- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has commended the Senate Leader representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) over his timely delivery of some constituency projects across his senatorial district in Ekiti.
He appealed to the people of Ekiti State to continue to pray for the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart to excel as the Leader of the Senate.
The Governor in company of the Senate Leader made the appeal on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti during the inspection tour of constituency projects being carried out by the Senate Leader in Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State.
Addressing the gathering at the newly built hostels for medical students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) as part of his constituency projects, the Senate Leader said the project was made possible because the University has alumni that are very focused, dynamic and purposeful.
According to Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, “the entire leadership of the alumni association under the watch of Global President has been working very closely with us and other stakeholders in the State, and it’s always about EKSU.
Charging the Governor, Bamidele said having spent his formative and foundation years in the institution and as the Governor of Ekiti State, he said he’s proud that Governor Oyebanji is taking his time to place his God’s given position at the disposal of the University.
In his own remarks, Oyebanji explained that he has heard about the hostels being built for the EKSU medical students and that he was glad that he’s there to see the wonders that Senator Bamidele is doing.
In his word, “We have devoted the whole of today for project supervision across the Senatorial District. We are just starting with this place, once we leave here, we are going to Efon, Ekiti West, Ijero before coming back to Ado-Ekiti.
“What this tells me is that the people stand to gain tremendously when there’s alignment of vision and unity of purpose, and when there’s love among us. The Senator has done tremendously well in ensuring that the National budget aligns with the priorities”.
Commending the Senate Leader, the Governor stressed, “I can only be grateful to you because if you choose not to do this here, it’s your project, nobody can question you. But you have shown commitment and love towards your constituents. I have told you that if you have projects that you want to take to other parts of the State as long is not going to violate extant rules and regulations, do it and let people read meaning to it. I don’t care about that. I want Ekiti State to be developed.
“Ekiti belongs to all of us. If there’s any local government you are led to assist, assist them. I will always support the university and see what we can do. As a government, we are going to make a tremendous mark here. I have told someone to come and see what we can engage with and see what we can give as a legacy in the university because when I leave government, I still want to be part of the alumni association.
“We are also talking to the Federal Government on Ijan-ABUAD- Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti road. The Senate Leader has graciously put it in the National budget the reconstruction of the road and the Minister of works promised to come this weekend to have a look at the road. There are also other projects that he has put in the budget. He has been assisting me to ensure that we get good projects awarded”. Oyebanji explained.
Speaking on the mini stadium to be built at Ekameta Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, MOB said there wasn’t any issue on where the project was sited. Adding that the mini stadium would be named Ekameta mini stadium because three communities; Erijinyan, Ikogosi and Ipole/Iloro Ekiti, all in Ekameta Local Council Development Area of the State are in charge.
“We had to cross check with the Governor to know where to fix it in the budget and the Governor said wherever it is sited in Ekameta is okay by him. Getting here, I can see that it is sited between the boundary of Ikogosi and Erijinyan which is also a stone throw to Ipole/Iloro-Ekiti.
“Another project that we brought at the same time is Intensive Care Unit and Amenity Centre which is sited at Aramoko-Ekiti. ICU is usually sited closely to General Hospital. God, Who has started it with us will help us to complete it and it won’t be an abandoned project in Jesus name. The Senator prayed.
“By the special grace of God, very soon we will all gather here again the same way we gathered today. The next time you will see me is when we will be commissioning the project but the Governor would be coming for supervision occasionally and whenever the Governor couldn’t come, the SA to the Governor on Political Matters, High Chief Jide Awe would be giving an update. Bamidele said.