Human Rights Community names Oyebanji 2024 Governor of the Year

A coalition of human rights and community based organisations spread across Nigeria has named the Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji the Governor of the Year 2024

In a statement after its general congress in Lagos, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NIHRCO) said the process for the selection of the best Governor of the year 2024 began last year with various suggestions made by leaders of the coalition whose groups are spread across the country.

The statement, signed by the group regional coordinators, Taiwo Adeleye, Kudu Abubakar, (North), Digifa Werenipre (South South) and Fred Ojinika (South East) l, singled out Oyebanji as a potential leader of Nigeria at the highest level.

The Governor, the group said, will be presented with a plaque on behalf of the 130 civil society and community based groups across the 36 states, with the hope that it would encourage other state governors to address the fears and aspirations of the people they govern.

The group said Ekiti remains the most politically stable and peaceful state all through 2024 adding that the governor has been able to build bridges that unites all political factions and interests by defining the lowest common factor that has sustained mutual co-existence in the state.

The coalition established in 2003, and made up of 130 civil society and community based groups across the 36 states said the Governor of Ekiti stood out in the year 2024 in the area of transparency, promotion of human dignity, civil rights, peace building and sustainable development.

The coalition said his special welfare provisions for People with Disability, PWD inspires a paradigm shift from agelong state actors’ perception of vulnerable communities.

The group said, “During the Year, Oyebanji built the first PWD thereuperic centre in Nigeria lifting over 300 people with disability in Ekiti State from stupor, despair and melancholy.

“The centre was equipped with Therapy jungle gym, Calming tents, Hammock, Balance beams, TENS machines, Bikes, Calming swings, Body sock and educational equipment. Other fittings were fully ramped Swing up bars and hand rails in the rest rooms.”

The coalition said Oyebanji supported the PWDs with over 200 assisting devices, including wheelchairs, white canes, among others marking the 2024 International Day of People Living with Disabilities in a remarkable way the stirred the conscience of humanity.

The coalition said it is significant that in the year 2024, Ekiti emerged as the best-performing state in the area of good governance, people-driven initiatives, transparency and accountability.