By Damilola Adeniran

Since the creation of Ekiti State on October 1, 1996, various administrations have been focused on achieving rapid socio-economic development. The quest for development was undoubtedly a fundamental factor driving the calls for the state’s creation. This is understandable, given the historical context: the old Ondo State was dominated by the Ondo clan, while Ekitis were marginalized from governance.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji assumed office at a time when order and efficiency in governance were crucial for Ekiti State. The state is often characterized as an “agrarian state,” reflecting its rural agricultural lifestyle, subsistence farming system, and historical political decentralization. In this context, agriculture and trade have long been intertwined, with men typically cultivating crops like yams, cassava and cocoa, while women played a vital role in trading these crops on designated market days.

Ekitis are renowned for their academic excellence and upright decision-making, traits that align with the state’s reputation as one of the most literate communities in Nigeria. However, the state’s economy faced an uncertain future, with concerns about its meager resources and corporate existence from the outset. To address this, Oyebanji prioritized revamping the battered economy, recognizing that enhancing the living standards of the people requires a multifaceted approach. A key aspect of his strategy involves building relationships with critical stakeholders, which some perceive as “political diplomacy.” His approach stresses the significance of stakeholder engagement and diplomacy in governance.

This approach is guided by the philosophy of ‘Consolidate old friendships, Win new ones, and Repair damaged relations,’ underpinned by the logic that collective effort can foster a brighter future for Ekiti and its people. By fostering relationships with various groups, the administration can better address the state’s challenges and promote inclusive development.

Oyebanji is laying a solid foundation for an ideal state that embodies equal opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of their social status, economic well-being, religious beliefs or ethnic affiliations. This vision acknowledges that conflicts may arise if individuals are not afforded diverse incentives and opportunities that cater for their unique skills and abilities. However, this approach diverges from the conservative stance of the opposition, thereby highlighting a distinct philosophical underpinning of governance.

As enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the welfare of the people is a major priority for state policies, programmes and decisions. Oyebanji adheres to this principle, making it a guiding doctrine by ensuring that his actions and decisions are geared towards improving the living standards of the Ekitis.

BAO, as Oyebanji is fondly called, can not only be classified as the author of modern Ekiti state, governing with civility and humanity, but also as a champion of a classless and egalitarian structure in governance. He embodies values and traits like intellectual capacity, honesty, and integrity, making him stand tall among his contemporaries.

The governor identified two critical issues that could inform the assessment of his administration’s policies and programmes: poverty eradication and improved food security. Given Ekiti State’s agrarian economy, where rural poverty often precipitates urban misery, his focus should be on the agricultural sector. Specifically, employment generation in agriculture should be the cornerstone of the administration’s poverty alleviation efforts.

Poverty breeds criminality, impoverishes the masses, and perpetuates underdevelopment, even among the privileged class, while also leading to land alienation. In a poor society, even the wealthy live in fear, often barricading themselves indoors, vulnerable to armed robbery. Moreover, a poor state fosters an unhealthy business environment and it’s often a breeding ground for corruption. Poverty is a pervasive issue in Africa, with deep historical roots in sub-Saharan Africa, where it appears to defy conventional solutions.

When access to economic opportunities is monopolized by a few, honest means of making a living become closely tied to escaping poverty. Often viewed as a vicious cycle, escaping poverty requires extraordinary efforts. Its persistence is attributed to unequal wealth distribution and the multiplicity of human needs. Thankfully, Ekiti State’s approach to poverty alleviation and eradication is exemplary and unparalleled. For this, BAO deserves the highest accolades.

In his work “Politics”, Aristotle, an ancient philosopher, posited that the state’s purpose is to foster “the good life, equity, and the common good.” While alleviating poverty is crucial, ensuring its permanent alleviation is a distinct challenge. This underscores the importance of sustainability in poverty alleviation measures, beyond just their implementation. For instance, providing small and medium-sized credits to unemployed youths to launch entrepreneurial ventures requires careful consideration of the scheme’s long-term viability.

