The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fayemi

  • Fayemi versus Soludo

    SIR: I read Dr Kayode Fayemi’s rejoinder to Dr Charles Soludo`s observation with relief. As a long standing admirer, his thoughtful piece was only to be expected. It has subsequently been widely acclaimed.

    What is however disconcerting is why the APC is not fighting the elections on the basis of – ` Its the economy stupid!`. This to state the obvious is the tried and tested route to defeat an incumbent government in office. You only have to look at what has happened in Greece this week.

    Other historical examples can be cited. Lula da Silva won at the third attempt in Brazil by offering a convincing alternative economic platform to a sceptical electorate. Going further back, recall the totally unexpected landslide victory of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom in 1945.

    Faced with running against a war hero in Sir Winston Churchill,`the greatest English man of all times`, if you take the propaganda seriously ( I don’t ), the Labour Party fought on a hard economic position `Yes, Churchill won the war. We are going to win the peace.`

    As the seminal analysis `The road to 1945` pointed out, by focusing on the widening of access to education, health and social services, the Labour Party completely out foxed the war hero in what is still regarded as one of the greatest electoral shifts in history.

    As Dr Soludo pointed out in 1979, Chief Obafemi Awolowo admirably offered a well thought, meticulously costed and convincing alternative economic platform.

    This is why it is pertinent to ask: What on earth is going on?. This issue is taxing the emotions of anxious PVC holders across the country. The Jonathan administration has the most deplorable economic record in living memory. Plunging living standards have been reinforced by mind blowing corruption and the recent devaluation of the naira.  Frankly, its key operators ought to face an economic war crimes tribunal.

    By not focusing on the economy, we are about to squander an historic opportunity. For example the consequences of the depreciation of the currency must be spelt out in clear terms. This is unpardonable. The Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously observed that the rules of engagement in politics requires shifting the territory of debate in favour of one`s own project . Why on earth is this not being done?

    By not doing so, the odious, not fit for purpose Femi Fani-Kayode and the disgusting Ayo Fayose and their clearly insane fellow travellers have been allowed to step into the void. They must not pass.

    Henceforth, Fayemi’s response to Soludo must be the focus of the APC campaign, advertising and agit- prop. This will stop` certificate`, religion and ethnicity dead in its track. The issue to para-phrase Bill Clinton is` Are you better off now than you where four years ago?`.

    Its time to change tack in order to chase the `crazy bald heads out of the yard` to quote Bob Marley.

     

    • Kanmi Ademiluyi,

    Lagos

  • Between Fayemi and Fayose

    At last, that year of the sphinx, 2014, has rolled away, leaving all its survivours with bated breath! Not a few Nigerians wished that such a year should not have come up at all, though they could not foresee a better alternative in the succeeding year 2015, when the general election would hold – a year for which more gloom than boom has been widely predicted, but which cannot be skipped all the same. Those who wished 2014 away therefore should look beyond 2015 for succour, be it for political or economic bail out.

    While at the national level, the year 2014 gave Nigerians more than they had bargained for, narrowing it down to Ekiti State was even more unpredictable and mysterious, particularly on the political front. It was a year of political flip-flop when a performing incumbent lost his seat for another political maestro with a negative past, thus returning the people to a dark era of much promise, less execution.

    Neither an optimist nor a pessimist saw it coming that a John Kayode Fayemi, the incumbent and a man of worth, would lose out and a Peter Ayodele Fayose, a smart alec and political gadfly, would win the June 21 election in a state that prides itself as the land of Honour and Pride.

    Fayemi is an internationally recognised political and human rights activist, who has a Doctorate degree in War Studies. Fayose parades a questionable Higher National Diploma certificate that is still a subject of litigation. Fayemi has won accolades as a respecter and an advocate of the rule of law, while Fayose is widely known as one who rules with impunity.  Fayemi has never been indicted for any offense and was enjoying positive public opinion, while Fayose has been publicly indicted, removed from office and had a case to answer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

    Yet Fayemi lost the election to Fayose in all the 16 Local Government areas of the state in a baffling circumstance, the mystery of which has yet to be unravelled. Predictably, the result transformed the state from a lawful to a lawless one. The state suddenly became newsworthy for negative happenings and a relatively peaceful state became a one-week-one-trouble one. In his characteristic manner, Fayemi accepted the outcome as the wish of the people and moved on, while Fayose began a reign of terror, riding roughshod on people’s rights.

