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Tag: Ayo Fayose

  • Unpaid salaries: Ekiti workers give Fayose 14-day ultimatum

    Workers in Ekiti State have issued a fourteen-day ultimatum to Governor Ayo Fayose to pay all arrears of salaries and pensions of retirees.
    Acting under the aegis of Ekiti State Organized Labour, the workers said the Fayose government must clear all arrears of workers’ entitlements before a new government takes office on October 16. The workers’ demands were contained in a bulletin issued on Saturday.
    Their demands also include payment of over seven months deduction, payment nine month arrears to local government workers and primary school teachers.
    They also advocated for payment of eleven months and six months pensions to local government pensioners and state government pensioners respectively.
    The bulletin reads: “Workers in the public service of Ekiti State have been suffering over the years with nobody to rescue them in relation to payment of salaries, pensions and other benefits.
    “The import of this is that the condition of service of an average worker in Ekiti is deplorable or poor despite the huge funds allocated to Ekiti State from the Federation Account between 2014 to date.
    “In view of the present development in the state occasioned by the result of the governorship election, it has become necessary to assess the implication on welfare of workers vis-à-vis the arrears of unpaid salaries.
    “In order to avoid a situation whereby the incoming government may wish to foot drag on the payment of the arrears of salaries on the premise that the organized labour was inept to the payment of same by the outgoing government thus amounting t a huge financial burden on the new government.
    “The state government is hereby given a 14-day ultimatum to meet these demands.”

  • Fayemi to Fayose: Devote June allocation for payment of salaries

    Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has advised Governor Ayo Fayose to utilise the N5.5 billion June allegation from the Federation Account to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.

    Fayemi also advised the governor to use the N34.5 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) cash that had accrued to the state since October 2014 allegedly kept in a secret account with a bank for the benefit of the people.

    In a statement on Sunday by Director of Media and Publicity, Fayemi Media Office, Mr. Wole Olujobi, the governor-elect urged Fayose tomake accountability and human face critical factors in the policies ofhis administration.

    He urged Fayose to be open and transparent to the workers on the June allocation rather than summoning meetings with labour leaders to deceive  them on the state of finance.

    According to Fayemi, the usual practice by the governor to collect federal allocations and call stakeholders meetings to deceive Ekiti people on the sharing formula between the state and local governments
    is no longer acceptable.

    The statement read: “Information available to us suggests that Fayose at the weekend called all the Directors in the state service to a meeting in the new Governor’s Lodge, pleading with them not to release
    sensitive information to the opposition, including non-disclosure of the state’s finances.

    “But we want to say that the state has received N5.52b fresh June federal allocation and we demand that the money be spent to pay salary, and should not be subjected to the circus of lies and deceits
    that often accompanied the sharing of the allocations in the past whereby local governments were given their shares in the morning and in the night they would be coerced to return the money to the governor’s office while local governments workers remained unpaid fornine months.

    “Fresh reports on the status of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) have indicated that between October 16, 2014 to date, the state has a revenue profile of N34,560,000,000 kept in secret
    accounts in one old generation bank account and another new generation bank account, yet there is nothing to suggest that the money was spent for the benefit of Ekiti people.

    “This revenue profile in the two banks is outside the traffic and environmental offences fines and charges reportedly kept in accounts unknown to the state’s accounting and financial system at an old
    generation bank at Ijigbo area of the state capital.”

    While noting that the cloudy manner of doing government’s business had rendered the state’s economy comatose,  Olujobi explained that evidence had also shown that massive fraud existed in Water
    Corporation and Sports Council where government’s cash and vehicles had disappeared without trace.

    “At the State Water Corporation where opaque financial management has left the system in ruins, Ondo State had paid its counterpart fund of N40m for the upgrading of Egbe Dam, but Ekiti State Government has
    refused to honour its obligation to the project, even as the money paid by Ondo State cannot be traced to any government’s account.

    “At Ero Dam, despite releasing N1b on paper out of N1.4b budgeted for the dam’s expansion, there is no sign of work going on there as we speak while in the same Water Corporation, two multi-million naira
    serviceable trucks were taken to Afao-Ekiti country home of the governor several months ago under pretext that they were being taken there for repairs and up till now, the trucks are still not in the service of the Water Corporation.

