As Ekiti State drifts toward the 2027 general elections, the mood among citizens and party faithful is growing uneasy.
The question on many lips is simple yet piercing – Does Governor Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) truly deserve a second term?
By every measure of accountability, vision, and independence, the answer is no.
Governor Oyebanji’s administration has been anything but reformative. Instead of leading boldly, he has governed timidly, surrendering his authority to the shadows of the political past.
His government has become an instrument of appeasement, romancing former governors with the resources of the state in a desperate bid to remain politically safe.
🗣️ “BAO has turned Ekiti into a political marketplace where state resources are traded for allegiance.”
Contracts and appointments are allegedly doled out as political favours. The machinery of government functions less like a public institution and more like a private club of recycled elites.
Inflated Contracts and Cosmetic Projects
Ekiti residents are not blind to what is happening.
Across the state, projects are hurriedly announced and re-awarded, often on roads and infrastructures already in good condition. These contracts, wrapped in the language of “rehabilitation,” are allegedly inflated to channel state funds into the pockets of loyal contractors and political financiers.
Rather than prioritizing innovation or new infrastructure, the administration’s focus has been on recycling old projects for new profit.
Ekiti’s scarce resources, which should be fueling industrial growth, education, and youth empowerment are being siphoned into politically driven ventures.
💬 “Roads that were previously fine are now being ‘reconstructed’ at suspicious costs. That is not governance; it’s economic vandalism.”
Appointments Without Merit
Governor Oyebanji’s government thrives on loyalty, not merit.
Many of his appointees are simply old political allies recycled from previous administrations, not professionals with fresh ideas.
This practice has drained the civil service of creativity and enthusiasm. The result is a stagnant bureaucracy where key decisions are made not on competence but on political loyalty.
Ekiti, once known as the “Fountain of Knowledge”, now risks being remembered as the “Fountain of Mediocrity.”
Peace Without Progress
Supporters of the governor often boast of his peaceful disposition and stability. But beneath that peace lies stagnation.
Workers’ welfare has not improved, small businesses are collapsing, and the youth remain unemployed.
Debt continues to rise while internally generated revenue weakens.
Governor Oyebanji has confused silence for stability and loyalty for progress.
Ekiti people are peaceful not because they are content but because they are exhausted.
Romancing the Past, Starving the Future
Perhaps the most glaring flaw of this administration is its obsession with the past.
Governor Oyebanji has romanced past governors and political godfathers using Ekiti’s resources, from contracts to consultancy appointments.
Instead of challenging this backward model, he has deepened it. The result is a government whose primary loyalty is upward, not outward, to power brokers, not to the people.
🗣️ “Ekiti has become a reunion of old politicians rather than a workshop for new ideas.”
The state’s growth potential is being sacrificed for political comfort. Ekiti deserves a leader, not a caretaker for the old order.
A Call for Political Awakening
2027 presents a historic opportunity for Ekiti people.
Will they continue to endorse leadership that rewards loyalty over competence, or will they demand genuine change?
The time has come to say no to stagnation disguised as peace and yes to leadership driven by integrity and innovation.
Ekiti’s rich history of intellectualism and courage must once again shape its destiny.
The people must not allow the same political cycle to rob them of a prosperous future.
The Verdict
Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s tenure has been marked by political dependency, inflated contracts, and misplaced priorities.
He has failed to chart a bold, independent course for Ekiti’s development and has instead become a custodian of the old political order.
If governance is truly about service and transparency, then BAO has failed that test.
Ekiti cannot afford four more years of a government that confuses friendship for progress and silence for stability.
Ekiti’s democracy deserves courage, not comfort. The coming election is not just about who governs, but about whether the people still have the power to hold leadership accountable.
