Human Rights Group 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, as the Governor of the Year 2024.

In a statement signed after its General Congress’ meeting held 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), 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.

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 unite 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 Ekiti State governor 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 Persons with Disability (PWD) inspire a paradigm shift from agelong state actors’ perception of vulnerable communities.

They said, “During the Year, Oyebanji built the first PWD therapeutic centre in Nigeria lifting over 300 people with disability in Ekiti State from a state of despair.