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Where Do You Belong on FG Grazing Reserve, PDP Asks Gov Alia
Published
2 months agoon
With the fierce opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to establish a grazing reserve in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State on Sunday in Makurdi, called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to tell the people of the state his stand on the plan.
Since announcing the siting of a grazing reserve in Benue, opposition against it has grown, with the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests, Makurdi Diocese, Mdzough U Tiv, Ochetoha K’doma and OmiNy’Igede socio-cultural groups, Benue citizens in the diaspora, the PDP and other groups have voiced out, rejecting the proposal.
However, Gov Alia’s silence has been loud.
Following the growing opposition to the grazing reserve, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Tersoo, issued a statement calling for caution:
“The governor is fully engaged on the matter and remains in consultation with the people and relevant authorities.
“He will, as he has always done, approach the issue with careful consideration and strategic judgment, ensuring that the interests of Benue State and its people remain his foremost priority.”
Kula argued that it was not every issue that required an immediate public pronouncement, advising the people to be patient as the government was considering the proposal and would soon determine the best course of action for the state.
However, the PDP disagreed with the statement credited to the governor’s aide, insisting that Alia ought to declare his position on the raging issue.
“Tell Benue people where you belong,” the PDP insisted in a statement issued by Bright Antyo, its publicity secretary on Sunday.
The party noted that the continuous silence of the governor on the Federal Government’s decision to establish a grazing reserve in the state was a matter too serious for public relations language.
The party stated that Benue communities had suffered killings, displacement and loss of ancestral lands as a result of attacks on them by armed herders, noting that any proposal involving grazing reserves, livestock settlements or the allocation of land for ranching would naturally generate anxiety.
“The fear among many Benue people is that what is being presented as a ranching programme could ultimately become a land grabbing scheme by another name.
“Whether that fear is justified or not, the responsibility of the governor is to address it openly and unequivocally, not to tell worried Benue people to keep quiet while government ‘considers’ the proposal behind closed doors.
“If there is nothing to hide, then there should be nothing difficult about telling Benue people exactly what is being proposed.”
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News
Oyebanji’s second term will usher in greater devt , inauguration Committee declares
Published
2 days agoon
October 3, 2026By
News Editor
As preparations Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second term inauguration commenced with the official release of programme of activities, the Planning Committee has highlighted remarkable achievements of the administration in the last four years.
Reflecting on the achievements of the administration since it assumed office in October 2022, the chairman of the Second term inauguration committee, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said Ekiti people has a lot to look out for as the second term administration would usher in greater development and at a faster pace.
Adebayo who highlighted activities marking the inauguration, said the programme will be kickstarted with a Jumat Thanksgiving service at the Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti on Friday, October 2nd, while the inauguration ceremony would hold on October 16th.
Highlighting the infrastructure development of the administration, Adebayor, who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor, noted that the completion of the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport, which commenced commercial flight operations in late 2025 has created opportunities for investment, tourism, trade, commerce and agricultural exports which has invariably boosted the economy of the state.
He also disclosed that the administration had completed and commissioned over 500 kilometres of inter-city and rural roads, with several other road projects currently at various stages of completion.
According to him, the administration had also provided electricity to parts of Aiyekire, Ekiti East Local Government Areas and the Ikogosi tourism belt, areas which, he said, had experienced prolonged lack of public electricity supply long before the advent of this administration.
On healthcare and education, the committee chairman said the administration had, as of 2026, renovated over 110 primary healthcare centres and all the general hospitals in the state, equipping them with modern facilities.
He added that the government had made significant investments in education, including the comprehensive renovation of 203 secondary schools, including three special schools and 950 primary schools across the state.
The committee disclosed further that the administration had also established nine ICT laboratories in selected secondary schools and technical colleges and constructed new primary schools under the Suburb Model School Project adding that Governor Oyebanji’s administration had continued to support students by paying WAEC examination fees to the tune of Two Billion, one hundred and fifty-eight million Naira (N2,158,000,000) to sixty-nine thousand (69,000) students as well as procurement of free JAMB forms to 12,400 students in four years.
