Ado-Ekiti
A major controversy has erupted in Ekiti politics following remarks by governorship aspirant, Engr. Kayode Ojo, who openly rubbished the legacies of past governors of the state.
Ojo, while addressing the press yesterday, accused successive administrations of “holding Ekiti down” and claimed that the state ranked 29th among Nigeria’s 36 states in education. His comments have been met with sharp criticism, particularly from a political advocacy group, Renewed Media Agenda, which described the remarks as “false, reckless, arrogant, and deeply disrespectful.”
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the group said Ojo’s utterances amount to a direct insult to all civilian governors who have served Ekiti - from Otunba Niyi Adebayo to Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“This careless and reckless speech is the height of irresponsibility and a clear sign that Ojo lacks the temperament, humility, and maturity required for leadership,” the group declared.
“In Yoruba land, we are taught to honor elders and preserve legacies. For Ojo to stand before cameras and discredit every past governor of Ekiti is not only irresponsible but also an insult to history and culture.”
The group argued that since Ekiti’s creation in 1996, every leader, civilian and military, has contributed to the state’s progress in infrastructure, education, health care, ICT, agriculture, and governance reforms. From the construction of roads, schools, and hospitals to water supply schemes, power projects, and technology hubs, the Renewed Media Agenda insisted that no administration has left the state without tangible achievements.
“To dismiss all of these as ‘holding Ekiti down’ is not only unfair, it is a blatant insult to the collective memory of our people,” the statement added.
The group also addressed Ojo’s claim on education, describing it as “a lie from the pit of hell.” According to them, credible data shows Ekiti is one of Nigeria’s most educated states.
Citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the group noted that Ekiti currently has a literacy rate of 95.79%, ranking among the very highest in the country. The state, it said, consistently ranks in the top 10 in WAEC performance, with an average of 80-85% pass rates, far above the national average of 72.12% in 2024.
Ekiti also recorded a 75.48% pass rate (five credits including English and Mathematics) in the most recent results, while independent analyses by Zikoko, UNICEF, and the NBS ranked the state the 3rd most educated in Nigeria in 2024/25, behind only Imo and Lagos.
“With five thriving universities, including the prestigious Afe Babalola University and Ekiti State University, which was ranked the best state-owned university in Nigeria in 2024, Ekiti stands as a powerhouse of higher education,” the group said.
It further noted that the people of Ekiti, known for their sophistication and deep respect for education and culture, would never entrust their future to a politician who insults their elders and distorts their history.
“Kayode Ojo’s reckless words have already disqualified him in the court of public opinion,” Renewed Media Agenda stated. “Ekiti people are not fools. We know the progress we have made, and we will never allow someone who insults elders, undermines our history, and traffics in lies to govern us.”
The group concluded that Ojo’s comments exposed his “bile, arrogance, and desperation,” qualities they argued make him unfit to occupy the exalted seat of governor in the Land of Honour.
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