Kay

As a son of Ekiti born and raised in Delta State, I still remember my late mother taking us home every Christmas in the 1990s. The first time I saw Ado-Ekiti properly was in the year 2000. It looked different then. A few years later, when I gained admission into UNAD (now EKSU), it was during Governor Ayo Fayose’s first term that Ado-Ekiti got its first major dualised road (apart from the very small, and short one leading to NTA). Fayose later extended dualisation to other parts of the state. Governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi also contributed their own share. Between then and now, the state has developed significantly relative to what it used to be. Ado-Ekiti today has two strategic flyovers: the first built by Fayose during his second term (the Fajuyi–Ojumose bridge), and the second by the current governor. Interestingly, Ado-Ekiti got flyovers before the capitals of Ondo and Edo States, two older states. I’m not comparing the three, but it is a useful pointer that Ekiti is moving. The state is not yet where it should be, and not where we as proud indigenes want it to be. It still needs massive development on many fronts, just like most Nigerian states. But compared to where it was, it is growing. On education, progress is visible. I recently spoke at length with my niece who is a student at EKSU, my alma mater. I told her that relative to what the school used to be, they are “enjoying.” The institution has grown in leaps and bounds. Ekiti now has two state universities (EKSU and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology) and a state polytechnic. Is there clear room for improvement in these institutions? The answer is a capital yes, but they have made progress. Ekiti also records one of the lowest rates of out-of-school children in the South-West and among the lowest nationally (about 5.1% in the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index data). That is another indicator of forward movement. Healthcare and other development indices show upward trends, even as large gaps remain. I know my state still needs very massive improvement on all fronts. But compared with what it was before, Ekiti is progressing, and will keep progressing. For my part, I will continue to call out our leaders when they err, and praise them when they deserve it.

President Tinubu’s appointment of Ministers of Power has been a mistake so far. From Adelabu to Tegbe, both have been poor at their job.

Hello guys, what is that amphitheatre-like structure rising close to, or beside, the Shoprite premises around the Admiralty Way area in Lekki? I am just curious. @Midatlblog @iamgbolahan @Just_Ozed

This is a huge slap on Nigeria. Nigeria is a democratic country. One of the core pillars of a democratic system is a free press. For Nigeria to be on positions Number 15, & 20 in 2025, and 2026 respectively, shows that our system is still to shed the toga of our long years of military rule in our system. Hopefully, as our leaders who lived and experienced military rule keep going off the system by way of "retiremen," the tenets and pillars of a democratic system will keep taking firm root in, and saturating our system.

The Ogun State government, led by @DapoAbiodunCON needs to construct this road using asphalt, concrete pavement or anyone they deem fit. To further accelerate the opening up of that area that the RCCG city has brought, and keep bringing to that area. This should be a priority for the state government. @Sen_AdeolaYAYI @Letter_to_Jack

I think aside from Lagos State in the South West, of course, it will always get performing governors; these three States, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo need very aggressive, innovative, creative, and progressive-minded governors to really make the South West geopolitical zone, a huge development and industrial hub in Nigeria. The leaders of the South West are supposed to have special developmental plans and focus/policy, for these three States to link up with Lagos State economically and industrially. Ogun State is already “linking” up with Lagos, but, that needs to be very much accelerated. Oyo State can link up with Lagos State's economy “properly” via the Lagos-Ibadan expressway through huge economic activities on that corridor. Ibadan-Abeokuta Expressway can also with the right policies and plans, attitudes, and focus, be turned into another economic hub linking Oyo State and Ogun via that route. Ondo State can follow this same way via the Ore-Ijebu-Ode-Sagamu Expressway. Also, Ondo State can take advantage of its coastal boundary with Ogun State, and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road to build a huge economic hub linking it with Ogun State and the Lagos State economy. The above, is very much doable. What is needed are very aggressive, innovative, creative, and progressive-minded governors. Also needed, are the right policies and plans, attitudes, and focus from the South West leaders.

Ondo State is such a funny state when it comes to most progressive and developmental indicators in the South West. Virtually all their governors, except Olusegun Mimiko, have been below par, governance-wise, since 1999-present, in my opinion.

Hello @Midatlblog, I can not really tell if the KOH manifesto and plans for road infrastructure are big. I have read his manifesto, but it doesn't seem to focus much on road infrastructure. And Lagos as it is, needs a lot much more massive investment on roads, even the ones the current @jidesanwoolu led government is doing, of which KOH is a part of the government, and which apparently, their current government can not complete before they leave office in 2027. Could it be that I am wrong about that? If yes, could you elaborate on his plan on this front? @drobafemihamzat @Riddwane

President Tinubu completed the decentralization of the electricity system in Nigeria to where it is today, which started, though at a very slow pace, by the Obasanjo’s government, with the Power Sector Reform Bill of 2005. Gej did his part, Buhari accelerated it, and the Tinubu led government completed it, in 2023. Having said that, she, Aruma Otteh, a very. Brilliant woman, is wrong to say, Alex Otti is giving Aba 24/7 power. That is the work of a private investor, led by Prof. Bart Nnaji, the Minister of power, under the Gej government. The MOU for the Aba Power project, between Geometric Power Limited and the FG was signed in 2004. And the formal concession agreement was signed in April 2005. The whole process that brought about Geometric Power Limited, the private electricity firm, that is currently supplying 24/7 power to Aba took 20 tortuous years, and was completed in 2024, and was commissioned by President Tinubu. Alex Otti just happened to be the governor of Abia State when the project was completed. He has nothing to do with it. Let’s learn to say the truth as it is.

One thing I have noticed about Southern Male Muslims, with an emphasis on the Yoruba Male Muslims, when they get invited to churches for programs, when they go, they do take off their caps during the service, if they are wearing one. However, the Northern Male Muslims don’t take off their caps, if they are wearing one. Religious tolerance, in my opinion, is much better spotted in the South than in the North. Little wonder, you barely see or hear of religious crises in Southern Nigeria, unlike in the Northern part, where they are common.

This is a good one. African countries need to industrialize. However, he should start his seaport, LNG, and power projects here in Nigeria very quickly. I think he should do this before starting his petroleum refinery project in East Africa (Kenya) and before doing anything in Egypt. We need a couple of more men like Aliko Dangote in Africa.

Is the ADC campaign for the less-than-3-months-away 2027 presidential election only in the core-North, or have they not started campaigning at all? What about the NDC, when will they start their own properly? The APC seems to be the only party that has started campaigning seriously with less than 3 months to the 2027 general elections.

Can you imagine the extravagance of a Youth leader from the ruling party, the APC? In a country where there is sprawling poverty and severe underdevelopment? This is coming from a “Young guy” o! If only the opposition could latch onto this, and use it to tear into the ruling party! This is utter rubbish!

Give this a few years from now, and see how these two colleges, especially the College of Medicine, become among the best in the country, and in Africa at large.