Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi is marking his one year in office. Correspondent RASAQ IBRAHIM examines his activities since he returned to the Oke-Bareke Government House, Ado-Ekiti, for a second term.
When Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi succeeded Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 16, last year, expectations were high among the people.
The expectation was based on the tough four years the people had experienced under his predecessor and Fayemi’s achievements during his first term.
Before his return, Ekiti was in a depressing and deplorable condition.
Fayemi, in his inaugural speech, expressed the determination to restore the lost glory of Ekiti. His campaign slogan was: “Reclaiming the trust in government and restoring the lost value.”
Fayemi said his administration would lead a patriotic, accountable, well grounded and competent team to rescue the state from its parlous pedestal. He promised to rebuild the economy, resuscitate damaged infrastructure, restore hope and return Ekiti State to a prosperous land.
He 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 horrible wilderness experience in the past four years. Our reputation as a people has been sullied and we have become the butt of jokes due to the crass ineptitude, loquacious ignorance, and ravenous corruption masquerading as governance in our State during this past administration.
“We may not belong to the same political party, but never again should we allow politics in Ekiti State to be left in the hands of people who don’t understand governance.
“Never again should we give up our status as honourable men for stomach infrastructure. We are focused on areas of development which include agriculture, social investment and entrenching our economy into becoming great.
“Our greatest resources are our people. I will not rest until the burning issue of workers’ salaries is promptly addressed, “he said.
Although, the state has been plagued by financial challenges, observers believe that governance in Ekiti in the last one year has assumed a different dimension from the usual stomach infrastructure to a purposeful government and delivery of the dividends of democracy.
They are of the opinion that, under Fayemi, the state has recorded much in the areas of human capital and socio-economic development.
It seemed that the electorate didn’t vote for the former Minister of Mine and Steels in vain, considering the way he is running the government.
The new dawn can be seen in hectic pace of his first 100 days in office.
The challenges are numerous. They include the deplorable state of public education and health sector, infrastructural deficit, huge debt profile, and insecurity.
But, all these have been confronted headlong. The health sector has been reinvigorated, education is taking its pride of place, infrastructures and basic amenities are taking good shape, the economy is improving markedly and the state is enjoying a peaceful ambience devoid of political upheaval.
His administration had holistically transformed the education sector, putting in place policy frameworks that have brought about institutional transformation in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
Given the enormity of the task involved in revamping the education system, Fayemi and his dream team declared a state of emergency in the sector. Reminiscent of Awolowo educational legacy, Fayemi restored free education in the public primary and secondary schools.
He took up the payment of N227 million WAEC fees and N24m administrative charges for 13,390 SS3 students in public schools. This lifted a huge burden from parents.
Also, the accreditation of the Ekiti State University’s College of Medicine, which many parents described as an albatross for the immediate past administration, was facilitated. This gave the institution the opportunity to induct its pioneer medical doctors after 10years. Not only that, he employed all the 43 medical doctors to strengthenen the health sector and boost effective health care delivery.
Fayemi’s administration has strengthened the health sector with the rehabilitation of 177 primary health centres across the state.
He has carried out Free Health Mission, ‘Ulera Ekiti’ to achieve improved health and wellbeing. The scheme was taken to 11 of the 16 councils under the first phase.Thousands of residents suffering from ailments like hypertension, diabetes, malaria, dental and eye defects were treated.
Besides, the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, sponsored free surgeries for about 405 cataract patients to save them from blindness at a cost of over N20 million.
Fayemi has virtually turned the state into a construction site. The Civic centre, Ero and Egbe dam and new Ado-Iyin Road that was abondoned for almost 40years are being constructed.
Fayemi had also sought the African Development Bank for technical and financial support for the construction of Ekiti-Akure road, Ekiti airport, Knowledge Zone and Agriculture processing Zone. These are projects that are crucial to the economic fortune of the state as a destination of choice for investors.
