By Mary Agidi
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It was all smiles and jubilations yesterday at the 12, 000 capacity Ekiti-Parapo Pavilion, when  Dr. John Kayode Fayemi was sworn-in as the fourth executive governor of Ekiti state.

Fayemi who was decked in a white flowing agbada beamed with smiles and frantically waved to the crowd to show his appreciation to the people who filled the pavilion  to capacity.

The crowd mainly dressed in party attires and colourful headgears started trooping into the venue as early as 7am and security personel had hectic time controlling the over jubilant crowd who described the second coming of Fayemi a turning point in the lives of Ekiti people.

Prominent political leaders from all over the country including the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr Boss Mustapha thronged the pavilion to witness Fayemi’s inauguration .

Our correspondent observed that the pavilion was so filled with guests and well-wishers as many  remained standing throughout the ceremony.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPP) in their ceremonial attires added glamour and colour to the event having opened the programme with a march parade before the arrival of Dr Kayode Fayemi and other top dignitaries and performed another thrilling parade led by a female mobile police officer after the swearing in exercise while Fayemi stood at attention.

Fayemi arrived the venue at 10:45am with his wife in white agbada and his Awolowo FEZ style 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,  Ojaja the II, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, the Ewi of Ado, Deji of Akure among many others graced the occasion.

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

Earlier before the commencement of the inauguration ceremony, young Ekiti artists were given the opportunity to perform for 10minutes each, both in 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.

The event had so many uniform groups in attendance, some of which were 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, Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, National Security Adviser, Babangana Mongunu among others.

From Ondo state, the APC Chairman, Engr Ade Adetimehin, Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Deaconess Lola Fagbemi, SSG, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde accompanied the governor to the event.