The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ado-Ekiti

  • Ado-Ekiti residents tackle Fayose, stop demolition of shrines

    There was pandemonium yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, after angry residents resisted the demolition of some shrines and sacred trees by officials of the state government.

    The ongoing demolition of structures in Ado-Ekiti is part of the urban renewal policy of Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration.

    During the pandemonium, adherents of the deities at the shrines almost attacked men of the demolition squad but the intervention of armed security men deployed to the scene saved the day.

    The residents of neighbourhoods in the Oja Oba area insisted the shrines would never give way for the urban renewal exercise which they said was done in bad faith by the state government.

    They had mobilized themselves on sighting two bulldozers deployed to pull down the two shrines in the vicinity.

    The Ogun shrine and the Ejeye Oka Ere shrine are located in the court of the Arowa of Ado-Ekiti.

    Armed security men were mobilized to the scene and entrance to Ewi’s Palace, to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    The protest led to temporary suspension of work on the shrines and the sacred trees.

    But the locals remained at the scene raining curses and pouring invectives on the government for the action they described as “desecration of tradition which will have dire consequences.”

    The latest demolition operation which started on Thursday saw at least four corpses exhumed from where they were buried which angered the deceased’s family members.

    The bodies had been relocated elsewhere.

    About seven graves were marked for demolition which sparked tension with family members keeping vigil awaiting the demolition squad.

    A relation of one of the deceased who craved anonymity alleged that the compensation reportedly paid by the government did not cover the exhumation of the corpses and dismantling of the shrines.

    Houses, shops and makeshift structures adjacent the palace of the Ewi were brought down by government bulldozers on Thursday.

    A cold war erupted between the governor and the people of Ado-Ekiti over the latest demolition which led to a face-off with the Ewi, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe at his palace, about three weeks ago.

    The state government claimed it had paid a total of N400m as compensation to people whose houses were demolished so far in the ongoing demolition exercise in the state.

    The government, however, was silent on those whose properties were to be demolished in the latest exercise.

    Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Tayelolu Otitoju who disclosed this said the exercise did not affect Ado Ekiti alone,.

    According to him, more than 300 houses had so far been demolished under the exercise in Ado, Ikere, Efon Alaaye, Omuo,  Ise, Emure and Ijero, among other major towns.

    He explained further that government embarked on the project to ease traffic congestion, adhere to urban policy expected of any civilized society especially Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Otitoju added that government would not compensate owners of demolished houses that were built on waterways and setbacks.

  • Ado-Ekiti residents tackle Fayose, stop demolition of shrines

    The ongoing demolition of structures in Ado-Ekiti by Governor Ayo Fayose in his urban renewal drive took a dramatic dimension on Friday as angry residents resisted the demolition of some shrines and sacred trees.

    During the pandemonium, adherents of the deities of the shrines almost attacked the members of the demolition squad but the intervention of armed security men deployed to the scene saved the day.

    The residents of neighbourhoods in the Oja Oba area insisted that the shrines would never give way for the urban renewal exercise which they said was done in bad faith by the government.

    They had mobilized themselves on sighting two bulldozers deployed to pull down the two shrines in the vicinity.

    The Ogun shrine and the Ejeye Oka Ere shrine are located in the court of the Arowa of Ado-Ekiti.

    Armed security men were mobilized to the scene and entrance to the Ewi’s Palace to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    The protest led to temporary suspension of work on the shrines and the sacred trees.

    But the locals remained at the scene raining curses and pouring invectives on the government for the action they described as “desecration of tradition which will have dire consequences.”

    The latest demolition operation which started on Thursday saw at least four corpses exhumed from where they were buried which angered the deceased’s family members.

    The remains of the dead had been relocated elsewhere.

    Total number of seven graves were marked for demolition which had sparked tension with family members always keeping vigil awaiting the demolition squad.

    A relation of one of the deceased who craved anonymity alleged that the compensation reportedly paid by the government did not cover the exhumation of the corpses and dismantling of the shrines.

    Houses, shops and makeshift structures adjacent the palace of the Ewi was brought down by government bulldozers on Thursday.

    A cold war erupted between the governor and the people of Ado-Ekiti over the latest demolition which led to a face-off with the Ewi, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe at his palace about three weeks ago.

    The state government claimed it had paid a total of N400m as compensation to people whose houses were demolished so far in the ongoing demolition exercise in the state.

    The government, however, was silent on those whose properties were to be demolished in the latest exercise.

    Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr. Tayelolu Otitoju who disclosed this said that the exercise did not affect Ado Ekiti alone.

