By Mary Agidi

The 12, 000 capacity Ekiti-Parapo Pavilion, the venue of the inauguration of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi as the sixth executive governor of Ekiti state was filled with guests , well-wishers, all Progressive Party supporters in Ekiti and across Nigeria, while so many people remained standing throughout the period of the ceremony.

Men of the Nigeria police force in their ceremonial attires added glamour and color to the event having opened the programme with a match parade before the arrival of Fayemi and other top dignitaries and performed another thrilling parade led by a female Mobile police officer after the swearing in exercise with Fayemi remained standing throughout.

The popular Yoruba nollywood actor Odunlade Adekola, who is the son of the soil graced the occasion and was introduced as Ekiti cultural ambassador Alabi Pasuma and Adewale Ayuba entertained guests with their Fuji musicals.

Fayemi arrived the venue at 10:45am waving round the people in his unique smile along with his wife in white agbada and his Awolowo style creamy cap while his Deputy Chief Bisi Egbeyemi who also dressed in white Agbada joined him shortly.

They were being welcomed with Ekiti local singers, the likes of DUDUYEMI and WALAWALA, and other Ekiti hip hop singers. Popular Nigerian ‘ hip hop artist, Zee Gold also entertained the gathering with his ‘Fun Won ‘Legbegbe’ song, Fayemi’s favourite campaign song.

First class traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye, The Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, the Ewi of Ado, Deji of Akure among many others graced the occasion.

Earlier before the commencement of the inauguration ceremony, young Ekiti artists were given the opportunity to perform for 10minutes each, both Ekiti cultural dialect and hip hop artists.

Chief immam of Ado-Ekiti Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere and Archbishop Felix Ajakaye led the opening prayer and prayers for the State.

The peaceful ceremony however witnessed tight security with two police helicopters hovering over the venue as the event comes to an end.

The event had so many uniform groups in attendance some of which are Ekiti state House of Art’s cultural troupes, N-power beneficiaries group, Joint National Association of People Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD support JKF), Association of Women Chieves , Grand Council of Yoruba Youths, APWECON, APC Private Sector Union, Ekiti Like Minds for JKF, e-Eleven, a forum of Ekiti stakeholders, Nigeria Association of Cooperative Transporters, NURTW among others.

It was a colourful event as yellow headgears and OFI caps dominate the ceremony,yellow and green Ankara chose by Mrs Fayemi was worn by majority of Ekiti people both males and females.

Police ceremonial match parade commenced at exactly 9:30am and some voluntary old women groups stayed miles away to the venue with a tag with Fayemi inscription pinning it on guest’s dress.

The banners of each LG council carries different message like, “the time to build Ekiti has come, let the restoration of our values begin, congratulations to JKF and Chief Egbeyemi et cetera.

Outside the venue, face caps of different sizes, wrist bands, so many self-adorning items with the inscription of JKF were displayed for sales.

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Adaramola first led the Deputy governor to swear the oath of allegiance, and afterwards Fayemi was sworn in with the company of his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who dressed in a creamy lace attire.

He therefore stepped down of the podium waving to people and singing ‘Olori oko sinbowa’ song and afterwards accompanied with Ayuba music on inspection of guards.

To really make the event convenient for people, everyone was allowed access to the Pavilion with lesser security scrutiny without intimidation or harassment of any kind, while K&T toilet service was on ground for People’s convenience.

Entertainment of dignitaries was then held at the Ekiti State government’s house.

Some notable personalities present are Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Akeredolu of Ondo, Ajimobi of Oyo, Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos, Nazir Elrufai of Kaduna, Bagudu of Kebbi, and Osun-governor, Oyetola, APC former National Chairman, Chief Oyegun, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Ministers of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi,National Security Adviser, Babangana Mongunu among others.