    Teasers: While in the saddle, Fayemi was a stickler to all that was civil. He would ensure that due process was followed in appointments, promotions, transfers, procurements, award of contracts, and so on. The rule of law prevailed with the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government operating independently, while security matters were taken seriously and budgets were preceded by consultation with the people.

    But no sooner had Fayose emerged a winner than all these began to thin away for dictatorial tendencies. Like any conman, Fayose knows how to prey on the minds of his followers, and he is doing so without let. He would whip up sentiments, keep them emotionally enslaved, cover their eyes with veil and wrap their minds up with wishful thinking. He has presented himself as one from among them, who would rather stay with them at their level of reasoning than attempt to elevate them. He would rather give them fish than show them how to fish or provide the enable environment for them to fish. He would shed crocodile tears, tell them he was so doing in their best interest. He would denigrate his predecessor’s efforts, write them off as unnecessary distraction to the simple and modest ways of life of the helpless people. Yet, like their hapless shepherd and they his helpless sheep, he would milk them of substance and relevance.

    No sooner did he mount the saddle than he started to drive it furiously leaving in his trail balls of dust. Immediately his name was announced as the winner of the election, he went round the banks, threatening fire and brimstone should they further honour any request from the incumbent governor who still had four months from then to hand over to him, and those ones caved in to the threat. This translated to financial paucity for the state, which hitherto had been honouring its financial obligation as at when due.

    For Fayose, separation of power is a long process and an undue sharing of authority.  First he pounced on the judiciary where he had a case of perjury to answer, manhandled sitting judges and chased justice away from the land. Next, he invaded the hallowed legislative chamber with thugs and force men, replacing the rule of majority with that of the minority, chased away the 19 opposition members, installed the rule of minority with seven members holding sway.

    On mounting the saddle, Fayose removed all the constitutionally recognised structures and began to rule with impunity. He made propaganda the official form of communication, converted lying to a virtue and was pacing hurriedly to wipe off his predecessor’s legacy of civil culture, replacing it with street credibility, his own version of governance of appealing to sentiment rather than reasoning. From his lying lips flow unsubstantiated allegations against Fayemi, whom he had earlier told that he would outsmart with lies. “That is politics,” he would say.

    Fayose promised the people of the land of pride and honour stomach infrastructure in the place of physical and developmental projects. He promised to line their belly with rice and chicken, even at the expense of giving them a befitting edifice. Day in day out, he rakes off whatever relevance Fayemi had laid in the lives of the people.

    Like an Emperor, Fayose resumed a life of opulence while decking the people up with poverty. The relationship is a master-servant one. Everything civil started giving way for everything trickish. The more the people are looking, the less they are seeing. They were being told whatever they would want to hear instead of what they need to know. A fruitful hope started giving way for a fruitless one.

    The year 2014 thus ended in nostalgia of a quality life for the people of Ekiti, asking one another questions more than they, or anyone else, could provide an answer. Fayose is busy having a field day, feeding the people with lies and feasting on the collective wealth. But in the words of Pastor Enoch Adejare of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who visited the state for a crusade at the end of of the year, better days are ahead again for the state. The state nose-dived in 2014, it will bottom up in 2015. Hopefully.

    • Dipe, a journalist and public opinion analyst, writes from Ado Ekiti
  • Fayemi hails running mate’s choice

    Fayemi hails running mate’s choice

    Former Governor of Ekiti State and All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) National Convention Committee’s Chairman Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has hailed the choice of legal luminary, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as the running mate to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fayemi’s committee conducted the APC convention and presidential primary that produced Buhari as the party’s presidential flag bearer. The former governor, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, noted that Prof. Osinbajo’s choice has further reinforced the party’s determination to effect the change, which Nigerians were clamouring for.

    He described Osinbajo as a renowned teacher, legal expert, administrator and a reform-minded technocrat, who embodies the virtues of honesty, integrity, selflessness and dedication to the overall good of the society.

    Fayemi said the university don remained a strategic partner to Gen. Buhari in the task of driving the change.

  • Tribunal delivers judgment on Ekiti governorship poll Friday

    The Justice Siraju Mohammed-led tribunal has fixed Friday for judgment in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the outcome of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Justice Mohammed, who is the tribunal chairman, on Wednesday, chose December 19 for judgment after lawyers, representing parties to the petition, adopted their final written addresses.

