As his tenure winds down in less than two months, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said he is fulfilled leaving behind legacies that will not be forgotten in history.
Fayose said the various developmental projects carried out by his administration will continue to speak for him long after he might have left office. He praised the people of Ado-Ekiti for their support during his tenure which he said resulted in construction of legacy projects in the city. As the battle for the governorship seat shifts to the courtroom, Fayose urged the people of the state to remain calm and be peaceful.
Making allusion to the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the July 14 governorship election who is also his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose expressed optimism that “God will return the glory of Zion very soon.” Olusola was defeated by the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose spoke on Tuesday at the grand finale of this year’s Udiroko Festival in Ado-Ekiti, which marks the beginning of a new year in the town’s traditional calendar. This year’s Udiroko was chaired by eminent lawyer and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola and it will be the last to be attended by Fayose in his capacity as governor.
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, received homage from traditional chiefs, palace queens, honorary chiefs, traditional warriors, traditional police, market women, ethnic nationalities resident in the town and other interest groups. Fayose, himself a honorary chief, paid a special homage to Ewi and prayed that “Ado will not receive an unwanted visitor.”
The governor emphasized that he still remains in office and will perform some functions until the expiry of his tenure on October 16 when he is expected to make way for Fayemi. He promised to allocate shops to market women displaced by the construction of the new Erekesan Market including “pepper and vegetable sellers” before the week runs out. “I will give the shops back to the poor people who are interested in them and this will be backed with valid documents.
“The pepper sellers, the vegetable sellers will regain their shops back. “I gave you my word that I will perform and work for you and to the glory of God, I have performed. “To the glory of God, I came, I saw and conquered; I came, I saw and I conquered. “Very soon, I will roll out the timetable for a tour round the state to say thank you to the people.
“Even if Eleka (Olusola) had been declared winner, I will still go. Don’t fight with anybody continue to sing the song of praise. “By the grace of God, the glory and plunder of Zion shall be returned.” Babalola in his speech described Udiroko as a veritable platform for the people of the town to remember the tradition and culture of their ancestors. He, however, expressed regret that some events he described as “enemies of progress” have eroded great virtues of Ekiti.
Babalola decried the upsurge in criminal activities in the state such as robbery, daylight killings, stealing, destruction of property and kidnapping which he said were alien to Ekiti. According to him, lack of infrastructure like motorable highway, absence of rail lines, airport, steady electricity and water will continue to deny Ekiti of the needed investment.
Babalola noted that the development of Ekiti is the responsibility of both the state government and the people urging them to join hands to lift their home state. Oba Adejugbe in his remarks praised Babalola for siting ABUAD on Ado Ekiti soil describing the University as “one of the best in the world.” He urged Ado indigenes who are eligible voters to troop out in large numbers and register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCS). T
This, he said, will allow them to vote for the candidates of their choice in the 2019 general elections. The Ewi also hailed Fayose for executing remarkable projects in his palace like the hall, amphitheatre and other infrastructure including the flyover and the new market. The monarch said: “Forever, the name of Peter Ayodele Fayose will not be forgotten in the history of Ado-Ekiti.
“You have done these for yourself and in the future, people will be asking who did these and they will answer that they were done by Peter Ayodele Fayose. “You did it during my reign but in your name and I pray that as you leave, everything you brought here, wife, children and property will not be lost.”
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