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The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti State on Monday congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi on the occasion of his first year anniversary in office.
It would be recalled that Fayemi defeated his closest challenger and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolawole Olusola Eleka in the July 14, 2018 governorship election.
A statement by the party’s Director of Media and publicity, Elder Sam Oluwalana, said it was the day the people of the state bid farewell to “poverty, misrule, impunity, maladministration and ineptitude”.
He congratulated the people of the state for using their votes to reshape their destiny, which he said “ushered in a focused and people-friendly APC administration ably led by Governor Fayemi.”
According to him, the people’s values are being restored within a year of the current administration in the state, adding that relative peace has returned to the state.
“Ekiti state has moved up from the bottom of value chain, the state is now the hub of investors with many of them showing interest in turning around the economy of the state,” he said.
According to the statement, the scrapping of school fees in public primary and secondary schools, the school feeding programme, new lease of life for retired public servants coupled with prompt payment of their entitlements as well as massive rehabilitation of roads, are some of the visible undertakings of the present administration in the state.
Oluwalana pointed out that the Fayemi-led administration is determined to nurture and grow the transformational agribusiness value chain that will enhance food security, create employment opportunities, empower women and youths.
He further stated that the State Executive Council has approved the clearing of over 1,554 hectares of land across five Local Government Areas (Oye, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Emure, Ido-Osi and Ilejemeje) to open up the axis for farming and fulfil its readiness to partner with multilateral donors in developing agriculture in the state. This, he said has made Fayemi to meet with development partners and representatives of foreign governments including China, India and Belarus in order to “bring increased trade, new markets, and sustainable development to Ekiti State.”
“The policy direction of the Fayemi-led administration is to reduce poverty, improve living conditions of Ekiti people and mobilize resources for the state’s economic and social development.
“As part of efforts to realise this laudable vision of transformation in the agricultural sector, the State Government has entered into a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) to participate in the implementation of FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development (VCDP).
“The objective of the programme is to enhance and improve the income and food security of poor rural households that are engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and Cassava on a sustainable basis.
“There is also an agreement with the World Bank/FGN sponsored Agro-processing Productivity Enhancing and Livelihood Improvement Support Programme (APPEALS) with the overall objective of enhancing the transformational Agric Value Chain Development of Ekiti State, particularly in the areas of modernising and upgrading the existing traditional and drudgery propelled agro-processing centres for maximum productivity.
“With the plan to clear a significant land area, the government has shown its commitment to activate the agrarian potential of the state and create more jobs in the agricultural sector,” the statement added.
He appealed to the people of the state to continue cooperating with the Fayemi administration, assuring that the dividends of democracy will be evenly spread across the state.