Ekiti community seeks Oyebanji’s intervention on roads

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji.

The President of Are-Ekiti Progressives Union, Prof. Michael Oke, has appealed to Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Are-Iworoko-Afao-Igbemo Road and other strategic roads linking the community with neighbouring towns.

Oke, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, also appealed for the timely completion of the ongoing Are-Oye-Ekiti Road construction, saying the projects would open up the area to greater economic opportunities and ease the movement of residents and commuters.

The APU President spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at a press conference where he unveiled activities for the 2026 Are-Ekiti Day celebration scheduled for November 21 and the body’s development plan for the Ekiti community.

He said, “We thank Governor Oyebanji for the development projects going on in our area, including the Are-Oye Road under construction. We appeal for work to be sped up on the road in view of its benefit to our community.

“We also appreciate the governor for his promise on the road linking Iworoko through Are to Afao and Igbemo. The Are-Iworoko-Afao-Igbemo Road is in bad condition, and we want the governor to assist us in rehabilitating or, preferably, reconstructing it. It is a major road that connects several communities.

“The road, if properly reconstructed, will ease movement, stimulate economic activities and complement other infrastructure projects in the area. We believe the governor is a listening leader who will consider our appeal.”

The APU president said that the 2026 Are-Ekiti Day celebration would, apart from showcasing the community’s rich cultural heritage, also provide an avenue for indigenes at home and in the diaspora to brainstorm on issues affecting the development of their ancestral town.

He said, “We believe Are-Ekiti is old enough to have a resource centre of its own. That is why we have decided to come together to launch a N500m resource centre project during the celebration.

“We expect our sons and daughters, both at home and abroad, as well as friends of the community, to support this initiative through their contributions.”

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He said the weeklong celebration would feature cultural displays, traditional performances, football competition, beauty pageant and other activities designed to project the identity, history and values of Are-Ekiti to the outside world.

Oke said that the Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, would confer chieftaincy titles on some prominent indigenes and other distinguished personalities, including a former Chief of Staff, Chief Ladi Anisulowo, who would receive the title of Asiwaju of Are-Ekiti, while the APU president would be decorated as Otunba Atunluse of Are-Ekiti.

He listed expected dignitaries at the event to include President Bola Tinubu; Oyebanji, former Ekiti State governors, Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni, founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola; former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore; Dr Bamiduro Dada, and other prominent political, business and traditional leaders.

The publicity secretary of the union, Segun Dipe, described Are-Ekiti as an influential community with a remarkable record of academic excellence and a growing number of accomplished professionals.

Dipe said the community was particularly proud of the high concentration of professors and other intellectuals among its indigenes, adding that the growing commitment of its sons and daughters to community development had continued to distinguish the town.

He noted that several indigenes had taken responsibility for improving basic infrastructure without waiting entirely for government intervention, citing the grading of internal roads and the installation of solar-powered streetlights as examples of community-driven development.

He also commended an APU patron, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, for his sustained contributions to educational development in the community.

Dipe described the philanthropist as one of the major stakeholders whose contributions had continued to strengthen the educational and developmental prospects of Are-Ekiti.