By: Tosin M. Owonifari Your Excellency, with profound respect and high esteem for your position and person, I write as a proud native of Ek...
By: Tosin M. Owonifari
Your Excellency, with profound respect and high esteem for your position and person, I write as a proud native of Ekiti State and a concerned resident of Ise/Orun Local Government. This letter is composed with humility and genuine intent. It is not an accusation but a call for fairness and inclusion for a community that has remained loyal and peaceful while awaiting tangible progress. I extend my congratulations to Your Excellency on your recent success at your party's primary election leading up to the 2026 gubernatorial election. This achievement demonstrates the trust many place in your leadership. As you move forward in your service, this is an opportunity to consider legacy and equity. True leadership is measured by the impact it makes on people's lives, not by the length of time in office. You are widely respected for your modesty, approachability, and ability to bring people together. You have maintained good relations with former Ekiti leaders from different political backgrounds. This spirit of unity is praiseworthy and should also be reflected in balanced development throughout the state.
Numerous accomplishments across Ekiti are worthy of acknowledgment. In Ado-Ekiti, initiatives such as township road developments and the Ekiti Knowledge Zone exemplify advancement. Oye-Ekiti is home to the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, which keeps expanding its academic and research endeavors. Ikere Ekiti houses the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology. Ifaki-Ekiti has the Ekiti State University Part-Time Programme Unit, offering that town a university connection. Iyin-Ekiti has profited from the Ado to Iyin dual carriageway, completed and launched in 2021, and is now preparing to host the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences. Ikole-Ekiti and Ekiti West have seen rural electrification and transformer enhancements via state and federal projects. Your own hometown, Ikogosi-Ekiti, has also gained through the renewal of the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and the enhancement of nearby road networks, which have enhanced tourism and economic growth. Recent reports also indicate the approval of scheduled flights at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport. These instances reflect foresight and activity throughout the state.
Across all these development initiatives throughout the state, Ise/Orun Local Government requires immediate focus. Ise/Orun, similar to other local government areas in the state, needs new projects, significant road development, upgrades to hospitals or schools. The council area also requires electricity infrastructure or industrial programs, as well as a vocational or innovation center. The College of Agriculture, which was announced long ago to be set up in the local government area, remains an unfulfilled aspiration. Your Excellency, you have the opportunity to bring this to life during your tenure. Likewise, the Olowe Museum of Art and Heritage, which was publicly announced for Ise-Ekiti, has not progressed beyond fundraising efforts. Your Excellency can take steps to make this a reality. Meanwhile, our land is among the most fertile in Ekiti, ideal for agricultural estates, processing facilities, and youth training farms. The potential exists, but the inclusion process has yet to begin, and you can start it right away. Your Excellency, we recognize the importance of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone in Ado and the expansion of educational institutions in Oye, Ikere, Ifaki, Iyin, and Ikole. These are commendable initiatives, but they may raise concerns about the uneven distribution of development, as Ise/Orun has not yet been included. If education, knowledge, and innovation are flourishing in those regions, then Ise/Orun should naturally serve as the agricultural and industrial foundation of that same vision. You can also assist us in encouraging those who represent our people to produce tangible outcomes.
The younger members of the Ise/Orun community may start to experience frustration if they feel excluded from decision-making processes at both the state and national levels. Your Excellency will assist us in addressing this issue. The community requires leaders who are competent, dedicated, and committed to serving the people with courage, strategic thinking, and genuine effort. You are among the leading figures in this new wave of leadership. We also need training centers, agricultural processing facilities, technology hubs, renewable energy initiatives, and sustainable employment opportunities. Ise/Orun is not short on talent or loyalty. We have professionals, businesspeople, and scholars both within and outside the region who are eager to support your administration. Therefore, we urge Your Excellency to reevaluate the development plan concerning Ise/Orun Local Government. There should be a review of projects that have not been completed, an assessment of the performance of those in public office representing us, and a well-defined strategy for a significant project that will position Ise/Orun as a symbol of progress.
As an ambassador engaged in Africa's Agenda 2063, and as someone spearheading development initiatives in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria, I am aware that genuine change starts with inclusion. When individuals feel acknowledged, listened to, and appreciated, they channel their efforts into creating a better future for all. Ise/Orun is prepared to offer its land, people, and ideas to your legacy. Your Excellency, you have brought Ekiti together politically. The next step is to unite it through development. Let Ise/Orun be part of the progress narrative. Let a road, a hospital, an electricity expansion, an agricultural estate, a training or innovation center, or an industrial zone emerge from our land and bear your name. Let history remember that under Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, no community in Ekiti was overlooked.
With the greatest respect and heartfelt greetings,
•Owonifari serves as the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassador and AU Liaison Officer in the North West United Kingdom (Merseyside).
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