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, made available on the X (formerly Twitter) page of the Army.

The surrendered Boko Haram Commander is already undergoing profiling sessions.

He said: “In the North East theatre of operations, a notorious Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) Commander, identified as Bulama Bukar has surrendered to troops of 5 Brigade in Gubio. The surrendered terrorist was the commander of the BHT Camp Tapkin Chad at Gilima village in Abadam LGA of Borno state.

“Items recovered from the surrendered terrorist include one AK 47 rifle, 5 magazines, 44 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one magazine carrier jacket, one knife, one motorcycle and the sum of twenty three thousand, five hundred naira (#23,500.00) only. The suspect is currently undergoing profiling sessions.”

In other developments, as revealed in the statement by Nwachukwu, troops of the Nigerian Army also killed three suspected insurgents in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State following an actionable intelligence received on Tuesday.

Several pieces of ammunition and cash were recovered during the multiple operations.

He explained that Nigerian Army troops of 2 Battalion received actionable intelligence which led them to lay ambush for the suspected insurgents where three suspects were killed while another operation by the same troops led to the interception of an ammunition courier.

He said, “In recent operations, troops of 2 Battalion acting on actionable intelligence on 17 October 2023 staged an ambush against marauding insurgents at Udowa general area in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. During the operations, troops neutralized three insurgents in a fierce firefight, while others escaped in disarray.

“Troops recovered from the fleeing insurgents, a bandolier containing 111 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one AK 47 magazine, 2 motorcycles, one set of high frequency communication radio and 2 mobile phones. Sadly one soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter.

“In another operation the same day, troops of 1 Brigade on a stop and search operation intercepted a suspected Ammunition courier in Birnin Magaji LGA of Zamfara State. A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was on a mission to deliver ammunition to a Bandit leader named Gishiri. The vigilant troops recovered a bag containing 224 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one mobile phone and the sum of four thousand naira (#4,000)only from the courier. The suspect is currently in custody undergoing further investigations.”

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, laid the first foundation block for the development of the Lagos Film City.

The project, which is sited on 100-hectares of land in Ejinrin town, Epe, is intended to enhance originality in content creation in Nollywood – Nigeria’s film industry.

Recall that the state government in October last year, announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Del-York Group for the construction of the project.

Sanwo-Olu said the project, which would be executed through PPP model, marked a significant milestone in his administration’s journey to creating a thriving film industry in Lagos that would have a global appeal.

The governor said: “Today, we embark on a journey that will redefine the landscape of the film industry in Lagos. As we break the ground for this $100million (N100 billion) project covering a land area of 100 hectares and which will be executed through PPP model, we are laying the foundation for a creative hub that will serve as a catalyst for innovation, talent discovery, and storytelling excellence. This is a testament to our commitment to nurturing the arts and supporting the dreams of aspiring filmmakers, actors, and technicians.

“It is our strong belief that the film industry has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It has the ability to inspire, entertain, and educate. Through the magic of cinema, we can showcase the rich cultural heritage of Lagos, while telling stories that reflect our shared experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities. This film city will serve as a canvas for these stories, providing a platform for our talented artists to shine on both local and global stages.”

Through the project, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos would tap into the global entertainment GDP and create job opportunities for young cinematographers, while stimulating economic growth and attracting more foreign investment into the sector.

“The Film City is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about the people who will walk through its doors and breathe life into its spaces. It is about the dreams that will be realised, stories that will be told, and impacts that will be made. Our creative community is the beating heart of this film city, and we are committed to providing them with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. This is an ecosystem that will nurture creativity, foster collaboration and empower artists to push their craft beyond the local boundaries,” he said.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, noted that upon completion the project would have positive impact on tourism in the state.

“By the time the Lagos Film City comes on board, the spiral-effect on Lagos profile as a tourist destination of choice would be appreciated beyond the entertainment sector,” the Commissioner said.

The founder of Del-York Group, Linus Idahosa, said allocation of private equity to investors in the project development underscored Sanwo-Olu’s understanding of key partnerships required to deliver the vision and enhance growth in the creative sector.

