RE: Presentation Of Expression Of Interest/Nomination Form By EKSU Alumni Association Solidarity Group For BAO

A REJOINDER!

Ordinarily, we would not have responded to the current theatrics by a group of paid cronies of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on the purported purchase (and presentation) of Expression of Interest/Nomination Form on behalf of the governor by a group that calls itself *EKSU Alumni Association Solidarity Group for BAO*. We are not averse to anybody, group of persons or association who may come together to solidarize with anybody such individual or group of individuals or association wishes to. However, care must be taken when a body as big as a university alumni association is used lest the public is confused.

Everybody and/or anybody is free to align with a political party. After all, *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu* also enjoyed same privilege when the then Director-General of the Tinubu Support Organisation (TSO), Alhaji Aminu Suleiman in 2022 offered to purchase (now) President Tinubu’s Expression of Interest/Nomination Form for him before the *Hon. James Abiodun Faleke*-led Tinubu Support Group (TSG) eventually did. What we condemn in its entirety is the use of a university alumni to play politics. There are many of the alumni members who are core professionals with no affiliation with any party – they are apolitical. There are also those among members of the alumni who belong to different political leanings as well, including opposition parties. Engr. Bamisaye should have been circumspect.

Such gesture as above could still have been rendered without necessarily creating an impression of endorsement by the alumni association. But then, we got it. We got the drift. We know this is a political moment where people play on public emotions. There are many people who take news – especially social media news hook, line and sinker. It is not surprising therefore, that this group of individuals chose to deploy such tactic. Nonetheless, if truth must be told without fear or bias, such artifice as played by these individuals can only hoodwink the gullible, not those who are discerning enough, and not even the voting public who has hitherto decried the absence of governance in the state.

We understood the jiggery-pokery the arrowhead of the group, one Engr. Dipo Bamisaye tried to act. We know he is a known friend, political ally and an appointee of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji (from the opposition – PDP). He needed to prove his mastery of the game. He needed to act his pay. However, it is in the best interest of Engr. Bamisaye and his principal not to use the name of the _Ekiti State University (EKSU) Alumni Association_ under whatever guise to deceive the public. Engr. Bamisaye should on the other hand, and in the interest of Ekiti Kete execute the _Federal Polytechnic/Afe Babalola University Road_ contract worth *N47billion* for which he was to have been mobilised since over a year now with nothing to show as of today. Enough of this deceit.

At this juncture, it is important to let the public know that the era of ‘audio’ and/or pseudo projects is over in Ekiti State. It is rather shocking that a government with no major project will, through some paid cronies, roll out phantom projects as its milestones. Of particular interest is the so-called employment in the education sector. As of today, not a single applicant has collected an appointment letter from the _Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)_ after the much-taunted advertorials. It is bad enough that applicants were asked to pay a fee. Worst off is for such people to be thrown into despondency with no hope in sight. This is just one of the many fake electoral deliverables the government of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji brags about – a failure by all standards.

Governor Oyebanji is not the only first-term governor of the _All Progressives Congress (APC)_ across the country. Sadly, his government of over three years is the only one that has not invited *President Tinubu* to commission a major project since coming on board over three years ago. Katsina State government has done so. Sokoto State government has done so. Kaduna State has done so. And even the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Sen. Monday Okpebolo recently invited the Federal Capital Territory Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike to commission major transportation project in the state. This is a government that is still less than one year in office. Where is our own Governor Oyebanji of Ekiti State? Ekiti State is tired of running an ‘audio’ government. The people are tired of a government of propaganda. Ekiti deserves better and hopefully, the people will speak – in a resounding voice in a couple of weeks from now. Enough for now.

– CONCERNED EKITI STAKEHOLDERS (CES).