Fayemi asks LG caretakers to imbibe probity, transparency

Fayemi asks LG caretakers to imbibe probity, transparency

News Nov 17, 2010 By Gbenga Ariyibi
ADO-EKITI—Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has vowed not to hesitate to remove any of the newly inaugurated caretaker committee who contravenes the existing laid down rules and order of the administration of councils in the state.
This came as the governor plans to set up a monitoring team to watch the activities of the newly-appointed council executives to ensure probity, accountability and transparency.
The caretaker committee were inaugurated by the governor following the ratification of the dissolution of the councils by the State House of Assembly.
Speaking after presiding over the swearing-in of the council chiefs, Dr. Fayemi who noted with regret the manner in which the former council chairmen had looted the treasuries of their different local government, said the present administration would not tolerate such criminal act.
The inauguration was witnessed by eminent citizens of the state and top government functionaries including the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu and the Head of Service, Mr. Femi Adewumi.
Others include  Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe; the Deputy Chairman, Chief Dele Falusi; the Secretary, Mr. Bayo Idowu; a member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abiola Olowookere and the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ajiboye.
The governor lamented that the ex-council chiefs had turned the councils into what he called a “cesspool of corruption” and urged the new appointees to be guided by the Ekiti core values of integrity, service and commitment in the discharge of their duties.
To put a halt to the continued mismanagement of the council funds, the governor promised to raise a team saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the activities of the newly-appointed council executives to ensure probity, accountability and transparency.
Dr.Fayemi who explained that those appointed were picked based on their loyalties and hard work, describing the appointment and the inauguration of the new chairmen as “one of the most critical steps” taken by his administration so far, the governor noted that the ratification of the dissolution of the councils and the approval of the appointment of new helmsmen for the 16 councils.”
The governor also warned the new caretaker chairmen not to be intoxicated by power and their new-found status,  but to be guided by compassion in administering their councils to fulfill the dreams and aspiration of the people at the grassroots.
He said:  “We have not appointed you to insult the ordinary people in the grassroots or take the law into your hands. We have appointed you to represent the Ekiti core values of integrity, loyalty, commitment, service and compassion for the ordinary people of the grassroots.
You are appointed to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of our people. We are not sending you on a reprisal mission, you should not go on a revenge mission because you are going to be chairmen over all people in your council areas irrespective of their political affiliations.
We will make sure that there is proper monitoring of the new caretaker chairmen and I want to remind you that is a temporary appointment and I want you to remember that election will still hold in your council areas.
You should not see yourselves as the lords and masters of the people in your council areas. Your constitutional supervisor is the Deputy Governor whose office oversees the affairs of the councils”.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the new caretaker chairman of Ikole Local Government, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae,a veteran journalist promised not to disappoint the people at the grassroots and work for all the people irrespective of their political leanings.
The council boss who described the day as a “milestone and a birthday gift of 30 days in office to the new administration,” pledged that the new local government chiefs would ensure fiscal discipline.