Ekiti at a Crossroads: Why Governance Failures Demand Change, Not Continuity

As Ekiti State prepares for another gubernatorial election in 2026, the critical question facing its citizens is not merely who should lead, but what kind of leadership the state desperately needs. Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s first term has been marked by a consistent pattern of governance failures across fundamental sectors, demonstrating an administration lacking the vision, competence, and urgency required to lift Ekiti from stagnation. Re-electing Governor Oyebanji would be an endorsement of mediocrity and a betrayal of Ekiti’s potential. Here’s why a second term is untenable:

The Phantom Prosperity:

Economic Stagnation & Joblessness:

Despite lofty promises of economic revitalization, Ekiti remains shackled by high unemployment, particularly among its vibrant youth population. Concrete initiatives to attract significant private investment, diversify the economy beyond civil service dependency, or create sustainable job platforms have been conspicuously absent or grossly ineffective.

All what we see is the appointment of large retinue of SAs and SSAs with no clear job descriptions for political settlement and a strain on the finances of the state. Though, these appointments is not the problem, not having specific job descriptions and KPIs attached for regular evaluation makes them wasteful.

Majority of the economic development seen in Ekiti state today is not government supported, owned nor driven, but by patriotic Ekiti indigenes, who decided to come invest at home. Investments such as Hotels, shopping malls, Supermarkets (mostly owned by IBOS), Schools, recreational centers, Restaurants etc.

The federal allocation to Ekiti state from 2022 till 2024 is as shown in the table below

YEAR FEDERAL ALLOCATION(ANNUAL) EKITI STATE IGR
2022 74billion 17 billion
2023 107.5billion 29 billion
2024 112billion Not disclosed

Source: FAAC record and EKITI website for IGR

As can be seen in the table above, there is a growth of 43% in the revenue accrual to the state from 2022 when BAO took over into 2024.  The state’s IGR growth from 2022 compared to 2023 was 75%  which was commendable but went sluggish or not well accounted for in 2024 as shown in the state website, thus  failing to match the developmental needs of the state.

The much-touted agricultural revolution exists more in press releases than in tangible improvements in farmers’ productivity, market access, price of farm produce and food items or income. The last time, the governors’ pictures of being on an empty  farmland  with no grown crops were being circulated in the social media to buttress a governor who works the talk, this however shows hypocrisy at the highest level.

Is it the Ikun Dairy farm propaganda?  If Ikun dairy farm is functional beyond the MOU signed and media hype, how many Ekiti graduates and non-graduates have been employed there? Why have we not started to see Ikun dairy farm milk, yogurt and other essential dairy products in all the supermarkets and malls in Ekiti state  and south western states?

Or is it the Agbeyewa Farms? Though privately owned,  If this farm has started to produce so much tons of cassava as being reported in the media, the prices of Garri and its derivatives would have been cheapest in Ekiti by now compared to other states and better still, A biotechnological ethanol manufacturing company would have approached the government to site their factory close to the farm by now so as to access these cassava products as their raw materials and at minimal logistic cost. All these propaganda economic inertia stifles opportunities  and fuels insecurity and the exodus of young talent from the state.

Infrastructure in Peril:

Crumbling Foundations of Progress:

Ekiti’s roads, a vital artery for commerce and daily life, continue to deteriorate. While piecemeal palliative works are occasionally announced, comprehensive rehabilitation and strategic expansion of the road network are glaringly deficient. Critical federal roads within the state remain death traps, and state roads fare little better.

Road in km Senatorial district
90 North
130 Central
78.5 South
Source: “ Semantic Scholar”

The total federal roads in Ekiti state in Kilometers  is 298.5km as indicated in the route below, just 84km of these roads are fairly ok and manageable. . The rest are in deplorable conditions.

FEDERAL ROAD ROUTE REMARKS
1 Omuo-Ikole-Oye -Ifaki- Ado Ekiti Road Very bad
2 Omuo -Ode-Iluomoba- Ijan- Ado Ekiti road fair
3 Ado-Ikere-Iju/Itaogbolu-Akure road Very bad
4 Ado-Iyin-Igede-Erio-Aramoko-Itawure-Iwaraja road Deactivated from google map as it unpassable
5 Ado -Ilawe-Igbara odo-Igbara Oke-Akure-Ilesha Road Good
6 Omuo Aran- Ido- Usi-Ifaki -Ado Road Very bad

It is also on record that anytime heavy rain falls, Ado Iworoko Road leading to the Ekiti state university by the Eleme River bridge is always flooded and get cut off  as a result of a poor erosion control at the Ajitadidun end bridge  of the road despite huge ecological funds accrual to the state .

