Fidel Castro in his communist drive turned Cuba into the first communist state in the western hemisphere, providing rural areas with potable drinking water, electricity, free education, free health, and a dignified standard of living for all Cubans.
Like Fidel Castro, Kayode Fayemi loathes seeing Ekiti people wallowing in lack and poverty in the midst of opulence and abundance, and this love for humanity necessitated his triumphant entry into Ekiti 2018 governorship race.
Man makes history but history, on the other hand, makes man and this could happen on dual notes – positive and negative. In Ekiti, each successive governor proved the best of his administrative mettle in terms of governance and service delivery; but Fayemi’s government came when the state was enmeshed in an overarching administrative quagmire.
Today, the Fayemi-led government has breathed life into some moribund state revenue sources, as Ikun Diary Farm, for instance, is now fully operational for livestock and milk production following a $5 million investment by Promasidor, which has increased its total number of cows to 173. It is expected that within 24 months of active operation, over 10,000 litres of milk will be produced and about 49 of the 173 cows in the dairy farm have been confirmed pregnant (out of the 51 cows that were inseminated, two calves have been produced; a large expanse of land has been cleared by the state government for the cultivation of hay, brachiaria and cassava at the dairy farm.
The investment of $5 million into Ikun Dairy Farm by Promasidor is also being used to purchase equipment, provide appropriate herd cattle and develop an out-grower scheme with local farmers to providing feeds for the cattle.
As adjudged, this sector will be a huge economic benefit for the agro-allied cargo connectivity. The cargo airport will be an enabler for the state to connect to distant markets and national/global supply chains. As productivity and revenue increase, Ikun Dairy Farm will create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs which will improve the economy of the host community, surrounding communities and Ekiti State, at large. Recently, about 250 Jersey cows were received at Ikun Diary Farm, making a total of over 500 Jersey cow breeds for milk production.
Fayemi as a firm believer and advocate of justice, equity, and fairness should not discountenance the South Agenda agitation as the state governorship election comes up next year. This should be keenly looked into because each of the senatorial districts in the state had at one time been represented. Therefore, it will be politically expedient on the part of Fayemi to look southward for a worthy successor as this would douse the stentorious outcry of political marginalisation.
Dapo Ipoola.
