Man always forget, but posterity always remember.
Whatever we do today will be history tomorrow.
This is the curse or the albatross on the neck of of Dr Kayode Fayemi, the former Governor of Ekiti State.
It is the evil that men do lives after them
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History!
History!!
History!!
at inauguration of Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort !
Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre Wednesday, 23 October 2013 00:00, Nigerian Tribune
“THE Lord Almighty will enhance and enrich the life and breath of Governor John Kayode Fayemi who has enhanced the beauty of this Ikogosi Warm and Cold Water Spring and who has also ensured a breath of new life into this once abandoned asset of my community in particular and the state in general.”
These were the words of Mr Benjamin Adeniji , an indigene of Ikogosi – Ekiti who thanked God to have witnessed the beautiful metamorphosis of “our mysterious blessing from God which has been left untouched and uncared for by many administrations before him, and on which he has effected a 160 degree turn around from a state of hopelessness to an intercontinental attraction site.
“God will continue to bless Governor Kayode Fayemi for not making his promise to ensure the turnaround of Ikogosi just a political campaign issue but turning it into a reality beyond our imagination. It all shows that he is not only a promise keeper but a responsible governor with a sense of purpose. God will make him to succeed in anything he lays his hand on,” Mr. Adeniji prayed.
These and others encounters of people and dignitaries from various strata of the society who witnessed the inauguration of the Ikogosi Warm and Cold Water Springs Resort affirmed the view that generational commendations and prayers await those who took a step further in ensuring a radical rejuvenation and the resuscitation of an abandoned and hitherto decrepit communal asset, turning it into an exciting and fascinating wealth-spinning project for the benefit of the community.
And this was the portion of Dr Kayode Fayemi on Saturday 19 October 2013 when he inaugurated and declared open the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort to the glory of God and for the benefit of the public at Ikogosi Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The inauguration ceremony which was packaged in conjunction with other two events namely the launching of a book on Dr Fayemi “Regaining the Legacy of Kayode Fayemi “ and the decoration of those who were worthy to be called the Cultural ambassador made that day one to remember in the memories of the multitude of guests , special dignitaries, eminent personalities all over the world and the people of the state who witnessed the occasion.
According to Hon Adewale, an ex-councillor, “Only those who know and are conversant with the tribulation of Ikogosi spring as a hitherto wasted tourism asset and money spinner for the state would appreciate better what Governor Fayemi has done. For me and my family here in Ikogosi, he has done what no one ever dreamt of seeing and doing in Ikogosi and for the Ikogosians. He will forever be remembered in the history of the town, the local government and the state.”
The swimming poolIlluminating the views of the indigenes of Ikogosi was the speech delivered at the ceremony by the state Commissioner for Culture and tourism, Chief (Mrs.) Ronke Okusanya, “ Ikogosi Warm and Cold Water Spring, which exits in its natural self suffered an era of ignoble neglect from the past administrations who failed to develop the site and did next to nothing in utilising its potentialities for economic development of the state.”
She pointed out that the massive infrastructural development being witnessed today was a vision of Governor Kayode Fayemi who is poised to give Ekiti tourism a facelift for economic development, wealth mobilisation, empowerment agent, revenue spinning and employment generation.
Mrs Okunsanya revealed that the crystallisation of Dr Fayemi’s vision on Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring Resort had cultivated respect, dignity and recognition for the state and Ikogosi town, adding that “ it has successfully enabled the site to be listed as one of the seven natural wonders in Nigeria.”
She highlighted some of the facilities at the resort and affirmed that Ikogosi could now boast of an accessible road , a standard swimming pool which enjoys the piping of warm water directly from the source, amphitheatre, conference seminar centre, over 100 rooms, good security ,nature trail route, a gym, shopping centre, palm wine drinking grove, all serviced with good road network, seamless electricity and water supply. Mrs. Okunsanya assured all of Governor Fayemi’s determination to make sure that notable tourism sites in the state are enhanced, developed and turned to revenue spinning and employment generators.
“The development of the tourism sector and the agrarian passion being displayed by Governor Fayemi is not just a whiff of his brain or an attempt to dance to the gallery of popularity but a conscious determination to enhance all the tangible and intangible tourism assets of the state by bringing out the inherent potentialities for the good of the people and glory of the state.”
Governor Fayemi and wife with the newly decorated Ekiti cultural ambassadors cutting the Ikogosi inauguration cakeMrs Okunsanya pointed out that Governor Fayemi was faithful and committed to the 8- point agenda for development, of which the development and enhancement of tourism potentialities of the state happened to be number six.
“Governor Fayemi has promised not to rest on his oars until Ekiti becomes a foremost tourist destination in Africa,” she said. Okunsanya called on the members of the public, tourism stakeholders, tourists and the good people of the state to continue supporting Governor Fayemi, who she said had a lot to offer the tourism sector and Ekiti people in particular. She added that the rapid development of the state within the spate of three years was just a tip of the iceberg, as the next phase would turn the resort to one of the best in Nigeria.