A similar fate happens often on ABUAD -federal polytechnic Ado Road by Ureje river bridge whenever it rains heavily .

However, The ABUAD founder -Chief Are Afe Babalola (SAN) should be commended for his untiring efforts in  the past and up till now in spending his personal resources to make the road passable for motorist and to the two institutions on that road.

However, I want to commend the state government effort in collaboration with the senate leader and his co- senators from Ekiti in getting approval for the newly announced  contract award for  Ado-Ijan-Ikare Road, Ado -Akure roads. I hope this roads  repair will be expeditiously carried out and not become another political road contract like the Lagos/ Ibadan and Abuja Lokoja expressways that have taken four regimes and decades and still remains uncompleted.

Also, As regards  the “flyover” that BAO decided to build from okeyinmi to Ijigbo roundabout  area. This type of infrastructure is not embarked upon for name calling reasons, but done for economic exigencies.

For instance, if there are factories/industrial hubs somewhere on that route and there are reports of continuous operational man-lost work hours due to traffic congestion on daily basis on that route, frequent accidents etc., that outweighs the construction cost.

For economic reasons , what was actually needed as against this fly over would have been a dualization and expansion of that road arteries into Ajilosun road Odo Ado Road and irona road area from the Okeyinmi road down to Ijigbo. Far lesser amount would have been deplored and the job completed by now.

As at today, despite complaining that all roads leading into Ekiti are federal roads and not the obligation of the state government to fix,  why are all the township road within Ado  the state capital and other major towns in Ekiti  in shambles and with pothole all over . Are they the obligation of the FG to also fix?

Let us talk about the public water supply systems in the state . The so much publicized Fayemi water project for which millions of dollars were taken as Loan, contracts for installation of water meters were awarded, meters installed in many homes within Ado Ekiti metropolis despite not seeing any major water pipelines being laid for supply connectivity.

Many years after , no single drop of water  had been seem anywhere flowing via these installed meters in Ado Ekiti and anywhere in the state from this project. Ironically, loans procured when exchange rate was N400/$ is now being paid back now at N1600/$ by Ekiti resources. And it seems BAO, though part of the government back then  decided to be quiet over this so as not to offend some individuals while Ekiti people suffers for this badly executed project. This failed water project has now  forced citizens back to unsafe water sources.

As a result of the liberalization by Federal government of the energy sector and the state now having the right to manage its own electricity, we are still not able to see the impact of this initiative and  Power supply remains erratic, hindering businesses and quality of life. An administration unable to address these fundamental infrastructural deficits cannot claim competence.

Security:

Meanwhile , In the area of security, I will score the government some pass mark. The recently conducted training for Amotekun corps and other new recruits is commendable . It is also noticeable that  the incidence of herdsmen and farmers clashes in Ekiti seems to have reduced and the incidence of kidnapping is not as rampant as it is in other neighboring states. This perhaps may be due to the synergy in the security agencies coupled with the inaugural formation of department of  homeland security in the state

Education:

Tarnishing the “Fountain of Knowledge”: Ekiti prides itself on its intellectual heritage, yet the state of its education sector under Oyebanji is alarming. Public schools grapple with inadequate facilities, teacher shortages, and demoralized staff often protesting delayed salaries or poor working conditions.

While WAEC results yearly annual national ranking has plummeted compared to few years back, systemic issues like poor infrastructure, lack of modern teaching tools, and inconsistent policies erode the quality of education.

The neglect of tertiary institutions like Bamidele Olumilua university of Education, Science and Technology and Ekiti State University (EKSU), of which the governor BAO himself is an alumnus of the latter and started his work career is  plagued by funding crises and industrial disputes.

A university where lecturers and students alike go into the bushes to defecate when pressed due to nonfunctional  toilets and convenience points exist. Obsolete laboratory equipment and reagents in the Science and engineering faculties.  Anyways, Thanks to the governing council Chairman -Dr Olowolafe for his financial and philanthropic assistance to the university in fixing some issues since he was appointed.

However, there is a limit to the volume of responsibilities an individual can carry overtime.  All these issues  further diminish the state’s intellectual capital. The “Fountain of Knowledge” risks running dry under this BAO stewardship.

Healthcare: A System on Life Support:

Primary healthcare centers (PHCs), the first line of defense for most citizens, remain largely under-equipped and understaffed. Access to quality healthcare in rural areas is a significant challenge. General hospitals struggle with inadequate funding, outdated equipment, and shortages of essential drugs and personnel.

