Ekiti State is set for a new dawn as most streets were shut on Thursday, October 16, 2014 just to witness the swearing in ceremony of the new governor, Ayodele Fayose as the executive governor of Ekiti State after successful elections.
Fayose from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP had won the battle against his opponent Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC an his inauguration attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.
During his inauguration, which took place at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in the state capital , Fayose delivered an inaugural speech where he made alot of promises which hold better days for the people of Ekiti state.
He assured the people that he would empower them to pursue and realize their aspiration, encouraged to develop at the inaugural ceremony.
The speech further assured equal opportunity for women, promote skill acquisition and boost agriculture to boost employment generation and encourage small and medium enterprise.
Fayose declared that Ekiti State has returned to the mainstream of Nigerian politics stressing that he would ensure strategic partnership with the Federal Government and its agencies.
“We shall make our contributions in human and natural resources to the Nigerian commonwealth and also ensure that we secure our dues. We shall collaborate with foreign missions and development partners in our developmental strides.”
The new governor will promise that he would study the objectives of the existing regional political and economic groups in the South West and make his inputs and decisions as appropriate.
However, Fayose condemned the 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), set up by the immediate past governor stating that he would be guided by the provision of section 3 and part 1, first Schedule of the 1999 constitution on the list of local governments in Nigeria, in the allocation of resources to the local council. The LCDAs do not feature on this list, meaning they are not expected to receive any funding from the government.
Furthermore, Fayose assure that his regime would boost the agricultural production in a bid to provide for food security for local consumption as well as exportation to other countries.
He said also promise that he would strengthen education, health security, public service, and pay attention to the infrastructural development of the state.
” Good people of Ekiti State, the last minute attempt by the opposition party to truncate the mandate which you freely entrusted to me on June 21 has clearly confirmed the true character and direction of interest of these political desperadoes.
“Their machination is to demonise and portray me as a violent person. The role and indeed the open conduct of some of the judicial officers in the plot, are already being investigated by the appropriate authorities. As we await the outcome, my government will join hands with the appropriate authorities in ensuring that no stone is left unturned in the retracking of our hallowed democratic institutions from slide and bastardisation. The judiciary should be truly repositioned as the actual temple of justice and last hope bastion of hope for all.”
Meanwhile, the new governor stated that he would patronize the contractors in the state for any work in order to encourage them.
However concerning the unpaid debts by the state he said:
” I report to you that our state had been plunged into heavy debt dungeon of over forty nine billion Naira by own own brothers and sisters as follows: bond (capital market) and agriculture loan, N21..2billion, other bank loans, N15.5billion, outstanding, salary (two month), N2.4billion, unpaid subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions, N70million, 2014 leave bonus, N400million, unpaid pensions and gratuities, N3.2billion, unremitted withholding taxes and other deductions, N850million and indebtedness to contractors, N10billion totaling N57.45Billion.”
“Today our state has been committed financially up and until year 2020, even beyond my own administration. The proportionate benefits of this huge debt to our people remain to be seen or felt by the ordinary man and woman in our state,” he added.
However, more than nine members of the assembly defected from APC to the ruling PDP which the National chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu assured them that they had taken the best step.
Nevertheless, he craved for the indulgence of the citizens to support the new governor in order to make his administration successful adding that the governor to carry the people along during his administration.