While highlighting the administration’s youth-focused agricultural initiatives, the committee said over 5,000 youths have been engaged in commercial agriculture through the Bring Back the Youth into Agriculture initiative, with participants reportedly realising more than ₦1 billion in profits over the past one and a half years.
The administration, he said, had also disbursed N1.1 billion to 2,777 beneficiaries as credit and operational grants credit, N400million loan disbursed to 443 micro, small and medium-scale enterprises, provided ₦450 million in grants to 10 cooperatives involved in agro-processing and production, and facilitated free Corporate Affairs Commission registration for about 5,400 MSMEs.
Praising the Oyebanji administration on Fiscal responsibility, the chairman also drew attention to the robust fiscal management in the state, saying Ekiti had maintained a strong record of fiscal transparency and responsibility for over two years. He maintained that the state had been ranked first for nine consecutive quarters, from the second quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2026, in the State Fiscal Transparency League reports published by BudgIT Foundation.
Projecting into the second term tenure, the committee chairman said the theme of the inauguration, “The Good Work Continues,” reflected the administration’s intention to consolidate existing programmes while introducing further interventions aimed at strengthening the state’s economy and improving the welfare of citizens.
He said recent stakeholder engagements across the three senatorial districts, identified healthcare, electricity, roads, water supply, agriculture, human capital development and economic opportunities as areas requiring sustained consideration stressing that the major target is the expansion of rural road development, with a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through various interventions, including collaboration with development partners.
The chairman used the opportunity to commend the media for the symbiotic relationship with government as he described them as an important bridge between government and the people. He urged journalists to continue to provide accurate and professional coverage of the state’s activities as well as help citizens understand government policies, programmes and projects while providing broad coverage of the inauguration.
He assured the people that the administration would continue to engage stakeholders, improve service delivery and work towards ensuring that the impact of its shared prosperity agenda was felt across the state.
“As we begin preparations for the second term, the emphasis is on continuity and further development. The Governor has stated that the next phase will focus particularly on interventions that add value to the economy, improve productivity and respond to the needs and aspirations of our people. Recent engagements with stakeholders, including the just concluded Budget Tour of the three Senatorial Districts of the State have identified healthcare, electricity, roads, water supply, agriculture, human capital development and economic opportunities as areas requiring sustained attention.
“The Governor has also stated that this consultative approach, which has been a hallmark of his administration during the first term, will continue through the second term. The Administration has also announced plans to expand rural road development, with a target of delivering up to 1,500 kilometres of roads through various interventions, including collaboration with development partners.” the committee chairman said.
“Gentlemen of the Press, I want to specially acknowledge your role in this process. The media is an important bridge between government and the people. Your responsibility goes beyond reporting events. It includes informing the public accurately and helping citizens understand government policies, programmes and projects.
In attendance at the news conference were other members of the planning committee. They include the Commissioner for Information, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Habibat Adubiaro, Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; Chairman APC, Mr Sola Elesin, Chairman ALGON, Hon Segun Ojo; Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Director General , Bureau of Comminity Comminications, Mrs Mary Oso Omotoso; and Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mrs Toyin Adepoju, among other.
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EKITI’LL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO YOU. GOV OYEBANJI, SEN BAMIDELE HAIL CHIEF DEJI FASUAN AT 95
Published
2 days agoon
October 3, 2026By
News Editor
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, and Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, have described the Chairman of Committee for the creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan as a distinguished statesman whose contributions to the creation of the State will remain indelible, assuring that the state will forever be grateful for his commitment to its actualization
Chief Fasuan clocked 95, on Thursday, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Stete, chaired the committee responsible for the creation of Ekiti State, with Governor Oyebanji serving as the committee secretary.
Governor Oyebanji, accompanied by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, House of Representative member, Hon. Ojuawo and members of the state Executive council, Prof Bolaji Aluko and Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun, noted the significant role played by the elder statesman in the struggle for Ekiti State. The Governor noted that his leadership and dedication helped advance the aspiration of the people for a separate state.