The state’s health insurance scheme, crucial for universal coverage, lacks the necessary reach and efficiency. The government’s response to health emergencies and basic service delivery has been reactive and insufficient, leaving citizens vulnerable. As at today, I don’t think any of the general hospitals can boost of having functional and operational theatres , Ambulances for emergencies , talk less of Doctors and nurses to match the volume of patients who are in need of Medicare

Opacity and Lackluster Accountability:

Governance under Oyebanji has often been characterized by a lack of transparency. Key decisions, contracts, and budgetary allocations lack sufficient public scrutiny. The administration frequently resorts to generic assurances and PR-driven announcements rather than providing detailed, verifiable progress reports.

According to Debt Management Office (DMO) records,
YEAR EXTERNAL DEBT
2023 $105 million
2024 $136 million

As shown above from DMO records, and despite State government denial,  the external debt of Ekiti has jumped from $105m dollars since BAO took over to $136m dollars as at 2024. $31million dollars borrowed.  A 29% increase in external borrowing. What these borrowings are for is unknown to Ekiti people despite increased FAAC revenue and IGR.

However, we acknowledge that the devaluation of the naira makes revenue to have risen in nominal terms, the actual value due to inflation is lower. This is why we believe prioritization of Ekiti peoples need over wants is needed.  This opacity in government transactions fuels suspicion and erodes public trust. Genuine engagement with civil society and robust mechanisms for holding officials accountable appear weak.

The Competence Question: Mismanagement and Ineffectiveness:

Beyond specific sectoral failures, a recurring theme is administrative lethargy, lack of prioritization of impactful projects and poor project management. Initiatives are launched with fanfare but lack rigorous implementation plans, adequate funding timelines, or effective monitoring, leading to abandoned or poorly executed projects.

The bureaucracy appears bloated yet ineffective, and the political will to drive difficult reforms or enforce efficiency seems absent. The state apparatus functions far below its optimal capacity under the current leadership.

Beyond symbolism and with due respect to the governor and his family, critics kept asking and wondering why Governor Oyebanji, who has been in government since 1999 in various capacities and well established and built country homes in Ado Ekiti and his home country of Ikogosi Ekiti decided to do his beloved daughter’s wedding ceremony at Ibadan?  Thereby failing to  make his friends and well wishers  to visit Ekiti to celebrate with him, thus making the state to lose so much revenue from hotel bookings, Catering services, Food and wine purchase, Petrol station fuel purchase patronage and many others that would have benefitted along the value chain. It was a lost opportunity for the state.

The Conclusion: Ekiti Deserves Better

Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s first term has not demonstrated the transformative leadership Ekiti State urgently requires. The persistent failures in economic management, infrastructure decay, educational decline, healthcare inadequacy, and governance opacity paint a picture of an administration overwhelmed by challenges or lacking the requisite drive and competence.

Re-electing Governor Oyebanji would signal acceptance of the status quo – a state underperforming its potential, its youth denied opportunities, its infrastructure crumbling, and its proud intellectual legacy fading. Ekiti stands at a crossroads. Continuity under this banner promises more of the same stagnation.

Ekiti 2026: Now it’s clear to me!

The people of Ekiti deserve a governor with a clear, actionable vision; a proven capacity for dynamic leadership and project execution; a commitment to radical transparency; and the unwavering political will to tackle the state’s deep-seated challenges head-on. Governor Oyebanji’s first term record falls demonstrably short on all these counts.

Therefore, for Ekiti to truly progress, to reclaim its status as a beacon of development in the Southwest, and to secure a prosperous future for its children, the upcoming election must herald “ positive change”. It is time to retire an administration defined by its failures and elect a leader capable of delivering the governance Ekiti truly deserves.

The stakes are too high for a second chance based on unfulfilled promises and overwhelming performance  failures.

A second term is earned, not a right . as it stands today, nothing about the BAO government performance suggests it deserves  a renewal of mandate. The media endorsement by  some few former governors and leaders in the state doesn’t translate to actual vote. The endorsements seem self-serving. Governor Oyebanjis second term shouldn’t be like a walk over. This is democracy. Other aspirants in APC should be allowed to partake without bias in a free and fair primaries and not gagged into submission like losers without being heard nor allowed to compete fairly. While opposition parties’ candidates should be allowed to sell their manifestoes to Ekiti people without fear of harassment.

In a free and fair elections, BAO himself knows he will be voted out.  Let all Ekiti unite together without sentiments and personal interest and all with their voter cards come out on election day in 2026.  Let us try newer and more vibrant alternatives .

Ekiti must move forward, not stand still.

Akinjide Ogunmoriyele writes from Abuja. He can be reached via edwardlouislimited60@gmail.com
08063551513