Former Minister of Solid Mineral, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been sworn-in as the Ekiti state governor by Justice Ayodeji Simeon Daramola, the Chief Judge of the state.
Fayemi, was former governor of the state between 2010 and 2014, and regain the seat on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
He defeated the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, and 33 other candidates to win the governorship election.
The 53-year-old governor is a native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State.
He was defeated by Mr Ayodele Fayose in 2014.
The new deputy governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, was first to take the oath of office.
After taking the oath of office for his second coming to finish his eight years tenure, Fayemi inspected a guard of honour mounted by the police.
Among political leaders at the inauguration of the governor were the Mr. Boss Mustapher, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna.
APC leader Bola Tinubu, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Ojaja II, among other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
Also the governorship candidate of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, was also in Ado-Ekiti to attend the ceremony.
Ekiti state was created out of Ondo state on 1 October 1996 alongside five other states.
Meanwhile, Gov. Fayemi on Tuesday said the Ekiti State economy was heading for an emergency with a huge debt of N120 billion.
He made the assertion during his inauguration speech in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor appealed to the federal government for assistance to bail out the state through the Economic Stabilisation Fund.
While committing to address the problems of unpaid salaries of workers, Fayemi said: “We should join hands to resuscitate the ailing economy.’’
He also called on investors and multi-national corporation to return to Ekiti.
The governor said the state was currently battling with more than N170 billion debt piled up by the government of former Ayodele Fayose.
The state, he said, would embark on social investment, education, agriculture and rural development.
We are ready to work with everyone to create a landmark progress.
We are committing to world best practices and deploy all skills to honestly work for the progress of the state.
“We will work to integrating the aspiration of the state to the programme of the federal government.’’
He said the state would return to the fold of other states in the west to fast track economic development.
“We will take full ownership of the challenges ahead of us.’’
