Governor Ayo Fayose has praised late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, for yielding to the cries of Ekiti people for a state of their own on October 1, 1996.
The late maximum ruler announced the creation of Ekiti State alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara during a nationwide broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 36th Independence Anniversary.
Ekiti was carved out of the old Ondo State and currently consists of 16 local government areas and 18 local council development areas.
The governor, who spoke at an interactive session with interest groups at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti, as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of Ekiti State and 56th independence anniversary yesterday, vowed not to leave any abandoned project behind by the time he completes his tenure on October 15, 2018.
Fayose also hailed all his predecessors – Col. Inua Bawa, Capt. Atanda Yusuff, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi – for their sacrifices and contributions to the development of the state.
He said the former governors tried their best within the limited resources available to them, saying their contributions have given him something to build upon to take Ekiti to greater heights.
Fayose appealed to politicians across various divides to always place the interest of the state above personal interests and work for its development.
He said: “Let me commend Gen. Abacha for creating the state and I also thank our founding fathers for their vision.
“Though, I didn’t participate in the struggle but I am a beneficiary and many children and governors yet unborn will also benefit.
“Politics aside, let me commend all the military and duly elected governors of the past for their contributions because they have contributed their own quota within the available resources to lay a foundation. For without foundation there could be nothing to build upon.
“Ekiti has scored many firsts within the two years I came on board. Ekiti recorded in transparency in budget provision.
“It came first in 2016 NECO and these came at the most auspicious time when Ekiti is 20”.
He added: “Our desire now is to buckle up and work harder for more service delivery for the good of you and I.
“Whatever our political, religious and interests are, we must put our eyes on the ball called Ekiti for our tomorrow to be better than this.
“I want to tell you that I won’t abandon any project. All the projects I have started will be completed before my departure”.
