Ayo Fayose, the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on Thursday sworn into office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital just as he raised alarm that he inherited a debt of N57 billion from the out-gone government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Fayose, who took out time to rubbish the administration of his predecessor, also said he was going to review all appointments and employment made by Fayemi after the election held in the state on aea1 June 21.
The new governor hinted that he was going to dissolve the 19 Local Council Development Areas created by Fayemi through an approval by the State House of Assembly when his administration was coming to an end.
Fayose had threatened to dissolve the councils and retrench the workers when sworn into office, saying they were part of the obstacles placed on his way by the outgoing government. He said he was only waiting for the court judgement concerning the creation of the LCDAs.
Apart from this, he ordered that all the Permanent Secretaries appointed by Fayemi after the election were null and void and asked that those affected by the appointment should be immediately reinstated.
Fayose, who maintained that Fayemi failed because he believed he was too clean to associate with the people of the state, promised that he would always be governor of the people.
He said despite the state’s indebtedness, he would make sure he touches the lives of the people through his government.
He charged civil servants to be be more effective and avoid taking sides with opposition politicians as failure to adhere would result in their sack.
At the ceremony attended by the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom and other top members of the PDP, six members of the All Progressives Party (APC) controlled House of Assembly defected from their party to the PDP.
With the defection, the total number of PDP members in the House has risen to seven from one. The House still has 21 APC members.
The decampee lawmakers were called out by Fayose and asked to stand at the podium before the crowd for recognition.
Fayose promised to install the position of Tutor-General and restore the dignity of teachers as well as do his best in the education sector saying the APC was dead and buried as far as the state is concerned.
