* Says govt efforts yielding fruits across all sectors
By John Odunayo
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has vowed to do everything possible to protect lives and property in the state.
The governor, who listed security among the challenges of the moment, appealed to the people “to help the government by providing helpful information that can assist the security agencies to prevent and fight crimes in our dear state”.
The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state and the 64th independence anniversary of Nigeria.
He said, “Law and order is the primary responsibility of every government. Accordingly, we have made security of life and property our topmost priority. As a state, we have, like many other parts of the country, had to contend with occasional opportunistic attacks of ‘hit-and-run” kidnappers, I am glad that we have been able to bring them to book while we continue to do our best to prevent future recurrence.
“Similarly, we have been able to end the frightful incidence of street hoodlums who troubled the city of Ado Ekiti in recent months. We have arrested them and they are currently facing trial. I therefore want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to protect you.
“Let me therefore use this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to all the security agencies in the state such as the Police, the Army, the DSS, the Civil Defence, the Amotekun, the Agro Marshal and other community based vigilante volunteers for their efforts and sacrifice.
“In addition to the different security initiatives that our government has adopted, we have also continued to pass laws in cooperation with the Ekiti State House of Assembly, for the progress of our state. These laws have come into effect and they have contributed to some of the rapid developments that our State is witnessing at the moment. We are also collaborating with the Local Governments/LCDAs to deepen service delivery at the grassroots level”.
Oyebanji, said that his government had been ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable development without leaving anyone behind in its bid to achieve its Six Pillars which had the primary objective of ensuring a shared prosperity for all.
The governor said that the efforts “are already yielding fruits across all sectors. We are not only meeting targets, we have surpassed targets in many instances”.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for his strong support which he said had provided the right atmosphere for the growth to Ekiti State since the President assumed office.
Oyebanji said, “We are deeply grateful for President Tinubu’s numerous interventions and approval of critical federal infrastructure in our state and in tackling security challenges that confronted us early in the year”.
He paid respect to the founding fathers of the state including Chief Deji Fasuan and Aare Afe Babalola for championing the struggles for the creation of the state and contributions to the actualization and as well all former governors for their leadership roles and contributions to Ekiti development.
The governor also hailed Ekiti State National Assembly Caucus under the leadership of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; members of Ekiti State House of Assembly; executive council members and other political appointees for their contributions which had resulted in rapid development of the state.
He said, “Our government is very focused and strategic in our development drive. We want to ensure every policy and programme of government is connected to the chains of Ekiti Development Master Plan and the Six Pillars of Administration to deliver the shared prosperity promise.
“We are also deliberate in our plan that every government spending must lead to job creation, inclusive growth and sustainable development. In the last two years since we came on board, we are glad to report that we have made some giant strides in different aspects of administration in accordance with our social contract with Ekiti people”.
The governor said that some of the administration’s signature projects including the Ado-Ekiti fly-over, the first phase of the Ring Road, the Ifaki-Iworoko-Ado-Ekiti road among others were nearing completion.
He said, “Similarly, we have brought electricity supply to many communities which had not had electricity in decades, just as we continue to expand access to clean water across the state. The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project is now effective with the award of contracts for some rural roads, while others are being processed for award”.
According to him, the government is unrelenting in its commitment in agriculture and food security development to ensure abundant food production with many programmes and policies just as it has made security of life and property a topmost priority.
The governor took pride in the achievements of his government in education and health sectors and as well the way it had been keeping to its promise to always promptly attend to the welfare of workers.
He said, “We not only pay salaries as and when due, we have cleared some outstanding salaries, leave bonuses and monetary benefits of previous promotion exercises. In addition, we have committed ourselves to an accelerated liquidation of outstanding gratuity to our pensioners.
“We are also supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises through the provision of cheaper funds for business owners in collaboration with the Bank of Industry and other relevant financial institutions. This is with a view to achieving wealth creation and improving the state’s economy,” Oyebanji said.
