Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has appealed to the people of the state not to put undue pressure and demands on the newly appointed commissioners and Special Advisers.

Oyebanji stressed that pressure and demands could prevent the appointees from coming to their constituencies regularly as true representatives of the people.

Governor Oyebanji added that his government had expended a sum of N213 million to lift 2,600 indigent citizens from poverty under the social investment component of his administration within the last 100 days.

He stated that over 100 projects spread across the state were executed between April and July, stressing that the state Independent Power Project (IPP) is due for commissioning next month.

The governor revealed these on Monday in Omuo Ekiti, the headquarters of Ekiti East Local Government Area, while giving an account of stewardship at a stakeholders’ engagement programme marking his 300 days in office.

Oyebanji stated that his government is currently building two model schools in Ikole and Ikere to complement the four magnificent structures earlier constructed in Ado-Ekiti by the administration of the immediate past governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Dispelling the fear being nursed by some concerned citizens that the new appointees could slow down his pace performance with their politicking, Governor Oyebanji said the new appointees are coming with additional values to the government, adding that rather than slow down the pace of work, the public should expect a greater level of performance.

He said: “The new commissioners are coming from different background and diverse level of expertise. We are still going to do much more than what we have done. If we can do all these in eight months without full cabinet, we should be able to do times two of these in four years.

“My cabinet members must hear this, our people said I am doing well because my Commissioners, who are politicians have not been brought on board. But I want to say that they don’t have any other choice than to do well. But don’t put unnecessary pressure on them. We should know that political appointment is a position of responsibility.

“When pressure is put on them, they will be dodging and would not want to come home. But these cabinet members are ready and willing and they have the firepower and experience to do well. I have implicit confidence in them that they can only join us and deliver for our people.

“We must know that we contested the last election and won with APC as a vehicle and our members need to be very careful to remain in government. They must not take our people for granted or misbehave to them”.

Speaking on security, Oyebanji lamented the reported cases of kidnappings around the Imesi-Ode-Omuo axis, saying the Amotekun Corps had been restructured to rise to the occasion of ensuring peace and security across Ekiti State.

He, therefore, urged traditional rulers to collaborate with the Amotekun Corps and other security agencies in the state to rid the state of criminals.

Governor Oyebanji stated that the 3.5MW Independent Power Plant project is at the completion stage and would supply power to government offices and hospitals and tertiary institutions in Ado-Ekiti and suburb, adding that this would rectify the epileptic power supply being experienced in some areas of the state.

To control incidences of flooding and wreckage of buildings and other valuable property, Oyebanji said his government had dredged waterways at Oreremope community, Ureje-Olaoluwa, Basiri-Olorunda, Omisanjana, and other susceptible areas in the state.

The Star