BY DAPO AKINREFON
Governor Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday, took his re-election campaigns to Okemesi in Ekiti West local council, where he promised welfare packages for students and teachers in Ekiti State.

On the same day, rallies were also in a number of communities such as Ido Ile, Erio and Aramoko, the council headquarters to drum support for Fayemi.

Speaking to the ecstatic crowd of supporters, Fayemi said pupils will be getting free meals at the commencement of new academic session in September.
Besides, the governor equally disclosed that teachers in public schools will now have the opportunity of overseas training to further motivate them and build their capacity to perform better. Fayemi said these are the policies that are coming on stream if he is re-elected at the governorship poll.

Many leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) defected to the ruling APC at the Okemesi rally and pledged to work hard to ensure the governor is re-elected.
Teachers, students, youths and old people benefiting from the state government hailed the governor for giving them better life and bringing change to their community.

Fayemi who welcomed defectors from PDP and LP described APC as a party of peace and progress that has the interest of the masses at heart, noting that PDP mismanaged resources during its stint in power. The governor said the state witnessed political instability when PDP was in power as the party produced seven governors in seven years and urged the electorate not to return to such era.

The APC standard-bearer reminded the audience that former Governor Ayo Fayose had three deputies before his impeachment while the state also had three House of Assembly Speakers and three Chief Judges.
He explained that the legacies of his administration could be seen in renovation of schools, construction of palaces, renovation of hospitals and payment of monthly stipends to old people.

The governor’s promise to implement free feeding in public schools and sponsorship of teachers to courses abroad drew a deafening ovation from teachers and students at the rally. Teachers in Okemesi led by Mr. S.A. Adedigba praised Fayemi for bettering the lives of teachers with payment of core subject allowances and rural teachers’ allowances.

Adedigba noted that principals now rise to Grade Level 17 receive their promotion as at when due.
Kasali Oluwafemi who spoke behalf of students of the community said the Fayemi administration annually spends N1.2 billion on stipends for old people, N2.4 billion on youth volunteers and N10 billion on laptops for teachers and students.

He appealed to voters to keep faith with a government that cares for the people of the state and not to vote for political parties that have failed the people. The PDP defectors were led by Adesegun Adetunji while the LP defectors were led by Temitope Olusegun.

According to them, they are joining APC for the progress and development being witnessed since Fayemi came to power.

LP also lost some members to APC at the rally held in Ido Ile where Fayemi said his administration is ready to do more for the people, if re-elected. Leader of the defectors, Richard Oluwagbemi, who was the LP vice chairman in the ward, said they were attracted by the good work done in the community by Fayemi and wanted to identify with the success of the APC government.