Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has credited the state’s rapid development over the past two years to the strong cooperation and shared vision between his administration and the National Assembly members from Ekiti, led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Speaking in Ilawe-Ekiti on Monday during the commissioning of the Ilawe-Ikogosi link road by Bamidele, Governor Oyebanji emphasised that this partnership has been a significant driving force behind the state’s progress, facilitating the attraction of several federal projects to Ekiti.
He said, “Members of the National Assembly told me to choose one of the federal roads in the state and they will try to put it in the budget, and I choose Ado-Ijan – Iluomoba road because it is on this road that we have the Airport, Knowledge zone, Smart School, Afe Babalola University, Federal Polytechnic and Institute of Transport Technology, among others.
“They did not only get the road into the budget, they also invited the Minister of Works to personally inspect the road and the Federal Executive Council has awarded the road and work will commence on the road in the next one week”.
The governor stressed the importance of the link road, explaining that, due to the deteriorating condition of the Ilesa-Ado Ekiti road, he chose to rehabilitate alternative routes.
These he said include paths for travellers heading to Ibadan and Lagos, passing through Ikogosi to Igbaraoke in Ondo State and Ilawe through Ikogosi to Efon Alaaye, allowing them to bypass the usual route through Aramoko Ekiti.
“All these are possible because there is unity between the government and our representatives in the National Assembly. It is that unity that has made it possible for me to tell them this is what I want you to do for us.
“They are supposed to choose their constituency projects, but I appealed to them to have a departure from that regime, let me go round and ask people what they want in their communities and they have been implementing the needs of those various communities”, he stated.
At the commissioning of the road project, Bamidele revealed that Ilawe is his birthplace and expressed gratitude to the governor for inviting him to the event. He also pledged to build a mini stadium in the community as a way of giving back to his roots.
The senator called for greater unity and cooperation among the various groups in the state to foster development.
He admitted initial concerns about potential misinterpretations of his efforts to bring projects to areas outside his senatorial district but expressed relief after the governor reassured him that no one could sow discord between them.
“What is important is just to thank God for our Governor who has been delivering on his promises. But other than that, he carries himself as an amiable gentleman, as a humble public office holder, we cannot ask for more. And I know that it is the Governor that has given us rest of mind and that is why we, all of us in the National Assembly, are desirous of attracting more projects to our constituencies.
“Whatever we are doing is in partnership with the state government because Governor Oyebanji has made himself a development partner and I am convinced that the partnership is working”.
Bamidele further assured that the National Assembly caucus would work towards selecting a consensus candidate to sustain the ongoing development the state has experienced over the past two years.
He urged the people to avoid distractions that could hinder the governor from focusing on his development agenda for the state.
