The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday assured the incumbent governor, Ayo Fayose, that when re-elected governor in the forthcoming election, his (Fayemi’s) return to Government House is not to execute vengeance as feared by Fayose and his cohorts.
Also accusing the Fayose-led administration of inflicting untold hardship on the people in the last four years, Dr Fayemi noted that apart from owing workers salaries of five to nine months, the state government had also failed to pay the allowances of traditional rulers.
Fayemi, who made the claim in an interview with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, said the state administration has also inflicted hardship on workers, students, parents, business owners and traditional rulers.
The APC candidate also slammed the governor for failing to disclose the Internally Generated Revenue of the state since coming to power in 2014.
“IGR rose to N600m monthly before I left office as we declared what came in monthly, but no one has heard of Ekiti IGR since I left.”
According to him, the government has no excuse owing workers as there has been steady inflow of funds from the federation account, IGR, and bail-out released by the Federal Government.
The candidate pledged to effect positive transformation in the state, if elected.
Fayemi promised that his eight-point agenda would launch Ekiti on the path of development, including human capital development.
He accused Fayose of playing politics with issues that ordinarily would bring about development, including funds meant for rice production provided by the federal government.
According to him whereas, states such as Kebbi, Jigawa and Ogun have accessed the fund, Fayose had ignored the benefits the fund would bring to rice farmers especially in Igbemo-Ekiti and other rice belts in the state.
He dismissed insinuations that he was out for revenge, saying: “On what basis should I come on a vengeance mission? Nobody has offended me, the secret of June 21, 2014 is quite open to us all.
“You refused to pay teachers for ten months but you are saying ‘we may not pay your salaries but the man coming wants to sack you.’
“During Fayemi’s administration, no final year secondary school student paid WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and JAMB fees but now, pupils from primary to SS3 students are now paying taxes.”
He added: “We didn’t owe workers monthly salary except for September 2014 and this was because the incoming government approached our financial institutions and opt to halt our arrangements.
“We had regular training and re-training of workers in Ekiti, we paid core subject allowances, rural allowances to teachers, car loans, housing loans to our workers.”
Fayemi listed other areas of achievement while in office to include the revival of Ire Burnt Bricks Industry, Ikogosi Warm Spring among others.(NAN)