When showers of mercy heralded Fayemi’s inauguration as new Ekiti governor

October 16, 2018, remains a day that will be etched in the memory of most people of Ekiti State as morning showers heralded the inauguration of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as the governor of the state.

It was a clear indication that indeed, the light has come to shine to reclaim Ekiti land with a mission to restoring the lost values of the state.

The morning showers was seen by all and sundry as a good omen for the ceremony, that good things are to be expected from the person that is taking over the reins of power and for the people of the state, things can only get better under the new government of Fayemi.

Immediately after the early morning rain, the weather was cool, the atmosphere appeared placid on that day to show the sufficient blessing of God that has accompanied the inauguration, thus giving a positive interpretation that Fayemi`s second coming will bring peace, joy, development and restoration.

The presence of highly revered traditional ruler who is believed to be direct descent from Oduduwa and who counted first among the Yoruba Kings, and traditionally considered the 401st terrestrial Spirit, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who led other traditional rulers to the occasion was another symbolic factor which some schools of thought believed was a blessing.

President Muhamadu Buhari was represented at the swearing –in ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Boss Mustapha while other dignitaries present include: Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande,

National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, Ex-APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and former Ekiti State Governors, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Bamidele Olumilua.

Governors at the event were: Governors of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun, Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi, Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode, Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu, Bauchi, Mohammed Abubakar among other Nigerians and diplomatic corps who graced the occasion.

Fayemi who was sworn in as the democratically elected governor of Ekiti State for the second time was the governor of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014, he beat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the fiercely contested July 14, 2018 governorship election in the state and became the governor for the second term.

Clad in white Agbada and brown ‘Awolowo cap’ to march, Fayemi was sworn-in by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola amid cheers from admirers and party members, who were clad in Aso Ebi and filled the main bowl of the Ekiti Parapo pavilion along old Iyin road, Ado Ekiti capital city at about 12pm.

Men of the Road Safety Corps, the Police and other paramilitary security outfits went through hectic task in controlling the traffic in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of the state on that day as Ekiti State was actually a beehive of eminent personalities and people who cut across all strata of trade that day.

Prominent among the entertainers that graced the occasion and performed wonderfully for the joyful people were the Popular Fuji maestro, Alhaji Alabi Pasuma, Adewale Ayuba, and one prominent Lagos Hi-pop singer, Mr Real among others.

The ace theater practitioner, Joke Silva was present at the occasion, while Ekiti Ambassador and popular theater practitioner who hails from Otun Ekiti in Moba Local Government of the state, Odunlade Adekola, and another prominent indigenes of the state from Ikole Ekiti, Foluke Daramola among other popular artists were also present at the ceremony.

President Buhari in his speech expressed confidence in Fayemi’s ability to deliver the expected dividends of democracy, pointing out that Fayemi as a former member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, had persistently been disturbing him about the development of the state.

The President assured that Fayemi assuming the governorship of the state would afford him the opportunity to redirect Ekiti to the path that has to do with the development of this state, bacause as Ekiti governor between 2010 and 2014, he instituted some laudable projects that impacted positively on the lives of the people and this pavilion was one of them.

In his first speech after taking oath, Fayemi said his government would work hard to bring succour to the populace, by removing the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the state’s fabrics under the PDP-led government of Governor Ayo Fayose.

Fayemi who lamented that the state is indebted to the tune of N170 billion being loans taken to undertake some projects through the last administration, assured that this challenge won’t impede his government from delivering dividends of democracy to the citizens.

He promised that his government shall reinstate the N5,000 social security to the elderly and make positive impacts in the areas of agriculture, social investment and economy.

“In the last four years, Ekiti was governed by a rudderless, inept and egregiously corrupt government, which was led by those who deceived our people through the instrument of stomach infrastructure.

“In this context, never again will Ekiti slip into the hands of those who knew nothing about governance, never again shall we allow our school children pay taxes, never again shall we abandon the burgeoning resources at Ikogosi Warm Spring to waste.

He promised that his government will invest heavily in Youth and commercial Agriculture, because Ekiti is basically agrarian, reactivate community based projects, tap into tourist potential and ensure security of local and foreign investors.

On resumption the second day, Governor Fayemi`s first assignment was to abolish the education tax introduced by the Fayose in all primary and secondary schools in the state, introduced free Education in all public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The governor said education would henceforth be free in all public primary and secondary schools across the state, saying it was an aberration for school children to pay tax.

Fayose had in 2015 introduced payment of education tax in all private and public schools across the state, whereby children at primary and secondary cadres were mandated to pay N500 and N1,000 per term respectively.

Fayemi did not stop at this, as he disclosed that “By the grace of God, by December this year, we are also going to introduce school feeding from primary to Junior Secondary 3 as part of the benefits we will get from the Federal Government”.

As part of his promises to restore Ekiti to its pride of place in the education sector in the country, the governor went further to sign an Executive Order banning various fees collected by some principals, head teachers and other school officials.

Also as a way to prioritize public worker’s welfare has equally approved N200 million as car and housing loans for teachers in public schools in the state to boost their morale.

The governor had earlier within a week of his assumption of office paid off part payment of the leave bonus of the local government in the state.

Fayemi who approved the loans added that will be disbursed on or before November 15 adding that payment of arrears of salaries owed by the last administration will commence any moment from now.

With the laudable and commendable beginning, Ekiti people would not be taken by surprise at the governors early performance as the early morning downpour was seen as symbolic and could be interpreted to mean the divine blessing and Gods approval of Fayemi`s government.