Tag: Ayo Fayose

  • Ekiti 2018: Departed accord members want to dupe Fayose, says Aluko

    Says exit from party driven by greed

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has declared that he is determined to win the July 14 governorship ambition on the platform of Accord Party.

    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.

    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.

    “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.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Aluko said a former governorship aspirant in the party, Akogun Banji Ojo and the State Chairman, Chief Matthew Odeoba who engineered the move do not enjoy the support of majority party members.

    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.

    Read Also: My plan for Ekiti, by Olusola

    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.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose rallies supporters for PDP mega rally

    Urges them to wear White on rally day

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has urged residents of the state to attend the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag off rally to be held on Thursday.

    The PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, will be presented with the flag at the event to be attended by governors and the party’s national and zonal leadership.

    Fayose who spoke on Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) described the event as “mother of all rallies.” He urged party supporters to wear white to the rally.

    The governor promised to provide free fuel to commercial motorcycle riders on election day to convey eligible voters to polling stations at highly reduced prices.

    Fayose vowed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will be defeated in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    The governor claimed that the APC flag bearer relies on federal might, while he and Olusola depend on the people’s might.

    He said: “There will be a mother of all rallies on Thursday, July, 5 where the PDP flag will be given to our candidate, Olusola Kolapo Eleka.

    “There will also be victory walk where all of us will wear white, and walk through the state capital praising God and thanking him for victory over our enemies.”

    He added: “The power of the people is greater than those of us in= power, peoples’ might is greater than federal might.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Workers accuse Fayose of illegal data capturing

    “Anything that does not represent the truth in this poll will fail. The opposition is fighting God and they will fail. We will beat APC 16-0 again.”

    Fayose alleged that the Federal Government has been delaying allocations to states because of the impending election in Ekiti.

    He claimed that the alleged seizure of Ekiti allocation was aimed at instigating workers against his administration.

    Fayose said: “The Federal Government has refused to share the allocation. They decided to delay so that workers in Ekiti would be angry with Fayose.

    “They held a meeting last week Saturday and decided to delay the allocation so that workers won’t get salaries until after July 14 poll.

    “They owe me two budget supports. They delayed the salaries of the workers across the nation because of Ekiti. Is that a government that loves the masses?

    He condemned the recent wave of violence in some quarters in the state and urged members of PDP to desist from violent activities:

    “See how APC attacked people in Fayose market and Oloje Ekiti. Our power is our PVC, l urge men of God both those supporting me and those not, to campaign  to people to go get their PVC

    “I urge all PDP members once again not to retaliate the APC thugs, reserve your strength till the day of election. It is not a physical combat but one done with your PVCs. Don’t take arms against anybody, don’t fight.

    “Avoid distribution of money during the poll; it could land you in prison. I promise all Okada men, to provide fuel so you take our people with half price for movement during the poll.”

  • FG withholding Paris club refund to starve Ekiti – Fayose

    Warns INEC against using ‘Edo formula’ in Ekiti

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, has accused the Federal Government of deliberately withholding the release of the Paris Club refund to states purposely to prevent Ekiti from using the money to pay arrears of workers’ salary before the July 14 governorship election.

    Fayose also warned the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against stopping the collation of elections results midway, as it was done during the governorship election in Edo State.

    The governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said Ekiti State and other states had been cleared to get the refund, but the FG refused to release it to the states because of Ekiti election as it did in Kogi.

    The governor said, “if it is released to other states without the inclusion of Ekiti, people will suspect the FG of playing politics with it.  The FG used that tactics in Kogi to assist the APC candidate to win.

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

    “I am using this forum to inform Ekiti people that the FG is punishing and depriving them of their entitlement because of politics. The FG thinks that if I am not able to pay the four months salaries owed the workers, they will vote for APC.”Ekiti people are not fools, they know that the Fayemi administration plunged the state into debt. Fayemi left two months’ salary unpaid and N1.2bn is being deducted every month from Ekiti allocations to service the debt.

    “So far, N35.34bn has been deducted from allocations coming to Ekiti to service debts owed by Fayemi administration.”If I have N35.34bn, I will not owe workers and I will be able to take care the needs of the people. Ekiti people are not fools and will not again accept APC. They know that the Fayemi administration is the cause of the unpaid salary.

    “In 2003, during my first term, I inherited  debt from the AD – led government under Niyi Adebayo, I cleared the debt and when I was leaving the government in 2006, I left N10.4bn in government treasury. This is for you to know that APC is a bad manager of state finances.

    “I want to appeal to the INEC to be a good umpire, live to its name as Independent body. Election should not be stopped midway or counting stopped midway because PDP is winning and APC is losing. Edo formula will not be accepted in Ekiti. People are known to resist cheating and they will defend their votes.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayemi’s convoy did not knock down anybody – Police

    The Ekiti State Police Command has clarified that the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, did not knock down any pedestrian on Tuesday.

    The command described the news being spread on the social media platform by Governor Ayo Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, as a “baseless rumour and a misleading information.”

    Olayinka had alleged on his WhatsApp and Facebook portals that a Police Inspector, Kayode Gabriel, was killed by one of the vehicles in Fayemi’s convoy.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the command strongly dissociates itself from the act of misinformation capable of causing panic and creating mischief in the minds of the general public.

