Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said the state government paid one million naira to the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Ganiyu Obasoyin, for the relocation of shrines on the site of the dualised Ado-Ikere Road.
Speaking on Tuesday night in an interview programme on the state radio and television, Fayose said it was unfortunate that some community leaders and youths were trying to frustrate government’s efforts at developing the town in order to make life better for the people.
”It is my pleasure that we progress and our society becoming better. In my first term, I started the dualisation and the project stopped where I left it and we started again when I came back to office. We decided to do the project in three phases and we are on the third phase. When we started, we met the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Jimi Adu Alagbado, who said there were shrines along the project site for us to handle.
”Later, the Olukere came into the scene and said the affected area is his domain and that the issue of relocating the shrines did not concern Ogoga. I told him that we might not be able to bend the road. Prominent Ikere indigenes such as former Governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Bamidele Olumilua, were at the meeting.
“To help in performing the necessary rituals to relocate the shrines, the Olukere was given one million naira on January 11, 2017 to relocate the deities and shrines. He collected the money at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti and the vouchers he signed are still available. In as much as we have respect for traditional institutions, it was a surprise to see the Olukere leading irate youths to stop contractors from doing their job. I want to appeal to the Olukere to allow peace to reign,” he said.
Commenting on the refusal of his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to appear before a Commission of Enquiry probing the financial transactions of the state during his tenure, Fayose said it was strange.
”The law that the House of Assembly relied on to mandate the state government to set up the panel was signed by Fayemi himself and he has gone to court to challenge the same when he has been asked to give account of his stewardship. During my inauguration speech, I gave details of the debt profile of the state. Fayemi took N25 billion bond and N31 billion commercial loans. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were the facilitators and they wrote to me to ask if the projects, for which the loans taken, were executed and I said no.
“Since 2012, Ekiti loses N1.1 billion intervention fund from UBEC yearly because we were suspended due to the diversion of N860 million by the same government. In Osun State, Governor Aregbesola set up a panel on Oyinlola and the latter appeared before the panel. Fayemi signed the law and why is he afraid? They say you should come and give an account of your stewardship and you are running to court, for what?,” the governor asked.
On the expected Paris Club Refund, Fayose noted that the Federal Government was blackmailing the states, saying the refund was because the FG initially over-deducted monies from the state and local governments’ allocations.
He added that going by feelers from Abuja, state and local governments would be paid half of what they got from the first tranche.
“That would mean that in Ekiti, both state and local governments would get about N4.4 billion and going by the sharing formula, the state would get about N2.7 billion and the 16 local government areas sharing N1.7 billion. That is still not enough for a month’s wage bill at both state and local government levels,” he stated.
On the crisis in Ikun-Ekiti where some masquerades entered a mosque and beat up worshippers, the governor said the matter was being investigated and the culprits would be duly punished.
On the recent face-off between the state government and fuel marketers, he thanked the people of the state for standing by his administration’s stance on the matter.
He also commended Governor Aregbesola and others for mediating in the matter.
He warned that nobody would be allowed to conduct business in a way that would be injurious to the welfare of the people of the state.
He urged the people of the state to continue to support his administration and allow for continuity by voting somebody from the Fayose political family to office next year.
Post a Comment
Post a Comment