Fayose Sworn in, Rides to Inauguration in Vintage Mercedes Benz 17 Oct 2014
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the June 21 governorship election, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was sworn in Thursday as the fourth democratically elected governor of the state, with a pledge not to recognise the 19 newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) established by his immediate predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
In the same way, Fayose ordered the demotion of the eight permanent secretaries appointed by Fayemi after the June 21 election, urging the Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya, to carry out the order in the spirit of fairness.
Fayose, who rode to the venue of his inauguration, the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, in a vintage W110 1965 Mercedes Benz 200 model, also oversaw the defection of six lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state House of Assembly to the PDP.
They were received by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
The venue of the programme was filled to the capacity as people from all walks of life thronged the state capital city to celebrate with Fayose, who was impeached on October 16, 2006, by the state assembly.
Despite the perception that Fayose might not be sworn in by the Chief
Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, he was seen at the venue of the epoch-making event as early as 10 a.m., even when Fayose sauntered into the arena at 12.40p.m.
Justice Daramola administered the oath of office on Fayose at about 1.10p.m. while that of his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka, came earlier at 12.59p.m.
Addressing the people at the event, Fayose sought the understanding of the people of the state to surmount the challenges posed by the huge debt burden left by the immediate past administration, saying the state is indebted to the tune of N57 billion.
Fayose also promised free education up to secondary school level, while the tuition fees payable by the state higher institutions will be reviewed.
He said: “My heart bleeds today. As I report to you, our state has been plunged into a heavy debt dungeon of over N57 billion by our own brothers and sisters.
“Today, our state has been committed financially up to till year 2020, even beyond my own administration. The proportionate benefits of this huge debt profile to our people remain to be seen or felt by the ordinary man and woman in our state.
“I consider it expedient that this parlous position of our finances be known to members of the public who gave us the mandate to be here.
"This situation is a challenge that requires our collective efforts and creative devices to resolve.
“My consolation and hope is in our astute human resource capacity and creativity to pull our state out of the palpable quagmire."
Fayose, who said he was not oblivious of the tremendous benefits inherent in the creation of local government areas, however, said it was curious that Fayemi could hurriedly rush and flouted the law through the balkanisation of the constitutionally recognise 16 local government areas into 35 under the guise of bringing development to the people.
He said: “Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria as amended, clearly spells out the authorities and procedures for the creation of local government areas. The balkanization of the local governments by immediate past government is being challenged in court.
“Our party considers the hurried creation of 19 LCDAs, after the incumbent lost the June 21 election, as gratuitous afterthought of a bad loser. It smacks of political subterfuge masterminded in utmost bad faith. But the matter is being challenged in court at the moment.
“As of now, the matter is subjudice and our party will not do anything that will render the decision of the court nugatory. however, pending the time, the administration shall be guided by the provision of Section 3 and part 1, First Schedule of the 1999 constitution on the list of local government area in Nigeria”.
The new governor, who came down hard on Fayemi for appointing eight permanent secretaries after he lost the governorship election to create confusion in the system, said his administration would carry out robust restructuring in the state public service in the areas of personnel, promotion, appointment to inject discipline into the system.
He said the recent events in the state where he accused some members of the APC of desperately conniving with the judiciary to rob him of his mandate, leading to the manhandling of two judges, led to “their machination to demonise and portray me as a violent person.
"The role and indeed the open conduct of some judicial officers in the plot are already being investigated by the appropriate authorities.
“As we await the outcome, my government will join hands with the appropriate authorities in ensuring that no stone will be left unturned in retracking our hallowed democratic institutions from slide and bastardisation.
“Judiciary should be truly repositioned as the actual temple of justice and the last bastion of hope for all,” Fayose said.
Assuring that his government will be people-oriented, Fayose said “Ekiti Kete, men, women young and old, I call upon you to join hands with my government to usher in another era of restoration of meals on the tables, of smiles to the faces, of money to the pockets, of soundness of body and mind and unique infrastructural development as we resume steady journey to plenty and prosperity,” Fayose stated.
He said his government would study the regional integration being championed by APC governors in the Southwest critically, to be able to know where it will make his contributions to the regional agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, assured Fayose that he would enjoy immense cooperation from the federal government during his reign.
Mu’azu said President Goodluck Jonathan would partner the governor for speedy development of the state.
Dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony include: The PDP governors, who were led by its Chairman and Akwa- Ibom State , Chief Goodwill Akpabio.
The governors of Jigawa, Kaduna, Delta, Ondo, Kebbi, Bauchi, Cross Rivers, Abia graced the occasion, among others, were at the event.
Also former Governors of Anambra, Peter Obi, Oyo Alao Akala and Rashidi Ladoja respectively, as well as Bayelsa, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade attended the programme.
