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Tag: Ayo Fayose

  • Adoption of Fayose’s deputy a charade – Adeyeye

    Adoption of Fayose’s deputy a charade – Adeyeye

    The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, on Wednesday described the choice of Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as the party’s candidate for the 2018 governorship election as a “charade and attempt to impose a stooge.”

    Adeyeye said adoption of Olusola by a section of the party as “the sole candidate” for next year’s poll was “a clear breach of the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act.”

    He said it was wrong for Governor Ayo Fayose’s appointees and few House of Assembly members to deny delegates opportunity to elect a candidate.

    The former Minister of State for Works said the adoption of the deputy governor contravened Section 50 (1), Section 50 (2) and Section 50 (2b) of the PDP constitution as amended in 2012.

    In a statement signed on his behalf by the Director of Media, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Mr. Niyi Ojo, the governorship aspirant implored party members and the general public to ignore what he called “the purported adoption of Olusola as a sole candidate.”

    It reads: “The attention of PAAM has been drawn to the charade that took place at the Government House this afternoon by some political appointees, councillors and few House of Assembly members allegedly adopting Prof. Olusola as their consensus/sole candidate for 2018 gubernatorial election. This is a clear breach of the party constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “The body is unknown to the PDP constitution; it is important to note that PDP is bigger and larger than an individual so the rules and regulations of the party are sacrosanct in the election of any candidate for elective position.

    “PAAM believes in credible, transparent, free and fair primary for all aspirants for the position of governorship come 2018. PAAM rejects the purported adoption of a sole candidate in its entirety as there are many other aspirants for the governorship race in 2018.

    “This gathering was organised and supervised by Governor Fayose to impose a stooge as the sole candidate for PDP in Ekiti State. We implore members of the public and our teeming supporters to disregard the purported adoption of Prof. Olusola as a sole candidate.”

  • Ekiti disburses N190million vehicle/housing loans to 751 teachers, others

    Ekiti disburses N190million vehicle/housing loans to 751 teachers, others

    The Ekiti State Government on Tuesday announced the release of N190 million as vehicle and housing loans to 751 teaching and non-teaching staff in its secondary schools.

    Chief Abiodun Falayi, Chairman, Ekiti Teaching Service Commission, who announced this in Ado Ekiti, said that 468 workers received N100,000 to N300,000 as land/housing loans, depending on their salary grade levels.

    According to him, another 283 personnel received between N80,000 to N750,000 as vehicle loans, depending on their salary grade levels.

    Falayi said that the State Government had earlier disbursed more than N1 billion as housing and vehicle loans to different categories of workers since the inception of the Gov Ayo Fayose-led administration.

    He assured workers that the special welfare scheme would be a continuous exercise, and revealed that 6,000 teaching and non-teaching staff were recently promoted.

    Falayi charged beneficiaries of the loans to utilise the facility judiciously, and cautioned them against diverting it to activities that would not add value to their lives.

    He stressed the need for workers to continually support the efforts of government to improve their welfare, pointing out that it would be difficult to achieve set targets without such support and dedication to service delivery.

  • I’m “President in-waiting”, says Fayose

    I’m “President in-waiting”, says Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose is famous for his controversies. On Saturday, ahead of President Muhammed Buhari’s arrival from London,  Fayode declared himself as Nigeria’s president in-waiting.

    He spoke at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo –the Taraba State capital during the funeral service of former Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.

    The Ekiti governor came when all other dignitaries were seated and the occasion had begun.

    He waved at the gathering, acknowledging cheers which briefly interrupted the service.

    He wore a white garment with brief arms and white half-shoe to match.

    As he strode in, some people initially had mistaken him for former President Goodluck Jonathan, in spite of their stark difference in body frame and height.

    Leading Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong to the podium to offer their condolences and tributes, Fayose stirred a melodrama.  Twice, he called himself president in-waiting.

    He humorously thanked the moderator, GT Kataps for giving him the chance to step on the podium.

