Another chapter has opened in the annals of Ekiti State, following the swearing in of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Ekiti State Correspondent ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the significance of the historic event and the people’s expectations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
IT was a historic day in Ekiti State. Many people converged on the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion along New Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. More people monitored the event on the radio and television sets and on live streaming on the Internet.
Out of the multitudes, two individuals who had a date with history stood out. The duo, were clad in white flowing agbada. First arrive was the Deputy Governor, Otunba Adebisi Adegboyega Egbeyemi. Later, “big masquerade” Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, stormed the venue.
It was an inauguration like no other since Ekiti State was created in 1996; it was full of glitz, and graced by eminent personalities.
The swearing in of Dr. Fayemi and Egbeyemi followed their victory at the July 14 governorship election, which was regarded as the “most keenly contested in the history of the Land of Honour.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which paraded the immediate past Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola and former Ado-Ekiti Local Government Chairman, Mr. Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin as governorship and deputy governorship flag bearers respectively.
Egbeyemi was the first to take the oath of office at about 12.09 pm with his wife, Margaret, standing by his side. Fayemi, who was also joined by his wife, Bisi, took his at about 12.16 pm.
The swearing-in was performed by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Simon Daramola, who was assisted by the Chief Registrar, Mr. Obafemi Fasanmi, and the Deputy Chief Registrar, Mr. Johnson Apuabi.
The governor successfully staged an unexpected comeback to power, which he lost to his predecessor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, in controversial circumstances on the June 21, 2014.
Many pundits wrote Fayemi off, and his admirers, who saw the Ekiti governorship position as a “poisoned chalice,” advised him to walk away and continued serving the country at others levels other than the “thankless job of Ekiti governor.”
But fired by the zeal to serve his people whom he believed were worsted by the misrule of Fayose, Fayemi declared that he had an unfinished business at the Government House.
What looked like a tall dream became a reality on July 15 when he was declared the governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The expectations of the people are high from the APC administration because Fayemi returned to power at a critical period.
Fayemi and Egbeyemi had a rich record of service in private and public capacities and they are expected to bring all these to bear in the performance of their duties. The governor was a pro-democracy activist and was there for the country during the struggle for the return of democracy which came into fruition on May 29, 1999.
Fayemi was first sworn in on October 16, 2010 after a bitter three-year battle in court to reclaim his mandate. He ran his first administration, using his eight-point agenda as a springboard for Ekiti development. He was credited with success in governance, human and infrastructure development.
Some of the landmarks of Fayemi’s first tenure include the payment of monthly stipends to 25,000 aged people (first of its kind in West Africa), first state to domesticate Freedom of Information Law, first state to pass Equal Opportunities Bill to law, just to mention a few.
Besides, Fayemi also had the experience of serving as a Minister of Mines and Steel Development, in which the Federal Government’s revenue in solid mineral grew in leaps and bounds.
Egbeyemi, on his part, also parades a rich record of public service. He was a member of the old Ondo State House of Assembly, former Chairman, Ado-Ekiti Local Government (during which the famous Bisi Market was built), Commissioner for Education, Ekiti State, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and member representing Ekiti State on the Board of O’dua Investment.
The people expect the multifarious problems to be solved in one fell swoop. Fayemi, acknowledged this in his inauguration speech and pleaded for patience and understanding.
Fayemi said reclaiming the land from “the vultures” was the first step in setting Ekiti on the path of development, the foundation he laid during his first coming saying:
“This land is ours; and we reclaim what is ours with our voices; with our blood and with our souls. This land is ours; and the air we breathe on it is too sacred for those without souls to inhale. This land is ours; and it shall be free,” he said.
A major challenge before Fayemi is the clearing of the backlog of arrears owed civil servants, teachers and local government workers. They are owed between four and seven months arrears of salaries. Pensioners are owed eight months arrears of their monthly benefits.
At the town hall meetings held in Ido-Ekiti (Ekiti North) and Ikere-Ekiti (Ekiti South), Fayemi said paying the backlog of salaries is his first priority. He sympathised with the workers who had ensured pangs of suffering under the last administration.
At the town hall meetings, the governor abrogated the education tax imposed on pupils in primary and secondary schools.