He said: “This idea of strategic collaboration between the Government and stakeholders is what it takes to push the country forward. The future of this country will be determined by the creative energy we are about to harness through the Film City project.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund has disclosed that over 60 percent of classrooms of public Junior Secondary School in Borno, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi have no teaching materials.

Chief of Education of UNICEF Nigeria, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan , disclosed this at a 2-day National Conference on the Learning Crisis in Nigeria on Wednesday.

Panday-Soobrayan also disclosed that the learning gaps persist in the country which is most severe in the Northern part of the country, adding that only 10 percent of 7 to 14 year olds in North West and 12 percent in the North East demonstrate foundational literacy.

“Nigeria’s learning crisis begins in Children’s earliest years as only half of Nigeria’s children are developmentally on track in early childhood. And only 60 per cent participate in organised pre-primary learning,” she said.

UNICEF’s Chief of Education, also lamented that the quality of teachers in the country is limited by poor pedagogical skills and lack of teaching and learning materials, disclosing that only 84 percent of Primary School teachers and 59 of JSS teachers are qualified.

She disclosed that the teacher workforce in the country suffers from severe shortfalls, adding that Nigeria has a shortfall of approximately 195,000 teachers at the primary level.

She also stated that under-investment in quality education in Nigeria has affected effective action, saying that domestic education financing is chronologically low.

Panday-Soobrayan noted that the aforementioned educational deprivation and learning poverty has stalled progress on achieving all other goals, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa has achieved just 41 percent of SDG 4 commitment.

She stated that a structured pedagogy will improve learning outcomes including scripted lesson plans, teacher support, training and monitoring.

“Structured pedagogy programmes have the largest and most consistent positive average effects on learning outcomes. Pedagogical interventions that tailor teaching to students’ skills are consistently recommended,” she stated

Also speaking, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, emphasized the need for targeted efforts to address the learning loss in the country, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

She noted that the pandemic worsened the existing education crisis in the region, with many children losing access to education due to the closure of schools.

“For Nigeria, convening a conference on the learning crisis is opportune as the government defines its priorities for the education sector in the new Ministerial Strategic Plan. Just as Nigeria has galvanized significant support around the out-of-school problem, so too must it give attention to the learning crisis that is fueling the out-of-school problem in Nigeria,” she said.

Also speaking during the event, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman, called for a state of emergency in the education sector specifically targeting the basic level.

The chairman who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Forum and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde however stated that there was need for immediate action to bridge the learning gaps observed at the elementary school level.

“You must provide the resources and look at all the issues that are working against achieving sustainable growth. It is one thing to declare a state of emergency and another thing to put all the resources and elements that will allow us achieve that. I support putting in place the resources, even if you don’t declare a state of emergency to allow us to move faster in that sector,” he said.

David Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has slammed President Bola Tinubu.

He carpeted President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly transitioning the ruling party from its national party status at inception to the present Islamic party.

He accused the party of being insensitive and taking Nigerians for granted in unlawful ways and manners the nomenclature of the party was thwarted to suit their purpose.

In a fresh statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Babachir Lawal challenged the ruling party to be courageous enough to change the name of the party from the All Progressives Congress to Islamic Party of Nigeria.

He apparently reacted to a scathing remark made against him by APC, following his Tuesday’s statement that Peter Obi and not Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.

APC through one Felix Morka had challenged and castigated Babachir Lawal on his audacity to make the statement.

But the ex-SGF said that he stood by his position and asked APC to address the issues he raised rather than castigating him.

The statement read in part, “I woke up this morning to a very pathetic social media trending write-up, apparently a response to my article on the current political discourse by one Felix, allegedly of the APC.

“I suspect he was assigned this role because it is in the nature of sycophants and people consigned to second-class status to be assigned roles that their masters are wary of taking on.

“Usually, the dirty, unsavoury jobs are contracted out to such. In the bible, a certain Felix (after which this Felix was probably named) was a freed slave who had a reputation of cruelty as the ruler of Judea in order to please his master, the emperor Claudius (of whose mother Felix was a slave).

“I really do sympathise with a Christian who finds himself in an Islamic party and is desperate to please his masters and probably to be noticed when the next round of political appointments come.

“When we founded APC way back in 2013/2014, we envisaged it will be a national party that would carry along all the different socio-political and religious tendencies of the nation.

