PROJECTS INSPECTION TURNS REFERENDUM OF ENDORSEMENT FOR OYEBANJI'S SECOND TERM.

The BAO Impact Series No. 12

PROJECTS INSPECTION TURNS REFERENDUM OF ENDORSEMENT FOR OYEBANJI'S SECOND TERM.

BY ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA

For greater part of this week, between Monday and Tuesday to be precise, Governor Biodun Oyebanji again hit the road for a working visit to ongoing projects most especially the ones domiciled in Ekiti North Senatorial District.

The tour, some of which dragged well into the nights, speaks to the Governor's resolve to ensure speedy completion of such projects for their timely delivery to their people in the grassroots for their benefit.

Everywhere he went, the reception accorded the Governor was unprecedented as the residents of the towns and communities concerned rolled out their drums, sang and danced on sighting the man of the people and his entourage.

The joy on the faces of the people was spontaneous and natural; reports had it that many of them had waited for hours and had turned their neighbourhoods and vicinities to carnivals in expression of their joy for what the administration led by the Governor has done and is still doing to make life easier for them.

The appreciative residents made up of traditional rulers, community leaders, elderly citizens, youths, women groups, market women and other interest groups expressed their desire to reward Governor Oyebanji with another term in office when the time comes.

They kept chanting "BAO! BAO!! BAO!!!" "BAO Lafe," meaning "We Want BAO to Remain in Office," "4 Plus 4," among others. The people in these towns said these with their mouths and they equally expressed same with the placards and miniature signposts they carried.

What was ordinarily a tour of projects was turned to a referendum for the endorsement of the Governor for a new term of four years in office for a man who is making the impact of good governance felt in the grassroots. 

This endorsement was not done on party basis; it was not made by leaders of Governor Oyebanji's political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). This referendum of endorsement was done by the ordinary people on the streets, the real locals, the people living in the grassroots who are appreciating the good work of the Governor.

When people are happy, when people are delirious and when people are ecstatic, it is a feeling they cannot hide. That was the story from Are to Oye, Ilupeju to Igbo Egan, Itapa to Ifaki, Aaye to Ikun, it was an outburst of joy to welcome the Ekiti construction czar, Governor Oyebanji.

The dividends of the inspection visits are beneficial to all parties involved: they are beneficial to the host communities who will soon put them into use, beneficial to citizens working there, beneficial to the government which is monitoring them to have the full value for the money spent and beneficial to passersby and other Nigerians who will benefit from such projects.

The projects include the Ado Ekiti Ring Road Phase One (due for completion in July this year); Are-Oye Road, the inspection of which came with another bonus of granting the request of Are Community to connect the almost 1.5km lateritic road to the Ring Road; Ilupeju-Igbo Egan-Ayede Road and Iye-Olopomeji-Ikun Road.

The tour to the renovated hospitals was also a critical aspect of the tour which caught the attention of Mr Governor. Significant work has been done on the overhaul and major repair of nine General Hospitals which is complementing those of 11 General Hospitals done by the immediate past administration (another gain of continuity).

Those touched during the latest visit are Itapa/Ilupeju Hospital, Iye General Hospital, Ijesa Isu General Hospital and Ifaki General Hospital. What further thrilled the locals in the towns visited was that the ultramodern, state-of-the-art facilities the renovated hospitals have been equipped with which are expected to aid quality delivery of treatment and other services to the people.

Inadequate facilities at hospitals and health centres in the far-flung communities have been identified as part of the reasons why key health workers, especially doctors, don't stay there and why patients there are taken to hospitals in places like Ado and Ido. Such experiences would soon become things of the past.

The joy on the faces of medical personnel on ground could be seen because the new facilities in the hospitals would serve as motivation to give their best amidst an environment conducive to work efficiency. Governor Oyebanji recognizes the fact that motivating the health personnel boosts their service delivery and stands to benefit the patients in the long run.

The Governor's announcement of the readiness of his administration to employ more doctors, nurses and other health workers and the renovation of 103 Primary Health Centres have gladdened the hearts of stakeholders in the health sector and the general populace.

The road projects visited are also going on at appreciable level and the contractors themselves know they are under a solemn obligation to deliver quality projects and within the time limit given to them.

These projects will surely add value to the lives of the people of Ekiti State and they will have opportunities of celebrating big time on the days of they will be formally commisioned for their use.

Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print Media)