    “Thank you for giving me the chance. Maybe I am the president in-waiting,” he said. There was a thunder of laughter and cheers from the audience.

    As he made his speech, members of a women choral group began to make noise. “Women should not make noise, especially when a president in-waiting is talking,” he said. Again, he was cheered up by fans.

    He based his tribute on “courage and fearlessness” which he is known for, which were also attributes of late former Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.

    But when it was the turn of the Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong to speak, he told Fayose that there was no qualm since his presidency was a waiting type.

    Lalong said: “Thank God you are a waiting president. You will wait for my President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; he is returning today; you will welcome him.”

    It was a few hours after Lalong’s speech that President Buhari arrived the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

    Lalong is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Fayose is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Fielding questions from newsmen, Fayose said he attended Suntai’s funeral because the deceased was an achiever, and particularly when Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP won his election in the court he celebrated the victory in Ekiti too.

  • PDP governors will support party to regain power – Fayose

    PDP governors will support party to regain power – Fayose

    Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Saturday assured that the governors would continue to align with the ideals of the party and support it to regain power.

    Fayose gave the assurance at the party’s special national convention in Abuja.

    He said that the party would, as it had just done, overcome other challenges that may arise and win the general elections in 2019.

    He urged members of the party and supporters to not only work towards, but should begin to congratulate themselves because “re-occupying Aso Rock in 2019 is certain’’.

    He said that from 2019, he would be attending to the needs of Nigerians from the Presidential Villa, recalling that he had indicated interest in the presidency of the country.

    “The crowd here in the convention arena is a testimony of what is happening in Nigeria; the party is now a religion and a belief that we are going back to `our villa’.

    “I am going there; I don’t know how many of you will be ready to go there.

    “PDP will take Nigeria out of one chance and give it plenty chances.

    “We made a mistake but our ability to correct is the one that is important; we fell and we are bound to rise, so, it is time to arise and shine and let your light be seen be men,’’ he said.

    Fayose added that Nigeria would be liberated from poverty that had set into national life since PDP left office.

    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the sidelines, former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, said that the success of the convention was “a happy one for the party’’.

    “Today, we are happy that PDP is united and Nigerians are happy that PDP is on the march again.

    “Now it is very clear that indeed, PDP is set to regain power in this country and bring hope and good things to Nigerians.’’

    Turaki said that PDP would take away prevailing hunger, poverty, despondency, quarrel and insecurity and bring back prosperity and good times to Nigerians. (NAN)

  • Ekiti: Five docked for stealing 600 bags of cement

    Ekiti: Five docked for stealing 600 bags of cement

    The ongoing construction of the new Erekesan Market otherwise known as “Oja Oba” in Ado-Ekiti by the Ayo Fayose administration has been stalled by alleged theft of about 600 bags of cement and other materials by five workers at the site.

    The five workers: Jegede Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde were arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on two counts charge of stealing.

    They were all charged to court by Ekiti State government before Chief Magistrate Idowu Ayenimo. The charge was filed against them by Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola.

    Apart from stealing 600 bags of cement worth N1.5 million, the accused persons also allegedly stole 16mm iron rods worth N35,000, one roll of binding wire worth N112,000 and 180 pieces of marine board worth N378,000 with all the stolen items valued at N2,055,000.00

    The alleged offence is punishable under Sections 390 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    Work on the new market had stalled for a couple of months which had been attributed to the alleged stealing of construction materials by workers engaged by the contractor who has been in race against time to deliver the project as scheduled.

    The charge sheet reads:  “That you, Jegede Kayode Olusola, Faleye Sunday, Filani Oladipo, Olabode Felix and Dada Tunde between October 6, 2016 to March 31, 2017 did conspire to steal 600 bags of cement worth N1,530,000, 16mm iron rods worth N35,000, one roll of binding wire worth N112,000, 180 pieces of marine board worth N378,000 total value of N2.05m, property of Ekiti State Government at the site of ultramodern Oba’s Market, Old Garage, Ado Ekiti within the Ado Ekiti Magisterial District, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.”

