Arinta Waterfall
Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi says the tourism corridors in the State located in Okemesi, Efon, Ipole Iloro and Ikogosi axis would be developed to international standards so that they can serve as money spinners and boost the economy of the State.
The Governor stated this during an inspection tour of Ikogosi Resort during his visit to Ekiti West Local Government area in continuation of his tour of wards in the state at the weekend.
Dr. Fayemi who was at Ikogosi resort, Efon Alaaye and Okemesi Ekiti, Ijero and Ipoti said the State is blessed with natural topography that can be exploited to attract investors; saying that the Okemesi rolling hills bear semblances with hilly tourist attraction sites in Switzerland and South Africa.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji (Dr) Ganiyu Owolabli and other functionaries.
Governor Fayemi promised to speak with some investors in the tourism industry to survey the Okemesi hills and look at the possibility of harnessing it for the development of the area while a museum would be established in memory of 19th Century warlord, Fabunmi Okemesi in recognition of his valiant act in the famous Kiriji war.
While assuring that the first phase of Ikogosi Resort would be completed soon, the Governor stated that the resort would on completion create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed populace as well as boost economic activities in the community and its environs.
At Efon Alaaye, Fayemi assured that aside the Arinta waterfall at Ipole Iloro, the River Oni in Efon Alaaye would also get government’s attention next year.
The Governor spoke, just as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Oyetunde Ojo pledged the support of the representatives of the State at the National Assembly to the tourism drive of the Fayemi administration.
The Lawmaker who was on the entourage of the Governor stated that Ekiti State had never benefitted from the federal budget on tourism but assured that he and his colleagues would push for the inclusion of the State in the 2013 federal budget so that the tourism corridors of the State would be developed.
Ojo added that he would use his office as Chairman House Committee on Communications to ensure that Ikogosi resort gets state of the art communication and internet facilities that would make the resort a home away from home for tourists.
Meanwhile, hundreds of members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) in Efon and Okemesi have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The defectors included a former House of Representatives aspirant under PDP in the last general elections, Dr. Olusola Ajala and a former member of the State House of Assembly in the Ayo Fayose regime, Chief Mrs Oluwafemi Christianah among others.
The defectors based their decision on the performance of Fayemi and his non-partisan policies which have bettered the lots of the masses.
Last modified: October 8, 2012
