Fayemi’s dream team comes on board

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has sworn in his commissioners and special advisers in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Correspondent RASAQ IBRAHIM examines the tasks before the new State Executive Council.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, on assumption of office on October 16, last year, spoke of his determination to make a difference in the lives of the electorate who voted him to power.

Fayemi’s mantra on his “second missionary journey” to Ekiti Government House is ‘Reclaiming the Land and Restoring Our Values.’

To translate this dream to reality, he needs tested and trusted men and women of unquestionable integrity who share the dream of turning around the fortunes of Ekiti through the instrumentality of his four-point agenda.

The four-point agenda, which is being implemented to the delight of the people, include Social Investments, Knowledge Economy, Infrastructure and Industrial Development and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Shortly on assumption of office, Fayemi appointed two commissioners whose offices are critical to the day-to-day running of government.

They are Commissioner for Justice who also doubles as Attorney General of the state, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Oladapo Kolawole.

They had since joined Fayemi, the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Acting Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; Chief of Staff, Mr. Biodun Omoleye; Special Adviser/Director General Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Seun Odewale and Director General, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery, Prof. Bolaji Aluko and the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode in what looks like a “mini cabinet.”

Fayemi who spoke at various for a noted that it would be unwise to appoint a full cabinet almost immediately after assuming office so as not to be spending resources on personnel rather than meeting the immediate needs of the people.

As days rolled into weeks and weeks into months, many leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State were apprehensive of the shape the state cabinet would take.

But with the government fully on ground and apparently living up to the expectation of the people, Fayemi has now deemed it fit to bring his “dream team” on board.

The waiting game ended on Tuesday, April 2 when the governor forwarded the list of nominees for commissioner and special adviser positions to the House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada.

The list drew applause from many people of the state who applaud Fayemi for appointing individuals they regarded as “politicians who have connections with the grassroots” unlike what happened during his first tenure.

The perceived grassroots politicians are also technocrats who have requisite experience in many fields of human endeavour to add value to governance.

These cabinet members are expected to be going to their home communities to identify with the APC at unit, ward and local government levels and impact positively on the people at the grassroots.

The nominees appeared before the Assembly on Thursday, April 4 where they were all screened and cleared paving the way for their swearing-in.

Tuesday, April 9 will remain indelible in the memories of the Ekiti cabinet members as they were sworn in at the Osuntokun Pavilion of the Government House, Ado-Ekiti amidst pomp and pageantry.

They were joined by their family members, relations, traditional rulers, community leaders and party members from their hometowns and other well wishers.

The new Commissioners and Special Advisers filed out one after the other as the oath of allegiance and oath of office were administered on them.

Fourteen commissioners and eleven special advisers who were all colourfully dressed swore to perform their duties to the best of their ability and for the good of Ekiti people.

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