>Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has congratulated the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over his appointment as Minister of Solid Minerals, urging him to use his position for the commercial exploitation of the abundant solid mineral resources in the State.
Fayose, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Lere Olayinka, stated that President Mohammadu Buhari must have considered the need for commercial exploitation of the solid minerals spread across towns and villages in Ekiti State before arriving at the choice of Fayemi as Minister of Solid Minerals.
He said: "Ekiti has solid minerals like clay kaolin, cassiterite, tin ore, columbite, bauxite (Aluminium Ore), foundry sand and charconite granite.
"Even in Isan-Ekiti, Fayemi's hometown, there is clay kaolin that can be used for abrasive, plastics, ceramics ware, pharmaceuticals, textiles, fertilizers, white tiles and insulator wares pencils.
"Now that the Federal Government is talking about diversification of the economy, Fayemi should use his position to assist Ekiti State in harnessing its solid mineral resources for the economic benefit of the State and Nigeria.
"I therefore congratulate Fayemi for this appointment and thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment.
"It is my prayers that God, in His infinite mercies will grant him (Fayemi) the wisdom and strength to use the new position for the betterment of Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general."