The adage, “give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; teach him to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime”, illustrates this point. By equipping individuals with skills and resources, they can break the cycle of poverty. Moreover, the aversion to poverty stems not only from its inherent hardships but also from the exploitative nature of capitalist systems and the disproportionate power dynamics between the ruling elite and the vulnerable populations.

In Ekiti State, agriculture serves as the backbone of the economy, playing a multifaceted role in the state’s economic development. Its significance is evident in several key areas, including providing an adequate food supply, generating employment opportunities, supplying raw materials to a growing industrial sector, and creating an expanding market for industrial and other sectoral products.

Regardless of one’s perspective on BAO’s administration, it is evident that he envisioned his role as a transformative leader for Ekiti State. It goes beyond infrastructure development to encompass poverty eradication, economic empowerment of the poor, and liberation of the oppressed. loathed the exploitation of the vulnerable and the accumulation of wealth at the expense of the larger population, particularly the most disadvantaged segments of society.

On Oyebanji’s watch, the allocation and distribution of state resources are guided by the principles of fairness and justice, while personal enrichment and the accumulation of private property are discouraged. This approach is evident in the execution of budgetary allocations to various sectors of the state. Furthermore, the governor emphasizes the importance of fairness, justice and transparency in the discharge of duties by commissioners, underscoring his commitment to accountability.

His primary concerns appear to be increasing prosperity for all, reducing the cost of governance, and improving living standards. To achieve these goals, he has prioritized the fair and just allocation of state resources across the state’s local government areas, while also facilitating pay increases for workers through enhanced productivity. In the years to come, political analysts, human rights activists, and concerned citizens will surely have reason to discuss the developmental strides made by Oyebanji in charting a path towards economic emancipation for Ekiti State.

*Adeniran wrote from Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

In parliamentary setting, the world over, Legislative Aides have always play critical roles in strengthening democracy as they serve as researchers and knowledge basins for their principals and lawmakers in the upper and lower legislative Chambers of the State and National Assembly.

Like their principals who emerge through elections, legislative aides have over time demonstrated democratic norms that their executive officers emerge through elections conducted in-house by members of the forum.
The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, NASSLAF is set to conduct another election, the first since the 10th National Assembly which came into being on June 9, 2023 with virtually few members indicating interest to contest for chairmanship of the forum.

Unarguably, the time has changed for the Legislative Aides Forum of the 10th National Assembly and this time, the forum is searching for ‘primus inter pares’, the best among equals to serve as Chairman, given the indicators that the NASS management, Legislators in the upper and lower Chambers and their aides could harmoniously work to get the best out of the system.

Among those indicating interest to contest for the office of NASSLAF is Prince Barrister Afeez Kilani, who is popularly known as “Alhaji Prince Afeez Kilani” among his folks in the National Assembly. The Shaki born trained lawyer has been an aide to the ranking Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo West Senatorial District. For nine years, Afeez Kilani served his principal, he has contributed in no small measure to the success of the lawmaker that has made him win elections on three consecutive times, a record no has broken in elections to the upper legislative chamber in Oyo State.

Kilani is not just naturally calm, mien, introvert and a man who is given to details on his job, but he cares and listens to concerns of not only constituents of his principal, but anyone who comes around the office to see his principal.
This is no wonder a member of the Legislative Aides Forum, from the North West, but who did not want his name disclosed told CAPITAL POST penultimate week, saying: “We have been in the National Assembly for nine years, some have spent times more than that, while some have less time they spent, but I honestly want that young man, Prince Afeez Kilani from Oyo State to emerge as our Chairman in the forthcoming election of NASSLAFF.”

“NASSLAF is about welfare of members and we have seen in times past where Kilani has used his personal resources to assist the forum to get issues sorted out and has canvassed for welfare even when he wasn’t a an exco member.”

