The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ekiti 2018

  • Ekiti 2018: Kwankwaso visits Fayose, calls for credible governorship poll

    Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on Monday paid a courtesy to Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The purpose of Kwankwaso’s visit to Fayose remained unknown as journalists working for the independent media were not invited to the parley at the Ado-Ekiti Government House.

    Kwankwaso, who presently represents Kano Central in the Senate, is believed to be on his way out of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the platform through which he won election into the National Assembly.

    He is locked in a bitter struggle for the control of Kano politics with his long-time ally and successor, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    Although Kwankwaso is believed to be nursing presidential ambition but it could not be confirmed whether his visit to Fayose was in connection with his interest to vie for the Presidency.

    Key politicians in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) interested in the presidential race have been paying visits to Fayose who is the chair of the party’s Governor’s Forum.

    Read Also: 2019 election: Ganduje dismisses Kwankwaso’s influence

    Kwankwaso and Fayose were said to have called for credible and peaceful governorship election in Ekiti State on July 14.

    In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, also quotes Kwankwaso as saying that “elections should not be seen as war but the votes of the people must be made to count.”

    The statement disclosed that Kwankwaso addressed the Northern Community resident in the state, urging them to live in peace with their hosts and exercise their civic duties during the election.

    Kwankwaso also decried the spate of killings in some parts of the country, noting that it was the responsibility of the government to secure the lives and properties of the citizens.

    Speaking on whether he would defect to the PDP, Kwankwaso replied that his next move would be determined by the collective decision of the new PDP bloc.

    Responding, Fayose hailed the former Kano Governor for the visit.

    Fayose added that peace was imperative for the unity and corporate existence of the country.

    He criticized the Federal Government for allegedly failing to curtail the killings going on in the country.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose will be caged on election day, says Fayemi

    Says APC will restore good governance

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has assured the people of Ekiti State of adequate security on July 14 when they will go to polls to elect a new governor.

    Fayemi urged eligible voters to come out and exercise their civic rights and not to be intimidated by Governor Ayo Fayose’s alleged threats to cause mayhem on election day.

    The APC flag bearer declared that the incumbent governor will be caged on the day of election as he (Fayose) will only be allowed to vote and go back to his house in Afao.

    He said: “We will ensure adequate security for voters on election day because if you are not well protected, the election will not be free, far, credible, transparent, genuine and acceptable.

    “Fayose cannot threaten or intimidate anybody on the day of election. Fayose will only be allowed to cast his vote and he will go back to his house in Afao.”

    Fayemi who spoke on Thursday while on campaign tour to communities in Ido/Osi Local Government Area said he was on a mission to rescue Ekiti people from poverty, misery, bad governance and put the state on the path of good governance, progress and development.

    Communities visited by Fayemi include Ifaki, Orin, Ora, Aaye, Ifisin, Igbole, Osi, Ido, Ilogbo, Usi and Ayetoro where more People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members defected to the APC.

    Read Also: End of suffering is near in Ekiti, says Fayemi

    Fayemi was joined at the rallies by the deputy governorship rally, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi; Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe; former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former House of Assembly Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin; former House of Assembly member, Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo and a senatorial aspirant, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu.

    The APC flag bearer said Fayose, his party, PDP, and the candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, have nothing to showcase in those communities in the last three-and-half years noting that the projects being enjoyed by the people were the ones he (Fayemi) executed in his first tenure.

    Fayemi said projects like civic centres, health centres, five kilometer community roads, school and hospital renovations are flagship projects that will swing votes in APC’s favour.

    He promised that all the human capital development policies like payment of monthly stipends to the aged, free health services, free education, and payment of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and JAMB fees for pupils in public schools will return the movement an APC government takes over in October.

    Fayemi also promised more Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) assisted projects, employment through Peace Corps, Ekiti Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), return of Core Subject Allowances and Rural Teachers’ Allowances, regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ benefits.

    According to him, a special health intervention programme for Obas and chiefs tagged “Ilera Laafin,” Local Council Development Areas, Volunteer Corps scheme, among others will return.

    He also debunked the PDP allegation that he would sack teachers and civil servants noting that workers enjoyed salary increase three times during his first tenure.

    Fayemi lampooned Fayose for owing core civil servants, local government workers and teachers between five and nine months salaries expressing regret that no worker had collected salaries meant for this year (2018).

    He said it was an act of irresponsibility and insincerity for the governor to be calling himself a friend of civil servants and teachers and still owe them arrears of salaries despite getting financial reliefs from the Federal Government.

    The former Minister of Mines and Steel Development declared that the PDP will meet its waterloo on election day as Ekiti people who had allegedly been deceived will show the umbrella party the way out of the Government House.

    He urged party members and voters to go back to their units and work noting that election is not won on the social media but at the polling units.

    Fayemi added: “Let’s deal with them (PDP) with our votes, we are going to give them a bloodied nose with our votes on July 14 because Fayemi of today is different from that of Thursday.

    “If the PDP people come here, they have nothing to campaign with and that is why they are resorting to lies but they have exhausted their lies.

    “Go to your units, vote and protect your votes. Election is not done on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp, the votes are at the polling units.

    “APC will give a better life to our people, we have done it before and with your support, we will do it again because our legacies are all around the state for everybody to see.”