Adebayo Adenrele
…says Projects Will Inspire People’s Confidence in Governance
The Ekiti State Government has explained why it took media practitioners in the state to the sites of ongoing and completed projects executed by the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the media tour was to show the people of the state what the government is using their taxes to do and to showcase what he called “the remarkable achievements of the Oyebanji Administration.”
Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun said the tour was also carried out for the media professionals to communicate what they see on ground to the populace, dispel possible misconceptions and insinuations and also share insights on the development that led to the policies programmes and projects embarked upon by the administration.
The Commissioner spoke during the tour which saw the General Managers of broadcasting stations in the state, other media professionals (print, electronic and online) and members of the State Executive Council visit the project sites across the three senatorial districts of the state on Thursday and Friday.
The media professionals asked the state cabinet members heading the supervisory ministries, departments and agencies and contractors handling the projects several questions on the level of work done, quality, delivery dates, total costs of the projects, among others across the two days the tour lasted.
Some of the completed projects inspected during the media tour included the Model Smart School at Ekiti Knowledge Zone in Ijan Ekiti; renovation of dining hall and construction of therapy room at the Special School in Ido Ekiti; 100-capacity hostel at Command Secondary School, Isan Ekiti; ICT Centre and Catering Department at Government Technical College, Igbara Odo; renovated classrooms and ICT Centre at Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti and GRA 3rd Extension Road in Ado Ekiti.
Ongoing projects inspected included Isinbode-Ara-Ikole Road, Ilukuno-Ayegunle Road, Itapa-Omu-Ijelu Road, Ilawe-Ikere Road, Igbara Odo-Ikere Road, Erekesan Market interior-Ewi Palace Link Road, Ado Ekiti New Town Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti Ring Road Phase One, Indoor Sports Hall and International Centre for Arts and Culture, channelization of drainages at Temidayo area in Ilawe Ekiti, renovation of General Hospital in Ijan Ekiti, Faglo-Olorunsogo Road, among others.
Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun who commended the media houses for being reliable partners with the state government explained that the tour has armed them with much information needed to disseminate to the populace on what is being done to make life easier for them.
He said: “We conceived this media tour to communicate directly with the media people such that they can see some of the remarkable achievements of the BAO Administration across Ekiti covering all the six developmental agenda, the pillars.
“We believe that by you coming around with the exco, when you see you can b able to disseminate what you see to the people of Ekiti directly. We equally want to use the opportunity to dispel possible misconceptions and insinuations and also share insights.
“It is also our belief that it will make you to have confidence in what we speak to when addressing issues that border on development, fiscal issues, appropriations and other governance activities in Ekiti State.
“We also take you along to see directly where we are putting the tax payers’ money particularly in the areas of quality and choice of projects we have done which had impacted meaningfully on the lives of the people.
“Apart from trying to revolutionize mechanized agricultural development, we are also trying to ensure that we network Ekiti and turn it to centre of industrial development such that Ekiti can be a destination of choice for investors.
“I appreciate our respected media professionals for coming this long with us. You have seen by yourselves what this Administration has done which are products of what the people requested for which the government is giving to them to give them better standard of living.
“And I now believe strongly and you will agree with me that most of the things we have been talking about are real practical things we have done and are speaking to the progress, development and changing the game on Ekiti an turning Ekiti to a better, greater and egalitarian society we can all be proud of.”
Residents of the communities where the projects are located expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji and declared their readiness to use their votes to give him another term in office to continue the giant strides in the Land of Honour.