Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said his government would soon make moves to ensure speedy completion of Ado-Ifaki dual carriage way to shore up infrastructural development of the capital city.
The governor, who spoke yesterday, during the celebration of this year’s Udiroko Festival, said the new Ado-Iyin dual carriageway is one of the legacy projects of his administration to indigenes and residents of the city.
Fayemi, represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, also disclosed that work would soon commence on the Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road to give respite to users of the major highway.
The Udiroko festival 2021 was held in a low-key manner in line with COVID-19 regulations and was attended by guests including the Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Prof. Muhammad Abdulazeez.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, used the occasion to pray for peace, prosperity and development of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State and Nigeria and an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fayemi, who congratulated all Ado Ekiti indigenes at home and abroad on the occasion of festival, hailed Oba Adejugbe for being at the forefront of the development of the kingdom and working for the peace of the state.
The governor said Ado Ekiti had grown rapidly in population and had extended to nearby towns like Ikere Ekiti, Iyin Ekiti, Iworoko Ekiti, Ilawe Ekiti and Ijan Ekiti with calls for extension of social amenities to new neighbourhoods.
“Our administration is for the development of Ado Ekiti where we are executing many capital projects some of which will soon be commissioned for the use of our people.
“The new Ado-Iyin dual carriageway will be commissioned very soon and it will connect the two towns together very well and reduce the journey to just five minutes. This is a key legacy project for the people of Ado Ekiti.
“We will soon commence work on Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road to complete the dualization and we are looking forward to a quality project like the one done on Ado-Iyin Road which will be a lasting one.”
The governor commended the people for adhering to COVID-19 protocols at this year’s festival urging the entire people of the state to cooperate with his administration to defeat the third wave of the disease.
He said his administration had no reason to stop this year’s Udiroko Festival as being rumoured in some quarters clarified that government only needed an assurance that COVID-19 protocols would be complied with to check its spread in the state.
The Ewi, Oba Adejugbe, in his speech, urged the political class and their supporters to ensure that peace reigns in the state before, during and after the June 18, 2022 governorship election.
The monarch urged parents to keep their children on check to prevent them from being used to foment trouble as the election day draws nearer.
He said: “Ekiti is our own Jerusalem, so all hands must be on deck to ensure that peace reigns in the conduct of all political activities before, during and after the governorship election as well as the general elections in 2023.”
Oba Adejugbe, who explained that the festival had been organised in a low-key manner in the last two years because of COVID-19 outbreak advised his subjects to obey all health protocols to contain the spread of the disease.
He used the occasion to pray for the cessation of COVID-19 which he described as a “pestilence in our land” to enable residents continue with their normal lives and activities unhindered.