    Respondents to the petition are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fayose, the Independent National Electoral Commission) , the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police.

    Before adopting his final address, the petitioner’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), reminded the tribunal that, as against the impression created by the defendants, the petition was predicated on the fact that Fayose was not qualified to contest the election.

    He urged the court to allow the petition and dismiss the responses by the five respondents.

    Lawyers to the respondents, including Yusuf Ali (SAN), Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Abayomi Sadiku and Abdulkadir Ajana argued that the petitioner had failed to prove its case.

    They also argued that the petitioner was unable to provide cogent evidence to support its petition. They urged the tribunal dismiss the petition.

    The APC, in the petition,urged the tribunal to “unravel the hidden facts surrounding the election,” contending that the election was more of “a mechanical exercise than conventional casting of votes.”

     

     

  • Why we chose Lagos for presidential primary, by Fayemi

    Why we chose Lagos for presidential primary, by Fayemi

    The Chairman of the National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the choice of Lagos as the convention venue was not meant to coronate any of the five presidential aspirants.

    He said the committee will not work towards a preconceived answer of the National Chairman of APC or any party leader.

    He said he had come into the assignment with nothing but his integrity and the committee would be fair to all.

    Fayemi said: “Indeed some aspirants wrote to us wanting the convention committee to still stick to Abuja  but since everything we are doing is   open and  transparent, in fact all aspirants have representatives in the committee and they were part of all the discussions that transpired before we arrived at Lagos, so we were able to convince them.

    “I then chose to meet with all the presidential aspirants because I felt it was important for me to explain to them as the chairman of the convention committee on why we arrived at Lagos. By the time I finished with the explanation they could see that the choice of Lagos was not an arbitrary decisionÿ or accidental choice.

    “We  looked at other option. We looked at Port Harcourtÿ Benin and Lagos. We  felt that all of the factors that are considered to be critical to success of our convention only Lagos has successful met those criteria.

    “The criteria like comprehensive security measuresÿ like full coverage by the media and the  capacity to accommodate 10, 000 delegates. There is no other city that can do that outside Abuja and Lagos. Benin that was also a very high ranking choice also did not succeed on that point because the accommodation in Benin would not meet up with the need of our delegatesÿ aspirants and other leaders that will be present. So those were the grounds on which Lagos qualified to be the choice of the venue for our convention0

    Fayemi said the committee would prove critics wrong with a free and fair presidential primary.

  • I’ve adopted siddon look option to unfolding events in Ekiti –Fayemi

    I’ve adopted siddon look option to unfolding events in Ekiti –Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State governor, Dr.  Kayode Fayemi, yesterday said he would not comment on the unfolding events in the state, particularly the recent removal of the state Assembly Speaker by seven lawmakers loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Fayemi said he has resorted  to adopt the option of keeping mute on whatever that is happening in the state and only watch closely from the sideline.

    He said: “I won’t say anything, I siddon dey look and I will only maintain my siddon look.”

    The former governor spoke at the campus of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, while fielding questions from reporters shortly after his wife, Erelu Olabisi Fayemi, was conferred with the award of Doctorate degree(honoraris causa) in Sociology by the institution.

    He expressed gratitude to TASUED, the management and students for deeming his wife worthy of the honour bestowed on her at the institution’s convocation ceremony.

    The institution emerged the overall winner of the IDEA  contest organised by the National Universities Commission at this year’s Entrepreneurship week which took place between17th and 21st Nov 2014 in Abuja.

    TASUED  Team came first among the Nigerian Universities invited for the contest. The university was honoured with the most improved university and  noble idea award.

     Receiving the trophy, the Chairman, Governing Council.Prof Olufemi Bamiro congratulated the TASUED team for the honour done to the University. The Vice Chancellor Prof Oluyemisi Obilade expressed joy and appreciation for the feat. She therefore promised to be of support to students whose ideas will keep making the university proud

  • Fayemi clears air on Ekiti’s debt

    Fayemi clears air on Ekiti’s debt

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has debunked the allegation by Governor Ayodele Fayose that the state owes N87billion.

    In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi said the state owed N36billion and not N87billion as claimed.

