Ekiti State Governor, Dr kayode Fayemi’s town hall meetings and tour of the 132 communities in the state continued on Monday in Irepoden/Ifelodun Local Government Areas, as more traditional rulers and community leaders in the visited communities threw their weights behind the re-election bid of the Governor; saying that the state would witness greater level of development should the Governor continued beyond 2014.
The various monarchs and spokesmen for the communities at the different town hall meetings, premised their support for Governor Fayemi on the transformation of their respective towns in the last three years.
The communities visited include Igbemo, Orun, Afao, Are, Obo, Iworoko, Esure, Iropora, Awo, Eyio, Igede and Iyin.
Speaking in Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, the Alare of Are Ekiti stated that Fayemi deserved the nod of communities because “no single town, village or community can claim not to have been touched by his government”.
Oba Adebiyi who stressed that the state had witnessed economic development , in view of the pervading peace in the various communities; adding that there was a time the State “was known as a state of one week, one trouble”.
“We wish to specifically thank you for giving us the opportunity to benefit from the State rural development programme which has transformed the State. Ekiti has never had it so good. Without reservation or fear, Fayemi is the best Governor Ekiti ever had”, the monarch asserted.
In the same vein, the Onigede of Igede, Oba Emmanuel Aladesuru, also at the town hall meeting, endorsed Governor Fayemi’s re-election bid.
Oba Aladesuru who is the longest reigning Ekiti monarch prayed for the Governor and commended him for initiating the town hall meetings; stressing that this was the first time a Governor would hold meetings with the people to get their opinions into the budgetary processes.
The Afao people, in their presentation by Chief Deji Fasuan, also expressed their appreciation to Governor Fayemi for the community empowerment project of the administration, which they said had impacted positively on the fortune of the town.
The enthusiastic crowd sand several songs to demonstrate their appreciation to the Governor, who also explained that the various requests tabled would be considered on their merit.
Also speaking at Awo Ekiti, the National President of Awo Development Union, Mr Yemi Odetayo, stated that the community has “benefited immensely from this present government more than any other democratically elected government in Ekiti State”.
Odetayo highlighted some of Fayemi’s strides in the community to include the construction of 1.6km Awo-Iyin road, construction of Information centre, construction of storey block of classrooms and the payment of social security stipend to 151 elderly citizens from the community, among others.
Meanwhile, people of Iyin Ekiti, the country home of former Governor Adebayo defied time to hold their town hall meeting with Governor Fayemi.
The people who had waited since 4 pm to table their requests were elated when they sighted Governor’s convoy at 7 pm. Fayemi was apparently delayed in some communities earlier visited as people did not want the Governor to end the meeting with them so soon.
Youths and old people trooped out to welcome Fayemi and accompanied him to inaugurate a newly built Health Centre in the community and thereafter returned to the palace for the town hall meeting.
The people’s persistence and patience may be a true reflection of that Fayemi “is on ground with his people”.
Last modified: November 18, 2013
