The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Monday held its plenary session at the foot of the newly commissioned 1.2 km flyover in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and passed resolutions endorsing the candidature of Governor Ayo Fayose’s deputy, Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka and his running mate, Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin, both flag bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for forthcoming July 14 poll.
The Leader of the House, Hon. Olatunji Akinyele, who moved the motion endorsing the PDP flag bearers, said the move was in recognition of the performance of Governor Ayodele Fayose as evidenced by the massive development of the state in terms infrastructure, education, agriculture, increase in internally-generated revenue, health among others.
The House also demanded a free, fair and credible election come July 14 from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agents and particularly President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.
The Assembly raised the alarm that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been allegedly boasting of deploying federal might to prosecute the July 14 polls, but cautioned that such attempt would be heavily resisted by Ekiti people who, they said, are determined to give their mandate once again to the PDP.
During the one-hour plenary, Leader of the House, Akinyele opened the deliberations on recent the development in the state, which he described as matter of urgent public importance.
He said: ” I am happy and proud to be part of this government, it is a purposeful government that has been able to change the face of Ekiti and developed her infrastructure. When Fayose started the dualization of the roads in his first term, some were against it, today, everyone is enjoying it. If it had not been done, the traffic jam in Ekiti would have been terrible.
“Also, when the governor started the flyover, some were also against it, but today, everyone is enjoying it. There is also the ultra modern on-going Oja oba market. It is a legacy. The newly commissioned governor’s office, new High court complex and developmental projects which were not restricted to Ado Ekiti but extended to other local government area headquarters. Dualization is on going this show Fayose is doing well not only in infrastructure but also in education, he took the state from 35 to first place in NECO for two years.
“In school of nursing, we are leading. The state has also been acknowledged as most peaceful state under Governor Fayose, so because of all these, the governor deserves a kudos and an acknowledgement. I also want to use the opportunity to urge the House support for the candidacy of Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka and 39-year old Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin, PDP flag bearer and also urge Ekiti to vote for Olusola in support of the continuity agenda of Governor Fayose.
“Your vote for Olusola is a vote for progress and success of the state. We also want to say that the Ekiti State House of Assembly is a united entity, free of rancour or discord. We urge the public to disregard rumours that some people are decamping from PDP. We have full confidence in the leadership of the Speaker and the House.
“We also caution the FG to steer clear of the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti. You can’t rig in Ekiti, we will not allow it. We also tell INEC to allow a level playing ground. Security agents too, must provide adequate security during and after the election. We commend Fayose for his performance despite the meagre resources of the state, he has made it to progress on all fronts.”
Speaking in the same vein, Speaker of the House, Kolawole Oluwawole, said, “This plenary is a special one in the sense that the government of the day has performed excellently well and we are elated and we have decided to come to the open to commend the immeasurable and outstanding performance of Fayose in executing various project in the state. I want to correct an impression, have only one member in suspension; the six others not here have obtained permission.
“This is to correct an impression that some people are boasting that 10 of us are decamping, that is a fallacy. Fayemi is a serial loser who has never won any election, the last one was through judicial abracadabra. He will lose in July 14.
“I say this for the record, that we are a united house, dogged, cannot be intimidated, nor harassed or kidnapped. We have unalloyed and unshakable commitment to Fayoe who has demonstrated to all that he is committed to the service of humanity in Ekiti. We declare our total loyalty to the administration of governor Fayose. We call on the people of Ekiti to show support as a pay back for Fayose by voting Eleka and Ogunsakin on July 14.
“It is a divine mandate that will be executed not only by the masses but also the host of heaven,” he said.
Corroborating Akinleye and Kolawole, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Omotosho, said: “I would not do justice to this sitting if I don’t lend my voice to commend Governor Fayose. He is the man who others in other states have described as grand father of stomach infrastructure, a leader of opposition in Nigeria, one who has changed the fortunes of the state in all areas, agriculture, education, commerce, urban renewal and increasing the IGR among
“In Ekiti, when you say thank you to someone who has done well, you say I’ll get more, this is why we are in this open plenary doing this. I say unequivocally that in Ekiti, in the face of meager resources, the government has been able to do well. We also commend the house for assisting the governor to perform.
“The threat from the APC and FG and by extension Fayemi, in his attempt to intimidate the people by using federal might should be discarded. Fayemi is from my constituency, he is not popular at all.
“For several elections, Fayemi has only been able to win his one ward out of six wards in all the previous elections. I have not seen how such candidate can be helped. This is a message to INEC and FG, that the candidate of Fayemi is like a patient that the doctor would say have poor prognosis, the coming election is like that for APC, they cannot win and can never win. We are united in continuity under Fayose and we have great confidence in Eleka who is a professor of Building Technology, unlike a doctorate degree holder in war studies who would only destroy,” he said.
Other members of the House such as Akinleye Ekundayo, representing the Ijero constituency, Fasami Tope, from Ado constituency 11, New Deputy Speaker, Shina Animashaun, representing Ekiti West constituency 11 and Mrs. Cecilia Dada, from Ilejemeje, lent their voices, leading to a resolution moved by House leader and later passed.
The resolution, according to Omotosho, are that, “The house commended Governor Fayose and his government for his giant strides in infrastructure development in Ekiti State, We identify with the candidacy of Professor Olusola Kolapo Eleka and his running mate, Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin and urge Ekiti people to vote for them. We pass vote of confidence on Speaker, Kolawole Oluwawole and the leadership of the House. The FG should steer clear of the July 14 poll and INEC should allow the votes of the people count, the security agents should provide security before, during and after the poll, and we warn that any attempt to scuttle the willing votes that Ekiti masses will give to Eleka and Ogunsakin by anyone or agent on July 14 will be heavily resisted by the people.”
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