By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu and his counterpart in Borno, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, have admonished the incoming Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to uphold and build on the legacy of his predecessor.
The governors lauded Dr. Kayode Fayemi for rising above ethnic bond and building himself into a pan-Nigerian leader, loved and revered across political, religious and ethnic divides.
They commended the outgoing Ekiti governor for building trust between himself and Ekiti people, through good governance that touches every sector of the economy, making Ekiti a microcosm of development in spite of the paucity of funds.
The duo gave the admonition in Ado-Ekiti,the Ekiti State capital on Sunday, at an international valedictory conference in Fayemi’s honour, titled, “JKF: A Journey in Leadership”.
In his brief submission at the event held at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Bagudu appealed to Oyebanji to rejig governance in Ekiti by consolidating the gains already brought by Fayemi to the people, describing this as the best way to build an economically virile State .
The Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum, described Fayemi as one dependable leader every zone of the country has trusted and ready to work it.
Bagudu said, “Continuity in governance is key and germane to economic development. I charge the incoming governor, Biodun Oyebanji to build on the legacy of his predecessor. Sustainability in governance is an essential ingredient of democracy”.
Bagudu added further; “Governor Fayemi is one leader that is committed to the Nigeria’s dream. He is one leader that believes in the unity of this nation. He believes in progressive ideas. His utmost aim is to ensure that people get dividends of democracy”.
Speaking about the multifaceted challenges pummeling the nation, Bagudu urged Nigerians not to despair or get disillusioned about the country due to many challenges afflicting the nation, saying the level of Nigeria’s indebtedness shouldn’t be a reason for people to be hopeless about the country
“Even great nation’s like USA, who are even more economically advanced than Nigeria are even more indebted than Nigeria. What we need now are investments through global parynerships for over 200m population, to build our economy and build our people”, Bagudu added.
While setting agenda for Oyebanji, the Borno Governor, Prof. Zulum, urged him to invest in knowledge driven economy and fight poverty that is ravaging the people, for his reign to be indelible in annals of history.
Zulum added that Oyebanji must focus attention on the infrastructural deficit in roads and other public utilities that can benefit the populace while superintending over the state, describing this as a pivot and boost to economic development.
Zulum added; “Every serious- minded government today in Nigeria must focus attention on poverty reduction, infrastructural deficit and the emerging climate change to curb incidences of natural disasters.
“The incoming governor , Biodun Oyebanji has got the experience, having been part of this government and the expectation is that, he will continue where Governor Fayemi stopped”.
In his lecture titled: ‘A Scholar in Power: Reflections on Power, Democracy And the Future of Nigeria’, a Professor of Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania, USA, Dr. Adewale Adebamwi, said no federal system can be perfect, harping on the need for the current weak Nigerian system to be rejigged and strengthened.
The scholar stated that this remains the only way to ensure that people are secured and all the strata of the Nigerian society are well protected.
Adebanwi said the most dearing thing to an average Nigerian is good governance , which he said some agitators, he described as “reformists” thought will turn Nigeria into a perfect society.
Present at the event are Governors Bagudu, Zulum, former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, leader of Afenifere Renewal Group, Hon. Wale Oshun, and Senator Domingo Obende.
Others include; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Hon. Bawa Bwari, two term Director General, National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari and Ekiti State Head of Service, Barr Dele Agbede, among others.
