_By Segun Dipe_
_People with good intentions make promises; people with integrity keep them._
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_Sine qua non_ is a Latin phrase that means "without which not" or "an indispensable condition." It refers to a necessary condition or element that is required for something to happen, exist, or be true.
In other words, a sine qua non is a crucial factor that is essential for a particular outcome, event, or situation to occur. Without this factor, the outcome, event, or situation would not be possible.
Integrity, on the other hand, implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a high degree. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Leaders who make integrity their watchword tend to embody trust and create the foundation for long-term success.
Ekiti is a very complex State to govern for the fact that limited resources are often thrown at limitless needs, with the people feeling entitled, it is quite tough to meet every need. It takes the citizens' trust for the governor to be acceptable. In a political landscape like ours in Nigeria, often marred by corruption and self-interest, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State, codenamed BAO, stands out as a shining example of what it means to be integrity-driven. His unwavering commitment to the betterment of his constituents has earned him a well-deserved reputation as one of the governors driven mostly by integrity in Nigeria today.
BAO's integrity is not an artificial one. He also backs it up with action, and he is consistent with it. In his words: "If I make a promise, I will surely see to its fulfillment." Meaning that he walks his talk, and does it so humbly that one would almost take it for granted as an auto-run venture.
While declaring open a three-day retreat for the heads of local governments and local council development areas, LCDAs, of the state last June, Gov. Oyebanji urged them to borrow a leaf from his administration by placing high premium on professionalism, discipline, compassion, and teamwork in order to drive substantial improvement in local government administration in the State.
The Governor further said the only way for them to earn the trust of the people was such that they would discharge their civic responsibility with utmost sincerity, integrity, efficiency and professionalism. He encouraged them to uphold the highest ethical standards of honesty and transparency in all their dealings.
Inconsistency is the antithesis of trust. A person commits the fallacy of inconsistency when he or she makes contradictory claims or when his actions are incongruous with his words. Oyebanji is very consistent in his dealings. He seems to have perfectly rehearsed and perfected his acts as if he knew he would someday mount the saddle.
Oyebanji does not only govern with integrity, he keeps his ears to the ground to listen to the yearnings of the people. Like he would often tell his aides: "don't try to gag anyone, let them voice their feelings freely and let us endeavour to assuage them."
It is two years now that Oyebanji canvassed, earned and mounted the saddle to govern Ekiti State. Right down the line, his passion to govern with integrity and prioritise the needs of the people has not waned a bit. He works relentlessly in and out of the box to meet every expectation. While traversing the length and breadth of the State passionately, asking the citizenry to trust him with their votes, Oyebanji made a lot of promises that not a few began to wonder if he was not over-promising. He indeed promised much. For every concern, he had an assurance to give. In general, he promised shared prosperity, that he won't rest on his oars until every home feels the positive impact of his governance. He promised to give every son and daughter of Ekiti a sense of belonging and make them to be proud of their State under his watch. He promised every community a touch of governance in terms of projects and appointments.
Oyebanji promised the youths, he promised the aged, he promised the women, he promised the children, he promised the royal fathers and the subjects, he promised to make every religion count, he promised the investors, he promised the farmers, he promised the market women, he promised the artisans, he promised the transporters, he promised the teachers, he promised the students, he promised the workers, he promised the retirees, he promised the unemployed, he promised the out of school, he promised the politicians, he promised the apolitical., he promised the indigenes and non-indigenes alike. In his words, there would be something for everyone in his government, and no one would doubt where he stands as the governor on any matter.
Today, two years into his government, it can be said of Gov Oyebanji that he has not failed any of his promisees. Give it to him that he prioritizes integrity, he regards it as the paragon of his values. He not only preaches it, he embodies it in his official and personal lives. Add to this his non-treacherous nature. He honours all his predecessors in office and continues to value the ladder he climbed to reach the top.
By swashing about with qualities like honesty, transparency, accountability and by accommodating criticisms of all sorts, Oyebanji has given everyone a reason to trust his leadership and warm up to him. Even his critics today are of the view that the mantle of leadership should rest on him much longer.
As a leader steeped in integrity, Oyebanji makes ethical decisions, even when grappling with formidable dilemmas like trying to meet conflicting needs. He weighs the ramification of every choice on a broad spectrum and considers the interest of every stakeholder, especially that of a larger community.
Oyebanji is quick to accept blames. He takes ownership of his actions and tasks himself with shouldering responsibility for his choices. He does not give excuses, he gives results. And in doing so, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to constant betterment.
Two of Oyebanji's powerful assets as governor, aside humility and diligence, are diversity and inclusivity. He actively seeks out a multitude of perspectives, fosters an environment where all voices are respected. Such a "no-foe" approach to governance, fuels innovations and augments good decision making.
Simply because Oyebanji puts his integrity forward, communicates transparently, makes ethical decision and projects shared vision for the people to flourish collectively, not a few have come to believe in his mission and they call for an encore of his tenure, albeit, an uninterrupted second term. The call keeps resonating and increasing by the day.
Succinctly put, if the people must continue to believe in beautiful soul, kind heart and good energy, then, they must stick to BAO. Though he has spent just two of the first four-year term, a second four-year term is loading already and becoming a surer bet in Ekiti. So far, so good, it's a merited call from the people who are happy with the current situation in Ekiti, made possible by Oyebanji's sincerity of purpose.
_-Segun Dipe writes from Ado Ekiti._
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