…names SSG, CoS, CPS
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, has said the arrival of his government marks the end of the past administration which he described as an “error”.
The state Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramola, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on Fayemi at about 12:20 pm. Fayemi’s deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, had earlier taken his oath at about 12:07 pm.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Fayemi as the winner of the July 14 governorship election.
The results indicated that Fayemi polled 197,459 votes while his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, got 178,121 votes.
Fayemi noted that his government would review the financial status of the state with a rising debt, which he put at N170bn under the PDP-led government of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Fayose had repeatedly denied borrowing money claiming the state’s debt was incurred by the previous government of Fayemi during his first term.
The governor said, “As much as today marks the beginning of a new phase in our history as a people, it also signals the end of an era, or more appropriately, the end of an error. Without a doubt, Ekiti has been through a terrible wilderness experience within the last four years,” he said.
“Our reputation as a people has been soiled and we have become the pot of jokes due to the ineptitude, loquacious ignorance and ravenous corruption masquerading as governance in our state during the last administration.
“As we assume office, it is our duty, and we will live up to it, to ensure we thoroughly review, document, and widely disseminate the present state of affairs so that all and sundry can know what has become of our commonwealth.
“Independently verifiable preliminary findings indicate that we have been plunged into a debt abyss of over N170bn, with commitments to innumerable white elephants, an average of eight months’ salaries owed across government entities, and many state assets unaccounted for.”
“We will ensure that within 100 days from today, Ekiti Kete will know the true position of things, in keeping with our ethos of transparency and accountability in governance. We are not interested in trials by media, witch hunt or playing to the gallery. We will seek out the truth and lay it before our people.”
The former Minister stated that Ekiti under him won’t degenerate to the level of allowing schoolchildren to pay various taxes in their quests to receive a formal education.
He promised that his government would reinstate the N5,000 social security to the elderly and make tremendous positive impacts in the areas of agriculture, social investment and economy.
“In the last four years, Ekiti was governed by a rudderless, inept and egregiously corrupt government, which was led by those who deceived our people through the instrument of stomach infrastructure.
“In this context, never again will Ekiti slip into the hands of those who knew nothing about governance, never again shall we allow our schoolchildren to pay taxes, never again shall we abandon the burgeoning resources at Ikogosi Warm Spring to waste, never again shall we allow our judiciary to be debased by draconian government and never again shall the most educated State like Ekiti be the apostle of stomach infrastructure that has made us a laughing stock .
“In our quests for economic rejuvenation, our government shall invest heavily in youths in commercial agriculture, because Ekiti is basically agrarian, reactivate community-based projects, tap into our tourist potential and ensure the security of local and foreign investors.
“As of today, the debt profile and other financial commitment hanging on the state look challenging, but with your support, we shall overcome. The light shall shine again. We shall celebrate our core values of scholarship, knowledge, hard work, unity and strong characters bequeathed to us by our founding fathers.
“We appreciate our fathers who fought for the creation of this state in 1996 and I want to assure them that we shall keep the flag flying and make sure we don’t disappoint them by fulfilling their dreams and aspirations within the next four years.
“We shall network with the Federal Government and other local and international bodies to bring dividends of democracy Ekiti people deserve to their doorsteps,” Fayemi assured.
Speaking at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed confidence that Fayemi would bring the desired change in the state.
He said, “I know Dr Fayemi very well, he has always cherished anything that has to do with the development of this state. As Ekiti Governor between 2010 and 2014, he instituted some laudable projects that impacted positively on the lives of the people and this pavilion was one of them.
“I know that he will do what is right to justify this mandate. I charge him not to relent in his efforts to serve Ekiti with passion, commitment and candour.”
Buhari, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, revealed that Fayemi as a former member of the Federal Executive Council had persistently been disturbing him about the development of the state.
He added that his administration would continue with its support to Ekiti.
Buhari said, “The Federal Government has given support to states in the areas of bailouts, budget support, ecological funds and Paris Club Refund, of which Ekiti was a beneficiary.
“We have extended the standard rail project to Ekiti and the construction of the Federal Secretariat will soon be completed. The Federal Government is also planning to dualise Ado-Akure Road and reconstruct Ado-Ikare Road for the use of our people. We have also built another 133kva power source in Ekiti that will be opened soon.
“As of today, 11,000 Ekiti indigenes are benefiting from the N-power programme of this administration.
“We are confident that Dr Fayemi will help cover the lost grounds brought by the past administration. From today, you will begin to have a new breath in Ekiti under the present government.”
Meanwhile, the governor shortly after his swearing in ceremony announced his first set of appointments.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, the governor named Mr Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government.
The governor also appointed Mr Biodun Omoleye as the Chief of Staff and Mr Yinka Oyebode as Chief Press Secretary.
Oyebanji, a former university lecturer, had previously served as Chief of Staff during the administration of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and was Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning during Fayemi’s first term.
Omoleye, a former university administrator and former Chairman of Ijero Local Government Area, had also served as Special Adviser in the Governor’s Office.
Oyebode, a seasoned journalist, served as CPS to the governor in his first term.
He later served as Special Adviser on Media to him when he was Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
“The appointments are with immediate effect,” the statement said.
