Amid lingering rumour that Dr Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, has an eye in the opposition African Democratic Coalition, he has described the incumbent Biodun Oyebanji as his greatest achievement.

He described Oyebanji’s performance as outstanding, calling him a visionary leader.

Fayemi gave the commendation in Ijelu-Ekiti during the commissioning of the Itapa–Ijelu–Omu Road, one of the numerous projects completed by the Oyebanji administration as part of activities marking its third anniversary.

The former Governor expressed delight his successor had not only built on his administration’s legacy but also surpassed expectations in the delivery of good governance.

“Absolutely, he is my greatest achievement. “I have my own imperfections, but those imperfections he has managed to correct or reduce. God has indeed been kind to us in Ekiti by blessing us with a Governor who is focused on transformation rather than unnecessary politicking at the expense of development,” he said.

The former Governor stated that the success of the Oyebanji administration validates his belief in purposeful and people-centered leadership, adding that the Governor’s track record within three years justifies the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Ekiti to rally behind him for the 2026 governorship election.

Lassa fever: Ondo records 106 cases, 8 deaths Prof. Francis Faduyile, Special Adviser to Ondo State governor on Health Lassa Fever By Segun Giwa Akure, Jan. 29, 2023(NAN) Ondo State government has said 106 cases of Lassa Fever and eight deaths have been recorded in the state this year. Prof. Francis Faduyile, Special Adviser to the governor on Health, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure. Faduyile said the confirmed cases were in six local governments of Owo, Akure North, Akure South, Ose, Akoko South-West and Idanre. According to him, Owo has the highest cases of 68, Akure North (13), Akure South (11), Ose(9), Akoko South-West(5) and Idanre (1). “Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 23, we have had 268 suspected cases of Lassa Fever, 106 confirmed cases and unfortunately eight deaths,” Faduyile said. He explained that the prevalent period of the disease was during the dry season and part of the rainy season when farmers were cultivating lands for farming. “The farmers during this period will do a lot of bush burning and when they burn the bush, the rats will move from their natural habitat to a place safer and a lot of them tends to come towards homes in that surrounding. “The first way to prevent Lassa is to stop bush burning, and we have sensitised against this,” he said. Faduyile advised people not put their foods where rats can have access. “We have observed that some of our cultural activities like spreading cassava on the road to dry are harmful because rats can come around eat out of the cassava and drop faeces or urine on it. “Besides, we have observed that our level of hygiene, if it is not well improved, it can attract rats, because rats are scavengers and when there is uneaten food, that is not covered, they tend to come,” he said. Faduyile noted that the government has embarked on advocacy through the local governments and traditional rulers as well as other preventive means to stem the disease. “Every year there is ‘deratification’, that is to kill all the rats, and we have started it this year which has been largely successful. “Also, there have been a lot of advocacy to medical personnel for them to have high index of suspicion for any fever,” he said. Faduyile said the government has improved the state Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, to a standard that can take care of Lassa fever. — Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji

Fayemi praised Governor Oyebanji for prioritizing infrastructure development, particularly road construction and rehabilitation, which, according to him, have boosted commerce, improved connectivity, and eased transportation across the state.

He explained the new roads constructed and commissioned under the Oyebanji government are strategic to Ekiti’s economic growth, linking key agricultural zones, business communities, and tourism corridors to major urban centres.

“I want to thank our Governor for not disappointing us and for holding firmly to his faith in God and commitment to truth. He has delivered on the task of governing Ekiti and is leaving it better than we left it. “We have every reason to be proud of him and no reason to abandon him.”

Highlighting the Governor’s performance, Fayemi listed several roads initiated by his administration but completed by Oyebanji, including Itapa–Ijelu–Omu, Omisanjana–Atlas, Agric Olope–Moferere, Ijurin–Ayegunle, GRA Third Extension, Ikole–Ara–Isinbode, and Ikere–Ilawe roads, among others.

The Governor described the event as a demonstration of the gains of continuity in governance, stressing that development becomes faster when leaders build on the legacies of their predecessors rather than abandon them.

Oyebanji thanked Fayemi for breaking the jinx of discontinuity that had hindered Ekiti’s progress since its creation, noting that all road projects initiated by the previous administration but left unfinished have now been completed.

“I bless God for today. What is happening here speaks to what Ekiti has lost over the years due to lack of continuity. If we had been building on each other’s work since the days of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, our state would have gone far. I thank Dr. Fayemi for breaking that jinx, and I’m proud that nearly all the projects he started are now completed.”