The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Thursday, said the state has more money to carry out some of its activities with increased allocation.
The governor, who boasted that he had not taken a loan since assuming office, however, said some people were unhappy that his administration had plugged leakages in the finances of the state.
Some individuals in the state had, during Oyebanji’s working visit to the United States on an investment drive last month, accused the governor of lavishing the state resources on the trip which they described as “mere jamboree.”
Speaking, however, at the flag-off of the distribution of 20,000 bags of rice and 10,000 bags of maize to the people as palliative, in response to the economic hardship in the land, the governor said he had managed the state resources well and had stayed most of the time in the state to feel the pain of his people.
“We have been using Ekiti resources to develop the state since inauguration as governor. I am about two years in office, and I have travelled out of the country twice; I have stayed with you performing my responsibilities.
“But as we are doing all these, some people are not happy because we have removed the bottle of Ekiti in their mouths. So, it is expected that these categories of people will not be happy with the work we are doing in the state.
“Let me assure you that we are unperturbed about these people, we are in charge and if it comes to reporting them to you my people, we will do it, because you elected us to be in charge of the state.
“I have not taken any loan since inception as governor, because we have more money to do our work. Since last year, our allocation has increased tremendously, hence the reason we are doing much now,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state, especially in the area of palliatives, saying, “The Federal Government gave us bags of rice and, as a state, we added to it to make up the number we are distributing.”
The governor said his administration discouraged frivolous expenses and mismanagement of resources and, instead, focused on meeting the people’s yearning and aspirations.
Oyebanji said apart from the distribution of palliatives, his administration was investing in agriculture with the clearing of over 2,000 hectares of land across the state, towards ensuring food sufficiency and economic growth.
“I’m not happy that we are sharing rice as palliatives this way. But with our ongoing agriculture and food security plans, by next year, we would have enough food in the market to go round and this will address food inflation,” he said.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, said each of the 177 political wards in the state would receive 50 bags of rice, while all groups and associations in the state would also be considered in the distribution.
