Buhari expected as all set for Fayemi’s second coming as Ekiti governor

All is set for Tuesday’s inauguration of Dr Kayode Fayemi as the next governor of Ekiti State, as some parts of Ado Ekiti, the state capital, has been decorated to welcome the incoming government.

The venue of the inauguration, the Ekiti Parapodia Pavillion, constructed by Fayemi in his first tenure from 2010 to 2014, has been decorated and arrangements made for a smooth movement of dignitaries and invited guests to the arena, at New Iyin Road.

The chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the Fayemi Inauguration, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, announced at the inauguration press conference that President Muhammadu Buhari was expected as the special guest of honour at the inauguration, and added that all the state governors, especially the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also expected on the occasion.

Oyebode, on Monday, while responding to enquiries by people on how to gain entry to the Ekiti Parapodia Pavillion venue of the swearing-in, stated that people of the state needed no invitation to come to the venue.

He said “you don’t need invitation cards to attend the inauguration ceremony. Invitation cards are meant for invited guests. The inauguration ceremony and other outlined activities for the week-long celebration are public events which are open to all members of the public.”

Oyebode said: The planning committee has received several inquiries about invitation cards for the inauguration ceremony, and it is important to state clearly that members of the public do not require an invitation card or pass to attend the ceremony.”

As part of the ceremonies, a team led by the wife of the incoming governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, visited the government house at the weekend, and members of the transition committee were taken on a tour of the government house by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Meanwhile, all the rehearsals for the main event to be staged at the Ekiti Parapo Pavillion have been rounded off.

Also, a popular restaurant at the Pavillion, where many people in the state capital known as “Àmàlà Joint” has been closed down by security agents, while security has also been beefed up in parts of the state capital.

Meanwhile, the incoming governor, Dr Fayemi, has said he would first of all need enough knowledge of the finances of the state, saying “once we get in, we will undertake a forensic review of the state, including a staff audit. And that will give us a more accurate picture of the finances and where to get money to offset outstanding liabilities.

“I believe our genuine, long-suffering workers and pensioners will cooperate with us in addressing this issue.”

Fayemi assured that his administration would explore “a whole range of options that can help boost the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) whilst improving the ease of doing business in the state, including the elimination of multiple taxations.

In the last four years, many key investors like Coca-Cola, GTB and Ecobank had left the state because of unfriendly investment policies and practices. We will embark on a massive investment drive,” adding that he has a track record for expanding the tax net without overburdening the ordinary citizens.

Fayemi said that the fact that Ekiti is a rustic, landlocked rural backwater should not be taken as a death sentence on the state, assuring that “a key vehicle for rapid transformation is the opening up of these rural backwaters through an effective internal and interlinking transport infrastructure.

“Interestingly our state is well positioned right in the middle between Abuja and Lagos and could provide an effective terminus on that journey. So, that’s a challenge that we must overcome and we started this during my first term in office.

“With the coming of the rail extension to Ekiti and our determination to reduce the journey time to Akure Airport by dualising the Ado Ekiti-Akure Road while improving on the fibre optic link in the state – something we also started in my first term – I’m sure our job is cut out for us. Investments will come to the state once we have addressed these challenges relating to ease of doing business for those bringing investments to the state.

“We plan to address the impediments against economic growth by also investing in the people and strengthening human capital through functional education and promotion of Ekiti as a hub of the knowledge economy, enhancing social investments while strengthening the agricultural base for food and job security.”