Monday 16 October, 2023 , Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, more popularly known as BAO, confidently waltzed into his second year as governor of Ekiti state – the land of honour – Ile Iyi, Ile eye. He has deservedly, been celebrated to high heavens as a cool, calm and highly focused administrator, with many plaudits credited to him in his one year in office. And to parody the trending GLO BEREKETE TV advert, I loudly proclaim: ‘And I say BAO never finish o!’ He is actually just starting.
Interestingly some of the writers of those articles celebrating him showed that they actually do not know the man, close up, and probably knew him only after he achieved high office. Of course, they need feel no remorse at that because, even at his desk, as Secretary to the State Government, Biodun remained a self- effacing gentleman, even though, an untiring workhorse in that high octave and very critical office.
He simply had no alternative to being as calm and collected. He is, after all, the protege of two of Ekiti’s best, and most consequential, governors, each of who deservedly earned the sobriquet Omoluabi, and was remarkable for hard, impactful service to the people of Ekiti state.
Let us take Governor Kayode Fayemi, for instance, under who BAO served as Commissioner in two different portfolios, and later, as Secretary to the Government.
I remember this occasion, which I had once written about on these pages when, at about 1.30 am sometimes in 2013, I asked him what he was still doing, pouring over files in his office at that ungodly hour and it was his good friend, the much missed, late Professor Abubakar Momoh, who replied by saying that working that late, even all night, has become a habit for both Kayode, and himself, since their gruelling pro – democracy days in the u. K. BAO must, certainly, have severally been with governor Fayemi far past 1.30.am, still fast at work on serious state matters.
Even though it goes without saying that Oyebanji is well bred, that is, from home, his almost unparalleled respect for people, young and old, must have a lot to do with his long tutelage under the Omoluabi governor, per excellence, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, whose Chief of Staff he was, just as governor Fayemi’s natural, decent and quiet mien, must have positively robbed off on him.
I have this interesting story about Governor Fayemi’s
imperturbability which leads me to boldly say that, but for politics, he would most probably have been an introvert, his involvement in student union politics not withstanding.
Many people know how close I am to him. I was, therefore, being assailed by many, asking me to advise him to play politics like politicians, that is, be loud and publicity seeking, even atimes winding down his car windows half way, and furiously waving to the public as he drove past. Knowing him, it took me some time to so advise him. But
Very genuinely astounded when I did, he let out a guffaw; after which he now told me: “Oga, se e fe ki nma se politics bi Oshoko ni? meaning, do you really want me to play politics like Oshoko?
What this means is that BAO, warm and welcoming as he is, you will never see him being unduly exuberant, or seeking after public applause. He is cut from an entirely different cloth.
BAO showed his potentialities very early, serving as early as in his 20’s, as Secretary to the Chief Deji Fasuan – led Committee for the creation of Ekiti.
I have arrived Ado – Ekiti highly agitated one Friday morning during the hectic days after the primaries which produced BAO and headed straight to my Uncle, Chief Deji Fasuan’s house. That was because of the things I was hearing, even in faraway Lagos, concerning on which candidate’s side Ado -Ekiti was leaning; an indigene of the town having been named as deputy governorship candidate by another political party.
There was/is, a reason for my fears concerning which side Ado – Ekiti was supporting. And it is this:
In order to resolve the extremely contentious senatorial contest for Ekiti Central in 2011 which involved the trio of Dele Alake, Opeyemi Bamidele and Femi Ojudu, three of Ekiti’s most politically astute youngmen, the party had a final meeting of about 12 of us at which the late Governor Dele Olumilua presided. Two other governors, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi were also present.
Otunba Adebayo was backing Opeyemi but he couldn’t fault Governor Fayemi’s position that the party could only disdain Ado – Ekiti, whose son, Ojudu he was backing, with dire consequences, come the real elections.
Even though the meeting was inconclusive, I remain convinced till today, that I was not the only attendee who went away from the meeting with a perfect understanding of Ado- Ekiti’s position in any election in Ekiti.
Let me digress briefly to dilate on what that event should teach our young politicians especially in Ekiti about patience, and allowing God to dominate in their affairs.
