Fayemi speaks on past administration, 8-point agenda

macfranc007 October 14, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 David Oladele

- Kayode Fayemi has spoken about his past administration as Ekiti state governor

- Fayemi said he felt that his work should speak for him but it was a tough lesson

- The governor-elect said he had 8-point agenda which he pursued religiously

The governor-elect for Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, said he has learned a lot from his past administration adding that during the first term, he felt his work should speak for him but it was a tough lesson.

Kayode Fayemi who made this known in an interview with Nigerian Tribune said he was not discouraged because he wouldn’t have gone into the recent governorship race he wasn’t sure of eventual victory.

According to him, ''During the first term, we felt our work should speak for us but we learned a tough lesson. Now, we would speak at every opportunity about our deeds.

''Not really. I wouldn’t have gone into the race if I wasn’t sure of eventual victory. But I knew there were going to be several hoops to jump on the journey.

''Certainly, if I’d lost, it would have been seen as a huge negative on my political career. I learned a lot from the experience which exemplified the value of adequate preparation and strategic planning.

The governor elect who also spoke about his agenda said: ''We used to have what was popularly known as the 8-Point Agenda which we pursued religiously. We will still address all the issues captured in that agenda but we will concentrate a lot more on four drivers in this four-year term.

''We will focus on 1) Agriculture and Rural Development, 2) Expanding Social Investments, 3) Promoting the Knowledge Economy and 4) Improving Infrastructure and Industrial Development. It is our expectation that the State Development Plan which was developed in 2011 can be reactivated and reenergized having been abandoned by the last administration.

''Ekiti is a rustic, landlocked rural backwater. Geography can play a positive or a negative role in the development of any state or nation depending on the use we put Geography to. It needs not therefore be a death sentence because it is a landlocked state.

''There is no gain saying the fact that a key vehicle for rapid transformation is the opening up of the rural backwaters through an effective internal and interlinking transport infrastructure.

''Interestingly, it is well positioned right in the middle between Abuja and Lagos and could provide an effective terminus on that journey. So, that’s a challenge that we must overcome and we started this during my first term in office.

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''With the coming of the rail extension to Ekiti and our determination to reduce the journey time to Akure airport by dualising the Ado Ekiti – Akure road while improving on the fibre optic link in the state – something we also started in my first term, I’m sure our job is cut out for us.

''Investments will come to the state once we have addressed these challenges relating to ease of doing business for those bringing investments to the state.

''We plan to address the impediments against economic growth by also investing in the people and strengthening human capital through functional education and promotion of Ekiti as a hub of the knowledge economy, enhancing social investments whilst strengthening the agricultural base for food and job security.''

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that he governor-elect for Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, promised to clear the backlog of salaries owed state workers by the present governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Fayemi said the salary arrears would be paid within six months of his assuming office.

Speaking shortly after he was declared winner of the just concluded Ekiti governorship election, Fayemi said he will also introduce free education in the state.

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