Ekiti guber: I’d prioritise youth development if elected, says Biodun Oyebanji

Biodun Oyebanji, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti, says he will implement policies to keep the state working if elected.

The governorship candidate said this on Tuesday while unveiling his manifesto for the state.

Oyebanji said long-term progress does not happen overnight, adding that he will build on the accomplishments of the current administration.

According to Oyebanji, he drafted his manifesto after speaking with residents of the state to learn about their problems and needs.

“These ideas have come from my interactions with various categories of Ekiti citizens at home and abroad. I have listened carefully to all that has been said to me, and I am deeply convinced that the task ahead is possible by God’s grace and with us working together,” he said.

“This is not a politician’s usual promise to a voting public but a pledge from an Ekiti man to his people. This is a promise from me to you that we will build on our achievements as a state and strive for more.

“Our proposed strategic pillars of action are all interlinked. We are ensuring that there is sufficient investment, and attention given to the specific areas we believe have the potential to create opportunities, improve well-being and deliver sustainable growth for everyone; from our elderly, to our youth, to our women, our workers at state and local government levels, our small and micro business owners, our investors, our teachers and our lecturers; and of course, our children.  

“Let me remind you that there is no magic wand to build our state, and that the sustainable progress we want will not happen overnight. We have been on a long journey to reclaim our land and restore our values, it is now time to hunker down and sustain all our gains.

“That is why it is important that we encourage policies that keep the State working in partnership with our people. You will agree, many of our plans require partnerships, funding, community input and all hands on deck, working together for our common goal; of a progressive and productive Ekiti State.

“It is on this note that I would like to present my manifesto to you. This roadmap focuses on critical growth areas we need to develop, to ensure we deliver the future we want for Ekiti. I will now give an overview of each pillar, showing the rationale for focus, and summarising our plans in each area.”

In his manifesto, the governor said he will prioritise youth development and job creation, with a focus on MSME finance support, digital skills, vocational skills, Ekiti knowledge zone, and sports development.

“Our promise to create jobs is premised on the understanding that job creation is an outcome, not an activity. With this in mind, we have identified some of the drivers, markets and industries that create jobs and intend to nurture them and give them the enabling structures and support required to deliver the jobs we need,” he said.

Oyebanji said other areas of governance he will focus on if elected include human capital development, education, healthcare, social investment, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrialisation, arts and tourism.

 “Among other things, we plan to ensure the completion of the ongoing 30-year Ekiti State Development Plan, and also develop a framework that aligns annual budgets with the development plan,” he said.

“Ekiti Kete, I have faith in the future of this great state and its people, and I am committed to leading from the front, as we continue on the road to a prosperous people; an Ekiti that is safe and secure; one where every person has food to eat and somewhere to lay their head at night, where every young person has access to the education and skills required to secure gainful employment; where women can live lives of dignity and opportunity, where all of our parents can send their children to school to learn; an Ekiti that is attractive to investors and businesses of all sizes that bring jobs, development and opportunities to our State.

“We have begun that journey, and we are on our way. Of all the candidates in the forthcoming election, I am best placed to deliver on an agenda for Ekiti that is innovative, relevant, inclusive and realistic.”

Oyebanji will face Bisi Kolawole, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, in the Ekiti state governorship election on June 18.