By JIDE AGBEYO

With quick strides and swift moves getting intense ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship election, a lot has been said about coalitions and the potential threat the word may pose, especially to the incumbent administration.

While history has shown that coalition of political parties and various political movements to form a formidable force may have led to victory in several elections, such coalitions may not have succeeded without the stamp of the electorate, which possesses the electoral franchise and signature thumb.

Thus, saying the strongest coalition is the people’s coalition will not be an overstatement. It’s been weeks of endorsements without enforcement in Ekiti State, preceding the mother of them all, the Monday statewide endorsement.

Quite impressive that the Monday, July 28th crowd, cutting across numerous interests, groups, and tendencies, was mammoth, and the clout they carried resonated influence, conviction, acceptance, and allegiance.

The people have spoken with an amplified voice on Monday: they want Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, (BAO) to continue in office for a second term.

What has endeared BAO to them?

For performance, a lot has been achieved across various sectors in the state, including critical sectors like Agriculture, Health, Human Capital Development and many others. Fixing of roads leading to farmsteads, establishment of a Special Agriculture Processing Zone, repair of some federal roads by the state, 25 ongoing road projects across the state, restoration of electricity to long-affected communities, sustained revitalisation of the tourism sector, major strides in boosting small-scale businesses, rehabilitation of general hospitals and hundreds of rural health facilities, and support to the less privileged are all testaments to the administration’s performance.

Quite important to mention is that Governor Biodun Oyebanji has paid serious attention to the welfare of People Living With Disabilities, especially in special schools across the state.

To commemorate his 57th birthday last year, BAO presented a total sum of N21 million in cash gifts and food items to the three special schools in the state and two special centres catering for people with special needs. A few months back, for pioneering major policies and programmes for disability inclusion in the state, Oyebanji was named Champion of Disability Inclusion in the country by the Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) at its 36th annual conference held in Ado-Ekiti.

To further accentuate the administration’s commitment to education that leaves no child behind, a purpose-built inclusive public school, which will welcome learners with and without disabilities in the same classrooms, will take off in Ikole-Ekiti by September.

The aged people are happy, and so are the pensioners, with the speedy offsetting of the humongous arrears of gratuities accumulated over the years. All of the above, and many more, have no doubt led to palpable progress in the state.

And in the area of promoting peace, it is noteworthy that in the time of this administration so far, flashpoints of crisis have been converted into PowerPoint slides for progress.

The first area one would typically expect media attacks and unending criticism is from other political camps. But this time, a lot of key actors on the other side believe in the governor and his works, showing interest in supporting him. These include the major contenders against him in the last governorship election: Chief Segun Oni of the SDP, who does not give out his support frivolously, and Otunba Bisi Kolawole of the PDP.

Oyebanji may have earned himself a litany of appellations and nomenclatures, but permit us to add another term to the register: The Political Blending Machine! BAO has succeeded in producing a potpourri of different political tendencies and gladiators to unite with one goal under One BAO.

The BAO Blender has been able to blend and bring all former governors in the state onto the same podium, reading from the same page, in the same political book of continuity. Never in history have they come together, at the same time, to support the same candidate for the same office.

But this time, they say they see in BAO a leader who bows to superior views, accords utmost respect to his predecessors, and has demonstrated an uncommon ability to galvanize people across different leanings into taking positive actions, all for the sake and interest of Ekiti State.

Perhaps he has the manual of the Ekiti vehicle in his possession, having been privileged to play a strategic role prior to the creation of Ekiti State as the Secretary of the Committee for the Creation of the State.

The other often rancorous territory is the parliament. But here, the relationship between the 7th Assembly and the Oyebanji-led executive has been nothing less than cordial. This is not harmony by subversion, but one achieved through mutual respect between the two arms. The House does its oversight properly, even going as far as inviting council chairmen, commissioners, and other strategic elected or appointed officials to appear before it to render accounts of stewardship.

Mr. Governor himself renders his own annually at the presentation of the State of the State Address before the parliament. Yet, the two arms still network effectively, even playing together in a novelty match to mark the anniversary of the state parliament.

Does the gale of endorsement mean BAO should relax the velocity of performance? No, this should be a tonic for improved performance.

Power, they say, is not served à la carte. These endorsements are sequel to the performance of the governor in less than three years in the saddle. Governor Oyebanji still has examinations ahead of him—the APC Primary in October and the Governorship Election in June next year.

BAO himself said at the mega endorsement that primary election would surely hold as constitutionally provided, though he boasted of victory that will make any contender bow. As the predominant endorsements at all levels across the party and state signal victory for the Governor, fine-tuning strategies for a sweeping win would not be in bad taste.

And for the general election, the coalition will win! This is the strongest coalition—the People’s Coalition.

If the statewide endorsement could be likened to a mock election for the People’s Coalition poll, then chances are very bright for BAO come 2026. (Sunday Tribune)