Twelve trade and community groups in Ekiti State have pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Reason: He has shown purposeful leadership since he assumed office in October 2010.
The groups declared their support during an interface between the governor and various socio-economic groups on issues bordering on the state’s development and what they felt could be done to move it forward.
The groups include the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Cooperatives Drivers Association, Motorcyclists Association, Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers, Sawmill and Timbers Association, and Artisan groups.
Others are Association of Nigeria Theatre Art Practitioner (ANTP), National Automechanic and Technicians Association (NATA), Market Women, and over 100 Landlord Associations in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The groups said their support for the governor’s continuity was borne out of their impression on the various developmental projects which the Fayemi-led administration had carried out in the last two years; saying that the rapid transformation is unprecedented.
Speaking on behalf of the transport unions, the Chairman of NURTW, Mr. Julius Jegede said the transport unions are not unmindful of the various road construction and rehabilitations that are being done in the state which have also made their business easier as they now spend less on repair and maintenance of their vehicles.
Mr Julius Adu, who spoke for the artisan groups, commended the governor for providing them with latest equipment to work with; saying that this has also translated into socio-economic benefit for both members of the union and the state at large.
Adu, however, reminded the governor on the need to organise various training programmes for the union members so that they could be kept abreast of latest trends in technical and mechanical works as this would help them be at par with their colleagues from other parts of the country.
Also speaking at the meeting, a landlord, Pa James Ojo from Agric Road, lauded the administration’s strides in various sectors but urged the governor to increase effort on water provision as some areas are yet to get pipe-borne water.
In his remarks, Fayemi disclosed that he would in June embark on town hall meetings where he would hand out cheques to various communities for projects which were earlier in the year placed before him as their requests.
Fayemi said the communities, not government, would be implementing the projects since they are the owners of such projects and would also decide the speed at which the projects would be carried out.
On water provision, the governor stated that Ekiti State has been enlisted for World Bank’s fund for water and the fund would be spent on reviving the various dams in the state and reposition them for optimal performance while damaged pipes would be fixed.
Fayemi allayed the fears of residents of Omisanjana on the purported abandonment of Ajebamidele – Omisanjana road; saying that government is in the process of re-awarding the road which was earlier revoked, following the contractor’s inability to handle it as desired.
He added that the state government would begin work on an Independent Power Project before the end of 2013 so as to meet the need of people who depend on electricity for their businesses.
This, he said, will help turn the state to a beehive of business activities.