According to him, he was excited when Kilani indicated interest to contest election for the office of NASSLAF chairmanship.
A member of the forum who disclosed his name as Abdulhamid was of the opinion that the Chairmanship of NASSLAF should be released for the South Westerners, insisting that rotational leadership would ensure cohesion, adding that whoever was considered fit and competent and has the approval the zone, should be voted.

According to him, he didn’t know much of Prince Afeez Kilani as he was less than a year in the National Assembly serving as a Senior Legislative Aide to a member in the House of Representatives, adding that some of them would be guided when the election comes.
He said, he got to know Afeez on the day he declared his interest, saying: “I could see quality of leadership in him in the way he was reaching out to some zones and try to reveal the innovation he intended to bring to bear on the NASSLAF.”
Meanwhile, ahead of election, Prince Afeez Kilani was on Monday endorsed for Chairmanship of NASSLAF, even as endorsement turned into testimonies of his leadership quality especially in the parliamentary setting by some members from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Kilani in speaking with journalists, after his endorsement, said he has adequate experience having rose from Legislative Assistant 2 in 2015 when he came to the National Assembly to Senior Legislative Aide in 2024.

The lawyer vowed to build consensus and bridges between the NASS management and the forum that would bring about ease of transactional leadership that is most needed in the 10th National Assembly NASS-NASSLAFF for the betterment of all.

He has noted: “With that understanding, I am in the best position to pilot the affairs of the National Assembly Legislative aides. If you give me your support, I am going to serve you better.”

He explained that diplomacy in required in the handling of relationships between the Aides and the NASS management, stressing that as a Lawyer, he is well versed in dispute resolution and dialogue approach rather than confrontation in form of strike or protest.
“We are in the 21st century, and as a lawyer there is what is called alternative dispute resolution. In labour law, it is very important that confrontation, protests should be the last thing, should be on the last burner.

‘The first thing is negotiation, good approach to issues, we are in a democratic era. It is when all that fails that we can adopt confrontation which we are not going to even adopt. Prince Kilani said: “I have been here since the year 2015. I got here as a legislative Assistant, that is LA2 and because of the level of dedication my boss promoted me to LA1 in 2019.

“Now I am the SLA to the distinguished Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, he is a third time Senator in the Nigerian senate.

“With this carrier progression, coupled with my experience in the National Assembly, at least I have run through the ranks of the aides of the National Assembly.

“I think I am in the best position to understand the yearnings and the needed welfare of the legislative aides because I have gone through the ranks of the legislative aides.

“We don’t want a situation whereby an aide or a chairman will be elected and he will not understand what other legislative aides are going through.

Kilani graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University where he studied Law and later attended the prestigious Nigerian Law School after which he was called to the Bar.

He hails from Shaki West in Oyo State in the South West Nigeria and has been involved in grassroot politics before he was appointed by his principal.

“I know with my skills as a lawyer for more than 11 years of experience, it is not going to be difficult for me to meet with management to convince them of the reason why they should take care of us.”

Chairman of the Southwest National Assembly Legislative Forum, Ogumawola Ebenezer, said, “As you can see the ovation is loud because we have gone through rigorous screening and Southwest as a leading zone when it comes to affairs of the NASSLAF. We have taken everything into consideration and we decided one voice to queue behind our own Barr. Afeez Kilani as our candidate

“We are tired of recirculation of warn out leaders. We don’t want people that have been circulating themselves since the 5th Assembly.

“You have heard the voice of the aides, the first timers, and the semi first timers and we have decided as the South West zone we have decided to put our own, someone whose door will be opened, who will not stay in the office wanting people to come and meet him.

“He is someone that will go round to know the needs and yearnings of the aides. This is the man we are looking for. This is the reason we are doing to stand by him, He is not for South West but for all the zones.

Olusola Olugbami AKA maintain said they need Somebody that will do what others have not been able to do, you know in the South West, we don’t take the back seat.

“Whenever we said we have resolved to do something that is what we will do. This is our candidate and by the grace of God, he is going to emerge victorious.