Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday, appealed to people of the state not to put undue pressure and demands on the newly appointed commissioners and Special Advisers, saying such could prevent them from coming to their constituencies regularly as their representatives.
Oyebanji also declared that his government had expended the sum of N213 million to lift 2,600 indigent citizens from poverty under social investment component of his administration within the last 100 days.
The governor revealed these in Omuo Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti East Local government Area, while giving account of his stewardship at a stakeholders’ engagement programme marking his 300 days in office.
Addressing the crowd at the well-attended programme held at MIMS Civic Centre, Iludofin, Omuo Ekiti, Oyebanji stated that his government was building two model schools in Ikole and Ikere Ekiti to complement the four structures earlier constructed in Ado Ekiti by the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Dispelling the fears that the new appointees could slow down his pace with their politicking, the governor said the new appointees were coming with additional values to the government, adding that rather than slow down the pace of work, the public should expect greater level of performance.
“The new commissions are coming from different backgrounds and diverse level of expertise. We are still going to do much more than what we have done. If we can do all these in eight months without full cabinet, we should be able to do times two of these in four years.
“My cabinet members must hear this, our people said I am doing well because my commissioners, who are politicians have not been brought on board. But I want to say that they don’t have any other choice than to do well. But don’t put unnecessary pressure on them. We should know that political appointment is a position of responsibility.
“When pressure is put on them, they will be dodging and would not want to come home. But these cabinet members are ready and willing and they have the fire power and experiences to do well. I have implicit confidence in them that they can only join us and deliver for our people.
“We must know that we contested the last election and won with APC as a vehicle and our members need to be very careful to remain in government. They must not take our people for granted or misbehave to them.”
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
