The InfoStride Forum

PROTOCOLS

It is my joy to welcome you all to this occasion. Today's event is of great significance in the life of this administration. It is both a time for appraisal, re-strategy and change of tactics for better performance and results

The government, since its inauguration, has been manifestly unambiguous in its mission of removing the ubiquitous image of all strands of poverty in the land. We have all along not underrated the magnitude of the challenge of this task in view of its deep entrenchment in all spheres of life in Ekliti.

I like to congratulate the appointees for another opportunity to serve the people in highest decision making organ of the state administration. Your choice is not by accident, it is as a result of a meticulous process of screening to put the round peg in the round hole to meet the challenges ahead of this government.  As you take the oaths of office today, you have to take a quick notice of the fact that the honeymoon is over. Indeed, in Ekiti State, the harvest is full, you are the laborers on the field leading the people to gather the fruits.

To the good people of Ekiti State and the objective followers of various developmental efforts initiated by this administration, the government in the past two years has done creditably well delivering on its promises to the people and reclaimining the trust of the people in the process of governance. However the core stakeholders in Ekiti Project, there is still a long way to go because our job is not yet finished; the best of this administration is yet to come.

The import of the foregoing therefore is that your appointment or re-appointment, as the case may be, is a call to service and not mere honorifics of expanding ones' curriculum vitae. For the returning appointees, you have to prove that you are not spent forces by scoring more goals. You must take full advantage of your past experiences to be more strategic, innovative and purposeful in accelerating your speed for spectacular performances. The lessons of the first half must not be lost on you. The new entrants must as a priority bring freshness to governance as regards people driven and development focused policy formations in the general interest of the greatest number of our people who rightly see this government as their bastion, the defender of the defenseless; the voice of the voiceless.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, may I use the opportunity provided by this occasion to assure you all that this year will witness the consolidation of our previous records of achievements with a view to expanding the frontiers of the administration's onslaught against poverty, our arch-adversary.  It is in our collective commitment to consolidate our weapons of warfare that we are all gathered here to launch you into the orbit of performance. Obviously, this is a strategic leap that the government considers as a new beginning. This commitment is neither a gesture of charity and benevolence nor a cheap approach to acceptability. Certainly, it is not an act of idle political mesmerisation, but an act of justice and our own definition of good governance anchored on fundamental human rights of the citizens to decency and quality lives of comfort and fulfillment.

I am convinced that you have the capacity to move as team mates to touch the lives of our people. Our roadmap to a new Ekiti enshrined in the eight point agenda has clearly spelt out the approaches to adopt and the directions to take. Your diligence in this circumstance will make a lot of difference.

I however wish to reiterate that from now there will not be any dull moment. Now that we are in the second half of the game we must tackle more ruggedly without breaking the rules of the game but shoot straight to the net with determination and dignified focus. You should carry the technocrats and professionals in your MDAs along in the policy direction of the departments as they are very critical in the corporate success of this government. There must also be proper ministerial coordination for optimal utilization of resources. To enhance productivity, some changes will occur in the ministerial responsibilities.

I like to remind you of the zero-tolerance of this administration to corruption and fraudulent practices. You must live above board in your dealings and be cautious of the implications and consequences of breaching the laws of the land under the guise of public function. To this government, there are no sacred cows.

It is also important for me to warn you not to abandon the people in your various localities for whatever reasons. You have to interact with them regularly and educate them fully on the programmes and policies of our government. You should remember also that we rode to power on the crescendo of people's will, support and unquantifiable sacrifices when we were all in the trenches. This government is in all ramifications the government of the people. We must therefore show them our practical demonstration of love and respect through constant interactions in the discharge of our responsibilities as bottom-top approach is our style of programme conceptualization and execution.

I charge you to gird your loins and hit the ground running immediately. It is however imperative to bear in mind that should anyone be found tired along the way, we shall not hesitate to replace them with the available pool of substitutes to ensure the sustenance of strength and vitality to coast home victory on the agenda to transform our dear State.

At this juncture, I like to commend the honourable members of the State House of Assembly for the speedy and thorough screening exercise that produced the appointees who had just taken their oaths of office. The House has again demonstrated its inclination towards good governance and value for common good in our state. I also thank the good people of Ekiti State in all sectors and spheres of life for believing in the capability of this government to deliver on its promises of life abundance. With your support, we shall soon reach the promised land.

Once again, I congratulate you for enjoying the confidence of the people which enables you to occupy these high public offices. May God keep you steady and give you fresh ideas to deliver the goods.

Thank you and God bless.

Via: Ekiti State Government - Official Press Release