    According to him, more than 300 houses had so far been demolished under the exercise in Ado, Ikere, Efon Alaaye, Omuo,  Ise, Emure and Ijero, among other major towns.

    He explained further that government embarked on the project to ease traffic congestion, adhere to urban policy expected of any civilized society especially Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Otitoju added that government would not compensate owners of demolished houses that were built on waterways and setbacks.

    Read Also: Fayose, Ewi row over demolition in Ado-Ekiti

  • Ado-Ekiti Dynamic Club slams Fayose

    Ado-Ekiti Dynamic Club has condemned the outburst by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose during his meeting with Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi lll, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and his council of chiefs.

    The monarch had placed before the governor, complaints of the indigenes about rampant demolition of houses under the guise of urban renewal.

    He said his subjects complained that their houses were demolished without any notice of acquisition, payment of compensation, relocation or allocation of alternative land. Spokesman for the club, which is a socio-cultural and non-political association of Ado-Ekiti indigenes worldwide, Solomon Adetuberu, said: “In many cases, residents will go to work and return in the evening only to find that their houses have been demolished along with their belongings.

    “But in his repulsive response, Fayose displayed lack of respect, arrogance and pomposity to Ewi’s simple presentation of complaints from his people.

    “While the government’s so- called urbanisation should have been hailed, the rude and uncouth manner exhibited by Fayose to the Ewi in the palace irked Ado indigenes and all well-meaning people. The governor’s utterance to the Ewi is devoid of respect expected from a governor to a traditional ruler.

    “The club views the governor’s attitude as bestial and a departure from the hallmark of Omoluabi in Yoruba land where respect is accorded traditional rulers, which Fayose has desecrated.

    “The club admires the maturity and calmness displayed by the Ewi throughout Fayose’s unprovoked outburst in the palace.”

  • Fayose, Ewi row over demolition in Ado-Ekiti

    Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, led by their monarch, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, are angry with Governor Ayodele Fayose for demolishing houses in the city.

    The residents have been trooping to the palace of the monarch to register their displeasure about how their properties were demolished without any prior notice.

    Home owners claimed that the recent demolition was not done with a human face.

    They said many of the houses were brought down with their belongings inside.

    The Ewi invited Fayose to his palace at the weekend and expressed the disapproval of his subjects with the latest demolition.

    The governor reportedly got angry at the meeting and vowed to continue demolishing houses as part of his administration’s urban renewal policy.

    Oba Adejugbe was quoted to have said that Ado-Ekiti residents were not happy that the government did not inform them about the demolition before their homes were brought down for a market extension and a road project.

    Areas affected include Okeyinmi, Oke Ila, Ijoka and residential areas within the market vicinity.

    The Hausa in the Sabo area had been displaced.

    But the Ewi, his chiefs and subjects got more than what they bargained for when Fayose said nobody could stop him from the demolition.

    The governor said it would be continuous.

    Fayose reportedly promised to demolish the shops in the front of the palace and more houses in the city to pave way for his urban renewal project.

    The governor vowed not to honour any royal summons on the demolition saga.

    The footage of the encounter has since gone viral on various social media platforms and has been generating interest within and outside the state.

    In the video, Fayose does not hide his anger towards Oba Adejugbe’s remarks on public outrage on the demolition.

    The Ewi says: “The issue of urban renewal is sensitive. We had anticipated that this will happen and that was why we wrote a letter. You were at the glass shop over there when we said it was likely that houses would be demolished. But we said we should all sit down and be carried along before such houses would be demolished.

    “We know that you are doing your work and we cannot say you should not do your work. But my subjects have been coming to the palace to complain that their structures were being demolished without prior notice. One of them complained that he went to work and the house was demolished with all his belongings inside before he returned. That is the issue.

    “People have been coming here and they have not allowed us to rest. That of Ijoka was the most serious. That is why I said it is compulsory I see you (Fayose), that we should discuss together. We cannot say you should not do your work because we will understand the matter on the ground better in another 20 years.

    “I don’t want you to say that ‘when I wanted to do my job, the Ado-Ekiti people said I should not do my work’. What we are saying is that all of us will sit down together – whatever work you want to do – those to be affected will know ahead of time. Imagine a situation in which somebody goes to work and his house is demolished before he returns.”

    But an irate Fayose, who looks agitated while the Ewi is making his remark, fires back: “Kabiyesi, your position that we should not demolish houses, don’t say that at all; don’t say that again. Please, don’t bring that matter out again! Excuse me, sir! Let us ask for the truth from ourselves. Go out there. We have houses that have been there since 19-something.

