Fayose Sworn In, Decries Ekiti Debt Profile…… Promises Agency on “Stomach Infrastructure “
Peter Ayodele Fayose was on Thursday sworn in as the Governor of Ekiti State. Fayose who was impeached as the governor of the state at exactly eight years becomes the 11th Governor of the State. He succeeded Dr. John Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, defeated the incumbent in the June 21 election.
Fayose in his speech said he would take the issue of the welfare of the people seriously noting that his government would be that of ‘stomach infrastructure’ . He indicated that an agency on this social welfare will be created with an appointment of a Special Adviser on Stomach Infrastructure.
“Stomach Infrastructure “ is a phrase that was created during the electioneering campaign. The art of giving food items to the electorates to curry their support in the election was named “Stomach Infrastructure “. Fayemi, the immediate past Governor was accused of not dishing out money and food items to people. Instead, he was committed to physical infrastructure as against the stomach infrastructure. Fayose on the other hand was accused by APC of being a man of “Stomach Infrastructure “.
Speaking further, the new Governor bemoaned the debt profile of the state staying the past administration was reckless towards it’s end.
” I report to you that our state had been plunged into heavy debt dungeon of over forty nine billion Naira by our own brother as follows : bond (Capital market) and agriculture loan, N21.2b, other bank loans, N15.5b, outstanding salary (two months), N2.4b, unpaid subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions, N70m, 2014 leave bonus, N400M, unpaid pensions and gratuities,N3.2b, unremitted withholding taxes and other deductions, N850M and indebtedness to contractors, N10b totalling N57.45B”
He accused his predecessor of creating Local Government development Councils without recourse to the provision of the constitution saying the state doesn’t have the resources to maintain them. He also said the employment of 3000 workers into the civil service by the past administration was a plan to make him fail.
