Some leaders unhappy about my leadership style – Gov Oyebanji

The governor spoke in Omuo-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti East Council Area on Monday while giving account of his stewardship at a stakeholders’ parley organised to mark his 300 days in office.

Oyebanji said the leaders had at different times told him to stop dealing with the citizenry with sincerity and truthfulness, adding that the principle of transparency and accountability would continue to be his administration watchword.

He said: “I want you to remember me as your leader that does not lie to you, I will be dealing with you with all sincerity and truthfulness but unfortunately our people don’t like the truth. People confronted me that politicians don’t always say the truth, but I told them to blame my parents for that because my father thought me to always tell the truth and it is too late for me to learn how to lie.

“What I can’t do, I will tell you I can’t do it and because I say the truth always, many people are not happy with it, I am sorry that is how it will be; I have no apology for it.

“I will continue to tell the truth so that when I leave this place, people will remember me as governor who tell the truth at all time.”

He appealed to Ekiti people not to put undue pressure and demands on the newly appointed commissioners and Special Advisers, stressing that such could prevent them from coming to their constituencies regularly as true representatives of the people.

Oyebanji also declared that his government had expended a sum of N213 million to lift 2,600 indigent citizens from poverty under social investment component of his administration within the last 100 days.

Dispelling the fear being nursed by some concerned citizens that the new appointees could slow down his pace performance with their politicking, the governor said they were coming with additional values to the government.

He added that rather than slow down the pace of work, the public should expect greater level of performance.

Oyebanji stated: “The new commissioners are coming from different background and diverse level of expertise. We are still going to do much more than what we have done . If we can do all these in eight months without full cabinet, we should be able to do times two of these in four years.

“My cabinet members must hear this, our people said I am doing well because my Commissioners, who are politicians have not been brought on board. But I want to say that they don’t have any other choice than to do well. But don’t put unnecessary pressure on them. We should know that political appointment is a position of responsibility.

“When pressure is put on them, they will be dodging and would not want to come home. But these cabinet members are ready and willing and they have the fire power and experiences to do well. I have implicit confidence in them that they can only join us and deliver for our people.

“We must know that we contested the last election and won with APC as a vehicle and our members need to be very careful to remain in government. They must not take our people for granted or misbehave to them. “

Giving an explicit breakdown of the fund expended on social security, Oyebanji said his government spent a humongous sum of N96 million on 600 persons under Ekiti State Livelihood Grant component, and N117 million benefited from the Ekiti State Cash Transfer Unit to salvage the poorest of the poor from excruciating poverty.

He said he has released a cumulative sum of N800 million to tertiary institutions as subvention arrears, while he paid N400 million to defray outstanding obligations to State Universal Basic Education Board contractors.

Peoplesmind