    At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor asked the presiding Chief Magistrate for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the counter-affidavit and Preliminary Objection filed against the charge.

    “We were served this morning, we thought we will be able to respond to the processes but unfortunately we are still typing stage.

    “Consequent upon this, we will be asking for a very short adjournment.”

    The defence counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, did not object to the application.

    In his ruling,  Aiyenimo adjourned the case till August 17 for hearing.

  • Fayemi didn’t embezzle Ekiti SUBEB funds – Panel

    Fayemi didn’t embezzle Ekiti SUBEB funds – Panel

    A report of a five-man panel set up by Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to investigate the withdrawal of N852 million 2012 UBEC/SUBEB state counterpart fund has revealed that former Governor Kayode Fayemi did not embezzle the cash as alleged by his successor.

    The panel in its report dated December 3, 2015 revealed that the cash was withdrawn from the account of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) by Access Bank, Ado-Ekiti Branch, because “the last administration did not perfect the loan agreements with its failure to approve the agreed interest rate and providing Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) for the loan.”

    The panel was headed by former Ekiti State Chief Judge who is currently the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaiye, while SUBEB Chairman, Bode Ola, served as secretary.

    Other members of the panel – are former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Owoseni Ajayi; Accountant General, Mrs. O.O. Owolabi; Deputy Director, Physical Planning Unit, SUBEB, Ehinafe Olakunle (now late), Dapo Akinyemi and B.J. Ogundare.

    It was gathered that the bank agreed to grant the Fayemi administration the facility after the June 21, 2014 governorship election but Fayose who was then the governor-elect warned the bank against granting the facility.

    The bank deferred to Fayose and the cash was returned to the vault in a bid to ensure a smooth business relationship with him when he takes over as governor in October of same year.

    Fayose had accused Fayemi, who is now Minister of Mines and Steel Development, of looting the funds.

    He claimed that the development had denied the state of counterpart funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to execute projects in public schools in the state.

    The former governor however denied the allegation.

    It was on the basis of the allegation that the state House of Assembly summoned the minister to offer explanation on the matter which he declined on grounds that details on what happened to the funds are contained in his handover note.

    After failing to compel Fayemi’s appearance in the Assembly, the lawmakers asked Fayose to raise a judicial panel of inquiry to probe the management of the state finances between October 2010 and October 2014 during the minister’s tenure as governor.

    The panel led by former Acting Chief Judge, Justice Silas Oyewole (retd) is currently investigating Fayemi’s tenure.

  • ‘I would have burnt my PDP card if Sheriff won’

    ‘I would have burnt my PDP card if Sheriff won’

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, said he would have burnt his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card if the court had declared Ali Modu Sheriff chairman of the party.

    He said that he would have also destroyed the party’s flag in his possession.

    Fayose, who returned to the state on Friday after the Wednesday’s Supreme Court session, stated this while addressing PDP supporters in Ado-Ekiti.

    He said that he would have destroyed his membership card of the party and the flag right at the court premises if the verdict had been in favour of Sheriff.

    “I never imagined myself being in the same party with impostors,” he said.

    The governor, however, said that Sheriff and his followers had been forgiven but won’t go scot-free for causing the party members so much pain.

    “I went to court with a perfume which I wanted to use to spray my cards and party flags and set them ablaze even within the court premises if Sheriff had won; that was why I went to court.

    “Although I believe that we remain the same PDP family, no one can cause our party such pains and embarrassment and expect that he will go without being asked to account for his actions.

    “The no victor, no vanquished’ that we said was a mere political slogan. Whoever that participated in this charade must show some reasonable level of remorse for his actions,” he said.

  • Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    Petroleum marketers in Ekiti suspend strike

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ekiti on Sunday suspended its strike.

    NAN reports that IPMAN embarked on the action on May 25, over demolition of some petrol stations and the revocation of some Certificate of Occupancy by the Gov. Ayo Fayose.

