When Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, during the inauguration of his second-coming told thousands of Ekiti people, who had converged at the popular Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti on October 16, last year that he would create a special ministry to be called Ministry of Stomach Infrastructures, many political observers within and outside the state took his words with a pinch of salt.
Condemnations poured in from several quarters, as many people who derided the governor for the announcement of a stomach infrastructure ministry argued that such was only a political statement that needed time to see how it goes.
No doubt, as expected the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state had accused Fayose of trying to degrade Ekiti people to perpetual beggars of sorts, by given them unsolicited gifts of rice,chickens and money.
But, following the successful exercise of the fulfillment of Fayose’s stomach infrastructure initiative this Christmas, it seems some states are now copying the concept which stirred controversies on arrival.
For Fayose, it seems he has remained resolute to achieve this objective to reducing hunger in Ekiti State, which he claims is a clear departure from the past administrations which satisfies majorly the interests of the few elites in the state during Christmas and other festivities.
Fayose’s welfarist programme is not new as records have it in his first reign as governor between 2001 and September 2003, he started the distribution of water through water tankers, kerosene, medical needs and money to the people of the state free.
So, few days to December 25, last year, Ado Ekiti, the state capital and its environs were agog, as thousands of Ekiti people stormed the Governor’s office to get their own share of the Christmas largesse.
Governor Fayose personally supervised the distribution of the gifts to the people, among whom are the old and young, widows, widowers and the less privileged.
In his characteristic manner, Fayose ensured that nobody was left behind nor discriminated against on in whatever guise.
It was gathered that the same approach was replicated in all the remaining 15 local governments areas of the state, as there was a designated centres where beneficiaries including public servants and teachers were attended to .
It was also gathered that no fewer than 80,000 birds, 100,000 bags of rice and cash gifts were distributed to the people, as the people for three days running (December 22, 23 and 24) continued to besiege the Governor’s Office to collect their own share of the Christmas goodies.
Speaking at the exercise, Fayose stated that what takes priority in his heart daily is the welfare of the people of the state who against all odds returned him to office eight years after, in a landslide victory.
He noted that he will continue to pursue his welfare programmes with all his strength, adding that he could not withstand the people of the state suffering.
According to him, the current financial situation will not deter him from reaching to the people of the state, noting that he had made a covenant with God to ensure that the people are liberated from the shackles of poverty.
When asked why he gave them money, the Governor said, “ they need to buy pepper, salt, maggi, palm oil and other ingredients to cook the chicken. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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GOOD GOVERNOR UR RESPONSIBILITY HAS SPOKEN FOR YOU,KEEP IT UP TILL 2018
ReplyDeleteStomach infrastructure...... shame on Yoruba People
ReplyDeleteThis is a shameful exercise as a few people are just eating away the common destiny of the state. Is it 100,000 bags of rice that a polulation of about 2million people eat till the next festive season? Ekiti people should use their heads, and stop degrading the status we thought they had. Fayose is just insulting the good people of Ekiti by terming them "hungry people" that have to beg for a cup of rice before they can celebrate Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhat people who are not in government or corridors of power don't know is that government always distributes gifts during festive periods to the rich people and those who occupy positions within and outside government. I was privileged to know this. Governor Fayose has just exposed them by giving it to the less privilege ones. The big guys who are the beneficiaries are those complaining and God will punish them all. I need them to respond to my write up here if they do not receive gifts from government during festive periods. By government, I mean Ministries, parastatals etc. During my days, I used to wonder that my father did not need all this gift. He would get it and immediately shared it among the less privileged ones. My question then was that, why are they always distributing these gifts to those who can afford to buy them. The gifts were even far greater than just the governor has distributed. There is nothing bad in it. They do it here in the western world but in a different and consistent manner. They call it social security and that is why people don't usually steal here. Life is pleasant in terms of security. Nigerian government should do more than just festive celebration. There is 365 days in a year. What happens in the remaining days? I encourage the governor to do more. God bless Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteGood talk but remember that u don't need for share cups of rice and chicken which the would finish within 2 days, rather create ways to which they can get it then selves. (It's bad to give them fish, better teach them how to fish). Ekiti people were blind and this feative sharing formula can solve the issue. Fayemi has proved to be incompetent and fayose is kind of proving the same thing.
DeleteHehehehehe, ebin kpami
ReplyDeleteHin hin Hun Hun hin, laughing in Chinese, the quarter bag of rice won't last for one week, 1,600 naira only. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteIgnorant leaders, ignorant voters. I thought the Yorubas were smarter than this, but I guess not. Shame on this nation. We sell votes for half a cup of rice and beans. What an ignorant nation.
ReplyDeleteLet him give you people rice every week or every month if he has good intentions. So that everybody will see that you people are eating your state allocation and dont expect any other development. Ekiti is backwards. Ekitikete where is your pride.
ReplyDeleteWhat Ekiti people voted for is what they are getting, chikena! Only time will open their eyes to the fraud....
ReplyDelete