By Our Reporters, 10.21.2006

Olurin was Thursday appointed Sole Admini-strator of crisis-ridden Ekiti State following a declaration of a state of emergency in the state by the Federal Government.

The Sole Administrator told top civil servants in the state at an interactive session in Ado Ekiti that he would soon set up a committee to examine the upward review of salaries of workers in the state.

Olurin assured that all on-going projects in the state would be completed by his administration.
Olurin, who claimed that he had no track record of abandoning projects, maintained that he would not embark on any frivolous projects.

While charging civil servants to be loyal and rededicate themselves to duty, Olurin further warned that he would not tolerate indolence and other vices.
He stated that his administration would follow the laid down channels of communication in getting things done in the state.

He said following the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government in the state, he would rely on permanent secretaries and by extension, the civil servants for the day-to-day running of government.
He therefore directed all the permanent secretaries in the state civil service to take up the responsibilities of commissioners in their various ministries.

Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Elder Segun Bankole described the last few weeks as the testiest period in the history of Ekiti State.

Bankole pledged the loyalty and cooperation of the entire workforce of the state to the new administrator.
Meanwhile, Presidential aspirant Professor Pat Utomi yesterday canvassed for the immediate return of constitutional rule in Ekiti State. Utomi in a press release signed by his campaign organisation viewed with grave concern the political and constitutional crisis in Ekiti state, which ultimately culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency.

He described the development in Ekiti state as a serious set back to the evolution of a true democratic culture in Nigeria. While also condemning all acts of fraudulent malpractice allegededly perpetuated by state Governors and indeed all elected political actors, he submmited that the process of correcting and indeed removing any erring Governor must follow the constitutional due process.

It is important to identify the fundamental and root cause of the problem in Ekiti state with a view to avoiding a repeat of this kind of situation in the future, one the flaw in the selection process of candidates adopted by the PDP ultimately resulting in the allegation raised against the Governor as not of worthy character.

Secondly failure of INEC to conduct free, transparent and fair elections, which resulted in the disconnect of the citizenry from the state, this makes for poor accountability as people feel powerless relative to office holders because of such flawed electoral processes. Thirdly, a sad political culture in which the states are seen and run as if they were private estates of the elected Governors, widely abusing public trust and the common wealth,・Utomi said.

He said that solving the problem by perpetuating military rule through other means is to ensure that true democracy never really emerges in Nigeria thereby subjecting the Nigeria people to perpetual servitude and prolonged economic under-performance in our country.
According to him the only guarantee of the progress our people deserve is in the ensuring of the sanctity of the rule of law and the deliberate nurturing and development of a true Democratic culture.

He urged the Federal Government to immediately return Ekiti State to constitutional rule and use constitutional means to punish erring officers.
But former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, has accused President Olusegun Obasanjo of nursing an agenda to perpetuate himself in office with the state of emergency declared on Ekiti State on Thursday.

However, factional Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa differed expressing support for the action, which he said was constitutional.

Adeshina, who spoke with newsmen in his Ibadan residence, remarked that developments in the country pointed to the direction that Obasanjo was plotting to perpetuate himself in office.

According to the former governor, it is a tragedy that we should have another state of emergency at this point in time and the whole thing is leading to political catastrophe. I felt very sad when I heard that a state of emergency has been declared.

Adeshina pointed out that the federal government has made up its mind on the Ekiti issue, arguing that the government only played along with the lawmakers to drive away Fayose. Was it not with the knowledge of the federal government that the honourable members of the House of Assembly went to Lagos to hide somewhere and sent the impeachment notice to Fayose. I am not pleading for Fayose, he has done very bad as a governor. He has not only spoilt the name of Ekiti people but the Yoruba people of Nigeria,・he said.

Also, National Chairman of the National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, has condemned the appointment of an ex-military man, Olurin as sole administrator of Ekiti State, saying it is an assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians.

It is an insult on the psyche of Nigerians. It is a slap on the face of civilians...It is regrettable and could be said to mean that Mr. President does not have confidence in the ability of a civilian. That means that this country is still under military structure. We want this reversed,・he said.