Dr Kayode Fayemi has been sworn-in as the sixth Governor of Ekiti by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, who administered the oath of office on the new governor, in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday.
Fayemi, a former Minister of Mines and Steel, was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 197, 459 votes against his closest opponent, Prof. Kolapo Olusola of the Peoples Democratic Party who scored 178,121 votes in the Ekiti State governorship election held in July.
Fayemi won the election in 12 of the 16 local government areas in the state, while Eleka won in four local government areas.
The results of the election marked a remarkable rebound for Fayemi, who as the then incumbent governor, was roundly defeated four years ago by immediate-past Gov. Ayodele Fayose.
He will serve for only four years having been governor of the state between 2010 and 2014 under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Shortly after taking the oath of office, Fayemi said he will promote and ensure sustainable development and review the commercial advantage of abandoned projects in the state with a view to reviving them.
Fayemi, born on Feb.9, 1965, and a native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area, in his second inaugural speech thanked the people of Ekiti for giving him the mandate to govern again, saying, “let us do this again, let us build Ekiti again“.
He said his inauguration marked the beginning of an era of great achievements and development and an administration that would also speak out the truth and lay it before the people.
He, however, maintained that his coming back to the office was not a revenge mission, but to heal and ensure true development in the state in the interest of the people.
The governor said that his administration would take full responsibility for the challenges ahead, stressing that he would not rest until every challenge facing the state including non-payment of workers’ salaries was addressed.
He further said that his administration would promote and ensure sustainable development and make the state a safe haven for both foreign and local investors.
“This is the day that the Lord has made and we will reclaim our lands from those that have held us captive, “ he said.
Before entering politics, Fayemi had lectured in Africa, Europe, America, and Asia. He had also served as an adviser on transitional justice, regional integration, constitutionalism, security sector reform and civil-military relations issues to various governments.
He had written on governance and democratisation, civil-military relations and security sector issues in Africa.
Among his recent books are: Deepening the Culture of Constitutionalism: The Role of Regional Institutions in Constitutional Development in Africa (CDD 2003) and Security Sector Governance in Africa.
At the inauguration ceremony, President Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Also present were the Governors of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Oyo, Abiola Ajumobi; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, and Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode.
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