@GovAyoFayose clarifies Ekiti ‘stomach infrastructure’ programme

by Godwin Akanfe

The Ekiti State government has explained its concept of ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ as conceived by the Ayo Fayose administration.

This was made public by Lanre Ogunsuyi, the Special Assistant on Information and Civic Orientation to Ekiti Governor, who explained that the concept of stomach infrastructure goes beyond establishing soup kitchens or doling handouts to the poor.

According to the statement released on Sunday by Ogunsuyi, the Fayose government is considering a package which will cover even the health needs of citizens.

The statement said, “Even the Holy Book enjoins us to be our brother’s keeper, we are not talking about having soup kitchens here and there, even if we do, it is only a part of the exercise. In foreign lands, they have such things for the poor.

“However, what we are working on is a total package including the health needs of the people. A man is not only poor by lacking the three basic needs of life such as food, shelter and clothing, sickness can also render a man poor.”

“The importance of the need for societies globally to eradicate or at least alleviate poverty cannot be over-emphasised and that is why the United Nations declared October 17 of every year the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.”

“The Fayose administration is placing emphasis on making food abundant and that is why agriculture will be accorded top priority. Shelter is another vital area and that is not new to Fayose. During his first term in office, he built housing estate and other structures in that respect.”

“It is also on record that health facilities were improved during his time and a number of people needing special medical attention abroad were supported to get such, and we are not going to do anything less this time around,” the statement added.

Furthermore, Ogunsuyi stated that the clarification became necessary because of the misconception in some quarters that what Fayose meant was giving food and money handouts to poor people.

“Remember that it was Fayose that pioneered the welfare scheme for the elderly in the state. Then it was done through local governments and some of the beneficiaries are still alive to testify to this,” he added.

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