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Tag: Daramola

  • Ex-lawmaker Daramola hails Tinubu’s Military welfare initiatives, appreciates soldiers in Ekiti

    Ex-lawmaker Daramola hails Tinubu’s Military welfare initiatives, appreciates soldiers in Ekiti

    A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s renewed focus on the welfare of military personnel and veterans across Nigeria.

    Daramola made the remarks on Wednesday while hosting soldiers in Ekiti State through his Citizens Appreciation Foundation during a Christmas-season outreach. 

    He noted that the welfare initiatives of the current administration have given fresh hope to active servicemen and women and significantly boosted morale within the armed forces.

    Stressing the importance of improved conditions of service, the former lawmaker said soldiers who are adequately supported are better motivated to perform their constitutional duties with discipline, professionalism, and integrity. 

    He highlighted welfare packages such as timely remuneration, decent living conditions, healthcare, and support for families as critical to sustaining military morale and loyalty to the nation.

    Daramola also lauded the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, other service chiefs, and the Minister of Defence, Major General Christopher Musa (rtd.), for prioritising the welfare of troops. He observed that enhanced welfare has directly contributed to improved security, safety, and stability for millions of Nigerians.

    Explaining his outreach, Daramola said it was aimed at honouring soldiers who risk their lives daily to protect the nation, often remaining on duty during holidays while others celebrate with their families. 

    “These men and women are true patriots who put duty above personal comfort. Our outreach is to show that Nigerians recognize and deeply appreciate their sacrifices,” he said.

    He urged citizens to acknowledge and support military personnel while they are still in active service rather than waiting until they become veterans. 

    Daramola pledged to continue his non-political advocacy to promote public recognition of the sacrifices of security personnel, noting that such appreciation strengthens military–civil relations and inspires greater patriotism.

  • My suspension from APC in bad faith, says Daramola

    Former House of Representatives member Bimbo Daramola was recently suspended from the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on his ordeal, the politics of suspension, and prospects and constraints of reconciliation in the chapter.

    What is your assessment of the APC in Ekiti?

    Am I in a position to assess anything now? I am under suspension.

    How do you view your suspension from the party?

    I viewed the news on television. They wrote me a letter. People started calling me from far and near. They wrote me a letter from my ward. In any case, I am wondering how the absence of the sense of proprietary could make people to commit errors. In that same ward, from chairman to ex-officio; 26-member executive of the ward, I don’t know anybody there; how they were selected, how they were appointed. I complained. Nothing was done. In a ward that I practically funded. The meeting of the ward takes place in front of my grandfather’s house.

    How do I view my suspension? I will allow posterity to judge. I am watching. They could suspend Segun Oni, Oyetunde Ojo, and others. They tried to suspend Chief Ben Oguntuase. Ife Arowosoge was complaining that they wanted to suspend him. It is a rash of suspension and a raid. Whatever could have informed it, whatever would have made those people to think that my reward should be suspension, I wish them the best of luck. I let posterity to judge. I commit them, that decision and everyone that was part of it to posterity. I know who I was and who I am in the party. We should wait for the judgment of history.

    Could be say the confusion was an offshoot of the last primaries?

    I am not too sure. Initially, when you love people; the party, your wife, everybody, you won’t see things that were coming. Ekiti will say ‘eti oloro maa ndi.’ So, I wasn’t in a position to see anything coming, before either the governorship or House of Representatives election. The kind of love I had was fuelled by sacrifice. I said people humbly to go and assess Bimbo Daramola as a member of the party, from the days of AD through ACD, AC, ACN to APC. Let’s look at Bimbo Daramola and his records. Because of my love for the party and the governor, I did not expect it. I was working to shore up the goodwill of the party, the goodwill of the governor, the goodwill of Ekiti. I was like Paul, committed to evangelism. But, the events that happened to me in the last two years have made me to take a back seat. People would ask: this has happened to you, how come that you were nit sensitive? This has been long in coming. Everything came to a head now. Like Jimmy Cliff said, I can see clearly now. A whole lot of things have become clearer to me.

    Many people are blaming you for the loss of the APC and the gain of the PDP during the Hiuse of Representatives election in your constituency….

