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EKITI Governor, BIODUN OYEBANJI
The very colourful and magnificient 65th birthday day party of former Ekiti state governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose held on Saturday 15th November may have come and gone but the enduring memories it left in the hearts of all those who attended would linger for a pretty long time. The event had in attendance some of the biggest power brokers in the land today.
The celebrant, Ayo Fayose had a two day celebration to mark his birthday. The birthday party was held on Friday, November 14, 2025, while the birthday Thanksgiving ceremony was held on November 15, 2025, the day after. Both events took place at the prestigious 10 Degrees Event Centre located on Billingsway, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event was scheduled to take off by 2 pm, but could not get started until about 4.45 pm because the organisers and the celebrant had to await the arrival of two of the VIPs expected at the event. The VIPs were the Vice President of the Federal Republic, Senator Kashim Shettima and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. They both didn’t arrive until about past 4.30 pm. It was said that the Vice President had to rush down from another event he was attending to be at the Thanksgiving ceremony while OBJ had to halt his activities in far away, Kigali, Rwanda, to fly down to Lagos to honour Fayose’s invitation.
Other top dignitaries in attendance were the Deputy Lagos state governor, Obafemi Hamzat, former Ogun state governor, Senator Gbanga Daniel, Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji and wife, Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and wife, the celebrant’s very close friend, Nyesom Wike, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Otunba Fasawe, former Ekiti State governors, Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi, former Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and many others.
The event officially took off with the rendering of the national anthem. This was beautifully done by the band of the legendary Juju music Icon, Chief Ebenezer Obey, who was the artiste billed to perform at the landmark celebration.
Expectedly, one of the few dignitaries who were accorded the privilege to give tributes at the event was the current governor of Ekiti state, Biodun Oyebanji. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had spoken before the Ekiti governor. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima also spoke about the celebrant before former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gave what has now turned out to be a most controversial speech.
Before the event on Saturday, the Ekiti governor had specially congratulated the celebrant a couple of days earlier. In a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji hailed Fayose’s “remarkable contributions” to the development of the state during his two terms in office.
Describing Fayose as “a leader who loves and connects well with the people, a respected grassroots politician and mobilizer, and a statesman who will never shy away from baring his mind in his determination to see a more prosperous state and country,” Oyebanji emphasised the former governor’s enduring impact.
“The story of Ekiti’s rise to a respected subnational entity today will be incomplete without a prominent place given to Fayose,” he said, acknowledging the former governor’s achievements in infrastructure, urban renewal, economic development, and empowerment of the poor.
The governor noted that Fayose built a substantial following in the state’s political landscape due to his accessibility to the common man and his commitment to championing their causes.
He further commended Fayose for extending immense support to his administration despite belonging to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, praising the former governor for rising above party lines in his efforts to contribute meaningfully to Ekiti’s development.
At the event, the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, again congratulated the celebrant, Ayo Fayose, and appreciated him for his steadfast support for his administration despite not being in the same party.
He said: “Well, I don’t have much to say to you, I will just adopt everything said about you by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. I’m not going to add anything to that, he has said everything about you. You’re straight forward, you’re authentic, what you see is what you get. You’re bold. You’re just like a straight line, whatever you say, you stand by it. And I wish you the best of your 65th birthday.
I’m extremely grateful to you for the support you have given to our administration in Ekiti State. Thank you for rising beyond partisanship to becoming a statesman. You have changed the nature, the texture of politics in Ekiti state. On behalf of the team I lead in Ekiti, I say happy birthday.
To our mother in Israel, God bless you. You are the real rock behind Peter the Rock and the good Lord will strengthen you,” he concluded.
Later at the event, City People got the rare opportunity to have a brief chat with the governor who was seated with his lovely wife by his side. How does he feel being part of the 65th birthday ceremony of an illustrious Ekiti son such as the Oshoko himself, Ayo Fayose? “It is indeed heartwarming. I am happy for him. The people of Ekiti state are happy for him and rejoice with him. He is one of us and we are very proud of him,” he answered.
How does he feel that the former governor is celebrating 65th birthday? “Excited. And grateful to God. I warmly celebrate with him today on the joyous occasion of his 65th birthday. We join his family, friends, and countless well-wishers in thanking God for his life of outstanding accomplishments and courage. The people of Ekiti will forever be grateful to him for his boldness and the legacies he left behind during his time as governor of Ekiti state. His contributions to the growth and development of the people of Ekiti state will not be forgotten in a long time,” he said.
“For me as the governor of the state, I remain grateful for his support for my administration. From day one, he has supported us and he remains solidly behind this government despite that he is not a member of our party, the APC, we truly appreciate him,” he concluded.
WALE LAWAL
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