Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Friday appealed to residents to support President Bola Tinubu as his administration implements reforms that, the governor said, are already producing benefits for Nigerians.
Tinubu reforms gaining traction, says Oyebanji
Speaking in Ado Ekiti at an inter-faith thanksgiving service to mark the first working day of 2026, Mr Oyebanji described the president’s policy measures as necessary, if initially difficult, steps to restore economic stability. “A policy may be tough initially, it is like a boil that will be more painful when it is about to burst,” he said. “Now, the worst is over, the economy is rebounding, the Naira has stabilised, fuel price is coming down, inflation is receding.”
Oyebanji urged Ekiti people to offer their support and prayers so the Tinubu administration can complete reforms that will improve living standards nationwide. He warned against forces he said had “held this country by the jugular” and said it is the responsibility of citizens and leaders to retrieve the nation from those who would block progress.
The governor, who is the All Progressives Congress candidate in the June 20 Ekiti governorship election, also promised to keep governance and service delivery separate from electioneering activities. He expressed confidence that his record over the past three years will secure him and his party another four-year term.
Declaring 2026 “a year of unlimited opportunities” for Ekiti, Oyebanji charged political officeholders to act as careful stewards of the state’s resources so every citizen feels the impact of government programmes. He said the progress being seen at the national level provides room for state administrations to focus on delivering services.
The service included admonitions from religious leaders. In his sermon the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, urged the governor to remember the covenant that brought him into office and to remain humble and faithful in service. The State Qareeb Missioner, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Afenifere, told political leaders to avoid ingratitude and to show mercy to the less privileged, reminding them that power is transient.
By holding an inter-faith event the governor sought to signal unity across religious lines as he moves into the election year. Dignitaries at the service included Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, First Lady Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Adeoye Aribasoye, Chief Judge Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye and House of Representatives member Adeniyi Ojuawo.
Also present were the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, state lawmakers, heads of labour and trade unions, local government chairmen, heads of institutions, political officeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants and members of the public.
Oyebanji’s remarks align with wider claims from government officials that recent policy steps are easing pressures on the economy. He asked citizens to sustain their support for national reforms and to pray for the president, saying that if significant progress has been made in less than three years, “imagine what he will do in eight years.”
As Ekiti heads towards a contested governorship poll in June, the governor’s message combined political campaigning with a call for prudent governance and community cohesion as the state looks to consolidate gains and expand opportunities for residents in 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji says Tinubu reforms are beginning to deliver economic relief across Nigeria.
- Oyebanji urged prayers and support for President Bola Tinubu while pledging steady governance ahead of the June 20 Ekiti poll.
- The governor declared 2026 a year of opportunity for Ekiti and called on officials to steward resources responsibly.
