Fayemi's 100 days of diplomatic shuttle
In a May 16, 2009, interview published in The Punch newspaper, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, who was then the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, said he threw his hat in the ring in furtherance of his avowed commitment to public service. Smarting from the shenanigans that attended the April 25, 2009, governorship rerun in the state, which was blighted by what has become popularly known as the Ido-Osi magic, Fayemi told his interviewer that he was irrevocably committed to fighting the daylight robbery that the outcome of the election epitomized. He said, "I see my involvement in politics as a pursuit of a commitment to public service. It is not for self aggrandizement; it's not personal ambition that brought me into politics. My politics is an extension of my activism, because I have spent a greater part of my life fighting injustice. I'm in politics to make a fundamental difference in the lives of our people." And barely 100 days after he mounted the saddle, the governor has indubitably shown promises that by the time his first tenure ends in four years time, dividend of democracy would have permeated the nooks and crannies of the state like never before. Indeed, the people are holding their breath. Although he was derisively dubbed a "foreign candidate" by his opponents during the electioneering, Fayemi did not leave anybody in doubt that he was in constant touch with his roots while advancing the cause of democracy outside the country. The issues he addressed immediately he wrested his mandate from the usurpers showed that he knows where the shoe is pinching the 2.4 million citizens of the state. For instance, the governor had on assumption of office ordered immediate rehabilitation of pothole-filled Ado-Ekiti township roads, which, combined with lack of basic social amenities, had unwittingly conferred the status of a glorified state capital on Ado-Ekiti. To demonstrate the resolve of his government that university education should not be an exclusive preserve of the rich and given the stark reality that the state is largely populated by peasants, the governor also reviewed downwards tuitions in the state-owned University of Ado-Ekiti; an issue that pitted the last administration against the students. It was jubilation galore when the students were told that the maximum fee payable in the college would now be N90,000 (by medical students) as against N200,000 foisted on them by the last administration. Water is life, as the saying goes, but getting it has become a nightmare for residents, in spite of existence of dams across the state. To compound the woes of the citizens, the last administration decided to concession the dams to private investors. The governor has since directed the revocation of the controversial concession, which has enhanced access to potable water across the state. Controversial as the decision appears, the flushing out of Local Government chairmen who got into office through questionable process was a bold decision aimed at entrenching democracy. It will be recalled that the chairmen were railroaded into assuming office by renegade political godfathers against wise counsel. The State Independent Electoral Commission (so-called) that conducted the LG 'election' was incompetent, having been short of the constitutional membership. The perfidy was further encouraged by the Peoples Democratic Party faction of the House of Assembly, who sneaked into the hallowed chamber of the House by 5am to ratify the SIEC list. Those who should have called the PDP leaders to order then are now at their polemical best condemning the council chairmen's dismissal. All said and done, Fayemi has pledged to respect the decision of the court in the suit filed by the dismissed chairmen. And for the new helmsmen at the LGs, the governor warned that any of them that violated his oath of office would be summarily dealt with. He made it clear to those nursing the ambition of using the opportunity to feather their nests to perish the thought. Determined to make probity and accountability the fulcrum of the new administration, the governor had also signed the fiscal responsibility Act into Law. Unlike the National Assembly that has developed cold feet with the Freedom of Information Act, Fayemi has also promised to sign the FOI bill into law as soon as the State House of Assembly passed it into an Act. This will make Ekiti the first, outside Lagos, where the FOI bill will become law. On Friday, several communities in the state were presented with 100 units of Electric transformers, with the aim of boosting electricity supply in the state. The is the first in the series of the Fayemi administration's move to assist the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in its efforts to improve power supply in the state. In recognition of the past and toils and sweat of the state's senior citizens, who retired into hunger and penury years before he became governor, Fayemi also approved the payment of N700m as pensions to give them a new lease of life. In furtherance of the administration's eight-point agenda, as it relates to free education up to senior secondary school level, the governor has also decided to pick the bill of students preparing for this year's West African Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO and JAMB/UME. And in the health sector, over 100,000 citizens of the state are set to benefit from the free health services initiated by the governor, which began two weeks ago and scheduled to span 100 days in the first instance. Similarly, Fayemi's diplomatic shuttle between Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, and Abuja in the past three months had taken him to federal ministries and diplomatic missions, while he had also met with international development