Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has faulted Dr Kayode Fayemi for spending N3.3 billion on the construction of a Governor’s Lodge when the people of the state live in abject poverty.
“My heart nearly failed me when I got to the new governor’s lodge on last Thursday. The mansion cost N3.3 billion. It was initially awarded for N2.3 billion and later increased to N2.7 billion, while a sum of N640 million was used to procure fittings and furniture,” said Fayose, who spoke while administering oath of office on the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Modupe Alade and other Special Assistants in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday.
He continued: “And this building will require N150 million to maintain annually. Ekiti cannot sustain this and we have to do something about it.
“How could a governor be living in such a house when the masses are living in abject poverty?” the governor asked. Ekiti State is one of the poorest states in Nigeria.
Explaining why he chose Mrs Alade as SSG, Fayose said it underscored the enormous respect he has for the womenfolk. He assured that his administration will strictly comply with the 35 percent Affirmative Action for women in government in consonance with the Beijing Declaration of 1993.
He also pledged that his government would protect them through allotment of reasonable appointive and elective positions, especially during the 2015 State and Federal Legislative polls.
“Let me tell the men here who are politicians that some of them will be asked to step down for women in next year’s elections,” he said.