It was like a carnival during the week as thousands of Ekiti residents stormed the first edition of BAO Street Connect for 2025 across various communities in the state.
The grassroots communication platform powered by the Bureau of Community Communications, Governor’s Office, held at Igbemo-Ekiti, Igede-Ekiti and Iyin-Ekiti respectively.
In an interview, Director-General, Bureau of Community Communications, Mary Omotosho said the event is geared towards informing the people about the various programs and activities of the state government.
Omotosho noted that the reception of the people during the exercise is a testament of the efforts of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to connect with the people, particularly at the grassroots level.
Her words: “The motive is to simply keep engaging the people and keep informing the people in a more entertaining way that will be very attractive to their minds because this is grassroots.
“We have started this ever since the inception of this government and every year we do a follow-up because things happen in the government. This is an opportunity for us to rub minds with them, ask questions as regards where we are in terms of interventions, inform them about the opportunities in government and give them updates about government activities.
“It means that the government of Governor Oyebanji is indeed connecting with the people because when we started, the awareness was not as much as this. Getting here, it means the awareness is much more than last year. The countenance and reactions show positivity and we are very much happy about that.”
Speaking with newsmen at Igbemo-Ekiti in Ifedara LCDA, Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun stated that the exercise is in fulfilment of the governor’s campaign promises to actively engage the masses.
While commending the Bureau of Community Communications for organizing the exciting event, he described it as a testament to the governor’s quest for an all-inclusive and transparent government.
He said: “This is a very good opportunity in line with the policy trust and promises made by Governor Oyebanji during the electioneering campaign to always engage the community people, which he has been doing personally as a governor and as a government at various communities, senatorial districts and local governments.
“From the activities, one can say that this is government at its peak that speaks to transparency and working the talk. From what we can see, there is a sort of camaraderie, fraternity and a relationship that is beyond giving orders. This program can add to the healthcare of the people because they are happy being heard and being able to talk to the agents of government. It is as if they are seeing the governor in their midst.
“We are very lucky that we have a governor that speaks the language people really understand. This speaks to his understanding of where the shoe pinches in Ekiti. I want to commend him that the Ekiti people and of course, Ifedara people love him and they have shown that by their responses, participation and patience in being at the program till the end. This is a testament to good governance, community development and participation.”
Speaking at Iyin-Ekiti, Chairman of Araromi LCDA, Adewale Alade, who decried the adverse weather conditions that affected the program, appreciated the DG for deeming it necessary to extend government’s activities to the people of his area noting that they are solidly behind the re-election of Governor Oyebanji.
The exciting event, which turned into a carnival attracted top government functionaries and residents across different political affiliations, who praised the good works of the state governor with various inscriptions on their placards while urging him to seek re-election to continue the developmental milestones.
Other highlights of the event include the distribution of free food items and side attractions including games, dance competition, among others while winners won cash gifts and consolation prizes.