IN a publication that pictorially showcased ex-
governor Kayode Fayemi’s exploit in Ekiti, titled:
‘Leapfrogging Ekiti from Obscurity to Prosperity’
the conception and funding of the new
controversial government house were clearly
stated that ‘’The administration of Governor
Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State places much
premium on infrastructure which it believes is a
catalyst for modernizing the state.
Infrastructural development is the second policy
thrust of the 8-point agenda of the Fayemi
administration otherwise known as the “Roadmap
to Ekiti Recovery.
‘’Desirous of being remembered for good by
citizens of the State, the Fayemi administration
conceived what it called “Legacy Projects”
bequeathed to the generations yet unborn.
‘’In conceiving the projects, the administration
took cognizance of the need to execute projects
that accord with the needs of the government and
people of Ekiti and critically also, positively
project the Land of Honour in the comity of
states in Nigeria.
‘’Not ready to be encumbered by the meagre
allocations from the Federation Account as the
state is 35th out of 36th on the nation’s revenue
ladder, the administration secured a N25 billion
bond from the Capital Market.
‘’Upon accessing the first tranche of N20 billion,
the administration immediately embarked on the
mission to change the face of the state with the
Legacy Projects which the new Government House
is one of them.”
According to Fayemi, ‘’Ekiti State has lived with
the challenge of having a befitting Government
House since the state was created on October 1,
1996. The first Military Administrator, as he was
designated, Col. Inua Bawa (rtd), was holed-up in
a borrowed apartment before building an official
residence with bricks sourced from Ire-Ekiti Burnt
Bricks Factory.
‘’Successive administrations since then made do
with some buildings in the Government House
complex, including the present abode of the
state’s number one citizen known as the
Osuntokun Lodge. The fact that the Lodge lacked
many facilities befitting of the residence of a
governor and therefore “very inferior” to other
Government Houses in the country, made the
need for a new Government House in Ekiti very
imperative.
‘’This inadequacy came even more to the fore at
the death of the former Deputy Governor, Mrs.
Funmilayo Olayinka, with guests pouring in from
all over the country to commiserate with the
government and people of the state on the
monumental loss. To add to the state’s sorrow,
the governor could not receive two sets of guests
at the same time.
‘’But that rather embarrassing experience has
become history with the construction of the new
Government House situated on the Ayoba Hills in
Ado-Ekiti, the new edifice, like the biblical “House
on a Hill” can be seen from all parts of the city.
‘’While dismissing the claims of the opposition
that the project is self-serving, Fayemi argued
that the new Government House belongs to the
people of Ekiti and not his personal property.
‘’He added that it would continue to serve as the
official residence of all coming governors, long
after he would have left office. The new
Government House, will go down as an important
statement of the New Ekiti that the Fayemi
administration has always thought possible: It is
an Ekiti State that plays second fiddle to none.’’
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