by Adedayo Ademuwagun

The new Ekiti state governor Ayo Fayose was sworn in at the Olu Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti yesterday, and people all over the state are elated about this new government. The mood is that of triumph and great expectation.

There was a mammoth crowd at the stadium in Ado Ekiti yesterday to experience the inauguration. Civil servants, carpenters, market traders, tailors and many other groups from various towns in the state showed up to celebrate the occasion. It was colourful.

Notably, the former governor, Kayode Fayemi was not present at the stadium. He left the capital earlier this week for his home-town in Afao Ekiti and was received warmly by his people.

In his inaugural speech, Governor Fayose thanked the people for supporting him and promised to help put food on their table and continue to provide ‘stomach infrastructure’. He also promised free healthcare programmes and other things to the people.

Finally, he invited the crowd yesterday to go with him to Oke Ayaba, the government house, and even pass the night in the premises with him if they wanted.

In Aisegba Ekiti, Motunrayo says, “This is our governor and we’re very happy that he’s back in charge! He’s truly a man of the people and a friend of the masses. He’s a man who really cares for his people, particularly us civil servants. When he was governor the first time, he touched many people and helped to reduce suffering. He’s always very accessible and accommodating. I’m positive that things are going to get better now that he’s governor again!”

Nurudeen in Igede Ekiti says the people in that town are jubilant too. He says, “Fayose is the man that we all want, and we know that the better days are here now. So many people love him here. We know that now the economy will be better and our finances will improve so that we can live a better life. When Fayemi was governor, he didn’t create new jobs in the civil service. He was insensitive to the needs of the people. We know that Fayose will not be like that.”

In Omuo Ekiti, Femi says, “The excitement here is palpable! People have been celebrating since Fayose was sworn in yesterday. The people here are overjoyed. It’s like this is the moment we all have been waiting for. We trust that with Fayose in power, he’ll provide jobs for us youths and there’ll be development in our town. Many of the roads here are awful and this is causing a lot of suffering to us. So we expect that Fayose will come to our aid.”

Yesterday, the new deputy governor Olusola Eleka threw a party in his home-town, Ikere Ekiti, for his people. Funmilayo is in the town, and she says, “It’s a joyful time for a lot of people here. Many people went to the party yesterday to rejoice with the new deputy. People are happy particularly because he’s from this town and that this gives them a major voice in the state government. So it really calls for celebration.

“I also heard that the government workers’ strike is off and we are resuming soon. As a public school teacher, I believe that under Fayose we’ll be getting better training on the job and better welfare. I think the new administration will favour us government workers.”

This unanimous excitement and optimism may not be all that remarkable, considering that Fayose won the June election in all 16 LGAs in the state.

There had been fears of violence prior to the inauguration as a few weeks back, the former governor, Fayemi declared an evening curfew to forestall impending violence. But this week, even before his inauguration, Fayose overturned the curfew and encouraged everyone to go about normally. That evening, the curfew ceased and people gladly obeyed him even though he hadn’t actually become governor then.

Fayose was impeached on October 16, 2006 for alleged corruption. Exactly eight years later, he’s now taken charge again.

YEditor