By Eromosele Ebhomele.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, western Nigeria on Wednesday congratulated his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over his appointment as Minister of Solid Minerals, urging him to use his position for the commercial exploration of the abundant solid mineral resources in Ekiti State.
The governor said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, that President Muhammadu Buhari must have considered the need for commercial exploration of the solid minerals spread across towns and villages in Ekiti State before arriving at the choice of Fayemi as Minister of Solid Minerals.
“Ekiti has solid minerals like clay, kaolin, cassiterite, tin ore, columbite, bauxite (alluminium ore), foundry sand and charconite granite. Even in Isan-Ekiti, Fayemi’s hometown, there is clay kaolin that can be used for abrasive, plastics, ceramics ware, pharmaceuticals, textiles, fertilizers, white tiles and insulator-ware pencils. Now that the Federal Government is talking about diversification of the economy, Fayemi should use his position to assist Ekiti State in harnessing its solid mineral resources for the economic benefit of the state and Nigeria.
“I therefore congratulate Fayemi on this appointment and thank President Buhari for the appointment. It is my prayers that God, in His infinite mercies will grant him (Fayemi) the wisdom and strength to use the new position for the betterment of Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general,” the governor said.
This is not the first time Fayose would extend an olive branch to his predecessor whom he feverishly vilified. When Fayemi was nominated for ministerial position, the Ekiti governor directed all Peoples Democratic Party senators from the state to support him.
-@selemele2