    Read Also: Fayemi is the reason Ekiti is under financial burden – PDP

    Ikechukwu said: “There was a fatal motor pedestrian accident at about 0930hrs in front of Captain Cook eatery by the flyover of Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti.

    “The accident involved a Sienna ash colour with registration number LAGOS SZ 874 EKY driven by one Abayomi Ismaila Damilare knocked down two pedestrians namely Inspector Gabriel Kayode and Albert  Afolayan who were about to cross the road.

    “They were confirmed dead by a medical doctor while receiving treatment at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.

    “The driver has been arrested and his vehicle impounded for further investigation.

    “Furthermore, the motorcade of Dr. Kayode Fayemi and that of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, arrived Ado-Ekiti to their rally center at about 1400hrs.

    “The command advises the general public to always cross check information/facts before going to disseminate it to any form of social media thereby misleading the good people of Ekiti and indeed Nigerians.”

  • Ekiti PDP lawmaker joins APC

    The gale of defection hitting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has spread to the House of Assembly as the lawmaker representing Ise/Orun Constituency, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Alagbada is the House Deputy Leader and Lands and Housing Committee Chairman.

    Announcing his defection to the APC at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Alagbada said the people of his constituency are in support of his decision to dump the PDP.

    Alagbada explained that APC represents a better platform to give the people of his constituency a better and effective representation.

    The legislator who also announced his resignation as the House Deputy Leader of the Assembly said he was moving to APC.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti

    He also said the people of Ise/Orun are aggrieved that Governor Ayo Fayose reneged on his promise to cede the governorship slot to the zone in 2018.

    Alagbada said: “I’m aware and it is an historical fact that during the 2014 PDP primary, Governor Ayo Fayose promised my constituency, Ise Orun, the governorship after his tenure.

    “We were therefore very hopeful when two of our illustrious sons, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi camevout to show interests to contest for the PDP gubernatorial candidate.

    “My constituency was therefore shocked and surprised when non of the two aspirants from my constituency was found worthy of support by the governor.

    “Not only did he disdain them but worked ruthlessly to ensure their manipulation out as candidate of the PDP in preference for the Deputy Governor, Prof Kokapo Olusola who was no where when we risked everything to ensure the victory of the governor both at the primary and General Election.

    “Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi have since left in protest to join the APC. My constituency too who elected me into the House of Assembly are also aggrieved and have directed me to follow suit with my leaders.

    “Consequently, in accordance with the directive of the good people of Ise/Orun constituency of Ekiti State House of Assembly, I hereby resign as the Deputy Majority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly and my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party due to irreconcilable breaking into factions of the PDP in Ekiti state following the rancorous gubernatorial primary.

    “I also use this opportunity to announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress forthwith.”

    The PDP had earlier lost the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, to the APC.

  • Youths troop to Ekiti council secretariat in search of  employment

    Thousands of unemployed youths from Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti on Tuesday trooped to the council headquarters to obtain the state government’s employment forms.

    Our reporter recalls that Gov. Ayo Fayose had on June 11    announced his administration’s readiness to employ 2,000 workers into the state’s civil service.

    Fayose had directed that the employment forms be issued to interested individuals free at the 16 local government secretariats between Tuesday and  Friday.

    A 28-year-old applicant, Toyin Omotinya, told news men that he graduated five years ago and had been searching for a job.

    Read Also: Lawmaker donates buildings to constituency

    “I am an HND holder of Accountancy having graduated five years ago.

    ” I have written so many applications and I am presently surviving from the stipend I receive from the little farm work that I do.

    ” When I heard about the state government’s employment offer, I came here to try my luck again,” the applicant said.

    Another applicant, Olubunmi Ayodele, who lamented the high level of unemployment in the country,  said he was at the council secretariat to simply try his luck.

    ” Whenever I hear there is a vacancy anywhere, I  try my luck; that is why I am here today,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Hold Fayose responsible for latest violence – Adeyeye

    Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has said Governor Ayo Fayose should be held responsible for the upsurge in violence ahead of the July 14 governorship poll.

    Adeyeye, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Niyi Ojo, expressed sadness on the killing of an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, William Ayegoro and destruction of campaign billboards of the party’s candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The former minister said Fayose has been heating up the polity by issuing what he called “threatening statements against perceived enemies of his administration” and his anointed candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    He also accused Fayose of gagging traditional rulers in the state and sacking civil servants and appointees, who are deemed to be supporting the opposition on trumped up charges.

    Adeyeye said: “Fayose, should be held responsible for the present state of insecurity in the state. People who are familiar with his antics, cannot sleep with their two eyes closed anymore.

    “He was chased out in his first time in office, when he was imposed on the people of Ekiti State by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. This second time, he told people that he was a changed person, but he is now worse.

    Read Also: Adeyeye describes Fayose’s 2000 jobs as scam

    “He was impeached because of violence in his term in office, even some of the cases that include murder cases are still in court. A couple of days ago, an APC supporter was killed.  Two days before, the billboards of Dr Fayemi were destroyed in Ikere Ekiti.

