Exclusive: Ekiti State Governor Oyebunji missing, unable to return to Nigeria in about two weeks after leaving for 4-day US conference

Sahara Reporters will be attending the 16th U.S.-Africa Business Summit sponsored by the Corporate Council of Africa (CCA) to be held in Dallas, Texas from May 6th to 9th, 2024. It was reported that he left Nigeria on Sunday, May 5, 2019.

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has not returned to Nigeria nearly two weeks after he left for a four-day conference in Texas, United States.

Sahara Reporters will be attending the 16th U.S.-Africa Business Summit hosted by the Corporate Council of Africa (CCA) to be held in Dallas, Texas from May 6th to 9th, 2024. It was reported that he left Nigeria on Sunday, May 5, 2019.

The visit to the US was also announced in an official press statement posted on the state government’s website.

In a statement signed by Yinka Oyebode, Special Advisor for Media Affairs, the summit, themed “U.S.-Africa Business: Partnership for Sustainable Success,” will focus on trade, investment, and innovation among national and sub-level leaders. It is a platform for cooperation regarding. -Governments. Financial institutions, investors, agents and institutions.

“Governor Oyebunji will also participate in the 19th United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19) to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York,” the statement said.

“The Governor will participate in the policy sessions of the Forum on the Implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF), along with other invited heads of state, senior government officials, the private sector and stakeholders.

“Before returning to Nigeria, the governor will also consult with key stakeholders and business leaders in the United States to further the administration’s common prosperity agenda.”

Sahara Reporters on Thursday revealed that the governor is still in the United States and that apart from claims that Mr. Oyebanji will “consult with his critics,” it is the first time the governor has held a meeting since the meeting concluded on May 9. There is no official information providing details of any official involvement or meetings. “U.S. Stakeholders and Business Leaders.”

There is no official information or photos of the governor’s meetings with business leaders or the names of those people provided.

Sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the governor was supposed to return but was surprised to find he was still absent.

SaharaReporters learned that Mr. Oyebunji will receive the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) led by its Chairman, Ark Mobolaji Adeniyi, and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), led by its Chairman, Ark Dipo Ajayi. Knew. They were in the state on Wednesday for the annual special general meeting.

However, the delegation was received by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs.) Habibat Adubiaro, who spoke on behalf of the Governor and said: With this in mind, we would like to thank the sons and daughters of Ekiti in the field of architecture for spearheading this under the auspices of NIA and ARCON and look forward to leveraging their wealth of experience. ”

Attempts by Sahara reporters to contact the governor for comment were unsuccessful. I couldn’t get through to them even if I called them directly because their phone number was turned off. However, text messages sent to him on WhatsApp were delivered but he did not reply to them.

He also answered repeated calls on WhatsApp on Thursday.

Mr. Oyebode, the special assistant to the governor on media, also did not answer phone calls or respond to text messages sent to his mobile line.

SaharaReporters observed that soon after Mr. Oyebanji left the country, some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) started political unrest in the state.

APC stakeholders have opposed the appointment of supporters of former Governor Ayodele Fayose to political office.

In a statement released by the Convener of Concerned Ekiti APC Stakeholders, Prince Adelobaki Adeleye, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite their huge sacrifices and contributions to the success of the APC in the last vote, He said the appointment had been given. ).

Mr Adeleye said the situation was unacceptable and could create division within the APC.

He called on Governor Oyebunji to correct the “abnormal situation before it is too late for the survival of the party”.