He also ordered the return of free education to public schools.
The governor said he would pay salaries promptly and while modalities would be worked out to defray the arrears since the faithful labourer deserves his wage.
A huge mountain to climb is the debt of over N170 billion allegedly left behind by the Fayose administration
Fayemi said: “Independently verifiable preliminary findings indicate that we have been plunged into a debt abyss of over N170 billion, with commitments to innumerable white elephant projects, an average of 8 months salaries owed across government entities, and many state assets unaccounted for.
“We will ensure that within one hundred 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 hunting or playing to the gallery. We will seek out the truth and lay it before our people.”
Another problem waiting for Fayemi’s magic wand is the massive unemployment among the youths. Although he tried during his first term to engage the youth with initiatives Youth Volunteer Corps, Peace Corps, Traffic Management Agency, Youth in Commercial Agriculture, much is needed to be done.
The governor must think outside of the box to create jobs through agriculture, investment in mining, tourism and establishment of cottage industries to absorb the teeming youth since the civil service cannot absorb everybody.
Fayemi needs to attract more investment to the state and look for ways to shore up its revenue to complement monthly allocations from the Federation Account.
Despite the grandiose projects executed in recent past, Ekiti still suffers infrastructural deficit. Many federal, state and local roads are in a state of disrepair. Apart from these, Fayose left some projects uncompleted, the most prominent being the Oba’s Market in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor, acknowledged the huge task ahead, He noted that they are not insurmountable urging the support of the people of the state.
He promised to anchor his administration on four legs of governance which include agriculture and rural development, social investment, infrastructure development and entrenching knowledge economy.
“As I have said time and again, my coming back to office is not a revenge mission, but rather a healing balm on a painful wound.
However, as the events of the past four years go into the history books, we owe it a duty to ourselves and generations coming after us, to work together to ensure that never again shall we be deceived into making such a grievous mistake that has set us back so steeply on the development curve.
“Certainly, we would not all belong to the same political party nor share the same ideological beliefs, but the reins of leadership in Ekiti State must never again be allowed to fall into the hands of those who do not understand what governance or development is all about.
“Never again should we give up free and qualitative education for herculean fees and taxes levied on our school children; never again should we give up free healthcare and functional hospitals for a total neglect of the health sector; never again should we give up integrated infrastructure development for bridges that lead nowhere; never again should we give up a burgeoning tourism sector and a revitalised Ikogosi for decrepit structures now overrun by reptiles.
“Never again should we give up the peace and unity of our State for increased crime rates and general insecurity; never again should we give up transparent and accountable governance, with the requisite checks and balances of independent Judicial and Legislative arms of government, for draconian one-man shows; never again should we give up our reputation as a honourable and knowledgeable people, to be known as apostles of stomach infrastructure. Never again shall we sacrifice prompt payment of salaries for indulgence in pursuance of projects of minimal benefit to the people. NEVER AGAIN.
“Yet from the ashes we rise and shine as we look towards the light.
The light of knowledge and intellectualism that we are known for, which illuminates our minds and reflects in the good character and pristine values we hold dear. These are the same values that have been eroded in recent years, which we seek to restore.
“Indeed, our mission to Reclaim our Land and Restore our Values, was not only the slogan of our campaigns but a clarion call to all to embark on this journey with us. Today, as we have reclaimed our land, we are now at the cusp of charting the course of sustainable development out of the quagmire that we find ourselves in. In this task, we are faced with a number of threats and challenges, yet blessed with an immense amount of strengths and opportunities.
“My vision for our great State is that this is a place where people can thrive and live their lives in dignity. A place where workers do not labour in vain. A place where our young people do not roam the streets looking for jobs that are not there, a place where people are not so hungry they resort to pilfering food to survive. A place where the cycle of generational poverty can be broken, and in which our elderly can reap the fruits of their labours over their children. A place where people are safe, healthy and prosperous.
“The governance agenda of this administration is therefore compelled to focus on four areas through which we will deliver our promises to the people. The four pillars of our administration will be: Social Investments; Knowledge Economy; Infrastructure and Industrial Development; and Agriculture and Rural Development.”
