Full Text of Isaac Fayose-Led “Ekiti Diaspora” Group’s Letter to President Tinubu

6th October, 2025

His Excellency
Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu
President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces,
Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock Villa,
Abuja.

Dear Mr. President,

A Passionate Plea to Rescue Ekiti State from Administrative Paralysis and Developmental Stagnation

Warm greetings to you, Sir.

I humbly write this letter on behalf of the Ekiti Diaspora community, driven by a profound sense of duty and alarm over the deteriorating state of governance in Ekiti. This is not a political maneuver, but a heartfelt appeal to your conscience and leadership. As the father of modern Nigeria and the architect of the Renewed Hope Agenda, your influence will shape the destiny of our state in the forthcoming governorship primaries.

Your administration has commendably restructured Nigeria’s economic framework, resulting in a historic and quantum surge in federal allocations to states. This reform was designed to empower subnational governments to deliver transformative development. Yet, while many states have seized this opportunity to build infrastructure, stimulate industry, and improve public services, Ekiti State has tragically failed to rise to the occasion.

The current leadership has squandered this golden opportunity, leaving the state in a state of inertia and regression. Our people have been left high and dry. Ekiti state is in dire straits, and it needs to be rescued. You are at the intersection of the rescue and we all look up to you.

Your Excellency, I have no personal issue with Governor Oyebanji. The issue is that he has not demonstrated any serious capacity to govern our state. Neither
has he displayed the strength of character required to utilize the substantial allocations at his disposal to provide basic infrastructure and ease the burden of our people. Our people have not seen value for the huge allocations over the past three years. If his first term is this dismal, a second term can be imagined. To allow Governor Oyebanji to continue in office for the second term is akin to rewarding incompetence. There must be consequences for underperformance.

Your Excellency, I am not making a mountain out of a molehill. These are the facts:

Quadrupled Allocation, Minimal Results
Between November 2022 and June 2025, Ekiti State received a total of N292.24 billion from the Federation Account. Local governments collectively received over N150 billion in federal allocations. In addition, the state generated N82 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) during the same period. These figures represent a monumental inflow of public funds, yet there is virtually nothing on ground to justify these resources. What we see are minimal outcomes that do not justify the huge inputs.

Furthermore, federal intervention funds running into tens of billions of naira were granted to Ekiti State for cassava cultivation under agricultural stimulus programs. Yet, findings show that the cultivation was never executed to the magnitude of the amount received. There are no visible farms, no processing facilities, no value chain development, and no jobs created. The funds have disappeared, and the people have been defrauded of a vital opportunity for economic empowerment.

Indeed, the following realities are deeply concerning:
• Roads : The state’s road network is collapsing. The Ado Ekiti to Ijan Road is a death trap. The Ado to Aramoko to Efon Alaaye corridor is nearly impassable. The Ijero to Okemesi stretch is a nightmare. These roads are not just bad, they are dangerous. Intra-town roads are not only worse off, they have become symbols of government abandonment. The economic cost is incalculable. The human toll is heartbreaking.

• Water Supply: There is no functional pipe-borne water system, even in the capital city. Citizens rely on contaminated streams and boreholes, exposing them to waterborne diseases. A water work project was initiated by the immediate-past Governor of the state. Rather than continuity, the project was discontinued.

• Education: No new schools have been built. Existing ones suffer from overcrowding, dilapidated structures, and lack of teaching materials. It is on social media that that some teachers and pupils scooping water from a dilapidated school building. This is the situation across the state.

• Housing: There are no visible housing projects. The state has failed to address the growing housing deficit.

• Industry: Ekiti remains industrially barren. No factories, no agro- processing zones, no innovation hubs, nothing to stimulate employment or economic growth.

• Pensioners’ Agony: The Governor has refused to clear arrears of pensioners’ stipends. Rather than address their plight, he registered a rival pensioners’ association to counter their agitations. He refused to remit their check-off dues. These senior citizens are groaning in pain and anguish over unpaid pension arrears. Many have died waiting for their entitlements.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration has failed to articulate a coherent development agenda. His leadership is marked by tokenism, opacity, and a lack of strategic vision. The state has been shortchanged, not by lack of funds, but by a leadership vacuum and administrative incompetence.