“In those days, we were careful not to sideline any of the religions or tribes of the country in the composition of the membership and leadership of the party.

‘We wanted a party that will embrace all Nigerians. It was this that informed the principle that both the National Chairman and Secretary will not be of the same religion, tribe or region.

“Sadly, APC has now transitioned into an Islamic Party of Nigeria. All the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the North and some from the South are Muslims.

“They campaigned on an Islamization platform and are striving hard to run the government as such, but for the resistance of the other religions.

“All that is now left for the party is a change of name, but even this may not take long since it already has Kadmul Islam as its national chairman and a Muslim as its national secretary.

“The Deputy National Chairman North, who acts in the absence of the Chairman, National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and three National Vice Chairmen and more, are Muslims. Good for them.

“And talking of electoral value, both the National Chairman and the National Secretary just dramatically lost in the February 25 election.

“Mallam Felix didn’t do well in his own constituency either. It is based on these considerations that I pity a Christian who finds himself in the position of a spokesperson of an Islamic party.

“Mark my words, all critical decisions will be taken behind his back during the afternoon prayer sessions, which he will be unable to attend.

“As to the substance of the response itself, I find it deliberately obtuse, skating around the real issues raised in my press statement.

“It was empty of substance and logic; a true product of a sycophantic mind that has no capacity to understand the subtle nuances underlying a message delivered to an discerning audience.

“Mallam Felix, your masters got the message loud and clear because some of them have reached out to me for dialogue on the issues raised.

“But in line with your lower status in the scheme of things, you are not aware that all the issues I raised were designed in a manner to deliver a message to a discomfited government that is populated by longstanding friends of mine who appear to have abandoned common sense and patriotism for unbridled personal goals and filthy lucre.

“And they got the message, which you cannot. In this discourse, you are a remote outsider, so shut up.

“We want a Nigeria that works for all. We want a Nigeria that even sycophants can relate to and in which everyone is free to pursue their ambitions in peace in pursuit of prosperity and the good life.

“We want a Nigeria that guarantees freedom of speech for its citizens, just as you and I are doing right now.

“If Bola Tinubu claims he fought Abacha on the side of democracy and free speech, it is unbecoming and unacceptable that the NBC should threaten journalists under his watch.

“It is indefensible to keep the EFCC Chairman and the CBN governor under arrest for extended periods of time without or before trial, just as it is also unacceptable that political parties are used to intimidate and harass citizens exercising their opinions in the public domain.

“I am sure even you and the APC can relate to this. I am also sure that, but for their blind hatred of other Nigerians, not of their tribes or religions, even the Islamists that you serve and desperately seek to please can relate to this.

“I am sure that no Nigerian is enjoying the national shame and embarrassment we are going through as a result of these unending revelations as to who or what our “president” actually is; or that most Nigerians cannot be sure of at least one meal a day anymore; or that we can no longer attend wedding ceremonies in Imo or Zamfara States due to insecurity.

“Know what you may, say what you may; I hold firmly to my assertion that Peter Obi had the majority votes in the February 25 presidential election.

“That was why both INEC and APC had to go rogue in the election; and they know this fact even if they will not admit it. After all the thief knows who stole the item.”

In what will come across as a really startling development, several goods reportedly worth over N1 billion have been destroyed in a fire outbreak at the Ebonyi State International Market on Wednesday.

The fire affected one of the largest warehouses in the market.

DAILY POST reports that the cause of the fire incident, which started around 2:00 am, is yet to be ascertained.

Also, the fire is yet to be put out as of the time of filing this report.

Speaking to newsmen, the brother of the owner of the affected warehouse, Mr Chidi Okechukwu, blamed the incident on poor security management in the market.

He said, “If I’m to say, the security personnel in the market knows when this fire started. We have no adequate security in this market.”

Okechukwu explained that the owner of the warehouse is the highest distributor of indomie nodules, tomato and other beverages.

“The owner of the warehouse is one of my brothers. This fire incident was said to have started by 2:00 am last night and have continued up till now and yet all efforts to quench it has not yielded any fruit.

“Many fire service officers are here, both the state and federal fire service officers. The sympathizers are also helping to quench the fire but there is no headway.