    “This followed the same pattern whereby the state lost five unserviceable vehicles at the State Sports Council to new ownerswithout any public bidding and auctioning to take possession of the vehicles.

    “For instance, reports indicated that three Toyota Hiace buses, one 504 Peugeot and one Nissan 120Y had disappeared from the premises of the corporation on the alleged order of the governor.

    “This is besides illegal auctioning of several government’s vehicles at ridiculous prices to cronies, who later assembled the same vehicles at a motor showroom in Ibadan for resale to the public.”

    Frowning at the report of alleged increase in the monthly running grants to the office of the Wife of the Governor from N20m to N35m as reportedly approved on March 10, 2018, Fayemi said that for the
    little time remaining for Fayose’s administration, he must make transparency and compassion his watchwords by applying the state’s funds diligently, particularly in the payment of salaries and entitlements of workers and pensioners.

    The reaction of Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, was still being awaited as of press time.

  • My security yet to be restored 72 hours after election – Fayose

    … Alleges 400 PDP members still in detention

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Tuesday appeared in public for the first time since his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, lost the governorship election held on Saturday.

    Olusola, who contested as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, was defeated by the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Fayose visited the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, on Thursday at his palace where he alleged that he and his supporters were still being persecuted by the Federal Government after losing election on Saturday.

    The governor alleged that his security aides who were withdrawn on the eve of the election are yet to be restored, a situation he said has exposed him to danger.

    He also claimed that about 400 PDP members are still being detained saying harassing him is not in the interest of democracy.

    Fayose further told the Ewi that the Government House was invaded by security forces and his wife prevented from gaining access to their official residence after election on Saturday.

    The governor urged the Ewi and other traditional rulers to intervene and save him from further punishment by the Federal Government as his mandate expires on October 15.

    Fayose said: “I have come to officially tell your sir, as the Paramount Ruler of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that the Government House was invaded by the police.

    “Over 400 of our members are being detained as we speak now. After the poll on Saturday, my wife was prevented from entering the Government House for about 45 minutes.”

    “Since last Wednesday, security agents had laid siege to the Government House, and were subjecting people to untold hardship coming in or going out.”

    “The poll has come and gone irrespective of what we went through. The constitution says I am still the governor till October 16 this year. Our state radio and television stations have been shut down. And there has been no means of getting across to our people.”

    “It was only this morning that security agents at the entrance of the Government House were withdrawn. If we have been robbed I still have a right to life and my family has a right to life too.”

    “The man that won has three units of the police protecting him. All my security men have been withdrawn since last Wednesday. I am only left with just a few.”

    “Harassing me is not on the interest of democracy. People must intervene before things go out of hand. I don’t know why we should be in this situation in 2018.”

    The Ewi sympathized with Fayose and promised that the traditional rulers would intervene and make representations to the appropriate authorities.

    While thanking God that nobody died during the election, the royal father appealed to the relevant security agencies to restore Fayose’s security aides to him.

    Oba Adejugbe said: “As if we knew, monarchs arranged many meetings before the election and pleaded with everybody that before, during and after the poll, we don’t want any trouble.

    “We said then that whoever wins, there should be no problem. The way I see you, I know something is happening. You rarely wear this type of dress to the palace.

    “I will convey your message to the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and we spoke this morning and we were worried about your whereabouts.

    “I appeal to security agencies that they should restore your personnel to you as the sitting governor. As Ekiti leaders, we will intervene.

    You, Fayemi and Eleka are our sons. Peace must be allowed to reign. We need peace in our state.”

  • Governor Fayose is overdramatic, says Police

    The Nigeria Police Force on Friday said allegations by Governor Ayo Fayose that he was slapped and kicked by a Police officer were false.

    The Police also said the governor was just being overdramatic.

    The Police said it investigated the matter by inviting the Aide-de-camp (ADC) and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor.

    Both officers according to the Police said nothing of such happened despite the Governor’s claims that the police shot at him and fired teargas that blinded him.

    This was disclosed by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood on a television programme monitored by The Nation.

    Moshood said: “It was overdramatized and everybody saw how it played out because how do you link up an injured arm with an injured leg and neck?

    “The Executive Governor of the state was not manhandled. Nobody slapped him because we saw allegation that the Governor was slapped. What were the ADCs doing, what were the CSOs doing and other security agencies personnel that were with him doing at that point in time?