    It said: “The media was awash last Friday with allegations of financial recklessness and huge indebtedness by the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    “Fayose had, in his inaugural speech, put the state’s debt profile at N57 billion. A day earlier, he had put the figure at N89billion during a televised interview.

    “This is in addition to the various unprintable words he used to describe the Fayemi administration.

    “Although former Commissioner for Information Tayo Ekundayo has responded to the allegations, it has become necessary to provide additional details to that earlier reaction.

    “The concern here is that the public could be misled by the fraudulent claims and deliberate distortions of facts and figures.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the state’s debt as at October 15 is N36,316,017,758.93.

    “Of this amount, N7,830,636,440.62 represents foreign loans incurred by previous administrations since the days of the old Ondo State.

    “The difference of N28, 485,381,316.31 represents internal loan. This includes inherited loans from previous administrations and outstanding balance (debt) of the bond taken at the Capital Market.

    “Despite this, the Federal Government owes the state N17,710,728,299.06. This include N10,839,493,135.63 (amount due from construction of federal roads); N4,012,384,082.60 (refund on Paris Club) and N2,858,851,080.83 (amount due on ecological projects).

    “If the Federal Government had graciously paid part of this, the state’s debt profile would have been greatly reduced.

    “It is our belief that Fayose was hasty in making a pronouncement on the state’s finances and other matters without first going through the handover note, which contains details of government transactions and financial situation. Nothing can be more mischievous and irresponsible.

    “The governor alleged that the state account was in red but the state bank balances as at October 15 stood at N1,930,739,725.84.  This comprised N1,463,805,908.56 (state account) and N466,933,817.28 (local government account).

    “Also, the Bond Sinking Fund Account balance as at September stood at N3,019,987,424.03.

    “Nothing could be farther from the truth than Fayose’s allegation that none of the MDAs account had up to N1million. For instance, the Ministry of Agriculture’s account is in the excess of N90million, while the MDG account has close to N1 billion.

    “There is no responsible leader in Nigeria today that will not acknowledge the poor state of the economy, a development that has made it difficult for the Federal Government to meet its obligations to states.

    “In the last two years, states have had to leave the monthly FAAC meetings empty handed, as they did last week.  This is in addition to a huge reduction in the amount given to the states.

    “In Ekiti State, for instance, the federal allocation has dropped by about N480million monthly since the beginning of the year and this has placed a huge strain on government finances.

    “The government has had to resort to bank facilities in order to augment the now insufficient allocation and pay salaries.

    “As a government that is committed to its citizens’ welfare, the Fayemi –led administration had in 2011 approached the Capital Market where it raised a N25billion bond which it spent on infrastructure and projects which are regenerative in nature.

    “Of the amount, about N14 billion has been repaid through the laid down repayment regime. The outstanding balance of the bond money forms part of the N28billion debt profile according to the state’s audited accounts, which were published in some newspapers last week.

    “It is also pertinent to state that the governor’s claims that the former administration owed two months salaries are dubious. The only salary being owed is that of September and the development was sequel to the reluctance of banks to give the state facilities, following sundry allegations of collaboration levelled against the banks by Fayose.

    “In all this, the Debt Management Office (DMO), a Federal Government agency, still rates Ekiti State as one of the least indebted states in the country.”

     

     Facts and  figures

    •Ekiti State has a debt of N36,316,017,758.93.
    •Foreign Loans N7,830,636,440.62
    •Internal Loans N28, 485,381,316.31
    •Fed Govt owes Ekiti N17,710,728,299.06
    •State’s balance N1,930,739,725.84
    •Bond Sinking Fund balance N3,019,987,424.03

     

  • N84bn alleged debt: Fayemi hits back at Fayose

    N84bn alleged debt: Fayemi hits back at Fayose

    The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has urged his successor, Ayodele Fayose, to study the handover notes on his four-year stewardship before passing unfavourable comments on his administration.

    According to Dr. Fayemi, the statement made by the new governor in his inaugural speech suggesting that the debt profile now stands as N N84billion was reckless and irresponsible.

    Speaking on behalf of the ex-governor in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Tayo Ekundayo, Fayemi’s Commissioner for Information, said all credit facilities obtained by the former administration were not only documented but were equally made  public.

    Ekundayo recalled that Fayemi had approached the capital market in Lagos to obtain a N25billion bond which he claimed was judiciously used to finance various landmark capital projects across the state.

