Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that the state would take the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential poll very seriously.
Governor Oyebanji spoke on Wednesday during a Town Hall Meeting with stakeholders from Ekiti North Senatorial District as part of preparations for the 2027 Budget, held in Ifaki-Ekiti.
He pledged intensified mobilisation to increase the President’s vote tally in the state.
Oyebanji called on Ekiti voters to reciprocate President Tinubu’s support for the state by delivering higher votes.
The Governor cited key federal appointments and infrastructure interventions benefiting Ekiti, including the emergence of top-ranking public office holders from the state, as evidence of the President’s commitment.
“We must show appreciation. It will not be enough to repeat previous figures. We must do more in the next election,” he said.
Oyebanji also said that projects to be executed in his second term will be deliberately targeted at boosting commerce, enhancing productivity and stimulating sustainable business growth, with a view to deepening value addition and positioning the state’s economy on a higher trajectory.
At the engagement, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives and other stakeholders across the district pledged stronger support for the Governor’s administration in his second term, which begins on October 16, 2026, to enable the delivery of his shared prosperity agenda.
Reiterating his commitment to inclusive governance, the Governor said the consultative approach adopted by his administration would be strengthened in the second term to deepen public participation and reinforce unity across the state.
He emphasised that government investments would be strategically channeled into critical sectors such as healthcare, electricity, road infrastructure and water supply, noting that such interventions would improve living standards and drive economic productivity.
“In our second term, whatever we are going to do must add value, because resources are limited. There must be value addition. We must catalyse productivity and ensure our people are productive. It is only when there is value that artisans like welders and auto mechanics can thrive and become prosperous,” the Governor said.
On local economic development, Oyebanji noted that his administration had made efforts to expand electricity access to some communities, adding that progress had been constrained by existing legal frameworks that limit states to power generation without distribution authority.
He reaffirmed his belief in participatory governance, stressing that community inputs would guide project prioritisation.
“Governance is about the people. We are what we are today because of you. You gave us your mandate, and we must continue to seek your counsel in delivering good governance,” he added.
The Governor also commended traditional rulers for their support, particularly in intelligence gathering, which he said had contributed significantly to improved security in the state. He, however, urged continued vigilance among residents.
On infrastructure, the Governor disclosed that ongoing collaboration with the Federal Government had facilitated the award of major road projects, including the Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole and Ado-Aramoko-Ita-Ore roads, adding that other critical roads would be addressed subsequently.
Providing sectoral updates, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, revealed that over 300 nurses and 1,500 health assistants had been recruited in the last four years, alongside significant upgrades of primary and secondary healthcare facilities. He added that three new general hospitals had been approved for Ipao, Ikogosi and Awo-Ekiti.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof Bolaji Aluko, disclosed that over 500 boreholes had been constructed across the state, with an additional 110 proposed to ensure equitable water distribution.
In their remarks, traditional rulers and community representatives from across Ekiti North Senatorial District commended the Governor for ongoing development efforts and outlined priority needs for the 2027 Budget, including roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare and security.
They particularly praised the completion of key road projects and recent security interventions, while appealing for accelerated attention to infrastructure deficits in their respective communities.
Speaking for Ikole Local Government, the Alaaye of Oke Ayedun, Oba Femi Aribisala, appealed to government to speedily intervene in the council in the area of road, water and electricity sectors, lamenting that lack of good road access and poor electricity supply were constituting impediments to the growth of the local economy.
Representatives of Moba Local Government and Obaleo of Erinmope, Oba Sunday Aniyi; that of Ido/Osi and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; and that of Oye Local Government and Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, called for more attention on roads, electricity, security and water supply to enhance the welfare and well-being of the populace in the 2027 budget.
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro; Chief of Staff, Oyeniyi Adebayo; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; members of the State Executive Council; local government chairmen; traditional rulers; political leaders; and representatives of various community groups.
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