Ado-Ekiti—Arrangements were in top gear yesterday for the inauguration of the governor-elect, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose, which is expected to take place at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.
Dignitaries from all walks of life were moving into the state capital in their hundreds for the success of today’s inauguration ceremony.
Already, all the guest houses and hotels in the town were already booked, while arrangements for the entertainment of guests were in top gear.
Fayose
The governor-elect was said to have assured all the groups and associations, public servants and the party supporters of adequate care and entertainment.
Individuals and groups were seen trooping into the Campaign Office of the governor-elect to procure clothing materials with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, inscription for today’s inauguration ceremony.
Vanguard, however,
gathered that the anxiety already created in some quarters that the inauguration may be thwarted was baseless after all, as the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola is said to be ready to perform his official duty of administering the oath of office on Fayose.
The Deputy Chairman of PDP Transition Committee, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, told newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday, that the CJ had sent the Chief Registrar of the state High Court , Mr Obafemi Fasanmi, to conduct the rehearsal on how today’s inauguration ceremony will go.
Ajayi said: “I can assure you that tomorrow’s inauguration will hold as planned.
“The CJ has sent the Chief Registrar to conduct the rehearsal with the governor-elect on how tomorrow’s ceremony will go.’’
Prophets to cleanse Govt House
As the people of Ekiti State are waiting patiently for the inauguration of Mr Fayose today, no fewer than 1,000 prophets, pastors and Muslim clerics are expected to spiritually cleanse the newly constructed Oke Ayoba Government Lodge.
The multi -million Naira lodge built by the regime of Kayode Fayemi was commissioned by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
Speaking on national television in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Fayose said the Pastors and Prophets will be from the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
His words: “I am inviting all our men of God to follow us to Oke Ayoba Government House on Thursday to do some spiritual cleansing there.
“But let me emphasis that we are only inviting pastors who are divinely called to lead us to Government House.
“The clerics will be in front, we shall follow them, our men of God would use the power of prayer to conquer them.
We are prepared – Police
Also, as at yesterday, the Ekiti State Police Command has assured the people of the state of its readiness to police the state and ensure a hitch-free inauguration ceremony.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the state police command,Mr Victor Babayemi, in Ado Ekiti, assured the people of the state that the state police command under the headship of the state police commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu has concluded all arrangements for maximum security for the state during the inauguration just as the security operatives mostly mobile policemen and soldiers have taken over both the Government House and Governor’s Office.
A visit to the two places revealed heavily armed security operatives taking positions and directing affairs.
Part of the statement reads; “In view of the forthcoming inauguration and swearing–in ceremony of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose as the Governor of Ekiti state on October 16, 2014, the Command has put in place adequate and comprehensive security measures to prevent breach of law and order.
“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police, CP Taiwo Lakanu, has ordered the deployment of adequate manpower and equipment to police all the events.
“Bomb Disposal Units, Counter Terrorist Units, Police Mobile Force, PMF, and Swift Response Squad, SRS, in addition to conventional and plain cloth detectives have been strategically positioned to ensure an eventful and crisis free ceremony.
“The Police personnel have been mandated to embark on thorough stop and search of persons and vehicles to prevent trouble makers from infiltrating the venues.
“The Commissioner of Police appeals to the good people of the state to support and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to ensure a hitch free ceremony.
Fayemi not cooperating with us —Fayose
The governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, has again lamented that the outgoing government in the state led by Dr. Kayode Fayemi has refused to cooperate with him over his inauguration as the next governor of the state.
Fayose told newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday that all entreaties from his side were rebuffed by the outgoing government.
Fayose further revealed that the Head of Service, Mr Bunmi Famosaya and some permanent secretaries were in his office where they had some useful celebrations.
He said none of the state’s account currently has above one million naira.
His words: “Well, like I said, I don’t want to join issues with anybody. I only believe that a chapter has come and gone, then a new chapter will be opened tomorrow(today).
“ The outgoing government has refused to cooperate with us in terms of inauguration and my findings has confirmed that no government account has above one million naira.
“The Head of Service has been here and some permanent secretaries and I have asked them.
“No government account presently in Ekiti has more than one million Naira. It’s unfortunate that this is happening, but we are voted to find solutions to the problems.
“As soon as we take over the government, we shall find solution to it.
On the issues of probe, the governor-elect said he was not in position to say whether he would probe Fayemi’s administration or not until the accounts of the state is handed over to his government.
“I would not talk about it now until we takeover the governance officially. We cannot talk about it now, until I assume office.
“I am yet to receive a handover note. So until then, I do not want to join issues with anybody.
On whether he is entertaining fear in entering Government House, he said; “Entering Government House is not an issue. Anywhere I am is Government House, immediately I takeover, I can be here and act as governor. But events from tomorrow will give us direction.”
Fayemi on performance
The outgoing governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday scored his administration high in the areas of poverty alleviation, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture and social security for the elderly.
Fayemi, equally lifted the two and half weeks old curfew imposed by his government in the wake of the killing of the former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Chief Omolafe Aderiye.
In his valedictory speech to the people of the state yesterday, entitled: ‘The Promise Kept’ the outgoing governor said his administration has laid a solid foundation on which the incoming administration will build.
Fayemi said some of the reforms he brought to governance in the state has reduced the scourge of poverty in in the state in the last four years.
He said his government was able to win the war against poverty, owing to selfless service he rendered to the people.
The outgoing governor who lauded the people of the state for their support stated that, “eight-point agenda of our government was not a campaign gimmick. It served as our compass. We kept faith to the direction in which it pointed.
“In governance, we professionalized the Civil Service, including the elimination of costly ghost workers. We embraced public participation in the budgetary system and in allocation of community projects. We enhanced Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, without raising the tax rate.”
In the area of infrastructural development, the governor disclosed that his administration reconstructed over 1,000 kilometres of roads in four years, covering about 90 per cent of the intra and inter city roads in the state.
He said: ‘’Regarding infrastructure, we pledged road construction and rural electrification, including affordable housing. Ninety per cent of Ekiti roads are now motorable. These were the promises made.”
He said the state agricultural sector had been turned round to the extent that the state has now become the Food Basket of the Nation and the nerve centre for all kinds of agro-businesses in the South-west.
“In agricultural development, we inaugurated programs like the agri-business summit and youth commercial agricultural development programme among other initiatives. We also promised cottage industries in the Agro-allied sector and skills development in Agriculture,” the governor said.
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