OYEBANJI’S TOWN HALL MODEL IS A MASTERCLASS IN PEOPLE-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE – ENGR OLABODE ADETUNJI
... Says a Governor who asks the people what they want before writing the budget is a leader who governs with the people, not over them
Engr Olabode Adetunji has commended Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, for his consistent practice of engaging directly with the people before the state budget is written, describing the ongoing town hall meetings across the senatorial districts as a masterclass in people-driven governance. He said the Governor’s decision to ask residents what they want rather than assuming on their behalf shows a leader who governs with the people and not over them, adding that such humility is rare in modern politics and deserves widespread recognition.
Speaking from a professional angle, Engr Adetunji noted that the Governor’s massive investment in infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, community roads and farmsteads, is not just about concrete and asphalt but about connecting farms to markets, patients to healthcare and communities to opportunity. He particularly praised the recent acquisition of 100 security vehicles to strengthen the state’s security architecture, saying no meaningful development can thrive without safety, while also hailing the inclusive recruitment policy that reserved five percent of recent civil service and teaching service slots for persons living with disabilities.
Engr. Aderunji noted that such a move gives the people a sense of ownership of the project, discourages project abandonment, and ensures the project’s longevity in the community.
Engr Adetunji observed that the recent Town Hall Meeting with stakeholders from Ekiti South Senatorial District in Igbara-Odo was a clear demonstration that the Governor values the input of traditional rulers, community leaders, artisans, traders and persons with disabilities in shaping the 2027 Budget. He said the Governor’s frequent description of Ekiti people as his benevolent employers is not mere rhetoric but a practical philosophy reflected in his listening ear, his accessibility and his readiness to adjust governance priorities based on genuine grassroots feedback.
Engr Olabode Adetunji therefore wished Governor Oyebanji greater success in his second term and declared his unflinching support for his administration, urging all Ekiti people to stand behind a government that has proven through action that it means well for the state. He said with a leader who listens before he leads, Ekiti is building a future where development is not imposed from above but shaped by the people themselves.