By the time I invited the 3 gentlemen to have a chat with them, Dele had already left for Lagos, abandoning everything and I pleaded with the duo of Femi and Opeyemi to be patient, and allow peace reign during the re – run election slated for the following day. In reality, Governor Fayemi was aware that I phoned our present President, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the party leader, to urge him to advise ‘his two Boys’, to demonstrate restraint during the re- run election the following day because each side was armed to the teeth.
As of today, God has given each of the three gentlemen the opportunity to serve Ekiti and Nigeria at the National level: Dele as current minister of Solid Mineral Development, and the remaining two as distinguished senators of the Federal Republic. I haven’t the slightest doubt that the mature, and calculating, politician that Femi Ojudu is, he will soon find his way back into political reckoning.
For budding Ekiti politicians, therefore, I would like to leave for them, the following words by Dele Alake, as he opted out of the senatorial contest: “
“When I joined the race for the senatorial seat in Ekiti, I was motivated by the higher ideal of offering service and quality representation to the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District in particular, Ekiti State and Nigeria in general”.
“I felt that my God-given intellect, talent, elocution, erudition and articulation, experience, exposure, knowledge and vision would be best put to the service of my people in the National Assembly through a clean electoral process”.
“I did not envisage that an intra-party primary could degenerate into malpractices, fraud, violence and brigandage”. “I do not believe that in order to serve the people you either have to induce them with money, buy their conscience or resort to thuggery, hooliganism and brigandage. I strongly believed that if one wants to serve, you offer yourself and convince the people with ideas, programmes,
plans and your manifesto”.
“In the light of this and after due consultations with well-meaning Nigerians across the geo-political divides, and given the fact that I subscribed to the principle and value of playing the game by the rule, and also the fact that I cherish the quality of my name, status, stature and my image , I have decided not to be part of any such arrangement because there is no guarantee that the same thing will not occur again”. “Politics, for me, is not a do-or-die affair. I , therefore, withdraw my participation.”
How nice would it be if this ‘Alake Mantra’ could become the Credo of all our politicians in Ekiti state.
I digress.
The pole position Ado – Ekiti enjoys in elections in the state was why I headed to Chief Fasuan to have a better understanding of what exctly was going on.
“Femi, wo de de ni ni o, being our Are – Afao – Ekiti way of saying ‘Femi you have come again o”. “Okay, give me some two minutes”.
He, thereupon, telephoned His Royal Majesty, the Ewi of Ado – Ekiti, Oba
Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III CON, who himself played a leading role in the struggle for the creation of the state.
I overheard Kabiyesi recall Biodun’s yeoman’s efforts as Secretary of the Baba Fasuan – led committee, saying that the young man deserved to reap from where he sowed and concluded that his people are with him in his support for BAO.
By the time they finished their discussion, all my fears were gone. Hurray! Oyebanji was their man in Ado – Ekiti and that really gladdened me..
Besides Governor Fayemi, I would be mightily surprised if anybody, before me, saw BAO as the most appropriate person to succeed him, or mentioned it.
As a writer, and close to government, even though not a government official, I have seen BAO at work, have keenly observed this quiet, and easy going ‘complete Ekiti bureaucrat’, who not only studied mostly locally here within Ekiti, but have served, meritoriously, in various sections of the state government over a long time, and is attested to by those who should know, as a loyal and competent gentleman who knows both the Ekiti people and the terrain very well, and I have concluded that he should be a perfect fit as governor Fayemi’s successor, God willing.
Even if Governor Fayemi knew all these, as I guess he did, he was in no position to push it because, as the story below will affirm, he was determined to be scrupulously neutral in how his successor emerged.
Let me then first apologise to governor Oyebanji for having to bring his private communication with me to the public space.
When early in June 2021, I sent him a chat regarding the ’22 governorship election, and why I consider him most fit, he had not even adverted his mind to the possibility as the following response from him abundantly proves:
“Good evening Sir. I will definitely come to you when the coast is clear Sir. Am believing in God to guide Mr Governor asap Sir. I can’t do anything without him Sir”.
What can be more decent than that from a serving officer who knew he has all it would take to be governor?
When the noise from the other side subsequently assumed an unpleasant trajectory with some people claiming that the governor was trying to inflict Oyebanji on the state, I decided to meet Governor Fayemi to know exactly how BAO emerged the party’s candidate.
