Fayemi’s Interface with Nigerian Blogosphere: A review

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has stated that he had performed excellently well in his forty-four months in office.
He made the declaration while giving account of his stewardship in a meeting with scores of social media personalities.

The three-hour interactive session held on February 8 at the Ikogosi Warm
Springs Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The parley presented an avenue for the audience to discuss the advancements, scorecard, challenges and shortcomings of the administration.

The ‘interface with the blogosphere’, as tagged, featured over eighty participants, with virtual follow of proceedings through social media platforms such as Twitter, Google, Facebook and Youtube.

The programme started with Commissioners for Finance, Natural Resources, Works, Agriculture, Education and Justice; Special Advisers on Infrastructure and Millennium Development Goals, taking the stage to give a brief presentation on their activities.

On his part, Fayemi, who arrived behind schedule was asked to apologized. Responding, “I sent a message earlier that I would arrive a bit late. However, I’m sorry it so happened, please accept my apology.”

In his welcome speech, he thanked the participants for honouring his invitation, with a call on them to ask him no-holds bared questions.

He reeled out the positive indices of the state including the recognition of the state as having the lowest mortality rate, lowest HIV prevalence and highest life expectancy.

Fayemi answered a number of questions, advising attendees to also visit the state’s portal (https://ekitistate.gov.ng/) for more information.

– Civil Service

The governor hailed the state civil service as one of his pillars of support. He recalled that Ekiti was one of the few states, that implemented the new salary structure. “The welfare of our 60,000 workers is a top priority.

On funds management, he said his administration had been able to substantially blocked leakages and loopholes through which millions are lost monthly.

“With the new Integrated Payroll System, the era of ghost workers is gone. Also, gone are the days salaries were paid into the Principal’s account. Every worker gets his/her alert the same day I get mine.”

Responding to a question on his basic salary every month, “I earn N549,000. People think we earn millions but that is wrong. Even furniture allowances are not there because a governor has a furnished house in place. Only the Commissioners get such; I believe their salary is N360,000.”

– Purported sack of teachers

The governor vehemently denied reports that some teachers were sacked for failing a compulsory assessment test by the state government.

“It is untrue, no teacher was sacked. We only told them they cannot continue to handle such classes. Most of them were transferred and we are extending the test to private schools too,” he said.

Continuing, he observed that the quality of education in the state had improved, saying this accounted for the emergence of Ekiti State indigenes as some of the best graduating students at the Nigeria Law School in 2013.

– Protest over EKSU fees

Admitting that he promised that Ekiti State University tuition fees would be pegged at N50,000, Fayemi maintained that he had no hand in the upward review, a statement some in attendance took with a pinch of salt.

He said only the Governing Council could make such decisions, adding that the fee was higher due to other charges such as department charge, Students Union charge etc.

Reacting to insistence by a participant that he intervenes, he said “Let me restate that the increment was not on my request or order, that notwithstanding, I will direct the Commissioner of Education (Mr. Kehinde Ojo) to look into how the other fees can be reduced.”

– Ongoing projects

The governor highlighted some of his projects he noted were “well-planned”. He assured that the Civic Centre (to accommodate a cinema, halls, museum restaurant), the N1.5billion 21,000 capacity Pavilion (a square for open events) among others, will lift the tourism and economy of the state.

But a section of the audience asked him to explain the impact of such projects on the people. He said, “These facilities would surely have a multiplier effect on residents. On completion, small scale enterprise will boom because those that will use these venues will purchase things from nearby business owner.”

“Don’t forget that most of the hands on sites are the people of Ekiti. With this, the informal sector is being propelled.”

Fayemi also spoke on the under-construction Government House at the state capital. He debunked comments that the project is white-elephant and unnecessary, lamenting that complex where he operates was originally a hotel.

“We are not a poor state, we also deserve a modern Government House. On completion, we will from here return the building to what it was designed for to serve its purpose.” He disclosed that the cost is N2billion, a figure many felt was high for a state on number 35 on the list of Federal Allocation earners.

Continuing, “Let’s not see it as a waste of funds. I won’t be here forever, I don’t own it. And if we or a future governor procrastinate and decide to build later, it will cost more then. Thanks to former governor, Niyi Adebayo, Ekiti today owns Nanet Suites in Abuja. It was built at the cost of N700million just over a decade ago. To have a structure like that now, you need not less than 4.7billion.”