    How can they blame me? Do you know that, up to now, nobody, except two or three people, wants to talk to me. I am a pariah of some sorts.  Nobody wants to talk to me. But, they have forgotten that I came to politics on the crest of my faith. My ideology is rooted in Christ, who says that I have overcome the world. And when God says I have overcome the world, all these pecuniary things people are looking for, I am not looking for them. I am not looking for it. Is it not the same the party where I put my life on line several times? I am sure Asiwaju knows about it. I am sure Ogbeni Aregbesola knows about it. I am sure Baba Akande knows about it. So, if they decide to do that to me, it is fine. A man had 100 sheep in the Bible. One got lost. He left the 99 to go and look for one. A successful father had children in his house. One came to the father to say ‘give me my inheritance. I am going’. His father said ‘don’t go’. The Bible records that the prodigal son took his inheritance when his father was alive. You only share inheritance when the man had passed on. But, this man collected his inheritance when his father was alive. He assumed that his father was dead. In his mind, he must have constructed that his father was dead. The Bible records that he went to a far country. That far country in the context of politics meant that he decamped and went to another party. I never did that. He was very prodigious. He spent all and lost all the money. And then, other children were with the father. This means that when the party was on its knee, we were there. We did not leave the party. Adversity could be very beautiful. When you go to church, you are warned to be careful about the ‘evil of peace time.’ E sora fun ewu igba irorun. Adversity could be very beautiful. Baba Bola Ajibola taught me that. He said Obasanjo’s brilliance was a product of adversity. Obasanjo was a poor man. So, Obasanjo’s success was a product of adversity.

    When this party was prostrate, all these guys, from the state to Abuja, where were they? They were the people stoning us. They were the ones who told us we had no future. When they offered me a million dollars to leave the party, I did not take it. It was not that we were in government. A million dollars. I can mention names. And we kept on building the party and gave everything for the party. Three major empowerment; I built hospital, purchased JAMB forms for 250 children, regardless of where you were coming from in Ekiti State. We were building goodwill for the party. But, when prosperity time came, what happened? They didn’t remember us. Some came back after squandering all that, and what did the father say? He said ‘go and bath him, put y ring in his hand.’ The senior brother said ‘what about those of us who remained with you?’ he said don’t worry. That is the situation. Those who were not part of us a back in the house. Nobody even have the presence of mind to say this journey started from somewhere. There were some people who were heavy lifters of the weight of the party at that time.

    What’s your relationship with the governor now?

    I don’t know. There is no relationship. The relationship is that he is the governor of Ekiti State and I am in my own corner as Bimbo Daramola. If we our 40 years of relationship did not amount to anything; he was two years my senior in school in 1978. Ninety five per cent of the people the governor knows today, he didn’t know them when he was my senior for two years. Where were they in 1978? If a somebody has been your neighbour for 40 years and he almost sleeps on your bed, you should not be afraid to be comfortable with him. If a relationship of 40 years did not count for anything, why would it count now?

    Is reconciliation foreclosed in Ekiti APC?

    People should take responsibility. First and foremost, there should be an admittance of the need for reconciliation. I was pleasantly surprised today when I woke up and saw in the CNN President Trump of United States and the North Korean leader shaking hands. Two weeks ago, they were at daggers drawn. I saw Triump taking guided steps and walking towards Kim Young, shaking hands. I was surprised. Anything can still happen. They two of them must have come to a point. My biggest worry is that people don’t realise the reality of posterity. Power is transient. There is a limitation. Power is limited. It will terminate one day.

     

  • I faced persecution at FUTA for being honest,says Ex-VC, Daramola

    The immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology,Akure (FUTA)  Prof Adebiyi Daramola has hinged his ordeals towards the end of his tenure in the University on his resolve to run prudent administration.

    Prof.Daramola noted that there were forces that wanted him to compromise his integrity, which he vehemently resisted.

    The don who spoke to reporters yesterday in Akure, the Ondo state capital said this rift even led to non-approval of any single intervention programme for a whole five years of his tenure as VC in the University.

    According to him” I was so determined not to join forces that were hell-bent in destroying the good image of the Institution, I thought of posterity in all my actions”.

    It would be recalled that allegations of fraud were levelled against the former VC by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).He was summoned to Abuja for interrogation on the matter.

    However, the Ondo state High Court sitting in Akure on February 7, discharged him of the fraud allegations.

    The academic ,who is now a Consultant to the World Bank said” I came to FUTA with a vision and becoming its VC after spending 26 years within the system”.

    He recalled that there was a policy that primary school within the University should generate its own revenue as against being solely funded by FUTA’s management.

    His words” The unions were fighting for their check-off dues, and demanding 40 percent of the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) which I disagreed with and which no VC could accept”.

