The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has told workers to vote according to their conscience in the March 28 Presidential election and April 11 State and National Assembly elections.

The Governor also warned workers against partisan politics, saying he would not allow politicisation of the civil service which could destroy its bases.

He spoke during a meeting with the civil servants in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

Fayose said his government would continue to place high premium on the welfare of workers, in spite of the poor financial situation of the State.

He said, “I won’t be a governor that would take advantage of you. I won’t promise what I won’t be able to do.

“This is not an attempt to malign anybody, but we have to state the facts as they are. We have tried to borrow money from banks, but they refused because we have not paid the one that was borrowed by the last administration. So, we can’t pay all allowances now.”

He publicly berated a civil servant who wore a T-shirt bearing his (Fayose’s) portrait and party slogan to the venue of the meeting.

He added that his government had no plan to politicise the state public service but warned workers to also keep off in their own interest and rather face their work in order to secure a better future for the state.

“I am not going to politicise the Ekiti civil service and any civil servant found contravening this basic rule will be disciplined accordingly.

“As far as I am concerned, I don’t want to use politics to distabilise the public service and so, it will be strange if any of you is encouraging what we are not promoting.

“If I politicise the service my own way and another person comes and does same, we will end up destroying the service. That is why any civil servant found playing politics arbitrarily shall be disciplined.

“My own way of getting votes shall be doing those things that would promote your welfare. And if you love me under this context, you will love whatever political course that I support. I want to make it clear that I won’t force you to vote for any candidate in this election. Just go and vote according to your conscience,” Fayose said.

The Governor pledged to continue to defend the workers and all the indigenes of the State, who were being oppressed under any guise.

“I have told the Head of Service (Dr. Gbenga Faseluka) that any worker that felt he was oppressed or unjustly sacked under Fayemi , I mean those with genuine case should write to me and I shall look into such case dispassionately,” he said.

Earlier, Faseluka commended the workers for their perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges facing them.
He called on them to be loyal to the government and discharge their duties well.

Source:  Osun Defender