– Previous administrations

Asked to leave politics aside and point out the good things he met when he assumed office, Fayemi recalled that most of the projects at the time were half-baked.

“Of course, some things were in place. Ekiti was not tabula rasa, but only a few projects were completed. However, I am proud to say that I have finished work on nearly all uncompleted projects I inherited from former governor, Segun Oni, while doing more. But we understand Oni had the litigation distraction, so I guess that hindered him from giving full concentration to the job.”

Fayemi, however, accused ex-governor Ayo Fayose of incompetence. “I can’t remember one thing he did, nothing worked. Even Ikogosi Resort that Niyi Adebayo started, Fayose not only ignored it, his people ransacked the place, carted away the A/Cs, furnitures and other valuables. You can imagine that!”

“We have spent over N1.2billion here (Ikogosi) and you can see how beautiful it is; we are making money from it too. Again, imagine we left it at the condition it was.”

“Look at the poultry project, It is nothing to write home about. Maybe he achieved things I did not see.”

– Agriculture and Investment

The governor acknowledged efforts in attracting investments in areas not limited to real estate, tourism, agriculture and technology.

He said work was ongoing at the N100m 40-hectare upland farm plantation of tomatoes, even as more are underway.

“The produce will be sufficient to sell to neighbouring states. Also, Ekiti is now the largest producer of cassava in the country. We appreciate the significance of this and we are investing more in our local farmers, so we can continue to feed our people and the country.”

According to him, Samsung, which provided the 33,000 laptops to secondary school children, earlier indicated interest in opening a centre to train young ones inclined towards information technology. “In fact, they have started using a part of the building for lessons.”

– Infrastructure

The state has completed the Funmi Adunni Olayinka Diagnostic and Wellness Centre in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH); carried out a facelift of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti and has touched all the public schools in the state.

“One unique thing we also do is that, before we prepare the budget, we go to communities and ask them to list three demands. This helps us to know what they want and also guide our budgetary plan and management.”

On roads, the state government confirmed completion of 1,200km of roads, just as it encouraged the 16 local councils to construct 5 kilometers every year.

The chief executive, however, subscribed to the position of a participant that the roads lack road signs. He also agreed that deflectors were needed on some dangerous bend (as seen on Imole-Iloro-Ikogosi road) to forestall mishaps. He directed the Works Commissioner to take note of such routes.

His attention was also called to the Aromoko-Erijiyan road. The stretch is an alternative lane to Ikogosi but in a bad shape. “People have mentioned it too, we will look into that and others,” Fayemi promised.

“We have not done everything, I haven’t said that. The reason we are having this forum is for you to come, see for yourself, assess, and ask questions.”

– 2014 election;

Expressing confidence that he will win the forthcoming governorship election, Fayemi said that he was prepared for the challenge by the opposition.

“We will begin campaign when the ban is lifted. Our people have seen what we are doing but we will go and explain what more they should expect from us.”

On the ambition of Hon. Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele, the governor said he had no issues with him, advising the lawmaker to seek medical assistance over his accusation that he (Fayemi) entered into an agreement to govern only one term.

“In my recent interview with THISDAY, I said Bamidele needs help because his problem looks psychiatric. Although my choice of words generated some controversy, I think it’s the truth.

“He said he introduced me to those who made me governor plus other sorts of rubbish; these are wicked lies and claim with no proof. Bamidele wants to become governor without participating in the primaries. Is that possible? Now he is going about to say he was disallowed.

“He mentioned that I was endorsed, but do endorsements result in votes or winning the election? I come from a background that trained me to respect culture and tradition. I have told every one of my interest to re-contest.

“On the other hand, Bamidele did not formally inform his ward chairman; he did not formally inform his local government chairman; he did not formally inform the state leadership; how would these officials know he has an ambition? Certainly not on newspapers? He thought it is by shouting, but sorry, you cannot become a governor by making noise on pages on newspapers. That is not the way to go,” said Fayemi.

John Kayode Fayemi, 49, is a native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

After over three years legal tussle against Segun Oni (of the Peoples Democratic Party), Fayemi was on October 15, 2010, declared the duly elected Governor of Ekiti State by the Appeal Court in Kwara.