    “Due to the allegation an, those two were invited to Command Headquarters to make statement because the Inspector General of Police after hearing of the accusations which is something that cannot be actualized directed that the matter be investigated and they were asked if they have deteriorated in their duty and why they allowed a governor to be slapped and pushed?

    “They made statement that nothing like that happened.”

    On why the crowd were dispersed, Moshood said: “The incident that occurred was the one that involved people sharing fuel and we are investigating that.

    “Why must people be induced with fuel and money? It was the people that could not get the money and fuel that went in there to try disrupt the rally and we tried to disperse them.

    “When they learnt that we were dispersing them with teargas, people left. Also, no individual has reported to police that anybody was killed or missing because of what happened while we were dispersing the crowd. So, to the best of our knowledge, nobody has reported in any Police station that he sustained injury.”

    He also assured residents of a safe and secured environment during and after the election.

    “The bottomline is that we are interested in providing secure environment for this election to hold and the people of Ekiti people are encouraged to continue to embrace peace.

    “The deployment of 30,000 is no doubt to secure them. If you look at the history of election in this country, you would discover that Ekiti State is a flashpoint because some people’s utterances are inciting.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose’s theatrics assault on Ekiti integrity, says youth group

    An Ekiti based youth socio cultural group, Apapo Odo Ekiti has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for allegedly deceiving Nigerians on a purported attack by the Police.

    The group slammed Fayose for what it called “his repeated uncivilized and unbecoming conduct as the number one citizen of Ekiti State which is a denigration of the exalted office of a Governor.”

    In a statement on Thursday by its president, Adeyanju Fagbemi, said Fayose’s showing on Wednesday assaulted the collective sensibilities of Ekiti people both at home and abroad.

    Fagbemi said: “We are ashamed and ridiculed by the “show of shame” exhibited by Governor Ayo Fayose in transforming Ekiti State Government House into a Nollywood film shooting location.

    “We are embarrassed by his theatrics of putting up a neck collar as a consequence of the alleged shooting of tear gas by the Nigeria Police to disperse a gathering of people which posed security risk at the entrance of the Ekiti State Government House.

    Read Also: Ekiti poll: Controversy as police disperse PDP’s rally

    “For our collective education and information, the Ekiti State Government House is the patrimony of the good people of Ekiti State irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliation.

    “Unfortunately Mr. Fayose has continued to assault the collective will of the people of Ekiti State by his deficit of respect, etiquette and decorum by transforming the state house into a political party campaign ground.

    “By assembling a crowd of partisan political supporters at the entrance of the Ekiti State Government House, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has intentionally undermined the security of the office of Governor and the people of Ekiti State which is an assault on his constitutional oath.

    “However, we must commend the Nigeria Police Force led by DIG Ekiti State for living up to its constitutional responsibility of maintenance of law and order by dispersing the provocative and unruly crowd instigated by Mr. Ayodele Fayose with minimal force in a civilized manner.

    “We are hereby using this medium to call on the good people of Ekiti State not to be hoodwinked to fail in exercising their constitutional right on election day or be incited to violence by this agent provocateur of a Governor.

    “We call on the good people of Ekiti State to be resolute in exercising their franchise on election day for the candidate of their choice based on integrity and merit without fear or favour.”

  • Fayose condemns ‘blockade’ of Ekiti govt house

    Says APC filled stadium with ‘hired’ crowd

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has accused the Federal Government of blocking the gate of the Ekiti State Government House with security forces on Tuesday.

    Riot policemen prevented vehicles from going in and out of the Government House but allowed pedestrians to gain access into the facility.

    Drivers’ union members had dropped their vehicles at the Government House as directed by Fayose Monday night where an all-night party held till Tuesday despite the heavy deployment of security men.

    But pedestrians were allowed to go in with many going to join the Ekiti drivers unions who assembled at the government house since Monday night.

    A musician was on the band stand to entertain the commercial drivers and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members on ground.

    Fayose also mocked the APC final rally held same day accusing the party of importing outsiders from neighbouring states to fill the stadium.

    Addressing the crowd at the party, Fayose criticized the Federal Government for blocking the gates of the Government House with battle-ready riot policemen.

