Don’t Come In-Between Me, Opeyemi Bamidele – Governor Oyebanji Warns Ekiti Politicians 

 By Emmanuel Adeoye

The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has warned the Ekiti Politicians never to come in between him and the 10th Senate Leader / Senator representing the Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State at the Nigerian Senate, in person of Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele just as he used the opportunity to endorsed the Governor Oyebanji for 8 years in office with a counsel from Pa Oyebanji to parents to ensure they finance the education of their children just as he did. 

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti State gave the warning while addressing the congregation during the Church Service held at the First Baptist Church in Ikogosi Ekiti on Saturday to celebrate the 90th birthday ceremony of his father, Pa Ezekiel Oyebanji. 

Speaking regarding his political future, Oyebanji said he has no enemy to fight and that those postulating that he and Senator Bamidele would soon clash would be disappointed. 

“The two of us are first and foremost friends and brothers, we believe in God as the sole determinant of the future and we are also highly experienced politicians who have committed our political future in the hands of God. So, stop speculating about any war between us.

“God is the Alpha and Omega of human beings, He does things at his own will. God is the decider of our fate. I want to tell you clearly that nothing can separate me from Senator Bamidele. We have built a strong relationship over the years, so politics can’t separate us”.   

The Governor also stated that those who have been speculating over possible political crisis between him and the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele will be grossly  disappointed, adding that the cord of their relationship stands strong and unbreakable. 

Shedding light on his simplicity and humble approach to life, Oyebanji stated that his father contributed immensely to his spiritual growth, which had buoyed his faith in God, as the only one with the capacity to provide solution to all life’s challenges. 

Giving reasons for the decision of the family to have a low key celebration devoid of any formal invitation to anyone, Governor Oyebanji said it was in line with the family’s modest manner of doing things, coupled with the fact he, as the Governor of the state,  has  to live by example. 

The Governor said: “I would have loved to make the birthday elaborate, but I have to make it a low key for the fact that Ekiti people are currently  my employer, so I have to behave responsibly. I have to be cautious and circumspect in whatever I  do. 

“If I wasn’t a governor, I would have celebrated  him more than this. We deliberately did not send out invitation card to anyone so that Baba can have a modest celebration with his friends and family members. But somehow people heard and turned up to honour our father”.

Speaking regarding his father’s virtuous life, Oyebanji stated: “Those who are saying I am humble should blame my father for it. He is the one who thought me to be humble. I have no apologies about that. If I have misbehaved as a Governor, my father would have called to caution me. He is such a disciplinarian and would waste no time in correcting me even as a sitting Governor”. 

While speaking during the Church Service, “Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele commended Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable performance as Governor of the state, a development he said had raised his political rating and would make him spend eight years as a Governor.

“I will make sure that I joined Governor Oyebanji to improve the wellbeing of Ekiti State in terms of road construction and facilitating federal projects to Ekiti. This is what we owe Ekiti and we shall achieve it”.

“As God liveth, Baba will still live longer to reap the fruits of his labour. I appreciate the Governor for standing by me to be Senate Leader. His support was strong and solid. He did this because he had imbibed the culture of Omoluabi and love for Ekiti from his father. 

In his remarks at the thanksgiving service, the celebrant, Pa Oyebanji, said his strong belief in scholarship as a weapon to overcome poverty, propelled him to acquire western education through hardwork and resoluteness.

Pa Oyebanji appreciated God for being alive to celebrate 90, and still standing tall in good health to contribute to the growth of education in his community, state and the country at large.

 “When I finished my Primary six, my father loved all his children, but he didn’t have money to send us to school. I was farming with him, but I loved education and I was determined to acquire it at all costs, which I later did. 

“What I know is that whoever that is not focused and hardworking can’t succeed in life. It was these principles that led me to study for my GCE as a private candidate. It was this that gave me admission into the university. Our youths must know that those who made it to the top struggled in life to get there. So, they must work hard to rise and succeed”. 

The nonagenarian father of the Governor  also charged parents to invest hugely in their children’s  education  to make their future brighter, more rewarding and glowingly remarkable.

“That was what I did that paid off today. I took the upkeep of my children with passion. I didn’t joke with it. Our parents should also imbibe same because whatever you sow, you shall reap”, Pa Oyebanji said.