    The suspension of the strike is contained in a communiqué issued in Osogbo at the end of a peace meeting called by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun.

    The communiqué, which was signed by Aregbesola, Fayose and the representatives of the marketers, was made available to newsmen at Osun Government House where the peace meeting was held.

    According to the communiqué, an ad hoc committee would be constituted to fashion out in clear terms the conditions and guidelines for the establishment and operations of filling stations in Ekiti state.

    It stated that the committee, to comprise of representatives of Ekiti state government and oil and gas stakeholders, shall begin work on June 7.

    “In the spirit of reconciliation, the Ekiti government has agreed to pleas for reversal of the revocation of some Certificates of Occupancy of landed properties on which filling stations are built, except the ones on waterways and canals,” the communique said.

    It also stated that the Ekiti government had agreed to stop further demolitions pending the outcome of the committee’s report.

    “The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), IPMAN and other related oil and gas unions, hereby, suspend the industrial action embarked upon by their members, with immediate effect,” it said.

    Fayose, while speaking with journalists after the meeting, commended the black marketers, who had taken over the streets of Ado Ekiti and other towns.

    He said their services cushioned the effect of the scarcity caused by the strike.

    Fayose, however, said that with the fuel marketers resuming operations, black marketers were sure to fizzle out.

    On his part, Aregbesola said the resolution of the crisis was a confirmation that the people had the capacity to resolve their differences.

    He commended the maturity of his Ekiti state counterpart and the fuel marketers for allowing the crisis to be successfully resolved. (NAN)

  • Fayose seeks to complete aborted tenure

    Fayose seeks to complete aborted tenure

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State said on Monday that he would contest in court his removal from office during his first term tenure.

    The governor spoke on his monthly public enlightenment programme, “Meet Your Governor in Ado Ekiti.

    He said since the Supreme Court had ruled that his impeachment was illegal, null and void, he reserved the constitutional right to so contest the removal.

    According to him, since his tenure had been adjudged by the Supreme Court to have been illegally truncated, he had no option than to approach the same court to seek interpretation of the judgement.

    The governor said the pertinent question to ask the court was whether by virtue of an earlier judgement in his favour dismissing his removal, he had no right to seek to complete his remaining tenure of seven months.

    He emphasised that the case as to whether he was entitled to complete his tenure or not must first be determined before there could be another governorship election in the state in 2018.

    NAN reports that Fayose got sworn-in for the first term tenure in May 2003, but got his tenure terminated through impeachment on Oct. 16, 2006.

    Meanwhile, the governor has said that he was not bothered by the ongoing strike by fuel dealers in the state.

    He said he would not rescind his decision to stop further erection of filling stations in residential areas, even if they strike for one year.

    He said full demolition of such fuel stations, including those erected near schools would commence on Tuesday.

    Besides, he placed a ban on commercial activities in all fuel stations that were currently on strike.

    He said there was no way he could allow shops attached to fuel stations to be opened to business when the real filling station was closed to motorists.

    Fayose expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for renaming the Federal University, Oye Ekiti after the late Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, adding “I begged for it.’’

     

  • Fayose appoints 12 new executive secretaries, general managers

    Fayose appoints 12 new executive secretaries, general managers

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Friday approved the appointment of 10 serving directors as executive secretaries in the public service of the state.

    The State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti that the appointments also included two general managers.

    According to the statement, those appointed as Executive Secretaries are Mr Joseph Obaparusi, Mr Bamidele Arowosola, Mr Bola Akomolede, Dr Felix Ojo, Mr Adesola Babatunde and Dr Babatope Adeyemi.

    Others are Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, Mr Ajaja Gabriel, Mr Yakubu Oladele and Mr Vincent Omodara in acting capacity.

    The governor also approved the appointments of Mr Dada Olutayo as Acting General Manager of Ekiti State Sports Council, and Mr Phillip Atere as Acting General Manager of the state Electricity Board.

    The statement explained that all the appointments took immediate effect.