Oyebanji: I Imbibed Principles of Humility, Hard Work, Integrity from my Father

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

 The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, at the weekend, described his father, Pa Ezekiel Oyebanji, as a man who places great value on honesty, integrity, humility, hard work and self-discipline-these virtues-which, according to him, have helped in shaping his own personality.

The governor also stated that those who have been speculating over possible political crisis between him and the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, will be grossly  disappointed, adding that the cord of their relationship stands strong and unbreakable.

Oyebanji stated these during a thanksgiving service held at the First Baptist Church in Ikogosi Ekiti, marking the 90th birthday celebration of his father, who is a retired school principal.

Shedding light on his simplicity and humble approach to life, Oyebanji stated that his father contributed immensely to his spiritual growth, which had buoyed his faith in God, as the only one with the capacity to provide solution to all life challenges.

Giving reasons for the decision of the family to have a low-key celebration devoid of any formal invitation to anyone, Oyebanji said it was in line with the family’s modest manner of doing things, coupled with the fact he, as the governor of the state, has to live by example.

He said: “I would have loved to make the birthday elaborate, but I have to make it low key for the fact that Ekiti people are currently my employer, so I have to behave responsibly. I have to be cautious and circumspect in whatever I do.

“If I wasn’t a governor, I would have celebrated him more than this. We deliberately did not send out invitation card to anyone so that Baba can have a modest celebration with his friends and family members. But somehow people heard and turned up to honour our father”.

Speaking on his father’s virtuous life, Oyebanji stated that: “Those who are saying I am humble should blame my father for it. He is the one who thought me to be humble. I have no apologies about that. If I have misbehaved as a governor, my father would have called to caution me. He is such a disciplinarian and would waste no time in correcting me even as a sitting governor.”

Speaking on his political future, Oyeabanji said he has no enemy to fight and that those postulating that he and Senator Bamidele would soon clash would be disappointed.

“The two of us are first and foremost friends and brothers; we believe in God as the sole determinant of the future and we are also highly experienced politicians who  have committed our political future in the hands of God. So, stop speculating about any war between us.

“God is the Alpha and Omega of human beings, and He does things at his own will. God is the decider of our fate. I want to tell you clearly that nothing can separate me from Bamidele. We have built a strong relationship over the years, so politics can’t separate us,” he stated. 

In his remarks at the thanksgiving service, the celebrant, Pa Oyebanji, said his strong belief in scholarship as a weapon to overcome poverty propelled him to acquire western education through hard work and resoluteness.

He appreciated God for being alive to celebrate 90 years, and still standing strong in good health to contribute to the growth of education in his community, state and the country at large.

In his remarks, Senator Bamidele said the good deeds Pa Oyebanji inculcated in his children have reflected in Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable performance as a governor of the state, a development he said had raised his political rating, and would make him spend eight years as a governor.

In his sermon titled: ‘Teach us how to count our days’, the Pastor in charge of Gateway Baptist Church, Ado Ekiti, Reverend Michael Otun, dismissed the insinuation that birthday celebration is a signal of imminent death as being thought in some quarters, instead, he said birthday celebration is an opportunity to  think more about heaven.

Showering encomiums on the celebrant for his discipline, humility, prudence, and honesty, the cleric urged Nigerians to always do things right for the country to experience radical development in all facets of life.