Few hours after taking the oath of office, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji yesterday froze all operational accounts of the state government with immediate effect.
The new helmsman said all financial officers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must comply with the directive on the freezing of the accounts.
At the swearing-in of the governor, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, seven governors of the party, and other dignitaries attended the ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Kebbi State governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (NGF), Atiku Bagudu, led the governors.
Other party chieftains and members from various walks of life also attended the event.
Also present were former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).
Oyetola was represented by his deputy, Bendict Alabi; while Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; outgoing Ekiti State Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi; the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye; former Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonsakin, were also present.
Others are: ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubike Iherijika; Senators Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), Michael Bamidele, Musiliu Obanikoro, as well as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, traditional rulers, amongst other, were also at the event.
The 10,000 capacity pavilion was filled to the brim with admirers who adorned different aso abi (family ceremonial uniforms) for the inauguration.
Oyebanji was sworn in alongside the deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, as the fifth democratically elected governor of Ekiti State by the Chief Judge, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.
He took the oath of office and allegiance before the CJ at 12:52 p.m before the ecstatic crowd and thereafter signed required documents empowering him as the state’s new helmsman.
Afuye had taken the oath of office and allegiance at 12:42 p.m before Justice Adeyeye and signed the necessary documents empowering as the second citizen of the state.
Hitherto, former Governor Kayode Fayemi had handed over the Pen of Authority to Oyebanji, which was the first time in the state’s political history.
In his inaugural speech, Oyebaji promised to run an all-inclusive government that would be just, equitable and fair to all, irrespective of religious and political inclinations.
The governor said his administration would focus on human capital development, good governance, agriculture and rural development, Arts, Culture and Tourism, infrastructure and industrialisation to transform the state to microcosm of development.
He hailed Fayemi for attracting development to the state, promising to consolidate the gains of the last administration.
Oyebanji also promised to take Ekiti to higher pedestals through socio-economic development.
“Ekiti Kete! Today is a great day for us, and we should all be proud. Today, we are observing history being made, and a new chapter of our story being written.
“It was in this spirit of oneness that they bound together as a united Ekiti confederacy and emerged victorious against external forces that sought to subjugate us in our own land. In unity of purpose, they fought and contained attempts to dominate us at different epochs in our history.
“This same spirit of unity has been passed down generations, and guided the founding fathers and mothers who built on efforts made since the Second Republic, and led the successful struggle for the creation of our own Ekiti State.
“This was a struggle led by our revered traditional rulers and prominent citizens which resulted in Ekiti becoming the only entirely homogeneous state in Nigeria,” Oyebanji said.
Speaking on his plans for the state, he said: “My vision is for Ekiti State to be a land of prosperity, opportunity, peace and progress; a land in which transformed people and communities can reap the fruits of their labour in dignity, good health and safety; a land of honour where integrity matters.
“For this vision to be actualised, we need to focus on a roadmap to get there.”
The new governor promised to execute the recently unveiled Vision 2050 economic roadmap initiated by Fayemi to make Ekiti a model.
In his speech, Asiwaju Tinubu hailed Ekiti electorate for voting massively for the APC during the June 18, 2022 governorship election.
The APC presidential candidate promised that Oyebanji would not betray the confidence reposed in him.
“Ekiti Kete! I commend you for voting Biodun Oyebanji in the governorship election. Some termites came in the name of politics to steal your votes, but you resisted them.”
The former Lagos State governor urged Ekiti electorate to continually support the ruling party in all elections, especially in 2023, saying Nigerians will not regret voting for the broom party.
He said: “In 2023, shine your eyes and prevent vote riggers from stealing your votes. Vote APC. It is the only party that can give you good governance.”
Also, the new governor has appointed Dr. Habitat Adubiaro as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and retained Mr. Yinka Oyebode as the Chief Press Secretary.
Dr. Adubiaro, who hails from Ado-Ekiti, was a senior lecturer at the Department of Industrial Chemistry of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).
She attended L. A. Primary School at Ikereku in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital; Igboora High School, Igboora, Oyo State, for her secondary education; the defunct Oyo State College of Arts and Science at Ile-Ife for her Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 1985 and 1987.
Dr. Adubiaro later attended the University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State where she bagged a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1994; a Masters and doctorate in Food Chemistry at Ekiti State University in 2004 and 2010.
Oyebode was the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Dr. Fayemi during his first term, the Special Adviser on Media when he was the Minister of Solid Minerals and CPS during his second term as Ekiti State governor.
The appointment, Oyebanji is with immediate effect, according to a statement by the Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Bamidele Agbede.