Ekiti governor assures pupils of free meals if re-elected

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said public school pupils will get free meals at the commencement of the new academic year in September, if he is re-elected on June 21.\

He spoke yesterday at Okemesi in Ekiti West Local Government Area while campaigning for his re-election.

The governor said plans had been concluded to send teachers in public schools on training overseas to build their capacity for better performance.

He said: “From September when the new school session commences, we shall begin free feeding in schools. We shall also send our teachers overseas because that is what we have been doing to core civil servants.

“Our teachers too attended universities like core civil servants and they deserve the best of training in any part of the world to build their capacity to perform better.”
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Okemesi and pledged to work for Fayemi’s victory in the election.
The PDP defectors were led by Mr. Adesegun Adetunji. Those from the LP were led by Mr. Temitope Olusegun.
According to them, they are joining APC for the progress and development being witnessed since Fayemi came to power.

Fayemi, who welcomed the defectors, described APC as a party of peace and progress, which has the interest of the masses at heart.

He said the PDP mismanaged resources during its stint in power and the state was politically unstable.
The governor said the PDP produced seven governors in seven years and urged the electorate not to return Ekiti to such era.

He reminded the people that former Governor Ayo Fayose had three deputies before his impeachment, adding that there were also three House of Assembly speakers and three chief judges during the former governor’s tenure.

Teachers, students, youths and the aged thanked the governor for giving them better lives and developing their community.

The governor’s campaign train was also at Ido-Ile, Erio and Aramoko.
Fayemi said the legacies of his administration could be seen in the renovation of schools and hospitals, construction of palaces and the Social Security Scheme for the Elderly.

He said work was ongoing on the Okemesi/Ido-Ile road and the Okemesi/Esa-Oke road, adding that the projects would be completed soon.

Fayemi urged the people to be wary of “the party of riggers”, adding that “the electoral robbers” were still around and should not be underestimated.

Teachers in Okemesi, led by Mr. S.A. Adedigba, hailed Fayemi for paying allowances to teachers who teach core subjects and those in rural areas.

Adedigba noted that head teachers now rise to Grade Level 17 and teachers are promoted as at when due.

Kasali Oluwafemi, who spoke for students in the community, said the Fayemi administration spends N1.2 billion annually on stipends to old people, N2.4 billion on youth volunteers and N10 billion on laptops for teachers and pupils.

He urged the electorate to “keep faith with a government that cares for the people” and not vote for parties that have failed them.