    Daramola said incidentally he was the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors in Nigeria during the crisis, stressing that as a leader, one must have a direction.

    However, he urged the federal government to look at ways of funding Universities to facilitate high standards.

     

     

  • Challenges that Fayemi will face, by Daramola

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former House of Representatives member Bimbo Daramola spoke with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on the lessons of the recent governorship election and the challenges the incoming Kayode Fayemi administration will face in the Fountain of Knowledge.

    What are the lessons which the political class should learn from the recent Ekiti State governorship election?

    First and foremost, you don’t take people for granted. At the end of the day, we must hold on to the principles and tenets of democracy. In the definition if democracy, you find the word ‘people’ three times; government of the people, by the people and for the people. The emphasis is on the people. That is the final authority. Democracy hangs on the people. It is pivotal. When people make up their mind on something, no force under heaven can stop them. In the Babylonian days, God said if these people are united and they propose in their mind to achieve something, they will achieve it. You may say it is a marginal victory. But, it still reflected the collective desire of the people that Dr. Kayode Fayemi should be the governor.

    What are your expectations about the new government that will come on board in October?

    My expectation is that having seen that his victory drew from the strength of various people, Dr. Fayemi should respect that. His administration should reflect the elementary principles that it was a collective project. My expectation is that the party should be united behind him. It must be one party, one Ekiti State, in our desire to reclaim the identity of our state. The 33 APC governorship aspirants had the same goal as it reflected in their slogan; Irapada Ekiti, reclaiming our identity and all that. Central to all of us what the need to correct what was wrong with our state. We wanted to get our state back. My expectation is that we should join hands with the new governor to reclaim our state back.

    There was an allegation of vote buying against the two major parties. What is your reaction?

    It is a surprise to be that people are touting that. In an environment where people are poor and deliberately impoverished, what do you expect? You go to an island where people have been thirsty for long, what will appeal to them? It flies in the face of logic. People have been impoverished in the last three and half years. It may be the downward trend in the evolutionary history of our politics. But, the fact is that you want to win an election. I have not said yes. I have not said no. but, the truth of the matter is that the two parties wanted to win the election. They used every weapon. You  will strengthen what is available to you. You want to sharpen your skill. If that election has been about widows; if the entire electorate were widows, what will they be looking for? Husbands, men. That is the truth. People have not been paid for seven months. People have hospital bills to pay. People are beginning to steal amala on fire there. It is logical. Why did government deny them their salaries for seven months and made them very vulnerable? The vulnerability of these was at its lowest status. Let nobody deny it. It may not have been to induce. It may have been to cushion. If APC gave money, it must have been some forms of relief so that people do not follow the PDP that has impoverished them for three and half years. The people were so impoverished that they could not queue behind their conviction anymore. It was a fight for the soul of Ekiti State. What we did was to good message and support it with tangibke items. Jesus himself had a ministration at a particular forum. People were hungry. He quickly called Peter. Peter said that they people were hungry. Peter said what was available was a young boy who has two pieces of fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus said Father I thank you, bless this food. Then, food came.

    Would that not set a dangerous precedent in Ekiti State? Would they not ask for money next time?

    I will expect that Dr. Fayemi will not impoverish the people. He will not make them vulnerable. An hungry man cannot listen to any preaching. By the time their salaries are paid, people will begin to address their identities. Once we conquer hunger, all will be well. Teachers will not suffer again. You wil not be able to abuse them with three or four thousand naira credited to their accounts by the government. He did not pay their salaries. He credited their accounts with three or four or five thousand naira. Dr. Fayemi will not do that. When you conquer the elementary desire for food, people will not behave like that again. You will convince them on the basis of the work you have done.

    What are the challenges that will face the in-coming administration?

    I honestly don’t envy Dr.Kayode Fayemi at this time. He is back in the state to repair it, to clear the rot. It is an economically war-torn environment. It is a psychologically war0torn environment. It is an educationally war-torn environment. It is a physically war-torn environment. And that is where he is going to clean up the mess. It may not be easy. He has the job well cut out for him. But, the people will support him. He cannot do it with his blood. He will need good people. He will need great advice from people. He is a studious person anyway. Fayemi will not be prolifegate. He will a modestly calm fellow. The difference between him and Ayo Fayose will help him greatly.

    Do you see the House of Assembly cooperating with him?

