ENOUGH OF THE FALSEHOOD: BAO’S GOVERNMENT IS A MODEL OF PEACE, NOT PERSECUTION By Comrade Idowu Afuye
ENOUGH OF THE FALSEHOOD: BAO’S GOVERNMENT IS A MODEL OF PEACE, NOT PERSECUTION
By Comrade Idowu Afuye
July 24, 2025
It is highly unfortunate and deeply disappointing that a group claiming to represent “ex-student leaders and human rights bodies” has chosen to engage in reckless propaganda against a peace loving and people-centered administration in Ekiti State all in the name of defending Hon. Goke Olajide.
The attempt to label Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s government as one that orchestrates persecution or political witch-hunts is not only misleading but dangerously irresponsible. This narrative is driven by political desperation, not facts.
A GOVERNMENT ROOTED IN PEACE AND INCLUSION
Governor Oyebanji’s administration has, since inception, prioritized unity, dialogue, and inclusive governance. From the civil service to the local governments, from market women to student unions, BAO’s leadership has been participatory and transparent.
The present administration has never used state machinery to harass, intimidate, or silence critics. Rather, it has embraced democratic discourse and welcomed constructive opposition. The peaceful political atmosphere in Ekiti today is not by accident it is a result of conscious effort and responsible leadership.
FALSE COMPARISONS, DANGEROUS INTENTIONS
Referring to past political killings in Ekiti — tragic as they were — and trying to draw a line from them to the current administration is manipulative and dishonest. The likes of Dr. Ayo Daramola and Mr. Omolafe Aderiye were victims of political instability from a different era, and justice for them is a national concern. However, weaponizing their memories for a political agenda in 2025 is distasteful.
There is absolutely no correlation between Governor Oyebanji’s peaceful leadership style and any form of political violence imagined or real. The Ekiti of today is not the Ekiti of yesteryears. It is a safer, more secure, and more united state under BAO.
GOKE OLAJIDE IS NOT UNDER THREAT
Let it be clear to all: Hon. Goke Olajide is not under any known threat from the government of Ekiti State. He has every right, like any citizen, to voice his opinion. If he has raised concerns, they should be addressed through appropriate legal and civil channels — not through public blackmail and fear-mongering.
The security agencies have not reported any threats to his life, nor has he presented any verifiable evidence of persecution by the state.
LET’S CALL A SPADE A SPADE
What we are witnessing is not a cry for justice it is a politically sponsored attempt to distract the people of Ekiti from the ongoing progress across sectors: road construction, salary payments, educational reforms, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, and agricultural revival. Governor Oyebanji remains focused, and the people of Ekiti are not fools. They see the difference between leadership and manipulation.
THE REAL ENEMIES OF DEMOCRACY
Those attempting to incite tension in the name of human rights should take a hard look in the mirror. Democracy thrives not on sensationalism, but on truth, responsibility, and patriotism.
The international community should not be swayed by one-sided press conferences. They should look at the facts on ground: no political killings, no arrests of opposition voices, no media clampdown, and no suppression of rights in Ekiti under BAO.
FINAL WORD
We challenge these so-called defenders of human rights to point to one concrete instance of state-backed violence or persecution under Governor Oyebanji. If none exists and truly none does then their allegations amount to defamation, mischief, and an insult to the peace loving people of Ekiti.
We stand firmly by BAO not because of party loyalty but because he has earned the people’s trust through performance, transparency, and humility.
Signed:
Comrade Idowu Afuye
Democracy Watcher & Advocate for Responsible Engagement
Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