    He added that the Federal Government owed Ekiti State under Fayemi as much as N20billion, noting “Fayose should study the hand-over notes carefully before making  unnecessary noise about the debt profile of Ekiti”.

    Ekundayo said over N14billion had been paid out of the N25billion.

    He adviced the new governor to settle down for business of governance rather than engaging in “cheap propaganda”.

    “Fayose should know that he has assumed a new status which is quite different from where he was before.

    “What I will advise him to do now is to settle down and see how he would improve on the legacies of the Kayode Fayemi administration”, he said.

    The ex-commissioner said further: “The truth of the matter is that our government took N25billion from the bond market and that is open to the public. We have paid about N14 billion out of it and the Federal Government is owing Ekiti nothing less than  N20 billion.

    “I have been hearing that the debt profile of Ekiti State now stands at N84billion. I want to say that it is nothing near that figure. We have noticed that tendency in the past, but we have refused to join issues with him.

    “It is too early for Fayose to be talking about us. He should understand that there is a difference between being a candidate of a party and a chief executive of a state.”

  • We’ve made Ekiti better, says Fayemi

    We’ve made Ekiti better, says Fayemi

    MY dear people of Ekiti State, by the grace of God, in the next 24 hours we would come to the end of a glorious tenure of an administration”, these were the opening words of a lengthy valedictory address titled ‘The Promise Kept’ read yesterday  by former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who assumed leadership on October 15, 2010.

    In the emotion-laden broadcast on state-owned media stations, the governor talked about life’s philosophies, leadership and the consequences of bad conduct.

    He detailed the achievements of his Eight-Point Agenda.

    Fayemi said: “I have had the privilege to lead the land of honour, Ekiti State. The Scriptures instruct us that ‘there is a time for everything and a season for every purpose under heaven’.

    “If wise, we draw from this a keen sense that all earthly things are temporary and finite. All things born or made of man are transient.

    “We must leave the path clearer than we found it. We must leave the world, our nation and our state better than we found it.  The promises spoken in this regard are the promises one should keep.

    “As I step away from office, I can say the promises we gave are the promises we kept. We have made Ekiti a much better place than we found it.”

    He said no leader is indispensable. Government belongs to the people.

    In respect to his achievements, the former governor said efforts were made to ensure a change in the attitude of the public, who were disenchanted about politicians.

    His words: “It was immediately clear that our first task in Ekiti was to rebuild trust in governance. Without resurrecting that platform of trust, we would be barred from delivering the service we sought to give the people.

    “Thus, we resolved to talk less and do more, to let our deeds speak for us as we led by example.

    “This meant performing at a level of devotion and commitment to an ideal of public service worthy of the people’s trust.

    “This has not been easy in a climate where people had become accustomed to boisterous leaders, official non-performance and dysfunctional institutions.

    “However, we made considerable progress. We eschewed the vulgar arrogance associated with power and opted instead for simplicity and sensitivity to the demands and needs of the people of Ekiti.

    “We restored the work ethic by separating the sport of politics from the reality of governance and public service.”

    Former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni poured encomiums on the former governor.

    They thanked Fayemi for not disappointing them.

    The former governors joined members of the State Executive Council at a valedictory session held at the Government House, Ayoba, Ado Ekiti.

    Adebayo, who was the first elected governor, said he was always happy when Fayemi’s strides were lauded.

    He said there was no gainsaying that the achievements of the outgoing administration dwarfed those of its predecessors.

    Oni said the Fayemi-led government was on a temporary leave because the mission had not yet been completed.

    He said he was proud that his party has done well for the people.

    The Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who led the Council in songs, said the administration would bounce back because its vision was of God.

    Adelabu thanked Fayemi for believing in her and making her a dependable partner in the development of the State.

    Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Tayo Ekundayo said he accepted to serve because of Fayemi’s leadership style.

    Fayemi thanked the exco members for believing in his vision and working with him.

    After the session, the former governor made a ‘triumphal entry’ into Isan Ekiti, his country home, after leaving the Government House.

    He was received by a crowd, made up of indigenes, friends and well wishers, who had been waiting him at the Ilafon boundary of the town since 10am.

    Fayemi, who alighted from his vehicle at 2pm, trekked with his kinsmen to the palace of the Onisan of Isan, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, who prayed for him.

