Ekiti @ 20: Fayose stages street walk to celebrate with the people

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Saturday, staged a long street walk with the people of the state to celebrate both the 20th anniversary of the creation of the state and Nigeria’s 56th independence. He put politics aside and commended the heroic contributions of the founding fathers of the vision leading to the creation of the state and past executives on the occasion of the state’s 20th anniversary.
Many excited residents of Ado-Ekiti left their businesses to join the governor in the long walk, hailing him as the governor of the common man.
The exercise lasted for almost an hour from the Matthew roundabout in the capital city to the famous Oluyemi Kayode Stadium where the 20th anniversary/independence celebration held.
Describing the contributions of the past military and civilian administrations from Col. Mohammed Usman, Commodore Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Chief Segun Oni, among others in building the state to its present enviable height, Fayose stated that each of the leaders had done their best possible for the state.
Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996 alongside Bayelsa, Gombe, Nasarawa , Ebonyi and Zamfara States by the late Head of State, General Sanni Abacha.
Addressing stakeholders at what he described as a low key celebration of 20th anniversary at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium after the Independence walk, Fayose commended the military dictator and Ekiti founding fathers for actualising the dream for the state’s creation.
“Let me commend Gen. Abacha for creating the state and I also thank our founding fathers for their vision. Though, I didn’t participate in the struggle, but I am a beneficiary and many children and governors yet unborn will also benefit .
“Politics aside, let me commend all the military and duly-elected governors of the past for their contributions, because they have contributed their own quota within the available resources to lay a foundation, for without foundation, there could be nothing to build upon.
“Ekiti has scored many firsts within the two years I came on board. Ekiti recorded transparency in budget provision. It came first in 2016 NECO and these came at the most auspicious time when Ekiti is 20. Our desire now is to buckle up and work harder for more service delivery for the good of you and I.
“The present economic recession in our country is not pleasurable, it is not interesting at all. It is a sad news to hear that a dollar is now being exchanged for N500.
“Whatever our political, religious and interests are, we must put our eyes on the ball called Ekiti for our tomorrow to be better than this”, he said.
Fayose promised that the flyover project, Ikere Ekiti dualisation project, the new Oja Oba market and other projects in all the 16 local governments, including the proposed High Court Complex and new Governor’s Office will be completed before his departure in 2018.
“I want to tell you that I won’t abandon any project. All the projects I have started will be completed before my departure”, Fayose assured.