By Toba Fatunla
Ikole Ekiti
In the governance of any forward-looking state, consistency, continuity, and credibility are not just 3Cs political buzzwords, they are the lifeblood of sustainable development.
Ekiti State, under the focused and people-oriented leadership of His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), is gradually but steadily emerging from the shadows of the past into a new dawn of hope, progress, and purpose.
It is in this context that the argument for allowing Governor Oyebanji to complete his constitutionally permissible two terms of eight years is not just sensible—it is non-negotiable.
Governor Oyebanji is not a stranger to the Ekiti project, he embodies the Ekiti core ethos. A homegrown leader with deep roots in the values, struggles, and aspirations of the Ekiti people, he brings a rare blend of humility, experience, and institutional memory to leadership.
From serving as a key architect of the creation of Ekiti State to holding strategic offices like Secretary to the State Government, he understands the landscape, its potentials and its peculiarities.
His leadership has not only been about projects but about restoring dignity, rebuilding trust in governance, and reengineering hope in a disillusioned polity.
This is why every stratum of the State from traditional rulers, labour unions, market women, artisans, youth organizations, students, elders forum etc have all came out boldly to endorse the performing Governor.
Continuity is a Catalyst for Consolidation.
Development is a marathon, not a sprint. The first term of any administration is often spent laying the critical foundation, policies, frameworks, partnerships, and systems. Governor Oyebanji has spent his initial years reordering priorities, depoliticizing governance, and building infrastructure for long-term growth in areas such as:
1. Roads and rural connectivity, opening up remote communities.
2. Human capital development, particularly in education and skills.
3. Healthcare, with the renovation of hospitals and improved staffing.
4. Youth and women empowerment, with strategic investments in entrepreneurship and innovation.
5. Digital governance and service delivery, positioning Ekiti for future competitiveness.
These are in consonance with his Six (6) strategic actionable pillars of this government.
It would be counterproductive and dangerous to hand over such a crucial transition period to an unknown or untested aspirant whose only credential is ambition. Ekiti cannot afford to restart the learning curve every four years.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) must resist the temptation to gamble with the future of a state that is finally finding its feet. History has taught us that when personal interests are allowed to override the collective good, the consequences are grave.
In 2003, the derailment of political continuity in some Nigerian states led to a reversal of progress, stalled projects, and bitter political rivalries that took years to heal.
Ekiti has paid its dues in the currency of instability. We have had about 10 Governors since the return to democracy in 1999, meanwhile, Lagos has had fewer (4). We cannot revert to an era of experimentation, especially when the current driver of the wheel has proven his capacity for safe, steady, and responsive leadership.
A disruption now would not just affect governance; it would erode investor confidence, disorient the civil service, and polarize the political landscape.
From a strategic point of view, Governor Oyebanji remains the APC’s strongest asset in Ekiti. He is politically marketable, performance-driven, and widely accepted across the ideological, religious, and generational divides.
Any attempt to replace him with a political neophyte or an “unknown aspirant” is tantamount to gifting the opposition a rare opportunity.
Beyond politics, it is a matter of justice, logic, and legacy. The people of Ekiti have entrusted BAO with their mandate, and that trust must not be broken midway for selfish or shortsighted reasons.
As Ekiti charts its course toward Vision 2030 and aligns itself with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, it needs a steady hand, not a political experiment. We cannot change the winning team.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji represents the known, trusted, tested, and transparent. To discard that for an unknown is not just a risk, it is a regression.
Ekiti will choose continuity. Let Governor Oyebanji finish what he has started, for the sake of progress, posterity, and peace.
Written by
Toba Fatunla