    “Those houses are there, but the owners are no longer there. Many of them are living in the GRA, others are residing in America. What they do is that they will create shops out of those dilapidated buildings and they will be collecting rents on them at the end of the month.

    “I want you to know today that I will continue to demolish houses. Let me make it clear to you today. I wanted to extend the demolition to Atikankan; you were the one that prevented me. I wanted it demolished up to Atikankan.

    “At the spot where the demolition stopped, that one is a comma. Invite those house owners and tell them that those houses that serve as hideouts for phone snatchers and bag snatchers will be demolished.

    “We need relative peace. Can we remain in this condition forever? If this palace had remained the same condition you inherited it from your forefathers, who had reigned before you, are we going to have the opportunity of staying in this place? I just came here to honour you today. That is why I am here.

    “That dual carriageway is going through Oke Ila, across like this. Anybody who has structures along that way will have to endure. That is the Panadol everybody will have to take in a time like this. It is God Who stands by somebody; nobody should use the forthcoming election to intimidate me.

    “That Baba said the market is not part of it. Who told you that it is inside the market that demolition takes place? Those structures in front of the palace, I will demolish them. This palace should not be here and all that rubbish is allowed to be there. I want to complete that market in the first week of July, by God’s grace.

    “Everybody who is holed up in those structures should go inside the market so that I can tidy up the frontage of the palace. That will be in honour of my name forever.

    “There is no time we will not fight, but wherever somebody has to go, he will go there. Those who are yet to be compensated will be compensated. I am already processing their compensation. We have done the enumeration and whatever those affected are supposed to get an amount of money, they will get it.

    “That I will not demolish houses, I cannot guarantee that. I also want to tell Kabiyesi that I will not answer this kind of invitation again because I am busy working. I don’t want to be treated any less than the office of the governor that I represent. I don’t want to be so treated.

    “Excuse me, sir. You may not like what I want to tell you: till the morning of the day that I will leave office in this Ado, when you will be saying Fayose ‘bye bye’, I will work till that day. It is not because of you but because of me and my life. Kabiyesi, this is not a matter to be angry about it.”

  • Buhari appoints new Rector for Ado-Ekiti Fed Poly

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Aladebeye as the sixth substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.

    According to the letter appointing Aladebeye dated 1st March, 2018 and signed by Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, the appointment is with effect from 23rd February, 2018.

    Oladebeye before his latest appointment was earlier appointed as the Acting Rector on 18th December, 2017 following the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Rector, Dr. Theresa Akande.

    According to a statement on Tuesday by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, Oladebeye is the first alumnus of the Polytechnic to rise to the position of Rector.

    Oladebeye, 55, graduated from the institution with Distinction in Mechanical Engineering in 1986 and joined the services of the Polytechnic as a Technologist in 1987.

    The new rector holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering rising through the ranks to become a Chief Lecturer, the highest academic appointment in a Polytechnic, in 2007.

    He had at various times served three times as Head of Department, Dean of the School of Engineering and Deputy Rector for four years.

    Read Also: Riot: Ado Poly imposes N20, 000 reparation fee on students

  • Lassa Fever: Ekiti records fresh casualty

    A fresh case of Lassa fever has been confirmed in Ekiti State.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rotimi Ojo who made this known in Ado Ekiti, said that five out of the eight suspected case in the State, tested negative while one was uncertain and the last one pending as at press time.

    Dr. Ojo added that the patient that tested positive and two others have passed away.

    Stressing that there was no cause for alarm in the State, the Commissioner however noted that the State Government was taking proactive steps in surveillance activities that involved all residents due to the some recorded cases and deaths in neighbouring States.

    He assured that the State Disease Control team has been activated while the process of sensitizing the people with jingles, adverts and other communication media were ongoing.

    Ojo said that similar actions taken during the 2016 outbreak were successful adding that the epidemic was perfectly controlled and the indentified patient, who was properly managed, survived.

    According to him, the three isolation centres at Ido Federal teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti; Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital, Ado Ekiti and the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti are still operational.

    Read Also: Lassa fever treatment is free, says Fed Govt

    He urged all stakeholders including health practitioners, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as community and opinion leaders to join hands with the State Government to prevent the spread of the disease in the State.

    Dr. Ojo advised people in the State to avoid self medication and keeping sick people at home adding that any unusual increase in temperature or fever must be reported to the nearest health facility.

    The Commissioner also stressed the importance of environmental sanitation practices and general cleanliness saying that hand-washing, good food storage as well as practice and enforcement of infection prevention and control at various health facilities cannot be compromised.

  • Man lands in prison for defiling 10-year-old girl

    A 20-year-old man, Sunday Abraham, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl.

