mercyway:
what are Fayemi's achievements as a minister?

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Buhari had at his 2018 budget presentation on Tuesday at a joint sitting of the National Assembly singled out Fayemi for praise in driving his ministry towards successful take-off of economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government, citing the increase in solid minerals earnings from N700m to above N2b under the minister to the national economy.

Spraking after their emergency meeting in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Chairman of the conference, Prince Tunji Ogunlola, said Fayemi’s sterling performance as attested to earlier by the Senate Committee of Mines and Steel that applauded Fayemi’s hard work and transparency in the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government, was a testimony of a man driven by passion to achieve his missions.

He stated that “The mining and steel sector, which is a viable alternative to oil, has remained untapped over the years until Dr. Fayemi took charge of the sector and turned it around, thereby making the dream of making the sector an alternative to oil, a reality.

“From a paltry contribution of N700 million to the national purse before he took charge, Fayemi worked hard day and night with his men to contribute N2billion within one year, making it one of the highest sectoral contributors to the economy, apart from oil.

“No wonder that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator James Manager, described Dr. Fayemi as a man of vision who despite the challenges in the sector had taken the sector to a higher level.”

Extolling Fayemi’s qualities, Ogunlola added: “We are not surprised about the performance of Dr. Fayemi in the sector because he had earlier demonstrated his leadership and managerial abilities as Governor of Ekiti State by turning the state to huge construction and rehabilitation sites with projects in all towns and villages across the state.

“This is apart from his life-lifting programmes, such as the social security for the elderly people where about 25,000 elders received a monthly stipend of N5,000 each; Youth Volunteers Scheme for unemployed youths; Youths in Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD); the Food Bank Scheme; Ekiti State Transport Management Agency; Conditional Cash Transfer; and the State-Assisted Community Projects,renovation of all schools and hospitals including regular payment of salaries and allowances, all that contributed in making the state’s economy active while he was governor.

“Like he is doing in the mineral sector and Ajaokuta Steel Complex at the Federal level, Fayemi as governor also initiated legacy projects, such as the Ikogosi Warm Springs, the Ekitiparapo Pavilion, resuscitation of Ire Burnt Bricks and moribund Igbemo Asphalt Plant, among others, to rejuvenate the state’s economy.

“For Fayemi’s history of hard work, integrity, and honesty, N30b intervention fund was approved for the sector by the Natural Resources Development Fund and this is the first in the history of the sector and it is a testimony that Fayemi is a trusted expert to drive Nigeria’s diversified economy in which the non oil sector will be playing a pivotal role.

“We are proud of Dr. Fayemi’s enviable achievements as an outstanding performer in the Federal Executive Council and as a pride of Ekiti people known for their time-tested integrity, hard work, tenacity of purpose and honesty.

“We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for his ability to discover Fayemi’s potential as a brilliant mind who could make a difference in Nigeria’s drive towards diversification of her battered economy while also urging the minister to see the President’s and Senate’s endorsements as a challenge to do more.”

To confirm his pride of place in President Buhari’s heart,
virtually every federal appointment from his state has been ceded to him. In fact, only two appointments from Ekiti appeared not to have had his imprimatur – that of the Political Adviser to the President in the office of the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, and the Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Ports Authority, Mr Emmanuel Adesoye. His former Commissioner for Education, Dr Eniola Ajayi, is now the country’s ambassador to Hungary; the new Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata, was his Solicitor General in Ekiti State; his Agriculture Commissioner, Jide Arowosafe, is the Executive Director (Operations) at NIRSAL, the Central Bank subsidiary in charge of Anchor Borrowers Agric lending. His Deputy Governor, Professor Dupe Adelabu, is the Chair of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); and his Finance Commissioner, Dapo Kolawole, has just been appointed to the Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Several other appointments to the Governing Councils of Universities, Polytechnics and Federal Colleges of Education from Ekiti State clearly bear his stamp. Indeed, apart from Lagos and Ogun States, Ekiti boasts of the highest number of appointees from the South West so far.

Beyond this, he has also used his position in government to gain concession for the inclusion of Ekiti State into the Western Standard Gauge Rail Line and also attracted the construction of the Federal Secretariat in Ado Ekiti. Only recently too, he facilitated relief materials for flood victims in the state through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). This is in addition to other Ekiti sons and daughters he has assisted with employment in various institutions of state.

In the politics of the South West, he is often regarded with Governor Amosun of Ogun State as the leader of the Young Turks who consistently argue that South West political leadership should be more inclusive and supportive of President Buhari. In this regard, he became the arrow head for the delivery of the APC candidate Rotimi Akeredolu in the November 26, 2016 election in Ondo State. Ondo was a difficult assignment for which he was wrongly derided in some circles as a betrayer and the ‘Akintola’ of South West but he said his action was driven by conviction and loyalty to his party and the president. His delivery on that assignment has enhanced his standing politically in the President’s circles – especially given the forces arrayed against the President’s team in Ondo.

