BY GBENGA ARIYIBI & DAPO AKINREFON

EKITI State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has urged those planning to rig the June 21 elections in the state to have a re-think because he will not allow anyone to steal his mandate again.

Speaking at a campaign rally at Epe, Moba Local Government, Fayemi told the people not to be scared of the antics of vote-riggers because the people’s votes would be adequately protected.
“Don’t let anyone scare you. We will protect our votes. No one can steal my mandate,” he said.

He said if re-elected, his primary focus during his second term in office will be creation of jobs through partnership with private investors to establish industries in the state, adding that his administration had put in place a conducive environment for investors.

He said “We have constructed roads. We have put in place social amenities to make Ekiti conducive for investors.
If we did not do all that we have done, it would have been difficult for any investor to come in. We have also restored peace to Ekiti.

It would have been difficult for any investor to do business in an atmosphere of violence. You know it used to be one day, one trouble in Ekiti State, but Ekiti now enjoys peace.”

Fayemi noted that his government had employed teachers and civil servants and also created jobs through agencies such as the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), Peace Corps and Volunteer Corps, adding that there are still many unemployed youth for whom jobs must be provided.

”Government cannot provide jobs for everyone, but we will partner investors to establish industries to stem the tide of unemployment and make poverty a thing of the past in Ekiti State.
This will be the focus during my second term in office.”

In Osan, the governor urged the people to be wary of electoral robbers who still lurk around.
He stressed the need for them to defend their votes and not underestimate those he referred to as “vote-riggers”.

The governor said most of the projects executed by his government in the town had never been done before.
He listed such projects to include road construction, renovation of the palace, construction of a town hall, payment of stipend to elderly citizens, among others.

He gave assurance that the ongoing road project in the town would soon be extended to Osan/Ora boundary.

I don’t own university in Ghana
Also yesterday, Fayemi has described as untrue allegations that he owns a university in Ghana. He equally denied that his administration has jerked up tuition fees at the Ekiti State University.

Fayemi made the clarification in Ado Ekiti in an interview with newsmen after attending a mass at the St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado- Ekiti. He explained that he neither owns a University anywhere in the world nor has intention to establish one.

His words: “I don’t have a university anywhere in the world and I don’t even intend to have one. Instead I am picking up a lecturing job at EKSU come next session. My name is important to me. I am a Catholic and as someone who takes the Holy Communion, I won’t do anything that will desecrate this state and the Catholic Church.”

Speaking further on the claim that government has increased tuition fees at Ekiti State University the Governor said the rumour is a clear ignorance on the part of the peddlers who do not know that the school management does not review fees in the middle of an academic session. Fayemi added that rather than increase school fees, the university management is planning a downward review of tuition fees in some departments.

On alleged non-payment of pension and gratuity, he said the non completion of some processes by some pensioners is responsible for the delay in payment of gratuity to some category of pensioners, stressing that government does not owe pension, rather it has increased pension by six per cent in order to help the pensioners meet the economic realities of the present time.

Earlier in his sermon, Revd Father Pius Adelusi called for a free and fair poll in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, saying that this is the only way to improve on the development currently being experienced.

Adelusi stressed that though some politicians may dole out crumbs to the people, real development comes from a government put in place by the people.
While lamenting the various tragedies befalling the country, the clergyman urged Nigerians not to lose hope but increase their prayers for its redemption.