BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE
GOVERNOR Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has debunked speculations that he is being pressurised by former Governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, to appoint their loyalists into his Executive Council.
Discarding the reports as fake, he said he would appoint competent indigenes to fill the different positions, adding that if he needed to go back to the former Exco to pick individuals who could add value to his administration, he would not hesitate to do so.
Oyebanji spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the new Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Dayo Apata, SAN.
“While I recognise the right of people to freedom of expression, I also have the right to respond to the fake news being circulated on social media. Having listened to the CVs of the two appointees, you would discover that they got this job on merit. My promise to Ekiti people is that I am going to look for the best anywhere to help me run Ekiti. This is what we are going to do,” he said.
“We are not going to be distracted as long as we are doing what is right in the interest of our people. But, I need to put it on record that neither the former governor nor his wife, nor the former deputy governor has put any pressure on me to appoint anybody. But if I have to go back to the former Exco and appoint relevant people that can assist me, I will go and pick them,” the Governor noted.
He reiterated that the new appointees were selected on the strength of their rich credentials and vast experience, promising to get competent Ekiti indigenes wherever they were to lead strategic positions in his administration.
He urged the new appointees to develop a robust policy engagement platform where policy stakeholders could learn, interact, engage, review and evaluate government plans and programmes from time to time to achieve the objectives of his administration.
Responding on behalf of the duo, Apata thanked the Governor and assured him that they would live a life of dedication, commitment, integrity and loyalty in discharging their responsibilities.
