By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has charged local government chairmen in the state to stay close to their people, urging them to note that real political power resides with the people in the grassroots.
He spoke in Ilupeju-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state while inaugurating the redeveloped Menara Market in the town.
The governor said any politician who gets to office and abandons his people would only regret it later in his political career.
According to him, such a politician would be shown the wrath of the people when he needs their support in the future.
“I plead with our local government chairmen and other political office holders not to abandon their people. If you get to office and feels that you are on top of the world and does not need the people again, you are deceiving yourself. Stay close to your people, don’t stay away from them. You are responsible to the people and must learn the fact that,one day you will still need their support,”he said.
He added that the LG, as a tier of government, is closer to the people in the grassroots and therefore LG chairmen should be competent representatives of the people at that level.
The governor said his administration was poised to take development to the grassroots and sought the support and cooperation of the people for that to be achieved.
In his speech, the President, Ilupeju Development Association, IDA, Mr. Oluwafemi Babalola, described the governor as a great motivator and promise keeper.
He recalled that when the association launched the fund to build the market last year,it was the governor who set the pace by donating the sum of N1.5 million to the project.
“We also wish to appreciate you sir for the various steps your administration has taken to make Ekiti State a model of people-focused governance. The innovative and widely-hailed actions taken to protect lives and properties in Ekiti State, even when other states are yet to devise any cause of action, bears eloquent testimony to a leader that truly cares for his people,their progress and well-being,”he said.
Babalola also sought the support of the governor when the other phase of the development of the market is embarked upon.
