By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has lamented that despite being one of the catchment areas, the state has not benefitted from programmes and activities of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, (BORBDA).
Governor Oyebanji expressed dissatisfaction with BORBDA over its handling of development initiatives in the state, stressing that the state has made numerous attempts to collaborate with it on some projects.
The Governor, who stated this during a meeting with the new management of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority led by the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Olufemi Adekanmbi in Ado Ekiti, emphasized that the agency has not been fair to the state in its development drive.
Expressing his displeasure over what he described as lack of meaningful contribution from the authority to Ekiti development, the Governor emphasized that this has forced his administration to exclude the agency from its strategic development plan, stressing the need for a more effective and accountable approach in moving forward.
Oyebanji, who emphasized the importance of synergy between government agencies and stakeholders in driving sustainable development, urged the new leadership to ensure that their renewed commitment translates to meaningful actions and development in the state.
He also assured that his administration would collaborate with the authority provided there is a visible shift in its operations and engagement.
“I need to refresh our memories about our experience with Benin-Owena, they have not been fair to us, we have gained nothing from them.
“We have crafted our development strategy without you in our plan because every attempt to collaborate with you has been frustrated. We are investing massively in agriculture in the state and Benin-Owena has no contribution to it.
“However, I have read your speech, it shows that you want to do things differently but we have listened to beautiful speeches that didn’t translate to action, so for those project that are already in the budget concerning Ekiti State, whatever we can do to ensure that we fast track development, I am ready to do that.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director of the BORBDA , Dr Adekanmbi, who commended the Governor for the remarkable progress in the state particularly in agriculture sector, said the purpose of the meeting was to introduce the new leadership to the Governor, assess ongoing collaboration with the state government, as well as forge a strengthened pathway toward achieving the goal of the renewed hope agenda of President Boa Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the area of food security.
Unveiling the agency’s comprehensive development blue print aimed at boosting agriculture, infrastructure, and youth empowerment in the state, the BORBDA CEO assured the Governor of a new dawn in the agency, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was strategic with the appointment of right people into the board of the agency.
He listed various ongoin and proposed BORDA interventions across the state to include, flood contro projects in Ilupeju, Efon-Alaye, Ado-Ureje Road, Ikere-Ado/Osun Road as well as management of key dams in Apariko-Aisegba, Oye-Ayede, and Ado-Osin, among others.
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