    This election is an extinction of the dinosaur. The dinosaur is extinct now. The size of the dinosaur could not save himself from extinction. Ayo Fayose saw himself as the dinosaur. It is bye. It is over. Never again will this happen in Ekiti. By the grace of God, Fayemi will set the state on the path of economic growth and development. The lawmakers will leave on May 29, next year. The wise choice is for them to start defecting now. Any attempt to follow Osoko will be an attempt by the flies to follow the dead body to the grave. Things have changed. When the drum has changed, the dance step will change as well. They should understand that this is a new administration, a serious administration. Fayemi will anot assume the role of the Speaker. He will allow the House of Assembly to function as an organ of government, as a legislature that is key and integral. He will make Ekiti work for everybody.

    Do you see the APC recording the same victory in next year’s parliamentary elections in Ekiti State, in view of the close margin in the governorship results?

    Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. Now that Ayo Fayose has less than three months in office, he will be confronted with the sad reality of what he has done. He will now have a choice to make between his past hunting him and him having to hug his past. By the verdict, Fayose will have to confront his past as governor. I will leave him to the judgment of history. I can tell you that we will win the parliamentary elections. We should field the right candidates. We should not assume that the fact that we are in government will give us that victory. There will be bandwagon effect. It will help. I got kicked out of the National Assembly, not because I did not perform. I did wekl for my constituency. Even, Ayo Fayose knew that I did well. Among other factors that will make us to win with a wide margin is how thorough the process is, the kind of candidates we present and the capacity and reputation of the candidates we are fielding.

    Now that your constituents are requesting you to return to the National Assembly, what will be your response?

    I believe very strongly that it is too early. What I am doing now is celebrating the victory of the APC in Ekiti State. I want to enjoy this moment with our dear governor. My constituents want me to serve their cause. Of course, if my constituents want me to run again for the House of Representatives, or in any position, I will be too willing to serve them. Their decision and their request to me to run is not uninformed. I thank them for the opportunity. In the days ahead, we will consult. We will talk to the governor, the people. We will complement his vision and government and ensure thsat Ekiti will be better for it.

    How can we prevent further defection from the APC as we approach 2019?

    At the national level, federal politics is complex. The truth of the matter is that there should be fairness, adequate recognition of everybody that is an integral component of the APC. I thank God we have a national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who has experience as a mobiliser, a two-time governor of Edo State. He has been a labour leader. What leaders do is to recognise dissenting voices and reconcile people. In the days ahead, the party will consolidate on democracy. APC has just spent four years in power. I believe the party should be given the chance to run the country so that it can build on its achievements.

     

  • Tears, tributes as Daramola, journalism scholar is buried

    It was an admixture of tears and tributes as Dr Ifedayo Daramola, a journalism teacher was laid to rest yesterday at his Ajipowo community in Akure, Ondo State.

    Daramola, until his death, was the acting Head of Mass Communication Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA), Ondo State.

    At a well- attended lying in state and funeral service held in Ajipowo, family members, colleagues and well- wishers paid him their last respects.

    Daramola had published several books which are now being used in Mass Communication and Journalism Departments in several Nigerian institutions.

    Daramola died on May 19 during a brief illness at age 60 and is survived by a wife and three children.

    In his sermon, Assembly Pastor of  St. Williams Christ Apostolic Church, Pastor Moses Adeoye, urged Nigerians  to live an exemplary life and touch the lives of others.

    “Above all, be of good character, desist from evil ways as we will all end up in the grave where termites will consume us,” he said.

    Adeoye described the deceased as a man who had deep passion for education and helped many to achieve their academic pursuits.

    His colleague, Prof. Akinsola Agofi, who described the deceased as a hardworking, pleasant and loving scholar, said he  had  impacted greatly on his generation.

    One of his students, who identified herself as Ronke Adetola, said the deceased was a jovial lecturer who made classes interesting with comic relief.

    “He is one of the lecturers who had a large heart and made classes interesting through his jovial means of teaching.

    “He built academic excellence in us, ” she said.

    The deceased began his career as newscaster at Radio Lagos in 1983 and later joined Punch newspapers as a sub-editor.

    He was also a lecturer at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Lagos State Polytechnic and AAUA.

    Until his death, Daramola had a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Babcock University as well as  BSC  and MSc in Mass communication from  the University of Lagos.

