A coalition, under the aegis of Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO), has named the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji, as the Governor of the Year 2024, saying that Ekiti remained the most politically stable and peaceful state all through 2024 under his watch as he had been able to build bridges that unites all political factions and interests.
NIHRCO, a coalition of human rights and community based organisations spread across Nigeria and established in 2003, made this known in a release signed after its General Congress meeting held in Lagos, disclosing that the the process for the selection of the best Governor of the year 2024 began last year with various suggestions made by leaders of the coalition whose groups were spread across the country.
The coalition, in the statement signed by its regional coordinators, Taiwo Adeleye, Kudu Abubakar (North), Digifa Werenipre (South South) and Fred Ojinika (South East), singled out Oyebanji as a potential leader of Nigeria at the highest level.
According to NIHRCO, the winner, Governor Oyebanji, will be presented with a plaque on behalf of the 130 civil society and community based groups across the 36 states, hoping that it would encourage other state Governors to address the fears and aspirations of the people they govern.
The coalition, while maintaining that Ekiti remained the most politically stable and peaceful state all through 2024 as Governor Oyebanji had “been able to build bridges that unites all political factions and interests by defining the Lowest Common Factor that has sustained mutual co-existence in the state,” said the Ekiti helmsman stood out in the year 2024 in the area of transparency, promotion of human dignity, civil rights, peace building and sustainable development.
The coalition said Oyebanji’s special welfare provisions for People With Disability (PWD) inspired a paradigm shift from agelong state actors’ perception of vulnerable communities.
“During the year, Oyebanji built the first PWD therapeutic centre in Nigeria lifting over 300 People With Disability in Ekiti State from stupor, despair and melancholy.
“The centre was equipped with Therapy jungle gym, Calming tents, Hammock, Balance beams, TENS machines, Bikes, Calming swings, Body sock, among others,” it said.
Speaking further, the coalition said Oyebanji supported the PWDs with over 200 assisting devices, including wheelchairs, white canes, among others marking the 2024 International Day of People Living with Disabilities in a remarkable way that stirred the conscience of humanity.
“It is significant that in the year 2024, Ekiti emerged as the best-performing state in the area of good governance, people-driven initiatives, transparency and accountability.
“The state was singled out in excellent management and utilisation of public funds and excellent implementation of public policies as detailed in the Subnational Audit Efficacy (SAE) Index conducted by Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI), a non-state actor known for its work on monitoring public accountability.
“The SAE assesses the level of transparency and accountability operational in the management and utilisation of public funds and implementation of public policies across all 36 states of the federation through public audit and key in the year 2024.
“The World University Rankings by Times Higher Education listed Ekiti State University as one of the top 20 in Nigeria out of over 250 higher institutions, bringing the state into national and global reckoning,” the coalition stated.
“In the year 2024, Ekiti State won an Award of Excellence as the best performing state in Nigeria on Disease Surveillance at the 4th Annual Disease Surveillance Meeting of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) held in Abuja. The government has drastically reduced communicable diseases and infant mortality rate through aggressive primary health care.
“The Government of Ekiti also spent N1.5 billion allocated for the expansion and rehabilitation of 177 primary healthcare centres to enhance healthcare delivery.
“Ekiti under Oyebanji has improved electricity supply and construction of access roads to boost industrial development in Ekiti State. His efforts have been complimented by his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji.
“Apart from the 50 pupils she awarded scholarships from primary to University, through her pet project, the Widows, Aged, and Orphans Hope (WAOH) Support Foundation, she has left landmarks through assistance to over 400 widows and orphans.
“She supported over 300 widows and orphans with exceptional empowerment, taking up the responsibility of addressing the fears of vulnerable communities as the focal point of her office,” it added.
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