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Don’t keep quiet in face of poor governance, Ekiti gov, Fayose, charges senior citizens

By Ayodele Afolabi, Ado-Ekiti
19 March 2018   |   4:23 am
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has charged elder statesmen in the country not to keep quiet in the face of poor governance, but rather keep public officers on their toes by demanding...

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has charged elder statesmen in the country not to keep quiet in the face of poor governance, but rather keep public officers on their toes by demanding good governance and accountability from them.

He noted that history and posterity would not be kind to them if they fold their arms and watch situations deteriorate to dangerous level in the country.

Fayose, who stated this at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti when members of the Ekiti State Council of Elders led by their Chairman, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, paid him a visit at the Government House, urged the elders not to only offer advice to public office holders, but that they must not shy away from criticising them when the needs arise.

He said: “We must make political office holders accountable for our commonwealth. The essence of giving people the opportunity to lead is to make life better for all. Evaluate the situation and guide where necessary but don’t say you are tired to get across to some people or that they are proving stubborn or inaccessible.

“They are representing the interest of the people who elected them and whoever feels too big to identify with the people must be taught the needed lessons.

“We appreciate you for appreciating the little we have done. We are working for history and posterity. We will take a number of elders around our projects for you to appreciate them and hand them over to Ekiti people.”

Fayose, while reacting to some demands made by the council, alleged that the previous administration left the finances of the state in tatters.

“We can’t even borrow money without the approval of the Federal Government. Right now, we pay over N1.2 billion monthly to service debts incurred by the past administration and we will pay till 2036,” he added.

He said he had gone to court to challenge some policies of the Federal Government whereby the Federal Government would borrow money for its own use, but would make all the three tiers of government repay.

In his speech, Prof. Oluwasanmi commended the Fayose administration for the giant strides in education, infrastructure and other sectors.

He told the governor that the state would soon host a meeting of the Yoruba Council of Elders and invite the governor to be part of the meeting.

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