    Read Also: Fayose faults DSS crackdown on supporters

    The Ekiti governor described the development as “an abnormality.” He thanked his supporters for shaming the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government by appearing at the Government House despite the security presence.

    According to him, the presence of the crowd had proved to the APC that the masses were for him.

    Leaders of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Pickup and Lorry drivers Association of Nigeria (PLAN) and Okada Riders Association vowed to vote for PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola at Saturday’s governorship election.

    He also mocked the APC final rally held same day accusing the party of importing outsiders from neighbouring states to fill the stadium.

    Fayose said: “It is an abnormality to block the gates of the Government House.

    “If they say I gave instruction to drivers unions to withdraw their services, let the APC give a counter-instruction to them if they are popular.

    “They (security agencies) blocked gates of the government house because they don’t want people to come in but you shamed them by still coming.”

    “They brought them from Ondo, Kogi, Osun and other neighboring states, they are all foreigners. They have no voting strength.

    “I will stand up to you (APC) in the election, we will match them bumper to bumper.”

    Fayose also took berated the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for questioning the PhD degree of Olusola at the party’s mega rally in Ado-Ekiti.

    He advised Oshiomhole to ask the president to tender his certificate to Nigeria first before he could raise an issue about others.

    “The president was asked to tender his certificate, he hired Senior Advocates of Nigeria. They said it was enough for him to present tissue paper as certificate, that’s why he is not performing.”

  • Ekiti must grow beyond stomach infrastructure – Buhari

    Says Fayemi competent to be governor

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged the people of Ekiti State to cast their votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s governorship election.

    He said the people of the Fountain of Knowledge should not allow themselves to be insulted by the stomach infrastructure policy being promoted by Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The nation’s number one citizen said Ekiti should grow beyond stomach infrastructure vote APC to enjoy god governance, development, better standard of living and infrastructure development.

    He expressed regrets that many politicians have been capitalizing on the herdsmen crisis in some parts of the country accusing him of not doing anything because he is Fulani.

    Describing the allegation as a “cheap blackmail,” Buhari said protection of life and property of Nigerians is paramount to him noting that measures are being taken to put an end to the herdsmen’s onslaught.

    Buhari spoke on Tuesday at the grand finale governorship rally held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where APC national leaders and governors canvassed for votes for the flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The President described Fayemi as competent, capable and experienced enough to be elected governor again noting that the APC flag bearer served excellently well as Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

    He said Ekiti get its fair share of resources and projects from the Federal Government despite the political difference between the government at the centre and state government.

    Joining Buhari at the rally are Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; Governors Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Umaru Al Makura (Nasarawa) and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

    Ministers who attended the rally include Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing), Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment), Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology), Adebayo Shittu (Communications) and Abdulrahman Danbazzau (Interior).

    Thousands of residents defied Fayose’s order to stay at home and thronged the stadium to welcome the President who first paid courtesy visit to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and other traditional ruler at the palace.

    Commercial activities were going on at the city’s main markets while many commercial drivers and motorcycle riders plied their trade on the major roads.

    Buhari, whose helicopter touched down at about 12.35 pm at Christ’s School sports field headed to the Ewi’s Palace where the monarchs were waiting to receive him.

    Read Also: Ekiti residents defy Fayose’s order to stay at home

    At the palace, Oba Adejugbe, advocated for creation of cottage industries in Ekiti to generate jobs for the unemployed. He urged Fayemi to do more for the people if he wins the poll and is sworn in again.

    At the stadium, Buhari said Ekiti people are dear to him which explained why many indigenes of the state got very important appointments in his administration including the most senior military officer in the land, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin.

    The President said he and his party have not only come to campaign for the votes of Ekiti people but to key in to the change agenda and vote APC.

    He disclosed that the APC-led Federal Government has carried out laudable projects including construction and rehabilitation of 13 federal roads including Ikole-Omuo Road, Efon Alaaye-Iwaraja Road, Ido-Ifaki Road, Ado-Ifaki Road, Ila-Ilale-Ekan-Otun Road and internal roads at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

    Buhari said his administration also awarded contract for a Federal Secretariat which is under construction in Ekiti to ensure that federal civil servants have office accommodation.

    He noted that a National Housing Project to provide accommodation for residents was extended to Ekiti State by his administration which has also generated jobs for local artisans.