partners in a display of sense of urgency to turn the fortunes of the state around. Among the places visited by the governor were the United Nations headquarters, Norwegian Embassy, Ministries of Education, Power, Interior, Finance, Agric and Works , while the country representative of the British Department for International Development, Dr. Richard Montgomery, had led top officials of the department to visit him at the Governor's Lodge, Abuja. The governor's rich academic and cosmopolitan background invariably played a huge role in the manner he was vouchsafed his requests in each of the places he visited. Some of his guests confessed to his mesmerizing and business-like mien as he regaled them with his dreams for Ekiti, which centres on an eight-point agenda. At the meeting with the DFID, Fayemi told the gathering that he could only do little without assistance of the development partners. The governor said, "The eight-point agenda of our administration mirrors the MDGs. The focus of our broader agenda is social delivery that centres on quality healthcare delivery, water and sanitation, infrastructure and rural development and social security. Our healthcare initiative will focus on preventive, rather than curative medicine, with emphasis on pregnant women and under-five children. "We also plan to develop the industrial sector, particularly by harnessing opportunities in the solid minerals exploration. We plan to establish Solid Minerals Development Agency to tap the available rock formations, granite, marble and kaolin. "Presently some of these items are being carted away because there is nobody monitoring them. We need to explore what we have and see any of the deposits that is of commercial quantity. "We are working out a modality to place our senior citizens that are 65 years and above on a monthly stipend of about N5,000. Presently they are in the region of 120,000, but some are pensioners. The pensioners among them will not be part of the social security since they are already enjoying monthly pension." As you read this, more than 100,000 people have benefitted from the free health medical mission embarked upon by this administration. Most of the 16 local governments in the state have been visited by the team as the time of going to press. The state Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Development Support Initiative (DSI) embarked on the primary health intervention aimed at providing free medical treatment and services to the people of Ekiti especially in the grassroots. Beneficiaries were also screened and treated for hypertension, diabetes, dental and eye ailments. Also, concerned that the Internally Generated Revenue contributes a paltry 10 per cent to the state's total monthly income, Fayemi said he would work towards raising the figure to 40 per cent in the next four years. Already, the governor said he had initiated discussions with the World Bank, African Development Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions to raise bond and agriculture credit scheme at reasonable interest rate, especially at a single digit, to realize his lofty dreams. The governor said, "We are committed to making poverty history in the state, but we cannot do this without development partners. Our people are euphoric about our victory after a struggle of three and a half years. "The euphoria may, however, not last long if we don't begin to dish out socio-economic services that would enhance their fortunes. "Our agenda mirrors the MDGs and our desire is that agriculture becomes the highest income generator. Presently, our IGR comes from agric, forestry, wholesale and retail; while tiny portion comes from real estate." The DFID boss had in his response acknowledged the governor as "a champion for change," who he said struggled for many years for the enthronement of democratic institution in Nigeria. Montgomery added, "We are interested in getting down to business with Ekiti and we came into this meeting to see how best we can assist your government. My team will be ready to discuss with you quickly to see areas of collaboration before the election. We will be interested in MDGs and other areas and training of legislature. "We see in you someone that has the zeal, vision and track record. We will be more interested in what you can do for Nigeria and not only Ekiti State. We will like you to use your membership of the Governor's Forum to make a difference. We are looking at the Governor's Forum to be more democratic. We love to build relationship with professionals like you and we are interested in working with you." True to his words, as I write, a high powered DFID Assessment Team is in Ekiti State with a view to partnering with the new government in the state. Such was the accolade showered on the governor by the UN Resident Coordinator, who is also the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Daouda Toure, during similar advocacy visit to the UN headquarters. He said, "Your state stands good ground in the development of agriculture beyond the subsistence level. We see potentials for the millennium villages we are doing in Ondo State also in Ekiti. We will incorporate Ekiti into our planning process for 2011. "I must commend the governor for his level of preparedness for this meeting going by the way he marshaled his points. Your rich background must have played a key role in this. We all have a stake in making sure that you succeed in your mission." The governor has, without doubt, belled the cat, it is now left for other stakeholders to join hands with him to take the state to the promised land. After all, the task ahead is a collective rescue mission. Light should shine again on Ekiti! Oyedele is SPECIAL ASSISTANT, MEDIA TO GOVERNOR FAYEMI __________________________________________________________
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