TheCable

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has described the administration of Kayode Fayemi, his predecessor, as a disaster to the state, accusing him of massive corruption.

Fayose alleged that the immediate past governor of the state not only left behind a debt of N86bn but left Ekiti indebted till 2020.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Fayose, who spoke through Lere Olayinka, his special assistant on public communications and new media, said although he was more focused on the future of the state, he decided to shed light on the past to set records straight.

“The previous administration of Kayode Fayemi was a monumental disaster to Ekiti and its people,” Olayinka said.

“Dr Kayode Fayemi ruined Ekiti state economically. He has put the state in financial bondage till year 2020.

“As of today, after paying a total sum N15, 221,207,088 (i.e. N14,299,085,088 repaid from the N20bn bond and N922,122,000.09 from the N5bn bond, the state government is still owing N26.749bn! That is the situation that we are confronted with.”

Vowing to probe Fayemi, the governor assured the people that he would correct the anomalies and deliver dividends of democracy.

“In a state like Ekiti with less than N3bn as monthly federal allocation, former governor, Kayode Fayemi spent a whooping sum of N604,961,645.72 just to furnish the new governor’s lodge built for the comfort of himself and his wife,” he said.

“Unfortunately for Fayemi and his wife, they could only use the N604.9m furniture for 15 days.

“We want to state categorically that all those who have defrauded this state will be made to refund every kobo that they stole. Those who shed the blood of innocent Ekiti sons and daughters will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The government of Fayose must look at the past, consider the present and project for the future of Ekiti State. The government of Fayose will bring succour to Ekiti people by putting food on their tables.”

However, Fayemi has pledged his readiness to appear before any probe panel set up by his successor.

Describing the allegations as  blackmail, he advised the incumbent governor to focus on the task of governing the state.

“Ekiti citizens deserve to know what the administration did with state fund during the tenure of the immediate past administration and we are prepared to appear at a probe panel (if and when it is set up) within 24 hours of notice,” he said in a statement signed by Olayinka Oyebode, his chief press secretary.

“Instituting a probe into the financial transactions of the administration, we believe, is a better option for the current administration of Mr Fayose, instead of its recourse to falsehood, cheap blackmail and propaganda as an excuse for its ineptitude and lack of direction.

“We make bold to say that the administration of Dr Fayemi took all its decisions in the best interest of the people of the state and followed the due process of law as well as financial regulations in all its dealings.

“All that the administration does daily is to invent fresh excuses for its ineptitude. Governor Fayose had in the last three weeks put the state’s debt profile at six different figures. From N89billion to N57billion, to N91 billion, to N69billion, to N82billion and lately N86billion.

“Our advice: stop chasing shadows, be matured and concentrate on the onerous task of governance.”