Many former and serving ministers and senators like Ayo Arise, Femi Fani-Kayode, Dayo Adeyeye, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, graced the event.
In the same way, Fayose ordered the demotion of the eight permanent secretaries appointed by Fayemi after the June 21 election, urging the Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya, to carry out the order in the spirit of fairness.
Fayose, who rode to the venue of his inauguration, the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, in a vintage W110 1965 Mercedes Benz 200 model, also oversaw the defection of six lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state House of Assembly to the PDP.
They were received by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.
The venue of the programme was filled to the capacity as people from all walks of life thronged the state capital city to celebrate with Fayose, who was impeached on October 16, 2006, by the state assembly.
Despite the perception that Fayose might not be sworn in by the Chief
Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, he was seen at the venue of the epoch-making event as early as 10 a.m., even when Fayose sauntered into the arena at 12.40p.m.
Justice Daramola administered the oath of office on Fayose at about 1.10p.m. while that of his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka, came earlier at 12.59p.m.
Addressing the people at the event, Fayose sought the understanding of the people of the state to surmount the challenges posed by the huge debt burden left by the immediate past administration, saying the state is indebted to the tune of N57 billion.
Fayose also promised free education up to secondary school level, while the tuition fees payable by the state higher institutions will be reviewed.
He said: “My heart bleeds today. As I report to you, our state has been plunged into a heavy debt dungeon of over N57 billion by our own brothers and sisters.
“Today, our state has been committed financially up to till year 2020, even beyond my own administration. The proportionate benefits of this huge debt profile to our people remain to be seen or felt by the ordinary man and woman in our state.
“I consider it expedient that this parlous position of our finances be known to members of the public who gave us the mandate to be here.
"This situation is a challenge that requires our collective efforts and creative devices to resolve.
“My consolation and hope is in our astute human resource capacity and creativity to pull our state out of the palpable quagmire."
Fayose, who said he was not oblivious of the tremendous benefits inherent in the creation of local government areas, however, said it was curious that Fayemi could hurriedly rush and flouted the law through the balkanisation of the constitutionally recognise 16 local government areas into 35 under the guise of bringing development to the people.
He said: “Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria as amended, clearly spells out the authorities and procedures for the creation of local government areas. The balkanization of the local governments by immediate past government is being challenged in court.
“Our party considers the hurried creation of 19 LCDAs, after the incumbent lost the June 21 election, as gratuitous afterthought of a bad loser. It smacks of political subterfuge masterminded in utmost bad faith. But the matter is being challenged in court at the moment.
“As of now, the matter is subjudice and our party will not do anything that will render the decision of the court nugatory. however, pending the time, the administration shall be guided by the provision of Section 3 and part 1, First Schedule of the 1999 constitution on the list of local government area in Nigeria”.
The new governor, who came down hard on Fayemi for appointing eight permanent secretaries after he lost the governorship election to create confusion in the system, said his administration would carry out robust restructuring in the state public service in the areas of personnel, promotion, appointment to inject discipline into the system.
He said the recent events in the state where he accused some members of the APC of desperately conniving with the judiciary to rob him of his mandate, leading to the manhandling of two judges, led to “their machination to demonise and portray me as a violent person.
"The role and indeed the open conduct of some judicial officers in the plot are already being investigated by the appropriate authorities.
“As we await the outcome, my government will join hands with the appropriate authorities in ensuring that no stone will be left unturned in retracking our hallowed democratic institutions from slide and bastardisation.
“Judiciary should be truly repositioned as the actual temple of justice and the last bastion of hope for all,” Fayose said.
Assuring that his government will be people-oriented, Fayose said “Ekiti Kete, men, women young and old, I call upon you to join hands with my government to usher in another era of restoration of meals on the tables, of smiles to the faces, of money to the pockets, of soundness of body and mind and unique infrastructural development as we resume steady journey to plenty and prosperity,” Fayose stated.
He said his government would study the regional integration being championed by APC governors in the Southwest critically, to be able to know where it will make his contributions to the regional agenda.
Speaking at the inauguration, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, assured Fayose that he would enjoy immense cooperation from the federal government during his reign.
Mu’azu said President Goodluck Jonathan would partner the governor for speedy development of the state.
Dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony include: The PDP governors, who were led by its Chairman and Akwa- Ibom State , Chief Goodwill Akpabio.
The governors of Jigawa, Kaduna, Delta, Ondo, Kebbi, Bauchi, Cross Rivers, Abia graced the occasion, among others, were at the event.
Also former Governors of Anambra, Peter Obi, Oyo Alao Akala and Rashidi Ladoja respectively, as well as Bayelsa, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade attended the programme.
Many former and serving ministers and senators like Ayo Arise, Femi Fani-Kayode, Dayo Adeyeye, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, graced the event.
Post a Comment