    Abraham, was arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court on Monday, is facing a one-count charge of defilement.

    According to the Police Prosecutor, Mr. Oriyomi Akinwale, the accused person committed the offence at about 10.30 pm on March 3 in Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.

    Akinwale revealed that the accused, on the said date, seized the girl while returning from an errand by his parents.

    The accused, according to the prosecutor, dragged the victim to his room where he forcibly had a carnal knowledge of her.

    He said the offence contravened Section 31 of the Child’s Rights Law of Ekiti State 2012.

    Abraham pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Dupe Afeniforo, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the receipt of legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    She subsequently adjourned the case till April 27 for mention.

  • Ojudu vows to recover assets “illegally” acquired by Fayose

    Ojudu vows to recover assets “illegally” acquired by Fayose

    Says he is on a mission to rebuild Ekiti

    There was a massive lock down in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday as the Special Adviser to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, formally declared interest to run for the governorship seat.

    Ojudu, who hopes to run on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowed to defeat Governor Ayo Fayose and his preferred candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, if he wins the ticket of the party.

    The journalist-turned politician declared that the governor should prepare for hard times outside power as he (Fayose) would be made to face justice for alleged constitutional breaches and corruption.

    Ojudu vowed that the APC administration would recover all assets, including choice houses, allegedly acquired by Fayose with Ekiti funds since his return to power in 2014.

    The presidential aide held a three-in-one event which started with the inauguration of his campaign office along Textile Road before holding a massive rally at Okeyinmi Roundabout.

    Popular Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa, was on band stand at the rally which where Ojudu addressed a massive crowd before the campaign train moved to the APC secretariat located in Ajilosun area of the city.

    The governorship hopeful, who was accompanied by his wife, Tola, officials of his campaign organization, friends, associates and other admirers.

    They were received by party executive led the state Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, where a big razzmatazz was on display. There was a huge traffic snarl on Ado-Ikere Highway throughout the period of the ceremony.

    Mrs. Olaleye promised that the party would conduct a transparent, credible, free and fair primary election among all its aspirants. She said the party is poised to regain power at the July 14 poll to give Ekiti people good governance and better standards of living.

    Speaking at the party secretariat, Ojudu urged APC leaders and members to unite and chase Fayose and his proxy out of power and save Ekiti State from total collapse.

    He explained that he was prepared for a big fight ahead to rescue the state from Fayose’s grip urging all party leaders and members unite and work APC victory at the poll.

    Ojudu emphasized that he has concrete evidence to proof that Fayose has allegedly been using funds belonging to Ekiti State to acquire property including not less than twenty houses and parcels of land in
    choice areas of the state capital.

    He said: “I have counted not less than twenty houses illegally acquired with money belonging to Ekiti State by Fayose in many parts of Ado-Ekiti alone.

    “We are going to recover all these buildings when we get to power. Properties including the land acquired at Ojumose, the land near Mr. Biggs where he has been building a hall and a house near the Ado-Ekiti High Court.

    “I have the pictures of those houses, I know the contractor and we are going to retrieve all these assets illegally and unlawfully acquired with our funds.

    “All of us must rise to fight for the recovery of our state and I can’t wait for the day I will lead the party to victory. With your support, we can restore our state to the path of prosperity.”

    According to him, everything humanly possible would be done to prevent Fayose from installing his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, which he said would spell doom for Ekiti.

    He added: “But our party needs to tread cautiously to be able to defeat this cunning man. We must be able to hold secret because he had succeeded in infiltrating our ranks. He has planted people in our ranks to leak vital information to him, so we must be cautious.

    “I know that the challenges of the recent years have galvanized our people to be resolute to fight the battle ahead. The next election is a must-win for APC.

    “Fayose is planning to rule the state by proxy by attempting to put his surrogate on the governorship seat. Let me assure you, we are going to foil such attempt.

    “Let me say this, I have all it takes to liberate Ekiti from the slavery they were put into by Fayose. I had once defeated him in a senatorial contest and I will do same again if given the opportunity.”

  • Ekiti 2018: ADP adopts Segun Adewale as gubernatorial candidate

    Ekiti 2018: ADP adopts Segun Adewale as gubernatorial candidate

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has adopted an Ipoti born business mogul, Otunba Segun Adewale (Aeroland) as its governorship candidate in Ekiti state, charging electorates in the state to liberate themselves from the shackles of poverty by supporting the party in the July 14 governorship election.

    ADP decision to adopt Otunba Segun Adewale (OSA) as the party’s governorship candidate was communicated in an address by the State Chairman, Hon Kunle Abegunde during a visit by the state executive council and members of the party to the Otunba Segun Adewale Campaign office at Ado Ekiti on Thursday 1st of March, 2018.