    The President further explained that thousands of Ekiti residents benefited from the social investment programmes of his administration including Npower for youths, School Feeding for primary school pupils, Conditional Cash Transfer and several tranches of bailout funds.

    Urging Ekiti electorate to vote Fayemi, Buhari said: “Don’t allow yourself to be blackmailed by stomach infrastructure; your future is in your hand, you must grow beyond stomach infrastructure.

    “Ekiti should do the right thing by voting APC and commence the journey to reclaim your land and restore your values.

    “I recommend Fayemi to you, he served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, he is experienced. Don’t waste your vote, vote Dr. Kayode Fayemi.”

    APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, urged Ekiti voters to elect Fayemi and reject PDP which he accused of inflicting hardship of non-payment of salaries on civil servants, teachers and local government workers.

    Oshiomhole accused Fayose of pocketing the over N20 billion bailout funds given to him by the Buhari administration to pay arrears of workers’ salaries and dancing “kurukere” when workers are suffering.

    He disclosed that he held a meeting with labour unions in Ekiti on Monday where he gave a commitment that Fayemi would pay all the outstanding arrears owed by Fayose to give relief to workers

    Oshiomhole said: “I have served as a guarantor that Fayemi will pay the arrears of workers’ salaries when elected and he will ensure that all Ekiti people get what is due to them.

    “Four years ago, I was a sitting governor of Edo State and I wanted to come and campaign for Fayemi in the 2014 election but the PDP made sure that I did not have the opportunity to come and campaign for the then incumbent Fayemi.

    “Mr. President, we thank you and we know that you will not do the same, we are not here for revenge. Fayose has been trying to divert attention, he abused INEC, Police and he is behaving like a typical armed robber.

    “Fayose has resorted to very primitive tactics, he gave unlawful order that all shops be closed and manipulated drivers not to bring out their vehicles to convey people here.

    “This boy (Fayose) is a poor student of thuggery; nothing, absolutely nothing can stop people that are determined. The President is proud that you defied his tactics and came here today.

    “You will vote freely and fairly and nothing will happen. Whoever Fayose demotes, Fayemi will promote him and whoever Fayose dismisses, Fayemi will reinstate.

    “All of you go to your polling units with your PVCs and by Saturday, Fayose will cry.”

    APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu urged Ekiti electorate to reject the PDP which he described as a “party of looters.”

    Tinubu described APC as a pain killer that will put an end to the pains being experienced by Ekiti people and Nigerians at large.

    He said Buhari built three refineries for Nigeria but the PDP government dismantled and sold them off leaving Nigerians to suffer.

    Tinubu said: “They (PDP) stole all the money, what do you have left in the treasury? PDP is a party of destruction, it is Poverty Development Party.

    Read Also: Photos: Ekiti APC governorship rally

    “When they stole your money, they stole your life, they stole your future. APC is here to rebuild what has been destroyed. We thank God for the party under the leadership of our Baba, President Buhari.

    “APC is the pain killer, my mama used to give me APC when I was young. When you vote APC, you are voting for future, you are voting for the sake of your children.

    “It is not for the sake of Kayode (Fayemi), he had an appointment in Abuja but he has come back to serve you. If you want Ekiti to look like Lagos, to witness development and have your children in schools, vote APC.

    “Don’t let anybody intimidate you, you will be protected, nobody can intimidate you. If you want to eat the seed inside palm kernel, it will not be easy/

    “You can’t sleep at home and be expecting power, nobody serves it in a restaurant. No matter the level of their lies, propaganda and intimidation, fear has gripped them.

    “Vote and stand by your vote, it will not be like that of 2014. It is your turn to get your government for your good and progress, go there on Saturday and vote APC.”

    Fayemi promised return of good governance to Ekiti if the people of the state elect him. He commended the people for trooping out in large numbers for the rally to welcome the President.

    He said the party is united after the primary noting that all governorship aspirants who contested for the party’s ticket with him are resolute to ensure victory for the party.

    Fayemi said: “During my time, there is no community that did not benefit from our government. If we did not construct your road, we built your school, if we did not build your school, we constructed palace for your Kabiyesi, if we did not build palace for your Kabiyesi, we fixed your drains.

