By Legend
… Shows Gratitude To Ekiti People
Ekiti State Governor elect, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has commended the good people of Ekiti State for voting him to be the next governor of the the state, adding that he will consolidate on the gains of the outgoing government, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Dr Kayode Feyemi,Ekiti State Governor
The governor who is modest in victory said it’s a new day in Ekiti and the state will be set on a greater path.
Recall that on June 19, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyenbanji, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election.
Oyebanji won the election with 187,057 votes to defeat a former governor of the state, Segun Oni, of the Social Democratic Party, who polled 82,211 votes, and the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Bisi Kolawole, who scored 67,457 votes.
In his victory message, Oyebanji said “It’s a new day for us in Ekiti, and I must start by thanking the Almighty God who has sovereignty over the nations of the world. He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. To Him be all the glory for the conclusion of a major milestone on the path to leadership succession and a new administration in our dear state.
“The June 18, 2022 Ekiti gubernatorial election was peacefully conducted in the state with a large turnout of eligible voters who freely voted for their preferred candidates and parties. On June 18, Ekiti Kete spoke, and your collective voice was heard. It was unequivocal and unprecedented history making in many ways. Earlier today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially announced that my party the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured the majority of votes and fulfilled all conditions, effectively affirming your choice and returning me, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as your Governor-Elect, and Chief Mrs. Monisade Afuye as your Deputy Governor-Elect.
PROFILE OF ‘BIODUN ABAYOMI OYEBANJI (BAO)
Mr. ‘Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) was born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti to the family of Mr. Ezekiel Kunle and Late Mrs. Esther Oyebanji. He is a former academician, farmer, and public servant, who was until recently the Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State.
As a homegrown Ekiti man, his entire early education was in his home state, in institutions such as Baptist Primary School, Ikogosi- Ekiti, Awo Community High School; C.A.C. Grammar School, Efon-Alaaye; and District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko-Ekiti.
He proceeded to attend the Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo State, before he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Political Science from the Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti) in 1989. He subsequently attended the University of Ibadan, where he bagged a Masters’ Degree (M.Sc) in Political Science (International Relations & Strategic Studies) in 1992.
He started his career in the academia as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Ado Ekiti, where he worked for four years (1993 – 1997), before moving on to the financial services industry, serving as Manager, Treasury, and Financial Services at the defunct Omega Bank Plc (now Heritage Bank) till May 1999, when he commenced an illustrious career in politics and governance.
He is one of the longest serving political office holders in the Government of Ekiti state, haven served for over 11 years in various capacities including:
• Special Assistant (Parliamentary Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (June 1999 – July 2001);
• Special Adviser (Parliamentary Affairs) to the Governor of Ekiti State (Aug. 2001– Sept. 2002);
• Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ekiti State (Sept. 2002 – May 29, 2003);
• Chairman, Governing Board, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (June 2009 – Dec. 2010);
• Commissioner, Ministry of Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Ekiti State (December 2010 – December 2011);
• Head, Office of Transformation Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), Ekiti State (December 2011 –January 2013);
• Commissioner, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Service Delivery, Ekiti State (January 2013 – October 2014);
• Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State (October 2018 – December 2021).
Oyebanji is a devout Christian who sees his career in politics and governance as a divine calling, and he has served God and country diligently as a loyal party man and conscientious public servant in different capacities right from the inception of the fourth republic through several dispensations and administrations. He has held sensitive positions requiring high levels of discretion and trust and is a pillar in the progressive movement in the state who is seen as a bridge between the older and younger generation on account of his track record, reputation, and accessibility.
He has been engaged in Agribusiness for over two decades and is the chairman of Con Dois Farms Limited.
In recognition of his inspirational life journey as a successful businessman and a devoted public servant, Oyebanji has earned many awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Alumni Association of the Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University), and the Certificate of Excellence awarded by the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University).
His most notable award is the Member, Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (MEEA) award in the order of the Ekiti State Honours Roll Law, 2020, granted in recognition of his critical contributions to the creation of Ekiti State in 1996. By providence and by a remarkable show of patriotism and sacrifice at such a young age at the time, he notably served as Secretary, Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State (1996), and Secretary, Ekiti State Development Fund.
Writing the history of politics and governance in Ekiti State would be incomplete without mentioning the contributions of ‘Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji. He is as much a part of our history as a State, as he is an embodiment of the model Ekiti man in character, intellect, experience, and goodwill across board, who should play a central role in shaping the future of our state.
He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oyebanji, a senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, who is a seasoned scholar with over 80 publications in the field of Institutional Administration, Higher Education, Quality Assurance in Education, Human Resource Development and Leadership in Education. They are blessed with children.