Below is how I captured my interaction with him on the BAO candidacy in my article: Re: Ekiti: Again I ask Must Our Politicians Always Fight to The Death? of 13 February, ’22:
“I did not stop at merely writing my appeal of 9 January, ’22 titled:”Ekiti’22: In Order Not To Snatch Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory Warring APC Chieftains Must Sheathe Their Swords,
as the allegation literally ruled the airwaves wherever you went. Indeed, Professor Bolaji Aluko would confirm that long before the primaries, he and I, had worked behind the scene, trying to work out some things. We knew we were on our own but had we succeeded, things might have turned out differently.
I, therefore, made enquiries directly from the governor as to the truth or falsity of the allegation. My finding dear reader, and I have never had cause, not even once in our long years of very close relationship, which many of the contestants are very well aware of , to doubt Governor Fayemi.
They should, therefore, sleep easy, when they read here that Biodun Oyebanji was the product of a scientific process – a commissioned GALLUP POLL which had no specific names given to the pollster, – a professional group of very solid repute -whose remit was to identify, and prequalify, persons with requisite political exposure, competence and experience and who could be the party’s governorship candidate in the June 2022 governorship election with the proviso that this be not limited to those in government. Far be it, therefore, that anybody hand picked the young man who is now the APC candidate for the June ’22 election.
Instead, what played out is that the idea of a home grown Biodun Oyebanji who, only in his 20’s, was Secretary to the Chief Deji Fasuan – led committee of leading Ekiti personalities, and Kabiyesis, for the creation of Ekiti state, as well as his having creditably held many high public offices in the governments of both governors Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi, two of Ekiti’s most impactful governors, and the fact that he went round the state far more than any of his competitors, resonated very well with party members and supporters who were not just seeing him only at election time having just resigned as Secretary to Government (SSG). They could only barely conceal their enthusiasm for him”.
I would later hear that two of the gentlemen who I mentioned in the article, who incidentally are aburos I respect very much, and they know this for a fact, took exception to what I wrote about them.
Of course, I did not set out to present them in bad light.
Knowing, for instance, how warmly governor Fayemi spoke to me about Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who he saw, as if he saw tomorrow, as one Ekiti politician who, because of his exposure, experience and sundry competences should, ideally, represent the state at the National level – a matter he told me he discussed with him – regarding how he could easily emerge one of the highest ranking Senators. Today Senator Opeyemi is No.3 in that hallowed chamber.
I had criticised him for being rather too intent on playing only at the sub national level. Who would not remember that he did take the bullet for governor Fayemi and that the latter could not have wished him ill. I learnt it was the same for my own dashing congressman, Bimbo Daramola, who I believed should have championed Opeyemi going to senate having himself been a member of the National Assembly and knows how useful to Ekiti a senator Opeyemi would be. I am sure they now both understand my position about how the senator could impact Ekiti’s minfrastructural development. Indeed, he is already facilitating a University for Ekiti to be sited in Iyin – Ekiti. Am proved right
Happily, all is well that ends well. For Ekiti state as a whole today, there is unbelievable peace; a state of affairs for which we Ekitis are all hugely obligated to the gentleman governor in the saddle. .
Completely across board, and irrespective of political party, BAO has extended a hand of not just fellowship, but of distinct respect to all Ekiti and, in particular, to many Ekiti titans who, for decades, were bitter political enemies.
The resultant quietude and peaceful state of affairs all over the state has enabled BAO to do so much in so short a time.
He came into office at a time Ekiti was very politically tense and fractious, but seeing the way he has led with humility, and hostility to none, Ekiti is fast returning to that era when, even on the most desolate of roads, if an Ekiti man saw a vehicle with a WP registered number parked in search of assistance, he was, as if on command, obligated to immediately stop and render assistance, no matter how much hurry he was in.
I heartily congratulate governor Oyebanji on his 2nd Anniversary, and would like to extend my congratulations to his better half, the delectable First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Olayemi Oyebanji who, as I predicted back during the campaigns, took off absolutely brilliantly from where Erelu, Her Excellency, Bisi Fayemi, left off and has since taken up the additional, very impressive step of going to lecture at the Afe Babalola University, the fastest growing University on the West Coast of Africa.
In conclusion, I commend the governor for internalising, not only his good home upbringing, but for also bringing to bear on governance, everything he learnt at the feet of his two remarkable bosses.
Indeed, of a truth, an apple does not fall far from the tree.
