Fayose: I will empower all citizens

Fayose taking the oath before Justice Daramola...yesterday. With him is his wife, Feyisetan

Ayodele Fayose was sworn in yesterday as Ekiti State Governor by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.  Also sworn in was his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka.

Fayose won the June 21 governorship election, which was contested by 16 other candidates.

The ceremony, anchored by Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, was held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

It was attended by national leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The event, which was televised live, witnessed a large crowd of admirers.

The governor and his wife, Feyisetan, rode into the stadium at 12:40pm in an unmarked Mercedes Benz 200, W110, 1965 model.

 He was dressed in a flowing white Danshiki (a short sleeved Yoruba Agbada).

Fayose was all smiles, waving to his horde of admirers, who defied the scorching sun, as he made his way onto the podium amid songs rendered by popular Juju musician Yinka Ayefele.

In his inaugural speech, the governor listed ‘empowerment’ as the priority of his administration, adding that agriculture; infrastructural development; education, science and technology; health wouls also be given prominence.

Fayose said while it was important to build roads, rehabilitate schools, refurbish hospitals and give free laptops to students, it was necessary to find a way to attend to individual needs.

His words: “If you tar the roads, you must also tar peoples’ stomach. Whatever the length of road you construct or reconstruct, stomach infrastructure is compulsory.

“I am a governor of your imagination. I am a governor who eats boli (roasted plantain) with you; I am the governor who drinks agbo jedi (herbal mixture) with you. I am working for you.”

He said he would review “all public service personnel issues, including appointment, promotion and discipline, which were “hurriedly effected after the June 21 governorship elections”.

 “The Head of Service is hereby directed to return all officers to their substantive positions as at June 21. A review panel will be constituted immediately to advise government on the merit of each issue as may be appropriate.”

Fayose also announced the defection of some All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House of Assembly into the PDP.

They are Olowo Ajiboye (Oye Two); Adeloye Adeyinka (Ikole One); Abeni Olayinka (Ado Two); Fatunbi Olajide (Moba Two); Olugbemi Joseph (Ikole One) and Adeojo Felix Ayodele (Ekiti South West Two).

“This government shall seek an egalitarian society for all Ekiti at home and in the diaspora. It shall rekindle hope and restore self confidence that we are known for. Government shall create an enabling environment and provide basic facilities for youths.

“I remain grateful to God for making me the first Ekiti indigene to be sworn in as governor twice.

“It is difficult for a man to get second chance; difficult for God to even grant a man a second opportunity. But God has granted me that second chance. I remain eternally grateful to Him,” he said.

The governor said the state had been plunged into a debt burden of over N57.45 billion. The breakdown, he said, included bond (capital market) and agric loan: N21.2 billion; other bank loans: N15.5 billion; outstanding salary (two months): N3.2 billion; unremitted monthly deductions from salary (4 months): N2.4 billion; unpaid subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions: N700 million; 2014 leave bonus N400million; unpaid pensions and gratuities N3.2 billion; unremitted withholding taxes and other deductions: N850million; and indebtedness to contractors N10 billion.”

Present at the event were former Oyo State governors Senator Rasheed Ladoja and Chief Adebayo Alao-Alaka and their wives; Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo);  Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) ; Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

Fayose approved the appointment of Dr. Modupe Alade as secretary to the state government.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor also announced the appointment of Owoseni Ajayi as special assistant on legal matters; Kayode Oso (special assistant on works and infrastructure; Sola Owoeye (special assistant on protocol); and Mrs Sola Olowookere (personal assistant (Abuja).

Others are Toyin Ojo (special assistant on finance), Sunday Anifowose (personal assistant on special duties and stomach infrastructure); Sunday Omosilade (personal assistant to the governor on domestic matters) and Lere Olayinka (special assistant, information and social media).

Workers announced yesterday the suspension of their 15-day strike “to honour and welcome the new government and ensure the payment of their outstanding two months salaries and allowances”.

The workers, who would resume today, went on strike on October 2, following what they said was “the government’s refusal” to pay them.

The State Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) Chairman, Oladipupo Johnson, said the workers agreed in a meeting with the Head of Service, Olubunmi Famosaya, to suspend the strike to honour Fayose.

“We met at the Labour House and agreed to suspend the strike in order to allow the governor settle down.”