Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for “diluting” the sublime essence of governance.

He spoke at the inauguration of a 32-bed hospital built by the member representing Ekiti Federal Constituency 1 at the House of Representatives, Bimbo Daramola.

At the ceremony were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, former governors Kayode Fayemi, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Segun Oni.

Atiku praised Daramola for the project, urging the people to value education, health and infrastructural development.

The former Vice-President said: “I believe Ekiti people don’t need stomach infrastructure. Would you forego education for stomach infrastructure? Would you forego healthcare for stomach infrastructure? Would you forgo infrastructural development for stomach infrastructure?

“Today, Japan is the third largest economy in the world. They don’t have the farmland that you have in Ekiti but they have education and technology.

“They have education and then technology. Anybody who is telling you all you need is a bag of rice, no, no, Ekiti people, no.”

Atiku berated the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government for its failure to offer desirable leadership quality in the country, with unfriendly policies and programmes.

“Certainly, Nigeria is not healthy. When you look at the economy and insecurity in the country, you will know that certainly, Nigeria is not healthy.”

Regarding the June 21 election, Atiku hinted at the possibility of an earlier return of Dr. Kayode Fayemi as governor, noting “Fayemi is just on mid-term recess. He is coming back soon”.

The presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Nigerians to use the 2015 general election to bring desirable development to the country.

“The only thing that can salvage Nigeria’s situation is to seize the opportunity of next year’s election to bring about change by voting in APC.”

Tambuwal said with the quality of Daramola’s contributions as a lawmaker, he did not expect less from him. He urged other lawmakers to emulate him.

Fayemi urged the people to give priority to infrastructural development.

“For us as progressives, health is wealth. The health of our people matters to us than sharing of public money.”

In respect of the June 21 election, Fayemi said: “Some miscreants were deployed in Ekiti from Abuja to rig the polls. My advice to my people is that they should keep the peace and that the truth will soon prevail.”

Oni said the hospital would improve the life expectancy of the people.

•Adapted from a Nation report. Photo shows Atiku.

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