BAO2BAO: … And God Answered! (1) -By Abiodun KOMOLAFE

Congratulations to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, aka BAO, on his expected comfortable margin at last Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election. Congratulations are also in order to all Ekiti sons and daughters for making a wise decision, thereby building on the foundation already erected by Oyebanji.

I was in Ekiti on June 20, 2026. Having observed the process independently, I can confidently attest that the election was peaceful and credible. For a state traditionally defined by its fierce political unpredictability and an almost stubborn refusal to grant back-to-back tenures to its leaders, Oyebanji’s victory represents an unprecedented phenomenon. He is, indeed, divinely favoured.

Ekitis did not just vote; they chose. They weighed the fretful currents of volatile political experimentation against the sincere rhythm of institutional progress, and consciously preferred Continuity over Uncertainty. In the end, Continuity won because BAO made it predictably beautiful!

During his first term, Oyebanji endeared himself to the populace by putting human welfare at the very centre of governance. He won over the civil service and elder statesmen alike by clearing backlogs of pensions and gratuities, stabilizing regular salary payments, and lifting long-standing promotion barriers for primary school teachers.

Beyond the formal public sector, BAO intentionally brought everyday citizens into the fold, giving artisans, market women and traditional leaders a real voice in state affairs. This inclusive approach, paired with upgraded primary healthcare centres and better funding for public schools, built a deep sense of trust and social stability across the state.

​On infrastructure, the administration focused on practical, high-impact projects to unlock the state’s economic potential. Oyebanji tackled the bottleneck between rural farms and urban markets by rehabilitating dozens of bad roads and opening new rural pathways to ease the movement of agricultural produce. This structural push was backed by a deliberate focus on farming, empowering young people with cleared land, quality seedlings and financial support. By restoring electricity to long-neglected communities and partnering with faith-based organisations to guide youths’ behaviour, BAO successfully addressed the roots of insecurity while driving authentic grassroots growth.

Is it any surprise that he polled 319,224 votes – 85.53% of the total – against his closest rival’s 40,543?

Oyebanji has over the years shown himself to be empathetic and attentive. He is unapologetically kind, deeply principled, and he works with an infectious passion. As an organic ‘homeboy’ leader, he knows exactly where the shoe pinches, and precisely which balm to apply to soothe the wounds of his people.

By opening up the governor’s office and replacing hyper-partisan political warfare with inclusive, cross-party consultation, BAO has turned personal traits into tools for stability. His leadership style also shows that true political legitimacy comes from cultural alignment, continuous engagement, and an unyielding empathy for the electorate.

Kabiyesi Oba Ajayi Oluwasesan Omolagba, the Alasa of Ilasa-Ekiti, in his reaction to the election outcome, said: “Governor Oyebanji’s victory in the just concluded gubernatorial election is not surprising; it was anticipated by all right-thinking people. The governor is an unusual leader. Apart from his deep humility and respect, he is a lover and practitioner of fairness, equity and justice. Ilasa Ward 1 of my community has not benefited from any elective position other than councillor since the Western Region era. The governor has righted this wrong by encouraging a level playing field, which led to the emergence of our illustrious son, Barrister Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, as the APC [All Progressives Congress] House of Assembly candidate.

“Beyond that, Ekiti traditional rulers were unanimous in rating BAO as the best governor in the history of the state. He has attended to their welfare in an unprecedented manner. He deserved the victory. He could have garnered more votes if not for the malfunctioning BVAS [Bimodal Voter Accreditation System] machine of INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission]. I am aware that quite a number of the governor’s admirers in my community were disenfranchised because of the BVAS logjam.”

In moving forward, Oyebanji should remember that this final term presents a different paradox. He no longer faces the electoral pressures of a re-election campaign or routine factional and frictional anxieties that used to enjoy a rent-free apartment in the state’s political discourse. Instead, he is now deep into the realm of pure legacy, where the mandate is no longer about a sentimental gesture of survival, but about a weapon of structural liberation and history.

Let it be clear: leadership in victory is not a game of clever dibbling – a seductive trap Oyebanji should continue to avoid. Also, fancy footwork may draw quick applause, but it leaves an empty pitch at the end of the day. Like a balloon, it contains nothing, brings nothing and leaves nothing. Lasting victory belongs to the pacesetter; it belongs to the leader who lays a solid track for the state to follow.

Let it also be noted that, beyond the horizon of this moment, the ultimate metric of BAO’s historic mandate won’t be found in the euphoric celebrations of election night, nor will it be captured by the congratulatory banners lining the streets of Ado-Ekiti, or Ikere-Ekiti. The real test will be seen long after the applause has died down. It will be measured by the resilience of the state’s economy, the strength of its institutions, and the enduring peace of its communities. If, by the evening of this administration, Ekiti smoothly transitions into its next developmental phase without breaking stride, history will look back at this moment and confidently affirm: Yes, Ekitis prayed for progress; and, indeed, God answered!

Where that groundwork is solid, such political progression matters; and the conventional wisdom in this instance is that the foundation is very sound. The problem with Nigeria is that second terms often bring complacency and dismal performance, instead of reinvigoration. Oyebanji must avoid this!

Consequently, the governor should select three or four priority areas and concentrate on them as legacy projects that will still matter in thirty years. Historically, it is these enduring legacy projects that define governments. Notable examples include Obafemi Awolowo’s Free Education Programme, alongside the massive social benefits yielded by Lateef Jakande’s Affordable Housing Programme and public school reforms in Lagos State.

As governance under tight fiscal constraints forces the administration to figure out the meaning, sequence and consequence of state development, prudence dictates that BAO selects three or four priority projects, for the budget provision is not there to do more. The current crisis speaks with devastating clarity that the immediate concern is security, as nothing can be achieved amid the present uncertainty in the country. No investor leaps into a burning house.

To attract investment on the scale required, the governor’s best path forward is to collaborate with the federal government to enable forest rangers, Amotekun and local vigilantes to perform more effectively. Since the governor is in alignment with the centre, he should use his own diplomatic skills to do so, especially since he will have contributed his quota to the president’s reelection next year.

With the landmark passage of the state policing amendment, the governor is uniquely positioned to lead the vanguard in operationalizing the devolution of internal security. This reestablished federalist position gives leaders like BAO the tools to move beyond the old colonial playbook of a toothless ‘chief security officer’ and step up as the actual custodian of public safety. For both the governor and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in their respective second terms, this is simply non-negotiable. After all, economic progress is impossible while security is sinking faster than a ship with a ruptured hull, or lying on a hospital bed receiving drips. Today, even local investors see financial institutions as far safer and less burdensome than the real production processes, and that must change if Ekiti is to create jobs and generate revenue.

• To be concluded.

Email: ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk.

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