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Invest in knowledge-driven economy, fight poverty, govs tell Oyebanji

By Muyiwa Adeyemi (Politics Editor) and Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti
11 October 2022   |   5:20 am
Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu and his Borno counterpart, Prof. Babagana Zulum, have advised the incoming governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, to invest in knowledge-driven economy and fight poverty...

[FILES] Biodun Oyebanji. Photo/facebook/biodunaoyebanji

Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu and his Borno counterpart, Prof. Babagana Zulum, have advised the incoming governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, to invest in knowledge-driven economy and fight poverty to remain indelible in the minds of the people.

They also implored himto focus on the infrastructural deficit in roads and other public utilities that could benefit the populace, describing this as a sure way to boost economic development.

The governors commended the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for rising above ethnic bond and building himself into a pan-Nigerian leader loved and revered across political, religious and ethnic divides.

They also applauded him for building trust between himself and Ekiti people through good governance that touches every sector of the economy, making the state a symbol of development in spite of the paucity of funds.

The duo spoke in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, at an international valedictory conference in Fayemi’s honour titled: “JKF: A Journey in Leadership”.

In his brief submission at the event held at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Zulum urged the governor-elect to invest in knowledge-driven economy and fight poverty that is ravaging the people for his reign to be indelible in annals of history.

Bagudu appealed to Oyebanji to rejig governance in Ekiti by consolidating the gains already brought by Fayemi to the people, describing this as the best way to build an economically virile state .

He said: “Continuity in governance is key and germane to economic development. I charge the incoming governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to build on the legacy of his predecessor. Sustainability in governance is an essential ingredient of democracy.”

In his lecture, titled: ‘A Scholar in Power: Reflections on Power, Democracy and the Future of Nigeria,’ a professor of African Studies, University of Pennsylvania, U.S., Dr. Adewale Adebamwi, said no federal system could be perfect, harping on the need for the current weak Nigerian system to be rejigged and strengthened.

The scholar stated that this remains the only way to ensure that people are secured and all the strata of the Nigerian society are well protected.

Adebanwi said the most important thing to an average Nigerian is good governance, which he said, some agitators thought would turn Nigeria into a perfect society.

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