     

  • Daramola: I didn’t disrupt primary

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Bimbo Daramola, has denied involvement in the crisis that led to the indefinite postponement of the primary on Saturday.
    In a statement, an aspirant, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had accused Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Daramola, an ex-member of the House of Representatives, of desperation.
    In a statement, Daramola said: “My attention has been drawn to the press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. “ I thought we already passed this stage in our quest for political power. The allegations are most unfounded.
    “Much as I have been committed to dignified silence as I have done reasonably in the past 19 months, I will continue to keep myself and team in check in the face of provocative statements.
    “ As I have said at the post “abortion” meeting, today is not very gratifying to our people, party and reputation.
    “That things went awry yesterday further confirmed that a lot of people still operate within the circumference of inordinate assumptions. I totally condemn the unfortunate incident, which I find reprehensible. But, something must have triggered that, that should be of interest to all beyond the press release where two paragraphs were devoted to paint me black.
    “The press release that now describes me as a man driven by ‘lust for power’ is shocking. It is a shock for me that a man who has known me for forty years, a relationship that has witnessed so many episodic moments, some good, many bad and many unseen moments,could describe me as a desperate person.
    “I reiterate without mincing words and I am sure both the CPS and Minister know that its too late in the day for me to acquire an image that is not mine, I can bet it.
    He added: “I challenge anybody to show evidences of my involvement in the unfortunate incident of yesterday for which the press release was issued to attack my reputation.
    “Over two dozens of the aspirants revealed that the primary cause of the crisis was the attempt by the camp of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, to commit fraud with some alleging that some law enforcement officers were seen thumb printing and trying to vote as delegates.

  • How to avert rancorous primary in Ekiti APC, by Daramola

    Former House of Representatives member Hon. Bimbo Daramola is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. He spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on the proposed primary, his chances and how the party can win the June 14 poll.

    WHAT are the conditions that may not make you to contest again? There is no condition on the planet, except death, that may not make me contest for the election. I did not stumble into it. I consulted and in my extensive consultations, I took cognizance of the fact that I am not a man of myself. I am a man made by the party. My political pedigree today is as a result of what this party has done to me. The party sent me to the House of Representatives. I first consulted with the Almighty God. I consulted my wife and my family.

    I consulted myself. It took me more than six months. The wife of one of our national leaders told me we cannot afford to leave Ekiti the way it is. Then, I took it up. I went to my oga, my brother, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. I said this is what is going on, what is your take? From there, some weeks later, I called Otunba Niyi Adebayo. I said this is what is on ground, what is your position sir? I went ahead with these consultations. Everybody said, gleefully, that it was the nice thing to do. They were not playing to the gallery. Is it my consistency in the party? Service to the party? They said as a former member of the House of Representatives, you are eminently qualified. It has been 20 long months. We have spent so much money.

    We have redefined how to campaign. Our campaign mantra is simple: restoring the lost Ekiti identity. People, both young and old, have bought into it. Yesterday, we gave out jamb forms to our youths. They said only Bimbo can do it. The PRO of the party described me a Bimbo, the dynamite. He said only Bimbo can do it. So, what will make me contemplate turning back? How are you now preparing for the primary? I am preparing. I am ready. Only yesterday, we met 1, 460 delegates, who gave us the children we gave JAMB forms to in the second edition. In one year, I have physically, working with my entire team, touched the homes of indigent Ekiti people. One of the beneficiaries of last year said ‘I scored 291 in my JAMB exam. I would have wasted my brilliance, if Congressman Bimbo Daramola have not given me the JAMB form. Who has consciously invested in the lives of young people as I have done? So, I am ready. You are many in the race.

    How can we avert a rancorous primary? It may be inevitable, if the primary is not mega transparent. Not one name on the list of delegate must change. Not one name on the list of delegates from 177 wards, from 16 local governments must change, whether they are dead or they have left the party. We mutually agreed about that. The ones who are dead, we said we will not replace. The ones that have left the party, we said we will not replace. By extension, we are united on this.

    The names of the delegates are known to the 33 contestants. If there is any difference on the list, there is no need for the election to proceed. Because the integrity of an election is not validated by its end product. It is by the process. So, from the beginning of the process to the end, there must be transparency. Look at what happened in Anambra. The billionaire watched it like this. There was no need for protest before the shenanigans took over. By the standard that the APC has laid, Ekiti cannot afford to do anything less. If there is an inclining to suggest that the list has been tinkered with, it will spell disaster.

  • How APC can win Ekiti, by Daramola

    Former House of Representatives member and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Hon. Bimbo Daramola has called for unity and cohesion among the aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He advised the aspirants to shun campaigns of calumny and character assassination, warning aginst a commitment to personal ambition at the expense of the party.

