.Says Oyebanji should have governed the state earlier
Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, yesterday, said that those who had governed Ekiti State before Governor Abiodun Oyebanji didn’t do well because they abandoned the vision and blueprints laid down by those who laboured for the creation of the state.
Babalola, who regretted that Oyebanji didn’t govern the state much earlier because of his Midas touch, said the vision behind the creation of the state was to make it the best in Nigeria just like ABUAD.
The legal icon spoke during the commissioning of ABUAD multisystem hospital Annex at Odo-Ado Igirigiri Road in Ado-Ekiti.
He said: “It pains me that you didn’t become governor of Ekiti State much earlier than now. We know what we did to bring the state into existence. Our vision was for it to be the best state in Nigeria, as well as setting the pace as my university is doing now.
“Unfortunately, those who became governors before you didn’t have the love of Ekiti State. Go and tell them that I said so. That is why we are facing so much hardship in the state. When I was a council councilor in the 60s, I didn’t receive a salary.
“That was when there was development in Ekiti Local Council. We thought that those who are coming to govern the state will follow our footsteps and blueprints but they refused to follow them. However, this governor is doing a yeoman job.
“The road to the hospital has become impassable. When I was coming here this morning, I knew what I went through on the road. It took us almost two hours to get here. That is how deplorable the road has become.
“The reason for this is that we don’t have honest people in government. I have written letters, made telephone calls, sent text messages to the Minister for Works to no avail. They will say they have put it in the budget but nothing happens at the end of the day. God will deliver us from them.”
In his remarks at the occasion, Oyebanji said that he had already scheduled a meeting with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, regarding the polytechnic Road, assuring that the road would be attended to expeditiously.
He described Babalola as the highest tax payer in Ekiti State since the state was created in 1996, and commended him on the hospital construction in the area.
“Health is wealth. What Aare Babalola did is not for himself. As not all the rich remember home, he did not forget home. Baba is the largest employer of labour in the private sector in the state. Advertisements for the construction of the road have been placed and would be approved by March 21, 2024. I am giving the assurance that the road will be constructed,” the governor stated.
