Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications, Mr. Moses Jolayemi said Governor Oni made this known yesterday while fielding questions from members of the public during the monthly radio and television programme, ‘Gomina Nsalaye’

The governor said as soon as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gives go ahead to the government to take over the project, it will either be sold or leased out to investors who have already shown interest in the project.

The failure of the controversial poultry on which over N1 billion was spent led to the impeachment and subsequent arraignment of Fayose in court. Each of the 16 local councils in the state were made to contribute N25 million to the project.

While reiterating the determination of his government to put a permanent end to what he described as “underdevelopment madness” in the state, Governor Oni said provision of infrastructures like roads and water would no longer be campaign issues in Ekiti by 2011.

The governor pointed out that his government’s strive towards making all roads in the state motorable with the commissioning of five out of the 27 roads currently under construction in the state.

The roads already commissioned include Oke Ayedun-Ipao-Oke Ako-Irele, Ido-Ile – Ita-Awure Junction, State Hospital – Oke-Ila in Ado-Ekiti, three kilometers Omuo and Ipoti township roads.

Going down memory lane on the newly commissioned Ile – Ita-Awure Junction, Governor Oni noted that it was only in 1920 that the white men assisted the people of Ido-Ile in grading the road.

His words; “That is why I always say that politicians seeking election into public offices must campaign. It was during our electioneering campaign that we saw what people were going through because of bad roads and we promised that we were going to make all roads in Ekiti motorable. I am sure the people of Ido-Ile did not believe us then, because that road had been made campaign issue since the western Region days.

“Lady Deborah Opeyemi Jibowu, the first woman graduate in Ekiti would have been wasted because of government’s failure to construct that road.   

“I was astonished when Professor (Mrs) Olufunke Egunjobi, former commissioner for education in the old Ondo State and later acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ado Ekiti narrated how a night guard would have killed Lady Jibowu who was returning home after the completion of her course overseas.

“Lady Jibowu was said to be returning from the United Kingdom in 1948.When she got to Ita- Ido there was no vehicle convey her to the town (IdoIle), so she had had to carry her luggage on her head and started trekking home. Mid way, the elegantly built light complexioned princess could have been shot by a native hunter who mistook her for a ghost.”

Governor Oni said that with the way the government is going, by 2011, provision of good and motorable roads network, portable water and other basic infrastructures will no longer be campaign issue in Ekiti State.

“All these necessities of life would have been provided by our government, so whoever that wants to be governor or anything in the state would have to campaign on issues,” Oni said.

Speaking further, the governor promised that the government would include the construction of Ido-Ile – Ajindo, dualisation of Ikere-Ondo State boundary, and other roads that are not included in the 27 roads presently being constructed in 2009 budget with a view to commencing works on them.