CACOL challenges Fayemi, deputy to publicly declare assets

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has been urged to prove his honesty by publicly declaring his assets and those of his deputy.

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) threw the challenge to the newly-sworn in Ekiti State governor on Thursday, asking him to act like Caesar’s wife and “come to equity with clean hands by declaring all his assets and those of his deputy, publicly”.

According to the group, by so doing, Fayemi would make his second coming as governor an unforgettable event.

In a statement by its Media Coordinator, Adegboyega Otunuga, CACOL noted that its demand from Fayemi was not strange because he did the same thing the last time he was the state governor.

It added, “Aside from his pedigree that such declaration tends to preserve, it would serve as a baseline to hold other office holders by and this could be better appreciated if we consider his antecedents as a prominent rights crusader and civil society advocate.

“Our position remains that the course of leadership deficit that has afflicted the nation for so long and our resolve to roll it back, would be better served if he could start on this promising note of accountability.”

Meanwhile, the centre applauded Governor Fayemi for announcing a ‘free education programme’ for all pupils in the state-owned primary schools up to junior secondary school.

It said the step was a laudable one “considering the fact that education is one cardinal area the people of the state has consistently prided themselves in, aside from the global benefits accruable to any government, with an educated populace.”

Fayemi was inaugurated as Ekiti State governor last Tuesday after he lost his initial second term bid as incumbent governor four years ago.

READ ALSO: Ondo Assembly sacks LG caretaker committees

Before re-contesting in the last governorship election in the state, he was the Minister of Mines and Steel.

Currently, his victory as governor is being challenged at the election tribunal by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kolapo Olusola, who came second at the polls.

Gsent Talks......Taking You Further