Why Ekiti had 10 govs in 20 years — Fayose

The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has said his controversial nature was behind his good leadership.

Fayose, in a statement on Saturday on the 20th anniversary of the creation of the state compared his performance as a second-term governor with past governors and administrators since the creation of Ekiti in 1996.

The governor, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi,  said since the state’s inception, none of the past nine governors could measure up to him in terms of performance.

He said, “Ekiti was created 20 years ago. It is the only one of the states created in 1996 that has yet to have either an airport or airstrip. Still, the opposition does not see this as a minus for the state.

“I don’t know how to play politics with development of the state. To me, Ekiti (comes) first. The dirty politics here is responsible for Ekiti having 10 governors, as opposed to Ebonyi with four since 1996. During my first tenure, the opposition said there was no need to dualise roads of the state capital, everybody is enjoying it today.”

The governor added that the achievements of his predecessor, Dr.Kayode Fayemi, who is the current Minister of Solid Minerals Development, in four years were only three projects.

Fayose said, “The projects are the new Government House, which amounts to a white elephant project; the uncompleted civic centre; and the uncompleted state pavilion, which he said gulped huge resources without any concrete use for the people.

“My priority is to leave Ekiti better than I met it. What I did during my first term are those visible things in the state today. I may be tough, I may be controversial, but all these are catalysts for my performance. I built the first governor’s office, dualised roads of the state capital, constructed roads in every nook and cranny of the state, put on ground many structures for use of the state. I always scored the first position in development of the state.”

According to the governor, his developmental projects in the state are being criticised unduly.

 “I am a visionary leader. I don’t wait until there is a dire need for anything. I always plan for the future. Is it when there is a gridlock in Ado Ekiti that we will build a flyover?

“Must there be fire outbreak before we have a fire service station? I thank the Almighty God for bringing me back as Ekiti governor and unto Him I give all glory for the landmark projects I have done in the state,” he said.