    “We did all that, we did not owe workers a single Naira; we paid the elderly, we paid free WAEC, NECO, JAMB, NABTEB fees. We increased workers salaries (minimum wage) from N8,500 to N13,000 and then to N19,000.

    “We were the first to pay Rural Teachers Allowance in Nigeria, Core Teachers Allowance. I am running on a track record of service in all constituencies, there is no single community that did not benefit from our (first) tenure.

    “Why am I back? President did not sack me (as minister). My people need me for reclaiming your land and restoring our values. Your PVCs must be ready because the power of the people is greater than the people in power.”

    Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for Ekiti State governorship election, Kebbi State Governor Bagudu said the magnitude of crowd that thronged the stadium was a pointer to an APC victory on Saturday.

    Bagudu said Ekiti has the best potential to develop under Fayemi noting that Ekiti people appreciated what he did during his first tenure.

    “Go to your polling units on Saturday and vote APC; guard your votes, don’t be intimidated. President Buhari has assured that security will be provided and your votes will count,” Bagudu said.

    Yari, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) said Fayose held its rally on the streets last week because he was afraid of an empty stadium.

    Yari said Fayemi has done it before and he will do it again urging residents to troop out in large numbers to vote Fayemi.

    Other governors who spoke at the rally include Akeredolu, Bello, Aregbesola, Ajimobi and Amosun.

    The Senator representing Ekiti Central, Mrs. Fatimat Raji Rasaki led other PDP members into the APC. She described the PDP as a party of retrogression, anti-people and anti-progressive party.

    Other PDP chieftains officially received into APC are House of Representatives member representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Mr. Olamide Oni; House of Assemby member representing Ikere Constituency 2, Mr. Sunday Akinniyi; House of Assembly member representing Ise/Orun Constituency, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada; immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi; immediate past Chairman of Ekiti East Local Government, Mr. Samuel Adekunle.

    Ex-Attorney General Ajayi accused Fayose of running a selfish government which has lost focus and popularity among the people.

    Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said more than half of PDP leaders and members in Ekiti State have left the umbrella party saying “PDP will be buried on Saturday.”

  • Don’t waste your votes, elect Fayemi, Buhari tells Ekiti electorate

    President Muhamadu Buhari on Tuesday asked the electorate in Ekiti  not to waste their votes  in Saturday’s governorship election.

    Rather,  the president urged voters to elect the candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC),  Dr  Kayode Fayemi, given the track record of the ruling APC  administration in the country.

    Buhari, who gave the charge in Ado-Ekiti  at the grand finale of the mega rally of the party, told the crowd of party faithful and supporters at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium that there was no better alternative to Fayemi.

    He said the people of Ekiti must not be deceived  by the “stomach infrastructure’’ programme  of the PDP government in the state, describing it as at variance with the norms in a functional democracy.

    Buhari said he was in  Ekiti not only to campaign for Fayemi but also to create  awareness as well as sensitise the people on the dividends of democracy so far made available to them.

    The president said his administration had so far executed 13 projects  in the state, with no fewer than 29 contractors handling them.

    He said the initiatives, most of which were  road construction projects,  had also provided direct and indirect jobs to  many residents.

    Besides, he said approval had been given by his administration for the construction of a Federal Secretariat in Ado Ekiti to ease the burden of  office accommodation faced by federal workers in the state.

    He also listed the engagement of many indigenes of the state in  the N-Power programme of the Federal Government, granting of  bailout funds to  the state as well as approval of School-Feeding Programme and Conditional Cash Transfer scheme as some of the achievements of  his administration.

    The president assured  the people of the state of more dividends of democracy if they support Fayemi in the election.

    Also addressing the crowd, the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, said Fayemi  would redress all the wrongs of the Ayo Fayose administration.

    He also gave an assurance that all the salaries and emoluments owed workers by the Fayose administration would be paid.

    Speaking in the same vein, the National Leader of the party, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  assured residents  that the APC was committed to the progress and development of the country.

    He accused the PDP of destroying the country’s economy, urging the people to embrace the change agenda of the APC.

    ” It was the PDP that destroyed the future of Nigeria and those yet unborn. PDP stole all the monies and made life difficult for all the citizens

    ” It is not easy to rebuild what the PDP has spent long years destroying; for  many of them that are now complaining,  where were they when our economy was being bastardised?

