The immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, has applauded the sterling performance of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Fayemi said that he was happy the people of the state had already given him a pass mark barely a year into his tenure, saying he didn’t have to wait till mid-term to do an assessment of Oyebanji’s performance.
Fayemi gave the commendation on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while commissioning the ultra-modern Ado-Ekiti Bus Terminal.
He said: “The evidence of your excellent performance is all over the place for everybody to see. I don’t have to wait till mid-term to do an assessment of your performance. The people have already given you a pass mark and I am happy you didn’t disappoint the people.
“The successful completion of this ultra-modern bus terminal that is being commissioned today is one of such. I have also seen several other projects and programmes you are undertaking to the benefit of the people. This is the beauty of continuity we talked about, and I am so happy to be around to witness this.
Speaking further, Dr Fayemi who said the decision to choose Oyebanji as his successor was not taken out of sentiment, added that he had every reason to support the Oyebanji administration to achieve its set goals because the “(Oyebanji) governorship project was consciously determined, carefully researched and prayerfully endorsed.”
Commissioning the bus terminal, Governor Oyebanji said the project was a testimony to his administration’s commitment to the actualization of the socio-economic development of the state capital, especially the expansion of the city transportation infrastructure in response to its rapid urbanization.
Oyebanji said commissioning the project which was initiated by Fayemi was a justification of the continuity and shared prosperity agenda of his administration, having earlier commissioned the Traditional Council Chamber also initiated by the former governor.
He explained that the bus terminal would serve as an economic hub for inter-state transportation, with facilities such as good internal road, well-arranged parking lot, driver’s lounge, clinic, restaurant, ticketing bay and a banking hall, among others.
While charging the road transport workers to make judicious use of the facility and embrace a very good maintenance culture, the governor said the project was equipped to solve trackable management problems, improve transportation infrastructure, enhance passenger experience in the state capital and reduce indiscriminate parking of vehicles along major roads within the state capital.
“Today’s event is another testimony of our commitment to the actualization of the socio-economic development of our state especially the expansion of city transportation infrastructure to the rapid urbanization of the state capital”, he said.
Governor Oyebanji who hailed the visionary leadership of Fayemi, said the former governor had continued to champion the interest of the state, even out of office.
Stressing that he had an unalloyed loyalty to Dr Fayemi, Oyebanji said his administration was an offshoot of the immediate past administration, hence no need for comparison.
Oyebanji, however, said he would like to surpass the record of achievements of the Fayemi administration in order to vindicate the former governor that he made the right choice by backing him to succeed him in office.
The governor said: “The commissioning is another justification for the continuity of vision to which we campaigned, for example, you will recall that the foundation of this project was laid on October 27, 2021, by my boss and leader, Kayode Fayemi. We thank God that we are here today with him physically present as a guest of honour to commission this project a few weeks after commissioning the traditional council chambers another flagship project of the JKF 2.0 administration completed by our own administration.
“The project being commissioned here today will serve as a hub for inter-state transportation with such facilities as a good internal road, an organized parking lot, a driver’s lounge, a clinic, banking hall, among others.
“I thank my leader and boss, former Governor Kayode Fayemi for laying a very solid foundation on which we are building upon. I keep telling people that I’ am an offshoot of your administration, this is one government and there is no reason for comparisons and the only thing I can do to make you happy, to convince the “Doubting Thomases” that you have chosen wisely is to surpass your achievement and with God on our side and with your support, I will make you proud.
“Those of you talking on WhatsApp, please leave Fayemi and me alone because he is a father to me. Don’t waste your time because you cannot separate us. If you know me well, I don’t have a history of treachery. We plead with you to allow us to develop this state in the interest of all of you.”