“All the goods in this large warehouse have been burnt down. The worth of the goods destroyed is billions of naira. The warehouse is filled with goods from up to downstairs. It is regrettable that the goods have been burnt to ashes,” he added.

Okechukwu insinuated that the fire could be an act of sabotage, as he described it as mysterious.

He said, “You can’t attribute it to power surge because there is no electricity in the International Market. It is very strange and surprising to us to hear that the warehouse is gutted by fire. From which source?

“We may not say it is somebody that did it. It is only God who know what really happened.”

But the Chairman of the International Market, Lot One, Mr Peter Oba, said the incident was caused by a solar energy battery that was installed to power the CCTV camera inside the warehouse.

He called on the state government to come to the assistance of the owner of the warehouse.

Ola Olukoyede, the newly confirmed Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has vowed to prosecute corrupt politicians irrespective of their party affiliations.

Olukayode stated this during his screening alongside Muhammad Hammajoda who was also confirmed as the Secretary of the anti-graft agency.

The confirmation came about one week after their appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

During his screening, Olukoyede said the EFCC under his watch will be impartial and relentless in the fight against corruption.

He said whether an individual is affiliated with the ruling party or not, they will be investigated if linked with financial crimes.

Olukoyede further explained what the agency’s approach will look like under him.

“In this issue of investigating political opponents, there are two salient questions that must be answered. Number one, has the person committed financial crimes? If he has, then I have cause to investigate him.

“If you are in the ruling party, and you dip your hands into what you are not supposed to, you will be called to question.

“If you are in the opposition and you swallow sandpaper that did not digest, you will also be called to question,” he said.

President Tinubu had on June 14 suspended Abdulrasheed Bawa, the then EFCC boss, to pave the way for investigation into allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

After Bawa’s suspension, the President directed Abdulkarim Chukkol, the Director of Operations at the Commission, to assume the role of acting EFCC chair, while the Department of State Services (DSS) took Bawa into custody as part of the investigation process.

Meanwhile, the Senate also confirmed the appointment of Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) during Wednesday’s plenary.

The Promised Nigerian Suit against the United Nations: A Case for the Proper Socialisation of Cabinet Members

On October 17, 2023, it was widely reported in the media that Ms. Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, while on an AIT interview yesterday, in an unexpected, haphazard manner gave the United Nations (UN) a one-month ultimatum from October 16, 2023 to November 15, 2023 to render published account on all the monies received in the name of Nigeria from donors. The Minister promised to proceed to file a suit on November 16, 2023, against the UN if the accounts are not rendered. But can an International Organisation like the UN be dealt with in such a cavalier manner?

Asking for accountability and transparency is very proper. The spirit of seeking answers to lighten up grey areas that may be indicative of corruption is a great idea. Experience shows that some UN officials are corrupt, and some have accordingly been jailed. However, there are laid down arrangements for such requests by a sovereign nation. Not to follow the laid down procedure and embarking on media grandstanding can only portray Nigeria in bad light. Nigeria is telling the world that it lacks the requisite leadership and structures for appropriate operation in the community of nations.

The United Nations system’s counterpart in Nigeria is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even, if the Minister of Foreign Affairs, after exhaustive dialogue within his Department of International Organisations has decided on the need to request for transparency from the UN, it is expected that he would take the case to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before articulating, if at all, such a weighty position at a media show.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the UN General Assembly last month and met with the UN Secretary-General. He was not reported to have indicated that Nigeria was experiencing a lack of accountability and transparency with the UN entities working in Nigeria. So, it is a shock that a Nigerian Minister is so amateurish in diplomatic relations. Our inadequacies from lacking the appropriate arrangements for the necessary training and socialisation of new entrants into office are being shown to the world.

In addition, one expects that a Minister of Nigeria would have been apprised of the importance of diplomatic and functional immunities that the UN and its officials enjoy. In which Court is our Minister of Women Affairs intending to embark on her frolic? What would be the charges? What is the expected outcome of such a litigation process? Would a more organized strategic follow-through reporting of officials through diplomatic channels against a media inspired, arrogant, poorly thought-out litigation choice not have yielded a much better outcome?

