Mr. Biodun Oyebanji is the secretary to the Ekiti state Government and has been keeping quiet on the role he played during the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State. Kayegbo International sought him out to speak on this. Happy reading……..
Many people have asked me this question and upon deep reflection, I came to the conclusion that it was just God that ordered my steps to part of history. so all glory goes to God because it is by age, intellect or brilliance; there is no way I would have been called upon to be part of the struggle.
I was in my late 20s and a lecturer in the then Ondo State University here in Ado Ekiti, when the struggle reached a deep end and on campus, we used to discuss about the agitation and I was shocked that majority of my colleagues did not believe in the struggle, especially lecturers from Ekiti extraction because the University was then Ondo State University.
I was pained to my marrow that our own people did not see what I saw therefore I called two of my friends and shared my frustration with them and we concluded that most of the lecturers were not going to support the committee’s efforts. I felt that the committee needed an intellectual think-tank which should be the highest point of intellectualism in any society.
We therefore concluded to organize a workshop with a view to educating them on the benefits of Ekiti State and the need for their support. But I did not have any link to the committee. I subsequently went to Kabiyesi Ewi in his Palace with a proposal.
I was shocked that in less than five minutes, I was able to see the Kabiyesi and I gave him my proposal. After reading it, he said that day was one of his happiest days because they have been looking for a window to the University but nobody had come forward. He said that the Ekiti Obas and the committees would be holding a joint meeting in the palace the following week and that I should come.
I went back on the appointed day, met all Ekiti Obas, the committee members and Kabiyesi Ewi invited me to speak to my proposal. After I finished, Chief Deji Fasuanstood up and said.” Kabiyesi we don’t have to discuss this: just decree now in the presence of your brother Obas that this boy should join us”. I was shocked, humbled and afraid because these were people that are like fathers to me. The likes of Alhaji Shehu Ajijola, now late: late Chief John Ajayi, the late Prince Ademola Adefajo, Chief OjoFalegan, late Chief Ayo Omodara, late Chief Mrs. Bola Omojola, Dr. Kunle Olajide and others. Dr. Dare Teniolawas the the Secretary. Ewi therefore decreed and I started attending meetings with them at Chief Fasusan’s house.
The first problem was how to manage people that were old enough to be my father and mother, but at my first meeting with them, they accepted me and God gave me the grace and wisdom to navigate the curves. All of them liked me and said: “you are a young boy full of energy you will be assisting the Secretary. That was how I became Dr. Teniola’s Assistant.
Something led to another, Dr.Teniola relocated from the country: so I was shocked when the Obas and the committee members said I should just continue as the Secretary. I was the Secretary between 1995 and 1996 when the State was created. I was not married then and that is the story of how I became a member of the committee for the creation of Ekiti State.
So we got involved in all the travelling to Abuja, writing of memoranda, meeting people, canvassing for support and financial support. I was exposed to all the frustrations of our Obas and committee members.
The glory for Ekiti State creation goes first to God and our revered Obas under the leadership of Ewi of Ado Ekiti
History would be kind to our Obas. They really suffered for the creation of Ekiti State and I thank God the state was eventually created. There were times that two or three Obas would share the same hotel room in Abuja and even sleep inside vehicles on the road from Ado to Abuja. There were times they won’t have enough money to eat and they had to contribute to fuel their vehicles and feed themselves. I therefore give God the glory for the life of Ewi of Ado and for his selflessness.
He was offered juicy contracts by the late General Abachabut Kabiyesi rejected everything but insisted on the creation of Ekiti Sate”. He could have traded off our future but he chooses to suffer so Ekiti can be free.
It is so unfortunate that the past Government have not done anything to actually appreciate members of the committee but I thank God that during Governor KayodeFayemi’s first term in the office some of the members were honored.
In his second coming the Governor has done it again by naming a School after Chief Deji Fasuan, hopefully by God’s grace, we are going to commission it during his second year anniversary. That speaks of the character of the Governor as someone who gives honour to whom honour is rightly due.
In terms of what Government wants to do for the members of the committee, I don’t have an answer yet. It is an idea that is good and noble. I will discuss this with the Governor but I know he has honored some of the members in the past. Now that the state has been created and become a success, everybody is claiming to be part of the struggle and until we have a clear list of those deserving to be honored though some of them have died and some are ageing, General Adebayo is now dead, OwaOoye Adedoja Oni of Okemesi is gone; Alhaji ShehuAjijola is gone and many others but we thank God for the life of Dr. Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Deji Fasuan, Dr. Aladetoyinbo, Dr. Ife Arowosoge, Kabiyesi Obanla of Ijesa Isu who was the Secretary of the Obas and many others Patriots of the struggle.
The day that everything would have scattered in the Palace of Ewi, it was the Owa Ooye that God used to calm things down. The Ewi though insulted but God took total control, otherwise that would have been the end of the agitation.
General Adeyinka Adebayo, Chief Omolayo of OmolayoPress, Star Printer, Chief Oluwatimilehin popularly called PETIM were critical Finacial contributors. May the good Lord rest their souls.