Oyebanji: The shape of things to come

TODAY, 21st December 2021, marks the 54th birthday of Biodun Oyebanji, former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government and as expected, the drums will roll out and family and friends would gather to honour this man from Ikogosi-Ekiti, that sleepy town in Ekiti where cold and warm springs meet to create one of the unimaginable wonders of nature. Celebrating Oyebanji would have nothing to do with the fact that this the season of politicking. Far from it. In fact, if there is no politics in the air and the race for who would succeed Governor Kayode Fayemi come October next year has started, Oyebanji would still be celebrated. This is because he deserves it. One can conveniently say that politics found Oyebanji and not the other way round. And the amount of goodwill that has greeted the announcement of his intention to run for the office of the governor has attested to the fact that he is someone who has made friends across the divide. His first foray into public service was when he was the Secretary set up for the creation of Ekiti State. This was in 1994 when he was just 27 years old. Ironically, this committee was headed by no other person by Baba Deji Falegan. That Oyebanji was found worthy of being given such assignment at such a young age showed that perhaps, Providence was preparing him for higher assignment in the service of his fatherland and by extension, his state of birth.

In 1999, when democracy finally returned after a very bitter battle for and end to military rule, Oyebanji, then 32, found himself in government as one of the key aides to the first democratically elected governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo. He was later to become the Chief of Staff to the governor of the state. If there is one thing that has worked for Oyebanji, and even his staunchest of opponents cannot take away from him, it is the fact that he is loyal to the point of fanaticism. He does not joke with it and that is why today, many believe he has paid his dues in the politics of the state and that is why he is eminently qualified to take a shot at the governorship of the state. Ayodeji Abe, an Ire-Ekiti-born construction magnate, a personal of Oyebanji and one of his staunchest supporters, said he believes that Governor Fayemi could not have made a better choice than supporting Oyebanji to succeed him.

“Oyebanji has the qualities to govern this state and I have had the rare opportunity of both seeing him as a man, via my personal interactions with him, and as an administrator and public servant. In both ‘worlds’, Oyebanji displays qualities and leadership acumen that stand him out from the rest. That is why I am not surprised that he has been involved in public service for over 25 years now. And I think we should be grateful to God for giving us a material like Oyebanji in Ekiti.” Will this be the only quality needed to become the governor of the state? I seriously doubt. And that is why the man himself, Oyebanji, said he won’t be an accidental or an ‘appointed’ governor. He said he has not only learnt the ropes and get all the necessary leadership training needed to govern a complex state like Ekiti, he is equally a homeboy who knows the state inside out.  He was speaking during campaign tour of Ikole, Oye and Ilejemeje Local Government areas ahead of the January 22, 2022 gubernatorial primaries in the state.

“If I get the governorship ticket and win, I will be the first homeboy to be Ekiti governor. I schooled here in Ekiti from primary, secondary and up to the university level. I got a solid tutelage from Niyi Adebayo for four years and seven years under Governor Fayemi. Out of the 25 years of the creation of this State, I have received 11 years of experience as a public servant. If other aspirants come to you, ask them where they got their pupilage from to be able to do well as a governor. During the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, I was barely 27 years and I served as the Secretary of the Committee for the creation of our dear state. Through this opportunity, I knew what the vision was then.I can never be an accidental governor. I knew the vision of Governor Fayemi and if you don’t want everything he has done for Ekiti to get spoilt as it was after 2014, then vote for me in this primary.”

Gboyega Aribisogan, who is Majority Leader, Ekiti State House of Assembly, said “the mammoth crowd of supporters you are seeing here and party bigwigs confirmed how acceptable Oyebanji is in Ikole Council. In Ikole local government, you are acceptable to us. We are happy with you and by the grace of God, we will demonstrate this in the primary. Some other aspirants will come, but this group consists of who -is -who in Ekiti APC and I know it shall translate to victory for you.” Abe also corroborated the massive support enjoyed by Oyebanji when he visited Oye Local Government, Governor Fayemi’s home local government. Party loyalists and his and supporters came out in numbers to welcome him.  The cheering news last week was the meeting hosted by Olawale Fapounda, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state where Oyebanji and Biodun Omoleye, the Chief of Staff to the governor, were in attendance. The talk in town was that the duo of Fapohunda and Omoleye might not support Oyebanji’s candidacy. But Omoleye was not only in Abuja when Oyebanji picked his nomination form, the hosting of the meeting has doused tension as Fapohunda promised to host further meeting in his Okemesi country home and ensuring that their supporters and party faithfuls are involved.

And Omoleye also organised a welcome party for Oyebanji when he visited the APC state secretariat in Ado-Ekiti where he informed party leaders in Ekiti of his intentions to contest for the governorship seat and seek their approval to visit local government areas and newly created LCDAs. Born on December 21, 1967, in lkogosi-Ekiti, and currently serves as the Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State. He began his academic journey at Baptist primary school, Ikogosi-Ekiti. He attended Awo Community High school before transferring to C.A.C Grammar school, Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State in 1979, and later attended the Federal school of Art and Science, Ondo State, and the District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko-Ekiti from 1983 to 1985. He acquired a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1989 and continued his quest for honors at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 1992 where he bagged his masters’ Degree (M.Sc) in Political Science (International Relations & Strategic Studies).Oyebanji started his professional career as a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ado Ekiti, where he worked for four years (1993-1997) and later proceeded to work as Manager, Treasury, and Financial Service at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999.

Oyebanji is engaged in the Agribusiness and is the chairman of Con Dois Farms LTD. As a successful businessman and a devoted public servant, Abiodun Oyebanji has earned many awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Alumni Association of the then Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, and the Certificate of Excellence awarded by the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti.

Writing the history of Politics and governance in Ekiti State is incomplete without mentioning the critical contributions of Abiodun Oyebanji. He was Special Assistant (Parliament Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (8th June 1999-2000); Special Adviser (Parliament Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (1st Aug. 2000-Sept. 2001); Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State (September 2021-May 29, 2003); Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009-December 2010); Commissioner, Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Ekiti State (23rd December 2010-December 2011); Head, Office of Transformation Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State ( December 2011-9th January 2013); Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State (10th January 2013-16th October 2014); Secretary, Ekiti State Government (16th October 2018-Till date).

Oyebanji was instrumental to the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State (1996). He was also Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.

Happy Birthday to a true Ekiti homeboy.

•Ajayi writes in from Ekiti State.