For those who do not
know Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in Nigeria, he is the last child in
a family of six with a long tradition of public service. His father, the late
Chief Francis Falade Fayemi retired from the Ondo state Civil Service in 1977
having served in the Western Region, Western State and Ondo State respectively
for over twenty-five years. In retirement, he later served as Councilor and
Chairman of the old Ekiti North Local Government between 1977 and 1979, and
subsequently, President, Customary Court covering parts of the Oye Division of
old Ekiti North Local government. A justice of the Peace and Baba Egbe of the
St. Martins Catholic Church, Isan Ekiti, Chief Fayemi was a well-known
community leader and believer that the only life worth leaving is a life of
service to the community. His son follows in this well trodden path.
The Ekitis, whose
ancestors migrate from Ile-Ife as a people, form one of the largest ethnic
groups in Yoruba land. Ekitis are culturally homogeneous and they speak a
dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The homogeneous nature of Ekiti
confers on the state some uniqueness among the states of the federation. Slight
differences are noticeable in the Ekiti dialect of the Yoruba language spoken
by the people. This is informed and influenced by their spatial locations,
especially the border communities to other states.
Speaking on achievements so far,
Governor Fayemi in his words stated that projects executed were projects submitted by the communities and not
government projects. ''They are not really gigantic projects, what we did was
to take the presidents and secretaries of the town unions to a workshop. They
would bring their projects. They would also bring their plans and the costs. We
will then send people from our Ministry of Rural Development to assess and
evaluate projects and we then give them money in phases. 50 per cent to start,
then 30 per cent and 20 per cent subsequently''.
In addition, he
states that '' the evidence before us indicates that in virtually all the
communities where we have projects, it is almost 80 per cent completion, and
they have been completed on time and cost''.
Furthermore, Fayemi
has been noted to have said frankly that - '' at the risk of sounding
immodest, there was nothing I met that I didn’t expect. People may have
forgotten but when the government in place then read the budget, we published
an alternate budget in the newspapers for three consecutive years. We had a
100-day plan to a 24-month plan. Everything we have done in the last three
years we campaigned about in 2006.".
On his one-time political associate-Hon.
Opeyemi Bamidele, Fayemi says and i quote ''Opeyemi
is my friend. He will remain my friend for as long as I live. I consider him
more than a friend. I consider him a brother and that is why he could do all of
what he is doing without my batting an eyelid. But I also said to you, in times
past, that there is nothing wrong in having an ambition, it is legitimate.
Recently, the
Governor was endorsed and scored very high by the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, the Afenifere
Renewal Group (ARG) in the area of execution of policies that have improved the
standard of living of the people of the state.
I visited ekiti late last year and also
touched over 2 local government areas. I must say the town is a very peaceful
town with warm, hardworking, intelligent and dedicated people. However, i feel
Governor Fayemi should give one hundred percent dedication to accessible
housing and Industrial Development just like he is doing to other sectors.
There are very few industries in the state and the major changes to mention a
few are the road networks and on-going pavilion.
In my opinion, this coming election is
going to be a tight run for Fayemi, former ekiti state governor - Ayodele
Fayose and Hon. Ope Bamidele.
Ekiti decides on June 21, 2014 God willing.
Pics & info: okgist.com,
kayodefayemi.com.ng, newsofthepeople-ng.com
