‘Rural banditry remains an affront’ – Oyebanji details solutions to problems facing Ekiti 

Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti, says rural banditry and revenue generation are among the challenges ravaging the state.

The governor, who spoke at his swearing-in at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion on Sunday, said the pressure on the Naira in the face of low foreign exchange earnings is causing a huge burden on the purchasing power of our people.

“The challenges with government revenues, especially in a state like ours where most income earners are connected to government’s expenditure as salary earners, vendors and contractors, or beneficiaries of our social welfare programmes, is a significant one,” he said. 

“Although this problem is global and national, we are aware of its overarching domestic impact in Ekiti state, which requires proactive and compassionate measures to mitigate and provide safety nets for our people.

“Correspondingly, insecurity remains a major concern of our people. Rural banditry remains an existential affront on our collective survival, especially for us here in Ekiti. 

“There is no doubt that the confidence of our people is still low in the security situation, but we need to acknowledge that a lot of work has been done and there is now a drastic reduction in the spate of kidnapping and rural banditry that reached a frightening height at some point.

“The world is presently facing one of the most difficult economic crises that was occasioned by a hybrid of post-COVID economic recovery sluggishness and the Russo-Ukrainian war. 

“This is further complicated in Nigeria by the rising cost of living, which is eroding the gains of our economic growth, since we exited the recession as evident in what many economists have called stagflation. Ostensibly, the military faceoff between Russia and Ukraine has caused an unprecedented energy crisis, reverberating across the world in the form of rising costs of living. 

“Inflation continues to mount beyond what quick-fix economic remedies could resolve. At home, the pressure on the Naira in the face of low foreign exchange earnings is causing a huge burden on the purchasing power of our people.”

Speaking on his vision, Oyebanji said his solutions to tackle the challenges are premised on six pillars.

He named them to be youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure & industrialization, arts, culture & tourism and governance.

The former secretary to the Ekiti government said his vision is for the state to be a land of prosperity, opportunity, peace and progress. 

Ahead of the 2023 elections, Oyebanji charged the people of the state to vote for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described Tinubu as an astute administrator and a resourceful manager of human and natural resources. 

“Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has presented to the nation, one of the most impactful political leaders of our time – His excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our candidate for the position of president of Nigeria.

“Asiwaju is a committed nationalist, astute administrator, prolific thinker, and a resourceful manager of human and natural resources, who has paid his dues and demonstrated his capacity to lead Nigeria at such a time as this. Ekiti is best positioned for peace and prosperity under the leadership of Asiwaju Tinubu and I am sure that we would deliver our votes for him,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Bola Tinubu said the people of the state should deliver 95% of the votes.

He said if voted as president, his administration will give them a great future and a better Nigeria.

“Ekiti people, don’t forget your PVC. They are coming. One will call himself Atiku, one will call himself Peter Obi,  you don’t know them,” he said.

“The only person you know is Bola Tinubu and you must deliver 95% of your vote. 

“Don’t be far away. The party that will give you a promise and keep that promise. They are here. We will take care of you and your children. We will give you a great future. We promise you a better Nigeria.”