    The crowd followed him home thereafter.

    Some of the community members, who spoke with reporters, said they were happy the governor did them proud.

    They added that no community could deny the impact made by the Fayemi-led administration.

    Ahead of today’s inauguration of Governor Ayo Fayose, some residents -motorcyclists, traders, commercial motorists and artisans- have bought Aso-Ebi from the Fayose campaign headquarters at Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti.

    There is an air of festivity around the capital. Various groups have bought cows, bags of rice to celebrate.

    There is vehicular density on major roads and junctions;  hotels, especially in Ado-Ekiti, have been booked.

    Fayose said a minimum of 1,000 clerics have been invited to cleanse the Ayoba Hill Government House and all official edifices.

    The new lodge built by the former administration was inaugurated last week by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Fayose, speaking during a live broadcast on the Nigerian Television Authorty (NTA), Ado-Ekiti, said the clerics, expected from the 16 local governments, should be sure of their calling and spiritual prowess.

    The governor said: “I am expecting all clerics. They would first be at the Government House to carry out a thorough spiritual cleansing before we enter the building today.

    “Even if they are up to 1,000, they are all welcome for the cleansing. But anyone who isn’t sure of his calling shouldn’t come. “They (the clerics) would be in front, we shall follow them. Our men of God would use the power of prayer to conquer all evil.

    “I don’t want to take up issues with anybody. I only believe that a chapter has come and gone. A new chapter will open today.

    “The previous administration has refused to cooperate with us in terms of inauguration and my findings have confirmed that no government account has a minimum of N1million.

    “The head of service has been here alongside some permanent secretaries and I  have asked them. I repeat no government account presently in Ekiti has a minimum of one million naira.

    “It’s unfortunate that this is happening but we are voted to find solutions to the problem and as soon as we take over the government, we shall find solution to it.”

    On whether he would probe the Fayemi administration, Fayose said: “I won’t talk about it now until we take over officially. We can’t talk about it until I assume office.

    “I have not gotten any hand-over note. So until then, I don’t want to join issues with anybody.

    “Entering the Government House is not an issue. Anywhere I am is a government house.

    “Immediately I take over, I can be here (Spotless Hotel) and act as a governor. But events from tomorrow will give us direction.”

    The police have assured of a hitch-free ceremony today.

    A statement by its spokesman, Victor Babayemi, clarified that all security arrangements had been perfected.

    Babayemi said: “The Command has put in place adequate and comprehensive security measures to prevent breach of law and order.

    “Bomb Disposal Units, Counter Terrorist Units, Police Mobile Force (PMF) , Swift Response Squad (SRS) and conventional and plain cloth detectives have been strategically positioned to ensure an eventful and crisis free ceremony.”

  • We’ve made Ekiti better, says Fayemi

    We’ve made Ekiti better, says Fayemi

    MY dear people of Ekiti State, by the grace of God, in the next 24 hours we would come to the end of a glorious tenure of an administration”, these were the opening words of a lengthy valedictory address titled ‘The Promise Kept’ read yesterday  by former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who assumed leadership on October 15, 2010.

    In the emotion-laden broadcast on state-owned media stations, the governor talked about life’s philosophies, leadership and the consequences of bad conduct.

    He detailed the achievements of his Eight-Point Agenda.

    Fayemi said: “I have had the privilege to lead the land of honour, Ekiti State. The Scriptures instruct us that ‘there is a time for everything and a season for every purpose under heaven’.

    “If wise, we draw from this a keen sense that all earthly things are temporary and finite. All things born or made of man are transient.

    “We must leave the path clearer than we found it. We must leave the world, our nation and our state better than we found it.  The promises spoken in this regard are the promises one should keep.

    “As I step away from office, I can say the promises we gave are the promises we kept. We have made Ekiti a much better place than we found it.”

    He said no leader is indispensable. Government belongs to the people.

    In respect to his achievements, the former governor said efforts were made to ensure a change in the attitude of the public, who were disenchanted about politicians.

    His words: “It was immediately clear that our first task in Ekiti was to rebuild trust in governance. Without resurrecting that platform of trust, we would be barred from delivering the service we sought to give the people.

    “Thus, we resolved to talk less and do more, to let our deeds speak for us as we led by example.

    “This meant performing at a level of devotion and commitment to an ideal of public service worthy of the people’s trust.

