Former Minister of Science and Technology, Senator Bode Olowoporoku has declared that the spending of a staggering sum of N14.5 billion to construct a flyover by Governor Ayo Fayose in the midst of poverty indicated that the governor needs elementary training in the act of governance.
Describing the project as a “misplacement of priority”, the former National Assembly member said such money could have been expended to develop agriculture, human capital and tourism to employ the teeming unemployed Ekiti youth.
The former Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, who spoke on Thursday at a briefing in his Ilawe-Ekiti country home said the multi billion naira flyover could not be justified amidst “acute and unprecedented hunger in the state.”
Olowoporoku had declared interest in the governorship election in Ekiti State, slated for July 14, 2018.
He expressed concern about the way many people in Ekiti go to bed hungry, promising that his party, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN) government would make food available to them if voted into power.
Olowoporoku, who represented Ekiti South senatorial district between 2003 and 2007 explained that the fight against hunger, poverty and unemployment would be a cardinal policy of his administration if elected governor.
The politician explained that “I would tackle our problems with huge investment in agriculture with a policy called Agric Revolution, because that is where Ekiti has comparative advantage.
“Ekiti has huge potentials in agriculture with good weather and arable land which would be complemented with better funding and use of technology, all Ekiti needs is an experienced politician like him to convert the waste in Ekiti to wealth.”
Olowoporoku promised to supply 100 bags of rice to each of the 177 wards every month throughout his tenure if he becomes governor.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, described the flyover as a legacy project conceived by Fayose to enhance the future of Ekiti, in terms of aesthetic value and traffic control.
“When Governor Fayose was constructing Ado Ekiti dual carriage way, they castigated him. They said he was only wasting the state’s resources, but today it can no longer contain and control our traffic.
“Governor Fayose is not a myopic leader. He was looking and thinking ahead of now, so such legacy project should be commended rather than being condemned”, he said.
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