The Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ekiti State, Hon. Dare Adeleke, has slammed Governor Oyebanji over what he describes as “flagrant corruption” under the current administration.
In a statement released on Thursday, March 6, Adeleke expressed his outrage at the governor’s blatant cronyism and total disregard for the welfare of the people, who continue to suffer in poverty.
The statement reads:
“I am absolutely gobsmacked and appalled by Governor Oyebanji’s open display of corruption and cronyism in Ekiti State.
Survival in the state has become a struggle, yet those close to Oyebanji are gluttonously enriching themselves with funds meant for the development of the people.
It appears that the governor’s primary concern is securing his seat in the next governorship election rather than addressing the needs of the people.
I can authoritatively reveal that Oyebanji, in his relentless pursuit of ‘settling’ and corrupting the system, has allocated enormous largesse to local government chairmen and other key figures. Vote buying has already begun in Ekiti.
According to credible sources, at a recent meeting chaired by Governor Oyebanji, the state’s allocation has already been depleted.
In this clandestine meeting, the sharing formula was as disgusting as it was reprehensible.
Each local government chairman is set to receive a car worth ₦36 million.
These vehicles will be distributed across the sixteen local government areas as well as the nineteen Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
In total, 35 vehicles, each worth ₦36 million, have been purchased as an early gift from Oyebanji, the father of cronyism and the ‘Santa Claus’ of the Ekiti elite, while his people languish in poverty.
As if this blatant misappropriation of funds wasn’t enough, the permanent secretary is now pushing for the recipients to register the cars in their own names, essentially handing them personal assets at the expense of taxpayers.
Taking his government of favoritism a step further, Governor Oyebanji’s brother, Lekan Oyebanji, single-handedly appointed an insurance company to handle the paperwork.
The said vehicles were procured in the last quarter of last year and were meant to be distributed to local government chairmen in January. However, the governor, being ‘clever by half,’ has deliberately withheld them.
You may recall that the Supreme Court’s ruling granting autonomy to local governments disrupted governance structures across the country. In response, the sixteen local government chairmen jointly informed the governor of their decision to separate the joint account, a move that directly contradicts the Supreme Court judgment and the position of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Another factor delaying the distribution of these ‘Greek gifts’ is the growing apprehension among local government chairmen. Many fear that accepting these vehicles could implicate them in a corruption scandal.
Moreover, the chairmen are keen on asserting their autonomy and demonstrating loyalty to the federal government rather than being beholden to Oyebanji’s corrupt practices.
Oyebanji’s penchant for corruption and the impoverishment of his people may ultimately backfire. He has purchased 35 vehicles worth ₦36 million each for individuals who now hesitate to take possession of them.
Do the math. The figures are staggering. It is truly pitiable that the people of Ekiti have a governor who prioritizes enriching himself, his family, and his allies over their well-being.
With his own brother providing the insurance coverage, even the local government chairmen are skeptical about accepting a gift that is clearly a bribe. The governor has sown discord and distrust among his people; entirely of his own making.
The APC in Ekiti is now deeply polarized due to Oyebanji’s unhealthy ambition and blatant disregard for those within his administration, where only his cronies receive appointments and contracts.
I have repeatedly stated that the people have rejected Oyebanji, and this is evident in their refusal to accept his vehicles, purchased at their expense. If the voice of the people is truly the voice of God, then we can safely say that even God has rejected Oyebanji.
The people of Ekiti are not fools. What can Oyebanji point to as his achievement in the state? Nothing.
A failed governor who has corruptly enriched himself at the expense of the people belongs in jail, not scheming for a second term.”
Dare Adeleke
Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee, Ekiti
March 6, 2025
