Ekiti @25 Not a Failed State-Aribasoye
A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeoye Aribasoye, has said the creation of Ekiti was a huge blessing to the citizens, and described the widespread notion that it has failed as a state as a wrong, hasty conclusion and a narrow perspective of a few.
The lawmaker said this in his congratulatory message to Governor Kayode Fayemi, former governors and the people of the state on the 25th anniversary of its creation.
Aribasoye, who represents Ikole Constituency 2, commended what he said are the giant strides being made by Governor Fayemi to direct the state to the path of greatness and development in all spheres.
He saluted the industry of those who laboured hard, navigated the bumpy paths and took many risks for Ekiti to be created, saying they have been recorded on the positive side of History as patriots and pathfinders, who consolidated the dividends of the freedom from invaders after the Kiriji War in 1886.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart also lauded the past leaders of the state, including the late Colonel Inua Bawa, Commodore Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Oni and Ayodele Fayose, for contributing their quotas to the development of the state.
Aribasoye said Ekiti is a state with a bright future in view of its enormous human capital resource, saying it would become an Eldorado, if the abundant resource is harnessed and conscionably deployed to the service of Ekiti.
“To me as an individual and not because I am in government as a representative of my people, the creation of this state in 1996 was a huge and immesurable blessing to all of us as Ekiti citizens and not a curse or burden to anyone.
“We knew how Ado Ekiti was in 1996. We knew the little space and attention Ekiti attracted then and what had followed afterwards. This state is undoubtedly making steady progress.
“We might not have got to where we are supposed to be, but we have left where we were in 1996. Ekiti has not failed and that has been corroborated by the enigmatic progress we have made in the areas of education, agriculture, industrial development, human capital development and radical health services being accorded our people.
“Our past governors had tried to uplift our state in all spheres despite the lean resources, but the present John Kayode Fayemi government has really revved the pedal of development and accelerated the velocity further by its pragmatic and purposeful style of leadership,” he said.
Aribasoye said the construction of the Civic Centre, revamping of the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm, conversion of the College of Education Ikere Ekiti to a full-fledged university, construction of strategic roads across the Senatorial districts, establishment of four model schools in Ado Ekiti, prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pension, promotion of gender equality policy, free education and health policies of government, among others, were pointers that Ekiti has not failed.
“Between 2018 and now that Governor Fayemi returned, he has attracted investment worth a total of $100m to our dear state through direct investment and partnership to revamp our ailing or moribund industries.
“The governor had also promised to make Ekiti one of the top five states with ease of doing business, while also completing the Cargo Airport before exiting office.
“To all of us who are savouring the sweat and sacrifices made by our founding fathers to ensure creation of Ekiti State, time has come for us to perceive its existence as a huge blessing, rather than a curse.
“In leaps and bounds, Ekiti is expanding and gaining traction as one state with potentials to compete among the comity of states,” Aribasoye stated.
