Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday swore in three Commissioners and 10 Special Advisers, charging them to translate his administration’s electoral promises into visible, concrete and life-changing outcomes for the people of the state.
The Governor also declared that the administration would be guided by discipline, integrity, excellent service delivery and speed, stressing that he would be very impatient with any appointee found wanting in these areas.
Speaking shortly after performing the swearing-in ceremony held at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji said the event demonstrated his administration’s resolve to ensure that the second term takes off without delay.
He said the second term is not a period for complacency or self-indulgence, but an opportunity to deepen governance.
Describing the appointments as a demonstration of his confidence in the abilities of the appointees and an affirmation of their previous contributions to the state, the Governor noted that their selection was based on proven capacity and the value they could add to the success of the administration.
Governor Oyebanji urged them to justify the trust reposed in them by redoubling their efforts and delivering excellent results in their respective portfolios, to take the state to the next unprecedented level of overall development, economic prosperity and sustainable goals.
He further charged them to ensure that every administrative process and project undertaken by their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) meets the highest standards of technical competence, transparency and strict professionalism, while being executed with remarkable speed in line with global best practices.
“Today’s event is a further demonstration of our resolve to ensure that this administration takes off quickly without any further delay and to prove a point that second term in office is not for complacency or self-indulgence.
“That you have been recalled to continue your job is a proof of my confidence in you and the affirmation of your performance. I would therefore like to counsel you to resist the temptation of invisibility and indispensability which could ultimately bring arrogance, and at the end of the day, only God is indispensable.
“I must make it unequivocally clear that I will be very impatient and completely intolerant with any kind of indiscipline, unethical behaviour and corruption. We must work very hard to successfully translate all our electoral promises into visible, concrete and life-changing outcomes for the citizens,” the Governor said.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in cabinet members, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), pledged the commitment of his colleagues to honesty, impartiality, transparency and hard work in the discharge of their duties.
Apata said their appointments were a call to service, stressing that their swearing-in marked the beginning of their responsibility to work closely with the government in implementing and executing the administration’s agenda for the development of the state.
He said the cabinet members were particularly conscious of Governor Oyebanji’s desire to leave lasting legacies that would stand the test of time and contribute to a better Ekiti State.
The Attorney-General described public office as a position of trust rather than a commercial enterprise, stressing that their declaration of commitment is to serve the people with honesty, impartiality and transparency.
While expressing appreciation to Governor Oyebanji and the people of Ekiti State for the opportunity to serve, Apata thanked the Governor for the confidence reposed in them. He assured that they would hit the ground running, working to translate the administration’s vision into tangible results.
The newly sworn-in Commissioners and Special Advisers later took oaths of secrecy administered at the Executive Council Chambers, after which they commenced their maiden Exco meeting.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Folakemi Olomojobi; members of the State House of Assembly, Executive Council members, royal fathers, community leaders, family members, among others.
