ABIODUN NEJO
Outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said that he will not attend the inauguration on October 16 of the incoming governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, as the state chief executive.
Fayose said he had already written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he would visit its office in Abuja by 1pm on that date.
The governor, who spoke on Thursday during a press conference on ‘The State of the State’ as part of activities marking the end of his four-year tenure, said that beside, no governor in the state had ever attended the inauguration of the successor, adding that he had been cooperating with the incoming team.
Fayemi had on Wednesday said Fayose was free to attend the inauguration which would be witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari, governor’s and dignitaries from far and near.
Fayose, who said he was leaving office as a fulfilled man, described himself as number one in the state in terms of performance.
He said: “Under my watch, Ekiti has made tremendous progress. If we compare Ekiti with our neighbouring states, we will see that we have done very well in four years”.
The outgoing governor said he kept to his promises in terms of provision and development of infrastructure, security, employment opportunities and welfare, saying he had 70 per cent of the infrastructure in the Government House and indeed Ekiti State to his credit.
He said: “I promised to secure Ekiti and l can report to you that under my watch, there was no politically motivated killing in Ekiti State. When herdsman invaded our state, we rose to the challenge”.
Fayose said that he had not committed Ekiti State to any financial institution or bank, stressing that he did not borrow a dime anywhere.
According to him, anybody that comes with any campaign of calumny or claim of debt incurred by his administration should be challenged to show evidence.
The outgoing governor said the N327 million he made from the sale of about one quarter of the Oja Oba Market in Ado Ekiti, under construction, which he said was about 90 per cent completed, was at Wema Bank, saying the incoming administration should use the money for completion of the market for the use of Ekiti people.
According to Fayose, his earlier promise to pay workers’ salaries was hinged on the expected accruals to the state, but lamented that politics was played with that leading to the monies meant for Ekiti State being withheld by the Federal Government.
