President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on his 58th birthday, celebrated on December 21, 2025.
The President commended Oyebanji’s stewardship and commitment to the development of Ekiti State over the years.
In a statement dated Saturday, released via the State House website on Sunday and signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu highlighted the governor’s service as Secretary to the Committee on the Creation of Ekiti and his various public service roles thereafter.
“Oyebanji was Special Adviser to the state’s first civilian governor, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, and later became his Chief of Staff.
“He was Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs during the first-term administration of the immediate-past governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and later served as Secretary to the State Government.
“Oyebanji was elected Ekiti governor in 2022. He has already secured the All Progressives Congress’ nomination to contest for a second term in office in 2026,” the statement read.
Tinubu particularly acknowledged the state’s infrastructural growth under Oyebanji, with special focus on the agricultural and aviation sectors.
He congratulated the governor on the completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport in Ado-Ekiti and the successful inauguration of flights.
He wished the governor many more years and continued impactful governance in the state.
PUNCH Online reports that Oyebanji was born on December 21, 1967, in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State. (Punch)
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
He described the gesture as a profound recognition of excellence and a source of pride for the people of Ekiti State.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Tinubu made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs on Friday.
Oluyede, a native of Ikere-Ekiti, was until his new appointment the Chief of Army Staff.
His elevation to the apex of Nigeria’s military hierarchy, Oyebanji said, is both a testament to his dedication and a reflection of Tinubu’s commitment to merit and national service.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, from Ado-Ekiti and put on the state website on Saturday, the governor thanked the President, saying the appointment recognises “the exemplary qualities of the Ikere-Ekiti-born General.”
“The Government and the people of Ekiti State are grateful to the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for General Oluyede’s appointment. We wish him success in this new assignment and pledge our unalloyed support for him,” the statement read.
Oyebanji praised the new Defence Chief as a shining example of the Ekiti spirit of service, honour, and excellence.
“General Oluyede epitomises the core values of courage, integrity and loyalty for which Ekitis are known.
“He possesses a high level of integrity and professionalism required to make a success of the new assignment being given to him by the President,” Oyebanji said.
Expressing confidence in the General’s leadership, Oyebanji said he has no doubt Oluyede will bring his vast military experience to bear on the job.
“He is a gallant officer with a proven track record of accomplishments in his illustrious military career.
“We are confident he will leverage his extensive experience and expertise in charting a new direction for the military, particularly during this critical period,” the governor noted.
Oyebanji’s message struck both a note of pride and gratitude — pride in the elevation of an illustrious Ekiti son, and gratitude to Tinubu for what he called “a deserved appointment that reaffirms the values of competence and patriotism.”
With this appointment, Ekiti joins the nation in celebrating one of its own at the helm of Nigeria’s defence establishment — a moment Governor Oyebanji said “reflects honour not only for General Oluyede, but for the entire state.” (Punch)
Two communities in Ekiti State, Ise Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area and Ijesa Isu in Ikole Local Government Area, have called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to fulfil promises made to them.
For Ise Ekiti, the demand centres on the construction of a world-class Olowe Museum in honour of the late master carver, Olowe of Ise.
Meanwhile, residents of Ijesa Isu are pressing for the rehabilitation of the Iluomoba–Ijesa Isu–Ikole Road.
In a letter made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, and signed by its National Secretary, Patrick Abayomi, the Ten O’s Club of Ise Ekiti urged the governor to implement the museum project.
According to the letter dated September 18, 2025, he said that the museum was part of the governor’s effort “to preserve the legacies of internationally renowned carver popularly called Olowe of Ise Ekiti”.
Abayomi added, “It is of our collective appeal to Your Excellency to please, fulfil the promise made to Ise people on the ultra-modern Museum which will contribute largely to the development of the town, educate the people historically and bring revenue by visitors who shall be visiting on tourism purposes.
“It is our urgent appeal that Your Excellency listen to our demand for the implementation (kick off) of the awarded contract. We strongly believe that the second tenure of the governor will make the completion of the Museum.
“Your administration has been a tremendous one ever since you assumed office as the governor of Ekiti State, and your act of governance can never be underestimated. Furthermore, we appreciate Your Excellency on the construction of the drainage channel across waterways in the town and other projects.”
Olowe, an Ise Ekiti-based sculptor, whose works litter several museums in America and Europe, died in 1934.
Recall that Oyebanji, in 2023, announced plans by his administration to build a world-class museum in Ise Ekiti to preserve the late sculptor’s legacy, saying his government would collaborate with the Ise Ekiti community and other stakeholders in turning Olowe’s residence into an internationally recognised centre of attraction.
Also speaking during a chat with journalists at Ijesa Isu on Wednesday, the Regent of the community, Princess Omobolaji Adeniyi, appealed to the governor to hasten the fulfilment of his promise to rehabilitate the road.
She said, “The state government has assured us that reconstruction work will soon commence on the road. I can assure my people that our governor is a talk-and-do governor. He has assured us that he would do something about the road, so we are really hoping that, soon, something will be done in that direction.
“This is an agrarian community, our farmers need to transport their goods from here to other neighbouring towns and transit to and from this community with ease. We are really hoping that the government will come to our aid soon. I am hoping that the road will be done very soon.”
Governor Oyebanji, who recently restated his administration’s commitment to road development, highlighted several completed projects, including the Ekiti Ring Road, Isinbode–Ara–Ikole, Itapa–Ijelu, Ikogosi–Igbara Odo, Ikere–Igbara Odo, Ikere–Ilawe, and Ikere–Ise roads.
He also disclosed that more than 132 kilometres of rural roads were being built under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in partnership with the World Bank. (Punch)
A farmer and owner of MAO Organic Farms, Mr Dele Okunoye, has expressed excitement over the ruling of an Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, which restrained some herders from encroaching on his farmland.
The farmer hailed the state government for responding to the situation when his farmland was ravaged by herds last year and for the legal support he received to seek court redress.
Okunoye had dragged a Fulani herdsman, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakili, and others associated with him before the court over alleged destruction of his crops by their herds last year.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, in a ruling on the matter on Wednesday, granted “an order restraining the Fulani herder, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakili, prohibiting him and other herdsmen associated with him from further encroaching on MAO Organic Farms or any farmland within the state”.
Responding, Wakili pledged that he would never return to the said farmland or any of its surrounding areas.
The herder also vowed that “we (he and other herders under my supervision) will not trespass on the property again under any circumstances.”
Wakili expressed his commitment to peace and assured the court of his willingness to abide by the laws of the state.
Okunoye, in a chat with journalists after the court proceeding, explained how over 100 acres of his crops, including rice, maize, cassava, and high-grade Malaysian oil palm valued at over N30m, were destroyed in a series of attacks in August 2024.
He said, “I am excited. I commend Governor Biodun Oyebanji and key agencies of the state government for the justice done following the destruction of my farmland by the cattle belonging to the herders.”
The farmer also praised the prompt and coordinated response of government officials and security agencies, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade; the Special Adviser on Security, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd.); Amotekun Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd.); Agro Marshal Commander, ACP Olamide Oni (retd.); and the Ekiti State Police Command Rapid Response Squad led by CSP Marcus Ogundola.
PUNCH Metro recalls that the Ekiti State Government is intensifying efforts to resolve clashes between farmers and herders through dialogue, enforcement of grazing regulations and support for legal redress for victims of farm invasions. (Punch)
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