    “This has not been easy in a climate where people had become accustomed to boisterous leaders, official non-performance and dysfunctional institutions.

    “However, we made considerable progress. We eschewed the vulgar arrogance associated with power and opted instead for simplicity and sensitivity to the demands and needs of the people of Ekiti.

    “We restored the work ethic by separating the sport of politics from the reality of governance and public service.”

    Former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni poured encomiums on the former governor.

    They thanked Fayemi for not disappointing them.

    The former governors joined members of the State Executive Council at a valedictory session held at the Government House, Ayoba, Ado Ekiti.

    Adebayo, who was the first elected governor, said he was always happy when Fayemi’s strides were lauded.

    He said there was no gainsaying that the achievements of the outgoing administration dwarfed those of its predecessors.

    Oni said the Fayemi-led government was on a temporary leave because the mission had not yet been completed.

    He said he was proud that his party has done well for the people.

    The Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who led the Council in songs, said the administration would bounce back because its vision was of God.

    Adelabu thanked Fayemi for believing in her and making her a dependable partner in the development of the State.

    Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Tayo Ekundayo said he accepted to serve because of Fayemi’s leadership style.

    Fayemi thanked the exco members for believing in his vision and working with him.

    After the session, the former governor made a ‘triumphal entry’ into Isan Ekiti, his country home, after leaving the Government House.

    He was received by a crowd, made up of indigenes, friends and well wishers, who had been waiting him at the Ilafon boundary of the town since 10am.

    Fayemi, who alighted from his vehicle at 2pm, trekked with his kinsmen to the palace of the Onisan of Isan, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, who prayed for him.

    The crowd followed him home thereafter.

    Some of the community members, who spoke with reporters, said they were happy the governor did them proud.

    They added that no community could deny the impact made by the Fayemi-led administration.

    Ahead of today’s inauguration of Governor Ayo Fayose, some residents -motorcyclists, traders, commercial motorists and artisans- have bought Aso-Ebi from the Fayose campaign headquarters at Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti.

    There is an air of festivity around the capital. Various groups have bought cows, bags of rice to celebrate.

    There is vehicular density on major roads and junctions;  hotels, especially in Ado-Ekiti, have been booked.

    Fayose said a minimum of 1,000 clerics have been invited to cleanse the Ayoba Hill Government House and all official edifices.

    The new lodge built by the former administration was inaugurated last week by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Fayose, speaking during a live broadcast on the Nigerian Television Authorty (NTA), Ado-Ekiti, said the clerics, expected from the 16 local governments, should be sure of their calling and spiritual prowess.

    The governor said: “I am expecting all clerics. They would first be at the Government House to carry out a thorough spiritual cleansing before we enter the building today.

    “Even if they are up to 1,000, they are all welcome for the cleansing. But anyone who isn’t sure of his calling shouldn’t come. “They (the clerics) would be in front, we shall follow them. Our men of God would use the power of prayer to conquer all evil.

    “I don’t want to take up issues with anybody. I only believe that a chapter has come and gone. A new chapter will open today.

    “The previous administration has refused to cooperate with us in terms of inauguration and my findings have confirmed that no government account has a minimum of N1million.

    “The head of service has been here alongside some permanent secretaries and I  have asked them. I repeat no government account presently in Ekiti has a minimum of one million naira.

    “It’s unfortunate that this is happening but we are voted to find solutions to the problem and as soon as we take over the government, we shall find solution to it.”

    On whether he would probe the Fayemi administration, Fayose said: “I won’t talk about it now until we take over officially. We can’t talk about it until I assume office.

    “I have not gotten any hand-over note. So until then, I don’t want to join issues with anybody.

    “Entering the Government House is not an issue. Anywhere I am is a government house.

    “Immediately I take over, I can be here (Spotless Hotel) and act as a governor. But events from tomorrow will give us direction.”

    The police have assured of a hitch-free ceremony today.

    A statement by its spokesman, Victor Babayemi, clarified that all security arrangements had been perfected.

    Babayemi said: “The Command has put in place adequate and comprehensive security measures to prevent breach of law and order.

    “Bomb Disposal Units, Counter Terrorist Units, Police Mobile Force (PMF) , Swift Response Squad (SRS) and conventional and plain cloth detectives have been strategically positioned to ensure an eventful and crisis free ceremony.”