Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Hon. Adesola Gold Adedayo, has disclosed that successive administrations would need to work extra hard to surpass the performance of the outgoing governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The Osun Ekiti born former Senior Legislative Assistant in the National Assembly in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday maintained that Fayemi’s impressive performance during his second tenure in office would be veritable source of inspiration to successive administrations.
He said that Fayemi’s exploits in human capital development, good governance, gender equality and infrastructure, would be a reference point and template for development for the next five decades.
The APC stalwart , who was enthralled that Fayemi’s legacy would serve as a springboard for further development of the state, said though the legacy might be intimidating, but he expressed confidence that the governor elect, Biodun Oyebanji won’t disappoint the people.
Leveraging on the statement credited to Fayemi on gains of continuity under Oyebanji ,the APC chieftain said the governor- elect would hit the ground running, having been part of the development process being initiated by the leaders of progressive party in the state.
Cataloguing those landmark achievements that had made Ekiti an epicentre and microcosm of good governance, Adedayo averred that Fayemi up -to -date payment of workers’ salaries despite the dwindling revenues to the state attested to his outstanding ingenuity and prudence in financial management.
“When other states that are more financially buoyant are now paying half salary, Fayemi has been paying salary and pension up to date with good prognosis that he will defray the promotion, salary and person arrears incurred by the immediate past government.
“The most intelligent thing Fayemi did that had distinguished him as a visionary leader was the sponsorship leading to the promulgation of a Transition Law, which now makes it criminal for any goverment to abandon any project left by any predecessor”.
Adedayo saluted Fayemi for abolishing fees slammed on primary and secondary school pupils by immediate past administration upon assumption of office, saying the policy had bolstered enrolment in schools and mop the streets of dropouts .
“Today, the children of the poor now have access to basic education without impediment. This is the best legacy any government can give. The governor also built four model schools in Ado Ekiti to create a leverage for some children who were trekking several kilometres before arriving schools.
“In tertiary education,Governor Fayemi upgraded the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti to a full fledged university named after a prominent son of Ekiti and former Ondo state governor, Evang Bamidele Olumilua.
“He also established the Ekiti State Polytechnic in Isan Ekiti to create avenue and platform for Ekiti youth to acquire higher certificates. The new institutions had provided job opportunities for myriad of youths , professionals and expatriates in Ekiti”, he stated.
Adedayo added that Fayemi’s agriculture policy cum industrial strides with the Ikun Dairy Farm has made Ekiti a reference point in term of innovativeness in governance.
“With public private partnership with Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Governor Fayemi has revamped the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm. With 700 herd of cows, the milk producing firm now churns out over 10,000 litres of dairy product daily to boost the economic potential of Ekiti in revenue spinning .
“The governor had been so magnanimous to local farmers. More than two million indigenous trees and cocoa seedlings had been given to Farmers to spur plantation agriculture. Over a billion naira had also been earmarked to propel plantation agriculture yearly through budgetary provision.