The Ekiti State Government has dismissed reports claiming it is constructing a new Governor’s Lodge in Abuja for Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye, at a cost of ₦1.8 billion.
The government described the reports, which also alleged that ₦470 million had already been spent on the project, as false, misleading, and deliberately aimed at deceiving the public.
In a statement released in Ado-Ekiti, the Special Adviser on Information and Value Orientation, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, clarified that the said project was not a new construction, but rather the completion of an existing Governor’s Lodge inherited from the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
“Contrary to the claims, the budgetary provision is for the completion of an existing project, not the construction of a new lodge,” Olatunbosun explained.
“The project was awarded before Governor Oyebanji assumed office but could not be completed earlier due to insufficient budgetary allocations in previous years.”
He emphasized that the present administration is committed to continuity and fiscal discipline, hence its decision to allocate funds in the 2025 budget to complete the inherited project.
Olatunbosun described the portrayal of the project as a new residence for the governor and his deputy as “deceptive and inciting,” noting that the building is officially known as the Ekiti State Governor and Deputy Governor’s Lodge, a state property intended for successive administrations, not for personal use.
He further revealed that Governor Oyebanji has been staying in rented accommodation during his visits to Abuja for the past three years.
“If personal comfort had been his priority, he would have completed the project within his first year in office. The fact that he hasn’t shows his modesty, prudence, and focus on the welfare of Ekiti people,” Olatunbosun stated.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Olatunbosun said the completion of ongoing and inherited projects remains a key policy to ensure value for money and prevent the waste associated with project abandonment.