    At the event which had top officials of the party in attendance, the Chairman said ADP settled for the reputed entrepreneur and philanthropist after considering his antecedent and was convinced of his capability to deliver desired leadership to the state. He pointed out lapses of the Ayodele Fayose-led government, saying the people must reject the attempt to elongate their sufferings through ‘continuity Agenda ‘. According to him, “the current leadership of the PDP in Ekiti can not appreciate the qualities in this illustrious son due to their dictatorial tendencies”.

    The ADP Chairman in Ekiti State described Governor Fayose’s stomach infrastructure programme as false Charity and an attempt to subdue the citizens. In his words “False charity, lack of conscience, oppression and self-aggrandizement and impunity cannot continue forever,”

    Giving an insight to how the party arrived at the adoption of Otunba Adewale, Chief Abegunde said “aside Otunba Segun Adewale drawing his wealth from legitimate sources, he has impacted on many lives within and outside the state, even as a private individual. Otunba is credible, with no corruption or criminal tag. His successful entrepreneurship background and exposure is needed to redirect our State on the path of prosperity. Ekiti has many illustrious sons and daughters. We can not allow the present shenanigan to continue. We must all put hands on deck to redeem our dear State from the hegemony of looters “.

    Responding to the visitors on behalf of the aspirant who was unavoidably absent, Prince ‘Tosin Jegede, the Director General of the Otunba Segun Adewale Campaign Organization said the ADP gesture is a confirmation of the credibility of the brand his organization has presented to the electorates. “Let me start by appreciating the leadership and all members of ADP for taking this bold and unique step of identifying with our good brand not minding political party differences.

    “Otunba Segun Adewale remains a chieftain of the People Democratic Party who is seeking the governorship ticket of the party in a free, fair and credible primary. However, if Ekiti State PDP refuses a credible primary, we are convinced from our research into the activities of the ADP that the party is a credible alternative. Considering the credibility of those directing the affairs of the party at all levels, easy access to Party information and the Party constitution that takes grassroots members into consideration in decision making, one can truly see that the ADP is prepared for the challenges of producing credible leadership for the State in particular and the Nation at large”.

    Prince Jegede challenged those advocating the continuity of Governor Fayose’s administration through his deputy, Prof Olusola Eleka to showcase legacies that are worthy of continuing. “What is there to continue with the Fayose’s administration? Is it the non-commitment of government to its financial obligations to workers and contractors or the increased unemployment occasioned by government high handedness in dealing with investors? Are we expected to accept the continuity of government inability to reason beyond Federal Government’s monthly handouts or a situation where internal revenue accruing to the State is treated as top secret known only to the Governor? Should we continue to tax elementary school students?

    “While we appreciate the importance of a seamless transition between administrations, we are against the continuation of the present illusions in Ekiti government house. Ekiti State cannot continue to run on the impulse of an individual.” He said.

    The Director General assured the visitors that their request will be considered and responded to appropriately. Addressing journalists after the programme, Prince Jegede said “Otunba Segun Adewale is in the governorship race to win. If the PDP insist on selection instead of a free, fair and credible primary, we will be left with no other choice than accept the ADP offer. OSA will not hesitate to adopt any credible means of meeting the aspiration of the oppressed in Ekiti”

     

  • 20 convicted in Ekiti for violating sanitation laws

    20 convicted in Ekiti for violating sanitation laws

    No fewer than 20 people have been sentenced to various prison terms in Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti, for failing to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation in the state.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole, told our reporter on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti that the prison terms ranged from one to two months.

    Kolawole said the convicts were also given options of fine of N2, 000 to N5,000, depending on the nature of the offence.

    He said that the convicts were arrested by the officials of the state’s environmental sanitation agency on Saturday last week for indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

    The commissioner said that some of the convicts were sentenced for disregard for the order on restriction of movement during the exercise.

    He said that the sentences would not only serve as punishment to the offender, but as a deterrent to others who would want to commit similar offences.

    Kolawole warned that government would continue to prosecute anybody caught flouting environmental and sanitation laws in the state.

    He stressed the need for the residents to keep their environment clean in order to prevent flooding and avoidable outbreak of epidemic.

    He called on the people not to allow anybody to indiscriminately dump refuse in the waterways or do anything that would block canals in the state.

    The commissioner also solicited the continued support for government’s efforts to make life more meaningful for the people.

    He urged the residents to make judicious use of the waste bins provided by government at designated areas in the city to keep it clean.

    NAN