Blame Fayose’s recklessness for UBEC’s sanction – Fayemi

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Reacting to the Ekiti state government’s allegation, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Special Assistant on Media to Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, said Governor Ayo Fayose’s reckless utterances and primitive approach to governance should be blamed for the UBEC’s sanction.

Oyebode in a statement made available to journalists said it is rather unfortunate that the Fayose administration would, in its characteristic infantile and crude manner, falsify discussions that took place on the floor of the National Assembly, all in the bid to justify its ineptitude.

According to him, whereas the UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr Yakubu Ganbo, was at the senate, he did not accuse the immediate past administration led by Dr Kayode Fayemi of misappropriation of UBEC fund.

Rather, Dr Gambo gave details of development that led to UBEC’s decision to sanction the state.

He explained that the immediate past government had taken a loan from a bank to be able to make available its counterpart funding to access the UBEC fund. But the bank withdrew its money when the government lost the 2014 governorship election for fear that the incoming government might not honour the terms of repayment.

“So, the sitting government that took the loan from the bank to provide the counterpart to access what is in the coffers of the federal government lost an election. And the bank decided that the state had not met up the requirement for pay back. And so as not to have problem with the incoming government, they decided to withdraw their money”, Dr Gambo said.

“So Ekiti state went ahead to implement part of the action plan with the N826million assessed from UBEC. When we went out for monitoring and we discovered these anomalies we sanctioned Ekiti State by ensuring that until they formalize and bring back that matching grant they will no longer asses any form of funding from UBEC. And that is the position now”, added Dr Gambo in response to questions from the distinguished senators.

The Fayose government is to blame for this. Its crude approach to governance careless utterances and verbal threats to financial institutions shortly after the June 21, 2014 election made many banks to review their relationships with the state.

It is recalled that Fayose had called bank chiefs to a meeting shortly after the election and warned them that he was not going to repay any loan entered with the then outgoing government. This development, coupled with his antecedence as a highly misguided and mischievous ruler had made many financial institutions including the one in question to review existing relationships.

While government is a continuum, the Fayose administration had carried on in the last one and half years as if it is an island and lord unto itself with no regard for institutions.

The issue of diversion does not occur, the bank simply withdrew its support because of the negative signal it got from the Fayose administration. So, Fayose should be blamed for everything.

When a government is inaugurated it inherits the assets and liabilities of the former administration. And a responsible government would tackle the issue of development with all sense of responsibility and not play to the gallery like Fayose.

If Fayose had not refused to pay contractors engaged by the former administration and also threatened not to honour any bank loan by the administration, the UBEC project would be on course and there would not have been any sanction stopping his administration from assessing UBEC fund.

So, Fayose should blame his infantile administrative style for the problem.

It is rather unfortunate that the state is being denied the UBEC funding because of gross irresponsibility of the incumbent government.

It is on record that when the Fayemi administration came in 2010, SUBEB counterpart funding of 2008 was outstanding and contracts were already awarded by the previous government led by Engr Segun Oni. We supported all the government left behind and funded the SUBEB projects through loan arrangements from the bank which was paid back on monthly basis. Theses procedures remained for the 2009, 2010 and 2012.

The SUBEB fund was used judiciously by the Fayemi administration and this is evident in the construction of primary school buildings and renovation of junior secondary schools among others.

The Fayose administration should stop its habit of falsehood and face governance with every sense of responsibility instead of looking for excuses for its ineffectiveness and imminent failure.