He has also kept his promise of reforming the State Civil Service with the the government rolling out numerous training and retraining programmes for civil servants.
Civil servants now focus on their jobs without dabbling into politics. The State Broadcasting Service (BSES) is now free to operate professionally without any fear or favour.
Civil servant and retirees are now basking in the joy of regular payment of salaries and pensions. Also, pensioners are being paid their gratuities with increment from N10m to N100m per month.
Fayemi has restored public power supply to Ekiti tourism corridors after four years of black out. The community in the tourism hub include Ikogosi-Ekiti, host of Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Gossy Water, Ipole-Iloro, base of Arinta waterfalls and Erinjiyan Ekiti.
Besides, the governor has put back to its feets the moribund Gossy Spring Water. This has a multiplier effect on the state’s economy with many youths gainfully employed and Internal Generated Revenue improved.
Interestingly, over 5000 women weree selected across the 16 Local government Areas for capacity building training to enhance job creation. The governor facilitated a training and empowerment programme for 6,300 youths in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to banish poverty.
The governor also paid the outstanding salaries and allowances of members of the Civil Service Commission and House of Assembly service Commission who were appointed by Fayose administration.
Surprised by the rare display of kind gesture, the former chairman of the House of Assembly Commission and chieftain of the PDP, Tunji Odeyemi, thanked Fayemi, saying his approach to politics is uncommon and devoid of personal vendetta.
He said Fayemi has raised the bar of good governance and set precedence for his successors to follow by treating Ekiti people equally, regardless of their political affiliations.
“We are most delighted for an avenue like this. I must confess that this opportunity we are having today is very uncommon. When a new governor or government comes on board, what they usually do is to remove members of commissions and boards appointed by their predecessor, not minding the laws establishing those commissions. But, you have magnanimously retained us and now paying our outstanding salaries.
“As far as Ekiti is concerned, from 1999 to date, the opportunity we are having like this has not been very common. We are grateful to His Excellency for this”, he said.
Observers said Fayemi has continued to sting the conscience of the opposition parties with the bitter reality that politics of bitterness is deleterious to development.
But, the People’s Democratic is critical of the governor’s performance. The opposition party said the state has experienced a setback since he took reign of power.
The chairman, Gboyega Oguntuase, claimed that the state is on autopilot, describing Fayemi as ‘Diaspora governor’ who is hardly seen in the state instead gallivant around to nurse his 2023 presidential ambition.
The party alleged his absence was negatively inhibiting governance and development with germane issues affecting the people were not being addressed.
Oguntuase said: “The challenges of insecurity, including herdsmen crises, armed robbery incidences and kidnapping are not given the needed attention.
“The consequences of flooding in Ekiti State have not attracted attention of the incumbent governor. A governor who understands his land and terrain and a governor who is committed to the transformation of Ekiti State will know that the issue of drainage system which could reduce flooding needs fast attention.
“For Ekiti at 23, seemingly, we have witnessed a cohesion, which is as a result of our homogeneity and which is a product of the contributions of Ekiti people. Nevertheless, there has been disappointment and disillusionment in terms of governance.
“Disappointments and disillusionment in the sense that developments in Ekiti have been inconsistent and epileptic. Majority of the visible infrastructural developments in Ekiti State were made under PDP governance.
“But, the All Progressives Congress, up till today, has not shown any consistent commitment to infrastructural development. We can see APC does not understand the vision and the mission of the founding fathers of Ekiti State”, he said.
The APC State Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, who said the PDP allegations were “baseless, irresponsible and frivolous,” advised Ekiti people to ignore the opposition party, saying, “PDP should bury its head in shame for destroying Ekiti.
He said the governor has been able to meet up with the immediate yearnings and aspirations of the people through implementation of policy frameworks that have been impacting and effecting new lease of life.
“Everybody who has eyes will see what Fayemi has been able to do within one year in office. But if PDP is saying nothing has been done, it means PDP members are blind.”
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