President Tinubu needs to have his Ministers coordinated and appropriately socialised into their respective duties. The UN must readily support anti-corruption, including allegations against its own staff members when evidences are adduced through appropriate mechanisms. 

The Minister of Women Affairs will do well to address corruption in her Ministry by collaborating with the ongoing probe, by at least one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies. Charity is better if it begins at home. She needs to be more procedural and take advantage of available expertise in the government she is a part of. She could also make a big difference by embarking on ways to empower women and thereby reduce national poverty.

*Babafemi A. Badejo, author of a best-seller on politics in Kenya, was a former Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, and currently a Legal Practitioner and Professor of Political Science/International Relations, Chrisland University, Abeokuta. Nigeria.

The Senate, on Wednesday, appointed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Kwara South, Oyelola Yisa Ashiru, as the new Deputy Leader of the Red Chamber.

 Naija News reports that the Upper Legislature also appointed the Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Nwebonyi Peter Onyeka, as the new Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate. Senator Onyeka is a member of the ruling APC.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the new appointments during Wednesday’s plenary on the floor of the Senate.

Ashiru, who was the former Deputy Chief Whip, was elevated to the position of Deputy Senate Leader, which became vacant following the appointment of Senator Dave Umahi as the Minister of Works by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

More to come…

[Naijanews]

Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, is already one-year-old in office. How time flies! It looks just like yesterday when dust was raised by the godfather, the outgoing Ekiti State Gov. John Kayode Fayemi, anointing Oyebanji as the godson to take from him the mantle of leadership of the state tagged “Land of Honour and Fountain of Knowledge” It is doubtful if Ekiti or any state for that matter in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s south-west can still be said to be the pacesetter in education in today’s Nigeria. Other states, especially in the south-east and south-south, appear to have overtaken the region that birthed free education and set the pace for others to follow.

Decades of lousy leadership has done the southwest in. Today, in all competitive examinations, students from the south-west play second or even third fiddle to their counterparts from elsewhere. This is unacceptable. The south-west must reclaim its pride of place and claw its way back to the pinnacle of the country’s education ladder. It appears to me that Oyebanji is working hard to achieve this with the pride of place accorded the education sector by his administration; but what of the other states in the region?

As I was saying, dust was raised when Fayemi anointed Oyebanji as his successor, ditching other aspirants that many had thought were frontrunners. Having been Secretary to State Government and Chief of Staff in the same Fayemi administration, Oyebanji was no push over. So, by the time the dust settled, Oyebanji was firmly clutching the APC gubernatorial flag! That, however, was not the end of the matter as he had other mountains to climb in the main opposition PDP and Engr. Segun Oni, who had defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The rift in the PDP, split down the middle by the power tussle between former Gov. Peter Ayodele Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi, and the lack of capacity (read, financial muscle) by Oni helped Oyebanji to make the battle with the combined opposition a walk-over. When Fayose reportedly agreed terms with the APC/Oyebanji and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s rumoured support for Oni dried up, everyone who could read the signs started singing “Hail the king” for Oyebanji. Within and outside Ekiti, the elements worked in Oyebanji’s favour in such a way that it became clear to the discerning that he was destined to be king; but the intricacies of that need not detain us here today.

The last time I was on ground in Ekiti was during the tenure of Fayose, which ended in October 2018. Since then, I have passed through Ekiti twice; once when we took a family friend to the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital and I spent three days in that state-of-the-art facility. The other time was when I passed through the state to Ogbagi-Akoko for a funeral ceremony. I have, however, been kept abreast of happenings in Ekiti. I mourned with Ekiti when my comrade, Funminiyi Afuye, the then speaker of the state House of Assembly, passed on exactly two years ago (19 October, 2022). Again, how time flies! Apart from what I read on a daily basis about Ekiti, the Chief Press Secretary to Oyebanji, Yinka Oyebode, has regularly inundated me with information on the state. Yinka’s civility and humility can only be equaled; I don’t think it can easily be surpassed. He is a professional par excellence.

