Fayose, Fayemi disagree over Ekiti’s debt profile

By Gbenga Ariyibi
Ado Ekiti— INCOMING Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Governor Kayode Fayemi, yesterday disagreed over the debt profile of the state.

While the governor-elect claimed Fayemi’s administration had thrown the state into a huge debt of over N17 billion, the incumbent government dismissed Fayose claims, warning the governor- elect against unsubstantiated comments against the government.

Speaking while inaugurating a nine-member transition committee towards a smooth take-off of his government on October 16, Fayose said “the current government of Governor Fayemi has plunged Ekiti into huge debt and our money is being deducted from source.

 Available records show that Fayemi has taken N25 billion loan and only N8 billion has been paid back. This is very disturbing and worrisome. They are also diverting the money for salaries to pay contractors that had not been on ground in the last one year, so that they can incur huge debt just for Fayose not to have a smooth sail.

 “When I left government, I left N10.4 billion in the coffers, apart from the fact that we did well. But today, we are inheriting debt. I have to let our people know because of the expectations in town. Ekiti situation is not promising at all because there is no magic to perform when there is no money.

 ”So, I plead with Fayemi to pay the salaries of workers.” Reacting on the debt profile, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, cautioned the governor-elect against making any inflammatory statement or unsubstantiated comments against the government.
 Ekundayo advised Fayose to stop throwing jibes at the government unnecessarily, saying N13 billion had been paid out of the bond taken by Fayemi’s government. The commissioner added that the government had not taken other loans apart from the N25 billion that was borrowed from the capital market.

He said, “Does Fayose have the account of the state? We have never hidden anything from the people. He is a governor-elect and he must not jump the gun. He cannot be commenting on issue he has no record of. He must stop making comments until he takes over to be able to ask about the finances of the state.”.

Addressing members of the committee, Fayose warned them not to see it as a political appointment. Admonishing them against engaging in unnecessary controversies with the outgoing government, Fayose said; “You are to work with the government team when it is constituted for fact-finding mission about the state of the state
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 You are not going to engage them with any unnecessary controversies .” Members include: Chief Dipo Anisulowo (Chairman), Mrs. Modupe Alade (Secretary), Pastor Kola Oluwawole, Barr Owoseeni Ajayi, Rev Wale Komolafe, Mr Biodun Alasoluyi, Mr Benjamin Komolafe, Mr Seye Alade and Mr. Dayo Ajayi.