His involvement in promoting the Buhari brand in the political realm has not deterred him from expanding the importance of a hitherto redundant solid minerals sector in the nation’s economy. Since assuming duty in November 2015, he has worked so hard to re-position the sector and use it as a vehicle for President Buhari’s diversification agenda. Some of his achievements include the new roadmap for the sector, enhanced geological data, increased revenue generation, financial support for artisanal and small scale miners, improved cooperation between the federal government, states and host communities in mineral resources development, improved transparency in the sector and a determined enforcement of the laws and regulations undergirding the sector, thus improving investor confidence.

In addition to his work in mining, he has also been very supportive in the President’s foreign policy agenda, helping with the campaigns of Nigeria’s candidates for key positions in international organisations and also with the President’s programmes in the annual United Nations’ General Assembly amongst other mostly unreported assignments. His commitment to the success of the Buhari administration is a matter beyond debate and his optimism that the Administration will laugh last is infectious even if it runs counter to the feelings on the opposing side.
Although his focus has often been party unity and effective mobilization of party members in Ekiti State ever since he left office, Ekiti APC has not been immune to internal challenges. This probably informed the Minister’s regular convening of quarterly meetings of Ward, LGA and State executives of the party since December 2015 barely a month after assuming duties as the Minister representing Ekiti and these meetings have been held consistently. The last edition took place a couple of weeks ago at his Isan Ekiti country home. At the September meeting, he was reported to have reiterated his well-known position on party unity and commended those who have expressed interest in running for office as great mobilisers that have kept the spirit of party and members alive. Many had predicted that he was going to use the September 30 meeting to announce his interest in the race, but this did not happen even as some followers openly demanded for this.

This uncertainty on whether he will run or not has thrown many into confusion even as the ruling party has gone ahead to announce Dr Olusola Eleka, currently the deputy governor, as its candidate for the 2018 Governorship election. Yet if there is one candidate the incumbent Governor seems mortally afraid of contemplating as the flagbearer of the APC and eventual successor, it is the Fayemi. This seemed to have informed every effort to nail him via petitions to EFCC and the setting up of a hurried judicial commission of inquiry in the state.

Unfortunately for Governor Fayose, many of the claims taken before the EFCC and the Panel in the state appear to have been dead on arrival. For example, the claim that Fayemi stole N852million SUBEB fund had been debunked by Access Bank that provided the counterpart fund. The Ado Ekiti Manager of the Bank testifying before the Panel of Inquiry confirmed that the Bank recalled the money when there was no agreement with the Fayose administration on the terms and conditions of the loan. An investigation panel set up by Governor Fayose and chaired by the retired Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ademola Ajakaiye also absolved Fayemi of any malfeasance on SUBEB funds. Equally, the claim that he misappropriated the N25 billion bond taken by his administration for infrastructure development has proved to be a red herring given the physical evidence of the various projects and the independently audited evidence of judicious utilization of the resources obtained.

With the INEC timetable released, it would not be long before the conundrum in the state is resolved. Inevitably, Dr Fayemi will have to express the intention, if he has any, within the timeframe stipulated by INEC. Whether he runs or not, it is clear the last has not been heard of this urbane intellectual who sees politics and leadership as service and sacrifice, not ambition and opportunism.

The Question is hmmm.both sides of our political divide keep throwing up stories filled with propaganda.
So times i pity "some" bunch of lazy youths we currently have across the country.They hardly think ,research or innovate.

I believe when some one is begin accused .its our duty to seek for the truth.
One of my reasons was When it was alleged that fayemi caused the indebtedness of ekiti to the tune of 100bn+ .I was shocked.
This is the basis of the hatred in some quarters and coupled with the teachers Appraisal issues
I decided to search for the truth .
The only authority as regards Debt related issues in Nigeria is DMO.
even a quick google of their sites shows that the debt profile of ekiti as at October 2014 when fayemi left office was consistent with what his Commissioner said and far different from the fake amount being propagated by others.

The issue of the Teachers actually started with a meeting between the then Commissioner of education eniola Ajayi and Principals .it started as a capacity training programe.in which principals were asked to write about there vision for there various schools within the next one year.This was to be a model in which the vision will be actualized by provision of funds to the sets of winning principals and their school to actualized their dreams .
After the the principals were done ,The commissioner who was present at the meeting was shocked.i leave you to imagine the rest. it was not different from what happen in Kaduna.
They decided that competency test and appraisals would be done given out to teachers along with questionnaires.The teachers protested cause they knew many were not competent.The Governor kept telling them it was not to sack any body as being spread by political opponents.
This was the beginning of the whole propaganda

TonyeBarcanista:
Fayemi is welcome to the race but he should expect to match a determined PDP at the poll that will beat him to stupor

I hope u wont cry foul when inec declares him winner?

EarthXmetahuman:
[s][/s]then what will happen if he didn't get the ticket?

Is there any law that says he must resign before going for primaries?

oga, it's against public service rules and INEC guidelines

Charly68:
Take it or leave Fayemi is an intelligent candidate..APC Delegates understood this before casting their votes,now that military won't be available to supervise tumbpriting of ballot papers in one hotel or any secret place,the gubernatorial election will be keenly contested in Ekiti State ..

intelligent ko intelligent ni he was a former governor that stole and borrow huge money.what did he achieve even as current minister.
Ekiti people are voting for professor in pdp.in west we vote more for individual capabilities than party.Apc in Ekiti have failed to provide a credbile candidate.

u must finish it o

My guy wan take May emolument