Oyebanji appears to me a combination of his two immediate predecessors in some respects. He is urbane and temperate; in that he resembles Fayemi. He goes out of his way to interact with the people rather than be rooted in his office; in that he resembles Fayose. To succeed, a governor must combine both in equal measures. One year is but a short span in a four-year tenure; all the same, morning shows the day, as they say. In those days when we got newly admitted into secondary school, our Nemesis were the Form Two students or seniors, as they loved to be addressed, who were usually exuberant about the fact that, too, had become seniors and could only show that by “punishing” junior students. They were a pain in the neck and you would wonder why the real seniors – Forms Five and Four and even Form Three students – were not as oppressive. The bragging words of the bullies were: “Three sixty-five days is not a joke!” That’s true! Even a day’s seniority is not a joke! So, what has Oyebanji been able to achieve in 365 days?

There is a compendium of achievements of the Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration in its first one year in office encompassing the six pillars of his administration’s programmes and policies. The pillars are: Youth and job creation; human capital development; governance, arts, culture and tourism; agriculture and rural development; infrastructural development; and industrialization. A list of the plethora of projects, policies and programmes initiated, accomplished and on-going are contained in the compendium. They are too numerous to be listed here but I am particularly impressed that the security situation of Ekiti has greatly improved under Oyebanji.

To confirm this, Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) listed Ekiti as the safest state in the country in 2022. To note the horrendous state of security in Ekiti in previous years is to understand that this is no mean achievement. My native Ondo state is one place right now that is hell on earth security-wise, especially the axis that shares boundary with Edo state. Yet, the governor is nowhere in sight and the state House of Assembly is preoccupied with the impeachment of the deputy governor. Not that I give a damn, though! Birds of a feather! Six and half-a-dozen! Gambari pa Fulani…!

Not one to be content with the report of a PR person, I went to town, as they say, seeking independent opinions and views on Gov. Oyebanji and his administration. One person said: “Interestingly, I have, in the past couple of days, been weighing what the people are saying about the governor and the performance of his administration. He has been described as hardworking, focused and imbued with foresight. He is, no doubt, doing so much to receive the support of the electorate.

“On a personal note, I praise him for the restoration of public electricity supply in my community, among others, after a decade in darkness. That fact alone has placed him above his immediate predecessors who used the same electricity issue to canvas for votes, even setting a deadline (but failing) to bring light to the communities.

“Gov. Oyebanji is being hailed as having successfully engaged with the citizens in his governance style, attending party meetings at ward level, visiting notable political figures sidelined by his predecessors under the guise of political differences, and soliciting support for his administration in the interest of the State, irrespective of partisan politics.

“The ever-cynical civil servants in the State are also being carried along as their salaries and wages are promptly paid and conditions of service catered to. So far, the governor is credited with giving due attention to the substance and symbolism of governance in this first year of his four-year tenure”

Another said: “Though I hail from Ekiti, I live in the neighbouring Ondo state. News snippets reaching me indicate that Oyebanji is humble, courteous and gentle, a departure from the garrulous, proud and arrogant regimes of past governors. He is also a home-grown governor (which is) a clear advantage from the past two governors who came from nowhere and knew very little of the people. They only came for business and people have made bold to say that they helped themselves so much to the meagre resources of the state. Oyebanji is likely going to be different”

Space constraint will not allow me print more but they were all generally positive. In Gov. Oyebanji’s “State of the State” address to Ekiti people on the occasion of his first anniversary in office on Monday, 16th October, 2023, he announced that, henceforth, no one will pay for child delivery and the treatment of malaria in all primary health centres across the 177 wards in the state.

Projects, policies and programmes are the “dividends of democracy”. Making the state more prosperous, improving on the people’s quality of life and leaving the situation better than one met it is the true essence of good governance. Yinka Oyebode listed the qualities of his boss to include regular engagement with stakeholders; making deliberate effort to cut the cost of governance; delegating but not abdicating authority; not playing to the gallery by commissioning uncompleted projects; getting communities and their leaders involved in the appointment of commissioners and special advisers so that such political office holders may be aware that, in the final analysis, they are answerable to the people; and operating within and beyond party lines to carry everyone along – friends and foes alike. What Yinka said was confirmed by those I independently interviewed.

This governor, then, is a man to watch. My anniversary gift to him, however, is to be found in the time-honoured saying of our elders, to wit: Ibere o ki n se oni’se…! It is not of him that starts a good job but of him that consistently does the good job to the very end! Happy anniversary!