    ” You must not allow anybody to  intimidate you, I urge you to guard  your PVC and use it wisely on Saturday

    ” It is your turn in Ekiti to get a good government, it is not for you alone but for your children and their future,’’  Tinubu said.

    At the rally were 12 APC governors, seven serving ministers and national leaders of the party.

    The high point  of the event was the formal defection to   the APC  by  many PDP members including a  serving Senator,  Fatimah Raji-Rasaki, and a member of  the House of  Representatives, Oni Olamide.

     

  • Ekiti residents defy Fayose’s order to stay at home

    Many residents of Ekiti State on Tuesday defied the order of Governor Ayo Fayose to stay at home as the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its final mega rally.

    Fayose had on Monday night directed commercial drivers and motorcyclists to withdraw their services from the roads on a day President Muhammadu Buhari was visiting.

    The governor also ordered that major markets in the city be closed and residents stay indoors.

    Many commercial drivers parked their vehicles at the Government House lawn where Fayose an all night party held. He also promised to give each driver that complied N10,000.

    He claimed that he took the action to prevent the killing of his people by Buhari’s men whom he alleged were ready to spill blood.

    Fayose said the transporters would remain indoors until 4.00 pm when the APC rally would have ended.

    Normal commercial activities went on unabated on Tuesday with a good number of commercial drivers and motorcyclists plying their trade.

    Taxi cabs and okada riders picked passengers at bus stops along Ikere Road, Ilawe Road, Adebayo, Old Garage, Basiri, Old Garage, Odo Ado, Oke Ila, among others.

    Market women had thronged Oja Oba and Bisi Markets as soon as 6.00 in defiance of Fayose’s order that the market be closed.

    Read Also: Court orders Fayose to reinstate sacked TUC chair

    APC members were seen in many parts of the city trooping to the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium venue of the rally.

    A motorist who was apparently angry with Fayose’s late night order said nobody could stop him from pursuing his livelihood.

    He said: “Fayose is only afraid of his impending and unavoidable defeat, and that, that is the reason he is trying to do everything possible to frustrate the opposition parties in the state.”

    An Okada rider said: “Just to ensure that we do not come out to work today, he told us to come to NNPC on Bank Road on Monday night to collect 2 litres of fuel each, he also told us to come to Government House to eat food. This is very ridiculous and low of a state government.”

  • Ekiti 2018: I remain Accord candidate, says Aluko

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has declared that he remains the candidate of Accord Party for the July 14 governorship election.

    Aluko said the party structures are still intact despite the exit of some of its members who have entered into an alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The Accord flag bearer said the action of the party leaders and members who have pledged to work for Olusola’s victory was borne out of greed.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti, Aluko said a former governorship aspirant in the party, Akogun Banji Ojo and the State Chairman, Chief Matthew Odeoba who are behind the alliance with the PDP do not enjoy the support of majority party members.

    Aluko said they gave gone to dupe Governor Ayo Fayose because they have found a willing buyer who was ready to pay for their services.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Aluko gets Accord governorship flag

    He said: “I have a strong belief that these people only took the action to dupe Governor Fayose. They got a willing buyer in Fayose and they believe they have got somebody they can suck,” he said.

    Backing his argument with documentary evidence, Aluko said the crisis was sparked by Ojo’s demand for N65 million he (Ojo) had allegedly spent as expenses on the party before Aluko’s arrival.

    Aluko said he rejected the request based on conviction that it was meant to extort him, since the party has no verifiable structure in the state to buttress Ojo’s claim.

    “After my initial refusal, the national body said I should give him a sum of N5m, but he rejected. Rather than paying such huge money, I would rather spend in building structures for Accord and that I have been doing.

    “Being a former Deputy Governor, they though I have a mint machine at home whom they thought they could suck.

    “So, their opposition to my candidacy has nothing to do with my capability or financial wherewithal, but some people are out to make money from the governor, that was why they have been raising all manners of false allegations to justify their pay.

    “We are just trying to build structures at the wards and local governments so that it can be on ground to win election.

    “I may not have the whole money to prosecute this election, but I have the goodwill among friends and well-wishers who believed in our ability to make a change in the lives of Ekiti, they too shall contribute to our campaign.”