    “If you are looking for who is behind all these violence, look in the direction of Fayose.

    “Fayose is so intolerant. In 2014, he was holding open meetings with Civil Servants in the state canvassing for their support and none of them was molested, nobody issues threats to sack them.

    “However, I call on those being molested or victimized, who are afraid and brightly concerned about their future, that help is on the way. They should bear with the situation now, because it would soon be over.

    “Victory is assured for APC on July 14. They shall be restored to those stations immediately after the elections, the Pharaoh that you see today, you shall see no more.”

  • ‘My removal by Fayose was Injustice’

    The immediate past Chairman of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof. Babatope Alo, has described the announcement of his sack on air as an “act of injustice.”

    Alo revealed that he has not been officially communicated through a letter or electronically since his sack was announced last week on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).

    He disclosed that a member of the Governing Council, Mr. Gboyega Akinola, resigned in protest against the way and manner he was treated by the state government.

    The Usi-Ekiti born Professor of Applied Biology said he served the college diligently, moved the institution forward and recorded achievements during his tenure.

    The achievements, according to him, include stability in college administration, increase in internally generated revenue, improvement in staff welfare, reviving of college farm, establishment of printing press, among others.

    Read Also: Fayose sacks two board chairmen

    Alo, who spoke on Monday for the first time on his removal, said he was happy leaving office with his name, image and integrity intact as he was not accused of any act of fraud, embezzlement and abuse of office

    While noting that he had no premonition of his sack from office, he said Governor Ayo Fayose had accused him of fraternizing with his enemies saying he did not know the enemies the governor was referring to.

    Alo said: “I had no premonition about my removal except for a time the governor called me accusing me of fraternizing with his enemies and I wonder who could that enemies be.

    “He was just talking to me that I was fraternizing with his enemies and he was just giving me a threat and I see no reason for that.

    “I took the removal in good faith but definitely, it was an act of injustice and very embarrassing. If not that people are very much aware of my reputation, they would have thought that I did something bad.

    “Everybody that knows me that I am a very credible person and I couldn’t have been involved in any act of misdemenour, that was my saving grace.

    By not giving any reason, by just hearing it on air that my appointment has been terminated, who will feel comfortable with that? My integrity is intact, my name and reputation were not soiled.

    “Because of my decision to come down here and serve, I am financially poorer because I lost a lot of things for coming to my home state to serve.

    “I am still a professor at the Federal University of Technology, Yola. You can imagine me coming at my own expense because of the love I have for my state. Removing me without any just cause was an injustice.”

  • Fayemi possesses democratic credentials to lead Ekiti – Group

    An interest group, Ekiti Recovery Movement (ERM) has canvassed support for the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The group said Fayemi possesses the democratic credentials to lead Ekiti again having been part of eminent Nigerians who fought for the revalidation of June 12, 1993 presidential election result.

    The ERM in a statement by its Coordinator, Lekan Soyombo and Secretary, Femi Osabinu, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring the memory of the winner of the election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day.

    The body also lauded the contributions of the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, the late Chief Bola Ige, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the late Chief Olanihun Ajayi, the late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Mr. Ayo Opadokun to the June 12 struggle.

    Read Also: Fayemi hails President for honouring Abiola

    The ERM stressed that the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti State offers the electorate another opportunity to give Fayemi, whom he said understand the ideals of democracy, the mandate to assume the reins of governance.

    The statement said: “This year anniversary in its peculiarity, signaled to us another privilege to reorder our system to allow a pro-democracy like Dr Kayode Fayemi be in charge of affairs of government in Ekiti State as July 14 approaches.

    “We implore the Ekiti people to use sound measure and quality calculative indices to make their choice through ballot and disregard unbridled adventures of Governor Ayo Fayose. That Fayemi is enlisted amongst the many distinguished patriots and heroes of this Year June 12 awards events in Abuja, is an eloquent testimony that he has paid his price and borne out errand for progress with commendable constancy.

    “He is the only candidate and the only close ally who had in the past years participated and understood the tenet of participatory democracy, who have also acquired the wherewithal and possessed the technical know-how to lead the people of Ekiti State to the Promised Land.

    “Affairs of a state is such a serious business that should not be committed into the hands of jesters and strangers who has no single history of patriotism other than comical opportunism.

    “We are challenged to come out as a progressive team, poised with the radical need to rescue Ekiti from the snare of the selfish, greedy and uncompassionate individuals who maneuvered their ways to power as a result of hitch that characterized our electoral system.”

  • Fayose sacks two board chairmen

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has sacked two board chairmen of the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, Chief Gabriel Falayi and Chairman, Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Prof. Babajide Alo.

    Their removal, according to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dupe Alade, takes immediate effect.

    Consequently, Chief Femi Ogundipe has been appointed as chairman of the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and Mrs. Adeola Yesufu as chairman of Governing Council, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti.

    Read Also: Fayemi slams Fayose for owing Ekiti monarchs, workers

    Mrs. Folasade Akinrinmola was appointed as full time member, State Universal Education, Board (SUBEB).

    She said the governor’s decision was based “on the need to re-organise government parastatals for effective service delivery.