He described the nonagenarian as a symbol of patriotism, selflessness and service, whose contribution to the political and administrative history of Ekiti state continue to provide a reference point for present and future generation.
The governor noted that the creation of Ekiti state represents the fulfillment of a long standing aspiration of its people and that the efforts of those who championed the cause, including Chief Deji Fasuan deserved lasting recognition and appreciation.
The Governor said, “thirty years ago, this house was agog because that was the day Ekiti State was created. On behalf of all Ekiti indigene at home and the diaspora, we say that your struggle, sweat and sacrifice has given the platform to serve Ekiti people, we say thank you.
“Throughout the struggle, one thing I learnt from Daddy was his integrity, commitment to excellence, courage, perseverance and sacrifice. Daddy is a tough person but through the process of the struggle, he took insults and was not annoyed for one day.
“I am happy you have seen the transformation in Ekiti in the last 30 years, yes, we have not reach the promise land but we have left Egypt, there is no doubt about that, individually we are developing, collectively we are developing and I am happy that by the grace of God and the benevolent of Ekiti people, I am in the saddle today”.
Also in his remarks, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele also celebrated the former committee chairman for his commitment to the development of Ekiti State, describing his 95th birthday as an opportunity to reflect on the founding figures whose efforts shaped state history.
The Senate Leader, who noted that Ekiti State had continued to make steady progress, maintained that the state had recorded remarkable improvement in various areas of development in recent years.
While explaining that Chief Deji Fasuan’s greatest joy shoud be the fact that the secretary of the State Creation Committee, Governor Oyebanji, is today the Governor of Ekiti State, Senator Bamidele said the Governor is implementing the ideals and aspiration they shared during the struggle for the creation of the state.
He maintained that Ekiti had witnessed tremendous development in the last four years, particularly through Oyebanji’s effort to bring the various leaders and stakeholders together, thereby achieving the aspiration of the founding fathers for a united Ekiti state.
News
EKSWAMA BOARD MEMBERS APPRECIATE OYEBANJI, THANK GOVERNOR FOR OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
Published
1 week agoon
September 27, 2026By
News Editor
Members of the Board of the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority (EKSWAMA), led by its Chairman, Prince Oladele Adeniyi, have expressed appreciation to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for the opportunity and privilege to serve the people of the state.
The Board members, in a statement following the dissolution of boards and termination of appointments of political appointees by the Governor, described their tenure as a great honour and an opportunity to contribute to the development of Ekiti State.
They thanked Governor Oyebanji for the confidence reposed in them and for the support provided to the Authority throughout their tenure.
The members said they were particularly proud of their contributions towards promoting effective waste management, environmental cleanliness and a healthier environment for residents of the state.
They also commended the Governor for his commitment to good governance and the administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of the people and accelerate development across the state.
While accepting the Governor’s decision to dissolve the Board, the members said they remained grateful for the opportunity to serve and contribute their quota to the progress of Ekiti State.
They wished Governor Oyebanji continued wisdom, strength and God’s guidance in the administration of the state, assuring him of their loyalty and continued support for initiatives aimed at advancing the development of Ekiti.
The EKSWAMA Board comprises the Chairman, Prince Oladele Adeniyi; Hon. Ayodeji Ajayi; Otunba Olorunfemi Ayodeji; Bayode Obasonyin; Mustapha Adeniran; Mr. Omoniyi Joseph; Mrs. Mojisola Adewumi; and Mr. Bosunde Olufemi.
The Board members also expressed appreciation to the former Director-General of EKSWAMA, Hon. Olasunkanmi Onipede, for his leadership, cooperation and commitment to the success of the Authority during their tenure.
They acknowledged the valuable contributions of Hon. Onipede and the entire management team, describing their collaboration as instrumental to the implementation of various initiatives and programmes of the Authority.
The Board members said their collective efforts with the management team contributed to advancing the mandate of EKSWAMA and promoting a cleaner and healthier environment across the state.
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