The Peoples Democratic Party State Secretary and former Commissioner for Works in Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Ogun, and the All Progressives Congress have disagreed over the performance of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Ogun, who is eyeing the Ekiti governorship seat in 2026 on the PDP platform, said that the Oyebanji-led APC government had nothing to show for the resources accruing to the state.
But the APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, said Ekiti residents enjoying the projects and present good gestures extended to them by Oyebanji were in a better position to assess the government and not the PDP.
Ogun, in a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media, Olayinka Atenibiaje, made available in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, described the ongoing flyover bridge project of the Oyebanji administration as a misplaced priority, saying government ought not contemplate such under the present harsh economy.
The PDP scribe said, “The money being paid for compensation on buildings that will be demolished and on the project (flyover bridge) itself can put all our roads in the right shape and reduce the current economic hardship if properly channeled for development.
“It is heart- wrenching that this government receives the highest resources from the Federal Government in history, but what we get in return is flooding, bad roads, poor standard of living, high unemployment index, killings, kidnapping and other social and economic threats.
“Under the last PDP government, Ekiti received between N2bn and N2.5bn monthly, and we were able to deliver. We will return that winning streak when we return to the government in 2026.”
But Dipe, who said Ekiti people were relishing Oyebanji’s people-centred projects, said, “It is known to the blind and the deaf that Oyebanji has a lot to show. Ogun has just mentioned the flyover bridge project, which is of enormous benefits to the state capital and indeed the state. She should also not forget to mention the fact that roads are being put in a good place.
“She should also not fail to mention the welfare packages. She should also not fail to mention the salaries. She should also not fail to mention the pensioners and the gratuities being paid. She should also not fail to mention that the people are happier now than when the PDP was in the saddle.
“Those who can assess Oyebanji are the people whose lives the governor is touching at this moment, and they are scoring him high. Most of the projects the governor embarks on are people-centred projects. They are not projects to please the likes of Funmi Ogun or the PDP.
“The PDP has no history of being prudent in Ekiti. They have no history of pleasing the people in Ekiti. They have no history of paying salaries as and when due, they have no history of paying pensions and gratuities. So one can understand why Ogun and the PDP cannot see, but Ekiti people are seeing and giving kudos to Oyebanji.”
Punch