Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has announced plans to honour the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, with a legacy project for creating Ekiti State on October 1, 1996.
Oyebanji disclosed this on Monday during the commissioning of the Ayodele Fayose Lodge, a new edifice within the Government House Complex in Ado Ekiti named after former Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The Governor said the Abacha honour is part of a broader plan to recognize more eminent Ekiti leaders with legacy projects.
Those listed include the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
He explained that thr initiative is aimed at preserving the contributions of those who shaped the state’s history and development.
Oyebanji also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for appointing former Governor Fayose as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), noting that the appointment has increased the number of prominent Ekiti citizens occupying prestigious positions at the federal level, adding that it was also a demonstration of the President’s love the State.
Expressing his gratitude to the President Tinubu for his support for the state, Oyebanji said no President has treated Ekiti the way President Tinubu has done since the creation of the state some 29 years ago in terms of availability of more funds to the state from the federation account, execution of critical projects across the state and the huge number citizens holding important federal appointments.
Oyebanji urged the people of the state to deliver more than double of the 319,224 votes he garnered during the last governorship election for Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election in appreciation of the love and magnanimity Ekiti has so far enjoyed under his Presidency.
Commending former Governor Fayose for his statesmanship and service to Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanji said the former governor was reaping the same gesture he extended to other prominent Ekiti citizens whom he named key projects after during his two terms as Governor of the state.
He added that the construction of the Ayodele Fayose Lodge was just a token of appreciation for his sacrifices for the people of the state.
He said that while Fayose named projects after the late former Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmi Olayinka; former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye; former Minister in the old Western Region, Chief Oduola Osuntokun and Nigeria’s first female University graduate, Lady Deborah Jibowu, he (Fayose) did not name any project after himself while in office.
Oyebanji said he was fulfilled that Fayose was being honoured in his lifetime with the edifice not at his funeral. He disclosed further that Chief Segun Oni is the next former governor to be immortalised with the naming of another edifice within the precincts of the Ekiti Government House after which the honour would be extended to other distinguished patriots of the State.
He added: “What we are doing today is to appreciate you for your service to our state, to let you know that we appreciate you, to let you know that we will continue to build on the blocks of courage and development which you laid. I am grateful to God that we are not saying this at your funeral; I am grateful to God that you are here to commission this project that has been named after you.
“And like I said on Friday when we unveiled Governor Kayode Fayemi Lodge, the next lodge will be named after Governor Segun Oni. After we are done with our former governors, we will name some legacy projects after illustrious sons of Ekiti and those to be honoured include Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun and the late General Sani Abacha who created Ekiti State.
“Before the end of our second tenure, we will find a befitting legacy project that will be named after General Sani Abacha because, for us in Ekiti, this state wouldn’t have been without him creating it.”
Fayose expressed gratitude to Oyebanji for his leadership qualities of unifying different political camps in the state and giving respect to all his predecessors irrespective of the political parties they belong to.
The former Governor said he had no regret supporting President Bola Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji, despite not being a member of the ruling APC.
Fayose said Oyebanji has been writing a positive history with his friendly and accommodating gestures which has united all tendemcies and made the State to be peaceful.
He also said Oyebanji has shown wisdom and exemplary statesmanship with his leadership style and inclusive programmes and policies unlike what the state experienced when prominent politicians across parties including former governors were at daggers drawn with the attendant tension and acrimony.
Noting that there is always a payback time for everything anybody does in life, Fayose said Oyebanji has so far succeeded in providing the right leadership because of the backing he enjoys from all former governors and political leaders cutting across various sides of the divides.
Fayose advised Oyebanji to carry out more stomach infrastructure for the ordinary citizens to give them a sense of belonging and also to ensure better welfare package for former governors whom he said had served the state meritoriously.
The former governor who promised to use his new position as the Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency to ensure that many rural communities in Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general are illuminated, promised an unflinching support for Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential poll.