Dr Fayemi, in his own testimony, said that his mission at the Ekiti Government House was to pursue his vision of unleashing positive change on all shades and sides of Ekiti.
“I determined to light up the dark tunnels and straighten the labyrinth of underdevelopment, wretchedness and apathy by bringing about radical changes in the way things were, and the way things were being done in Ekiti . I determined that there should be and must be a revolutionary departure from the old order of abject squalor , mindset of primitivism and stereotyping which have contributed to morbid stagnation and truncation of progress of the state. We in Ekiti must sever ourselves from medieval thinking and posturing by aligning our course of reasoning, acts, and conduct with modernism, particularly in the areas social relationship and economic reality of the IT age.
“I decided to organise my thoughts and garner my wit in not only touching the lives of my people in Ekiti but touching up those consequential natural blessings which lay about wasting and begging for enhancement for so many years for the economic and social benefits of the indigenes.”
Governor Fayemi pointed out that “Ikogosi warm and Cold Spring Resort which we are inaugurating today is one of the numerous tourism projects which we have in the pipeline and which are potent instruments of empowerment, wealth creation, revenue spinning and employment generation.”
Pupils of Gift and Faith Nursery and Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, on tour of Ikogosi Warm Spring ResortHe pointed out that Ekiti is a paragon of tourism and “we have determined also to create a tourism zone in two local governments with numerous tourism assets, while giving definition of purpose to other tourism sites scattered in different parts of the state. My target is to ensure that every person living in Ekiti is not only a tourism agent of change but feel the economic impact of the sector.
“And this will come to pass by the grace of God and cooperation of the good people of Ekiti as this state will soon become the most preferred tourists’ destination in Nigeria.”
Governor Fayemi informed that what was being inaugurated was just the Phase 1 of the Ikogosi Tourism Project as the Second Phase will include the construction of 150 five star hotel, a heli port, an ecotourism enclave of over 50 hectares of land, a cable car to link Ikogosi with another wonderful waterfall which is just a five minutes drive from Ikogosi called Arinta waterfall in Ipole Floro.
The traditional ruler of Ikogosi, Oba Elijah Abiodun Olorunnisola who was visibly happy and elated, commended Governor Fayemi for bringing the best out of the tourism site. “I am the happiest person on earth today. And I know and am sure that the founder of this town and even the aura of Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring is praying for Dr John Kayode Fayemi for removing the scarlet of ugliness and dressing it up royally, regally and in the most dignifying manner and also removing it from the wretched and rickety antediluvian bamboo bench and placing it on a gold plated throne for intercontinental respect, regards and viewing. This is wonderful and to us in this town. It is marvellous. What he did today shall be told and retold from one generation to all generations.”
The monarch said, “We cannot quantify or estimate the economic benefit of what Dr Fayemi has done by the enhancement of the beauty of this Warm and Cold spring in this town. We cannot. Only to just pray for him and wish him success in whatever he opines to do. I must confess that the economy of my people has improved tremendously since the first day the reconstruction and rehabilitation started. We are feeling the impacts of this singular monumental work of his. We are grateful. My people are happy. And it shall be well with him, his family and good people of the state.”
Alhaji Yayha Idris, a native of Erio – Ekiti, about 25 kilometres from Ikogosi Ekiti, said “Ikogosi project is an investment in the right direction. I congratulate the state for having a man who has a perfect grip of what to do with state money. We in Erio Ekiti are feeling the reverberating effect of this project. This Ikogosi always supplies customers for my brother’s Star Rock View Hotel located in Erio. It is not only a blessing to Ikogosi but us all. God will bless Dr Fayemi for this.”
Some foreigners at the source of the warm spring Toyin Fakile, an Ise – Ekiti indigene but US-based event manager and planner who was home on vacation: “ What I am seeing here is unbelievable. I was here in those years. My late father brought us here. Well, the transformation is unbelievable. This is unique and commendable. I am only tasking the host community and the people of the state to continue to support the government to be able to bring more development to the state.”
Gideon and Lateefat of Gift and Faith Nursery and Primary School who were brought on an excursion to Ikogosi that Saturday was very happy and said “We love this place. It is fine. It looks like some of the ones being shown on Nickelodeon. God bless Governor Fayemi for making this place so beautiful for us to visit in Ekiti.”
And the host community was not left out in showing its gratitude as its spokesperson, Pa Benjamin Adeniji, came forward to show appreciation and present the gift from the community to the governor who had done them proud.
“Governor John Kayode Fayemi, of the governors which have ruled this state, you have proved to be the best to this community. We are feeling the impact of good vision, responsible governance and able leadership. You have been wonderful. The Ikogosi community presents to you this ram to show our gratitude and to assure you that we are going to make you proud in all your endeavours as you have made this community and Ikogosi warm spring the cynosure of global eyes. Thank you for this great deed you have done. Governor Fayemi, we are proud of you.”
The Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi (fifth right) and his wife, Bisi; former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; the state Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu and others.
