on October 23, 2014

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor

IN a publication that pictorially showcased ex-governor Kayode Fayemi’s exploit in Ekiti, titled: ‘Leapfrogging Ekiti from Obscurity to Prosperity’ the conception and funding of the new controversial government house were clearly stated that ‘’The administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State places much premium on infrastructure which it believes is a catalyst for modernizing the state.

Infrastructural development is the second policy thrust of the 8-point agenda of the Fayemi administration otherwise known as the “Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery.

Fayemi: Mine is a legacy of service

‘’Desirous of being remembered for good by citizens of the State, the Fayemi administration conceived what it called “Legacy Projects” bequeathed to the generations yet unborn.

‘’In conceiving the projects, the administration took cognizance of the need to execute projects that accord with the needs of the government and people of Ekiti and critically also, positively project the Land of Honour in the comity of states in Nigeria.

‘’Not ready to be encumbered by the meagre allocations from the Federation Account as the state is 35th out of 36th on the nation’s revenue ladder, the administration secured a N25 billion bond from the Capital Market.

‘’Upon accessing the first tranche of N20 billion, the administration immediately embarked on the mission to change the face of the state with the Legacy Projects which the new Government House is one of them.”

According to Fayemi, ‘’Ekiti State has lived with the challenge of having a befitting Government House since the state was created on October 1, 1996. The first Military Administrator, as he was designated, Col. Inua Bawa (rtd), was holed-up in a borrowed apartment before building an official residence with bricks sourced from Ire-Ekiti Burnt Bricks Factory.

‘’Successive administrations since then made do with some buildings in the Government House complex, including the present abode of the state’s number one citizen known as the Osuntokun Lodge. The fact that the Lodge lacked many facilities befitting of the residence of a governor and therefore “very inferior” to other Government Houses in the country, made the need for a new Government House in Ekiti very imperative.

‘’This inadequacy came even more to the fore at the death of the former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, with guests pouring in from all over the country to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the monumental loss. To add to the state’s sorrow, the governor could not receive two sets of guests at the same time.

‘’But that rather embarrassing experience has become history with the construction of the new Government House situated on the Ayoba Hills in Ado-Ekiti, the new edifice, like the biblical “House on a Hill” can be seen from all parts of the city.

‘’While dismissing the claims of the opposition that the project is self-serving, Fayemi argued that the new Government House belongs to the people of Ekiti and not his personal property.

‘’He added that it would continue to serve as the official residence of all coming governors, long after he would have left office. The new Government House, will go down as an important statement of the New Ekiti that the Fayemi administration has always thought possible: It is an Ekiti State that plays second fiddle to none.’’

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/built-new-ekiti-government-house-fayemi/#sthash.tImE7FaL.dpuf

I was reading to see a tangible reason but was disappointed. Fayemi only wanted to be more western than oyibos. Imagine his silly reason of not been able to host guests during the funeral of former deputy governor due to lack of befitting governor's lodge.smh

I wonder how an intelligent person like Fayemi ended up being a bad leader. I see nothing wrong in building a befitting government house but not with loan. He could take loan to build a government house but could not take loan to make Igemo Ekiti produce as much RICE as possible so nigeria could reduce the quantity of imported rice, this would v created so much job so Ekiti pple wont b hungry such that today they are being insulted as hungry pple. Fayemi should take a deep reflection bc each time he try to defend the building of d government lodge he makes being highly educated a cause.

haaba fayemi just fell my hand here. he should have kept quiet

One thing with our rulers! You build a government house and tag it dividend of democracy? How does it affect the common man? Some even go as far as calling their newly built State Party Secretariat dividend of democracy too.

Guys, see reason. See defence frm d so called intelligent gov. Smh seriously.

Sha goan rest in lagos as fayose said.,nor need for "spilt milk" tales...,Refused to pay workers for 2months yet culd borrow moni to buy 50mill naira beds...,Befitting ko!...,I rilli hope fayose does better sha..

Fayemi needs to be flogged!!

How can you borrow N20B and then go ahead to build a government house with N3.3B?

Just wondering if that is how he runs his own personal finances!

Now I understand why those ekiti elders and profs keep writing petitions against the state government

This is the best of APC!
Thsi one is small ooo.
Aaah! APChit
If you hear of what Fashola, Aregbesola, Yero and Amaechi is doing with our money,
you will go mental!

post=27431047:
This is bad. .

Eeh bad gaan!