By Gbenga Ariyibi
Ado-Ekiti—Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has condemned his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi, for committing N3.3 billion to the construction of a Governor’s Lodge built at the twilight of his administration.
The governor stated his position in Ado Ekiti yesterday while administering oath of office on the new Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Modupe Alade and other Special Assistants.
File: Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti (l) and Governor-Elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, during Fayose's visit to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti on Monday
File: Former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti (l) and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state.
Fayose said he could not rationalise how the government could expend such a huge amount of money on Government’s Lodge when an average citizen of the state could not afford three square meals.
Fayose speaks
His words: “My heart nearly failed me when I got to the new governor’s lodge on last Thursday. The mansion cost N3.3 billion. It was initially awarded for N2.3 billion and later increased to N2.7 billion, while a sum of N640 million was used to procure fittings and furniture.
“And this building will require N150 million to maintain annually. Ekiti cannot sustain this and we have to do something about it.
How could a governor be living in such a house when the masses are living in abject poverty?“, he asked .
Speaking against the backdrop of his penchant for women empowerment, he assured that his administration will strictly comply with the 35 per cent Affirmative Action for women in government in consonance with the Beijing Declaration of 1993.
He said the appointment of Mrs Alade underscored the enormous respect he has for the womenfolk, pledging that his government would protect them through allotment of reasonable appointive and elective positions, especially during the 2015 State and Federal Legislative polls.
“Let me tell the men here who are politicians that some of them will be asked to step down for women in next year’s elections.”
He called for understanding among the political appointees in view of the current state of the government’s finances.
Ekiti Assembly suspends 30-day recess
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended its 30-day recess announced by the Speaker, Hon. Adewale Omirin, last Friday.
The House will subsequently sit today in preparation for the screening of Special Advisers and Commissioners to be forwarded by Governor Fayose.
This was contained in a statement signed by Special Adviser, Media to the Speaker, Mr. Wole Olujobi,in Ado Ekiti yesterday who said the step is in the overriding public interest.
According to the statement, all the 26 members of the State House of Assembly have been contacted on the new development, assuring that the House sitting would be peaceful.
Six members of the All Progressives Congress-dominated Assembly had during Fayose’s inauguration last Thursday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which fuelled speculation about an alleged plot to remove the Speaker.
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