Stomach Infrastructure: We Enjoyed Christmas With Gov Fayose’s Rice And Chicken — Ekiti Beneficiaries

When Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, during the inauguration of his second-coming told thousands of Ekiti people, who had converged at the popular Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti on October 16, last year that he would create a special ministry to be called Ministry of Stomach Infrastructures, many political observers within and outside the state took his words with a pinch of salt.

Condemnations poured in from several quarters, as many people who derided the governor for the announcement of a stomach infrastructure ministry argued that such was only a political statement that needed time to see how it goes.

No doubt, as expected the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state had accused Fayose of trying to degrade Ekiti people to perpetual beggars of sorts, by given them unsolicited gifts of rice,chickens and money.

But, following the successful exercise of the fulfillment of Fayose’s stomach infrastructure initiative this Christmas, it seems some states are now copying the concept which stirred controversies on arrival.

For Fayose, it seems he has remained resolute to achieve this objective to reducing hunger in Ekiti State, which he claims is a clear departure from the past administrations which satisfies majorly the interests of the few elites in the state during Christmas and other festivities.

Fayose’s welfarist programme is not new as records have it in his first reign as governor between 2001 and September 2003, he started the distribution of water through water tankers, kerosene, medical needs and money to the people of the state free.

So, few days to December 25, last year, Ado Ekiti, the state capital and its environs were agog, as thousands of Ekiti people stormed the Governor’s office to get their own share of the Christmas largesse.
Governor Fayose personally supervised the distribution of the gifts to the people, among whom are the old and young, widows, widowers and the less privileged.

In his characteristic manner, Fayose ensured that nobody was left behind nor discriminated against on in whatever guise.

Vanguard gathered that the same approach was replicated in all the remaining 15 local governments areas of the state, as there was a designated centres where beneficiaries including public servants and teachers were attended to .

It was also gathered that no fewer than 80,000 birds, 100,000 bags of rice and cash gifts were distributed to the people, as the people for three days running (December 22, 23 and 24) continued to besiege the

Governor’s Office to collect their own share of the Christmas goodies.
Speaking at the exercise, Fayose stated that what takes priority in his heart daily is the welfare of the people of the state who against all odds returned him to office eight years after, in a landslide victory.

He noted that he will continue to pursue his welfare programmes with all his strength, adding that he could not withstand the people of the state suffering.

According to him, the current financial situation will not deter him from reaching to the people of the state, noting that he had made a covenant with God to ensure that the people are liberated from the shackles of poverty.

When asked why he gave them money, the Governor said, “ they need to buy pepper, salt, maggi, palm oil
and other ingredients to cook the chicken.