Politics
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Ayodele Peter Fayose has finally been sworn in as the governor of Ekiti State after all attempt by his opponents to stop him through the court
| By Olu Ojewale | Oct. 27, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT |
AYODELE Peter Fayose and Kolapo Olubunmi Olushola began their lives as governor and deputy governor of Ekiti State, respectively, on Thursday, October 16 as scheduled. Thousands of Nigerians from all walks of life who trooped to the 60,000 capacity Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, witnessed the inauguration of Fayose and Olushola by Justice Ayodeji Daramola, chief judge of the state. It was Fayose’s second oath taking as the state governor having governed the state between 2003 and October 16, 2006 when he was impeached in controversial circumstances.
The inauguration brought to an end the political tension in the state over his election on June 21. The election had been challenged by a group known as Ekiti-11. It was during the time of the court hearing in the matter that the state erupted in violent agitations and brought about conflict between the opposing camps. Although Fayose did not accuse his predecessor for the trouble, he had others charges against him.
In his inaugural speech, Fayose promised that his administration would recover lost grounds, repair the damage of the past government and promote concord and unity in place of bitterness, enmity and pretence in the state. While describing his second coming as Ekiti governor as an act of God’s grace and mercy, Fayose said he had been given an unusual second chance by God to do things better.
He condemned the out gone All Progressives Congress, APC, government led by Kayode Fayemi for allegedly emptying the treasury of the state before leaving. “My heart bleeds today as I report to you, that our state had been plunged into a heavy debt dungeon of over N57.45 billion by our own brothers and sisters. There were wasteful and unproductive expenditure of huge sums of money. My intention is not to join issues with the immediate past administration which was substantially responsible for this debt burden,” he said.
In his address, Adamu Mu’azu, national chairman of the PDP, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the event, expressed gratitude to the people of Ekiti State for voting overwhelmingly for Fayose and the party. He also urged the residents of the state to support and pray for the new governor. “Ayo, God loves you and the people of Ekiti love you too. It’s a tough job and you must discharge your duty with fairness, love of God and with the interest of the people of Ekiti at heart. God will help you,” Mu’azu said.
During the ceremony six members of the state House of Assembly defected from the APC to the PDP and by Friday, October 17, five others joined the party from the APC.
Fayose has since made some important appointments for the take-off of his administration, including the appointment of special adviser on stomach infrastructure. He also cancelled some of the appointments his predecessor made at the twilight of his administration.
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