Disconnect from Renewed Hope Agenda
Your Excellency, Sir, your Renewed Hope Agenda is a masterstroke, a roadmap for inclusive growth and national rejuvenation. It should serve as the guiding document for every state executive. Yet, Governor Oyebanji has shown no alignment with this vision. His policies are disconnected, his governance style insular, and his development philosophy non existent. Rather than embracing inclusive governance, he has chosen to service a handful of political elites at the expense of the masses and loyal party members.

It is instructive to note that the recent wave of endorsements surrounding his re election bid is not a reflection of genuine support, but a product of heavy inducement. These endorsements are being purchased, not earned. The Governor is deploying state resources to secure political loyalty, while the people suffer in silence. You are aware of the jamboree that accompanied his submission of intent for a second term. The spectacle was lavish, but hollow. Our findings show that most attendees were present out of obligation, respect for office, or outright coercion. The event was a choreographed display of power, not a celebration of performance.

Political Alienation and Growing Scepticism
Sir, I am not a politician, and I do not intend to be one. But I share your progressive philosophy, one that transformed Lagos State into a model of modern governance. The blueprint laid down in Lagos still resonates today, and my deepest desire is to see someone in your mould emerge to lead Ekiti State. That person, without question, is not the incumbent governor.
Based on extensive findings and grassroots feedback, the APC remains popular among the Ekiti people.

However, Governor Oyebanji’s conduct is rapidly alienating both the party’s base and the wider electorate. Reports abound of mass suspensions of loyal party members, deliberate removal of committed APC supporters from party registers, and the strategic empowerment of opposition figures through appointments. These actions are not just politically reckless, they are corrosive to the party’s integrity.

Governor Oyebanji has courted only the elite within the party, some of whom are openly hostile to your leadership and vision. Meanwhile, he has sidelined the foot soldiers who built the APC from the ground up. These are the ward leaders, youth mobilizers, and community organizers who have carried the party through thick and thin. His exclusionary tactics have fractured party unity, demoralized the base, and eroded public trust. His recent romance with the same people he had alienated is borne out of desperation. It is not altruistic.

This betrayal is not theoretical. It is visible, measurable, and dangerous. If Governor Oyebanji is allowed to fly the APC flag once again, the party risks a backlash that could cost it dearly in the immediate and near future. The people are watching. The grassroots are restless. The silence from the party leadership will be interpreted as complicity.

Unpopular Bid
I personally visited Ekiti State few days ago, and I can say that his ambition for a second term is deeply unpopular. The overwhelming majority of Ekiti citizens and party members reject his candidacy, citing his failure to deliver on promises and his inability to inspire confidence. His administration has become synonymous with stagnation, exclusion, and missed opportunities. I respectfully urge you to commission an independent fact-finding mission to confirm my findings and submission.

Call to Action and Conclusion
Mr. President, Ekiti State stands at a crossroads. Your intervention is not only necessary, it is urgent. The upcoming governorship primary is a defining moment. We implore you not to lend your esteemed support to Governor Oyebanji’s re-election bid. His tenure has been a tragic experiment in mediocrity.

Ekiti deserves a leader who embodies competence, vision, and a genuine commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda. We need someone who will build roads, schools, industries, and housing. Someone who will restore faith in governance and rekindle the spirit of progress. Your legacy in Ekiti should be one of revival, not regret.

I respectfully urge you to produce a competent alternative to the incumbent governor. I assure you that I will fully support such a candidate with everything I have, and personally champion your reelection bid come 2027. The people of Ekiti are clamoring for positive change, and the APC must not miss this opportunity to deliver it.

Let history remember you as the President who rescued Ekiti from the brink of incompetence and set it on a path of good governance and prosperity.
Once again, I commend your efforts in reengineering the Nigerian economy and your unwavering love for Ekiti State. May God continue to bless you with long life and renewed strength as you lead Nigeria to greater heights.

Most Respectfully,


Mr Isaac Fayose
Signed on behalf of the Ekiti Diaspora

Mr Ayo Ogunlade
Signed on behalf of the Ekiti Diaspora