    Daramola said in an interview in Lagos that the Ekiti APC must wax stronger to confront the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the poll.

    He also said that only a candidate with a robust history of dignified service to the platform during difficult times in the past should earn its governorship ticket.

    The aspirant said the people should be made to perceive the APC as a  credible alternative to the PDP, adding that the opposition party should maintain its popularity at the grassroots.

    Daramola said: “We need to be clear about what is the political philosophy of our party. Who are the people who can connect with the philosophy of our party? Many don’t realize that one of the things our party stands for is to be able to impact on the lives of the people, not by tokenism, but in tangible terms. For instance, that he is tarring the roads outside, not the stomach. I am not saying that people should not take momentary succour and support from government.

    “But, what distinguishes our party from others is how much of impact we have made in education, in health, infrastructural development, sports and other areas. We must identify the fact that we are not seeking power for the sake of getting power alone. We should look at who did what and how.

    Daramola said Ekiti APC should work hard for power shift, warning that the election may not be easy.

    He urged party chieftains to brace up for a campaign of calumny by PDP stalwarts, who may direct people’s attention to the slow pace of national economic recovery, thereby wipping sentiments agsint the APC.

    “Adversity has the potential to unite. We are at the valley of adversity at this time for us to climb up the mountain of prosperity. So, what will I be using to campaign to the people? Look at my years in the House of Representatives.  That was four years of humble service. From my pocket, I built a 32-bed hospital, American standard, and I handed it over to Ekiti Sate Management Board. I want them to know that people we provided work for, the motions that we moved. I was in touch with the people. The same Bimbo who was in the struggle from 2006, through through 2011, to 2005 that we left power, is the same Bimbo that is coming out now, even more determined to defend the value and integrity of the Ekiti people.

    “We will also point out to the people the 16 years of wastage under the PDP. Look at the revelations today about corruption. The government is fighting corruption. We can talk about anti-corruption. We can talk about focus. I plead with delegates and leaders should forensically look at the aspirants, what we have represented in the past, what we represent now and what we can represent in the future. If we do that, the ticket will be handed to a steady person, who has the capacity to chart a good course and he will led the party to victory.”

  • Plot to ‘bury’ Daramola, Omojola murder cases uncovered in Ekiti

    AN alleged attempt by agents of Ekiti State Government to ‘bury’ the murder cases of the late World Bank consultant, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola and the late Tunde Omojola has collapsed, it was learnt yesterday.

    The state high court has adjourned the cases to October 6, after a civil society organisation and families of the deceased raised the alarm over plans to conduct a secret trial and dismiss the cases.

    The families of the deceased are crying foul that the cases were re-opened and being heard secretly without their knowledge.

    Omojola was murdered during the May 28, 2005, councillorship by-election in Ifaki Ekiti  in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, where he served as an agent of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

    The NCP agent, who came from the Netherlands to participate in the by-election, challenged agents of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were allegedly manipulating the electoral process in favour of their party and he was killed in the ensuing violence.

    Daramola, who was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the run-up to the 2007 general election, was killed on August 14, 2006, at his country home in Ijan Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

    The killings took place during the first tenure of Governor Ayo Fayose between 2003 and 2006 and some of his aides were arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder incidents.

    A civil society group, Ekiti Overseas Committee for Justice and Equity had raised the alarm in a petition dated July 8, alleging that a very senior government official in collusion with a senior member of the Bar and a willing judge had planned to secretly sit over the murder cases to clear the suspects of complicity.

    The Nation learnt from a highly-placed source that the judge that was handed the case file was rattled and was unwilling to be used to kill the case, fearing that his career and life are at risk.

    Former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration re-opened the two cases after the families of the deceased petitioned his government, demanding justice.

    The source said: “The case that was being handled by Rotimi Jacobs on behalf of the state government contained all the facts of the murders, including those known to the public and fresh ones.

    “However, the cases were not pursued as planned before the change of government.

    “Recently, a very senior government figure stumbled on the records of the case in the Ministry of Justice and quickly moved to close the case through dismissal.

    “He approached Jacobs to surrender the documents on the case in his possession to enable the state government continue with the case.

    “Jacobs refused telling the senior government figure and the agents that the families of the deceased were also part of the prosecution/complainants and so he would not surrender the brief until their approval was sought and granted.

    “A Senior Advocate of Ekiti origin was hired to prosecute the case secretly with a judge already handed the assignment to sit secretly on the cases and get them dismissed to let the accused persons standing trial off the hook.

    “The said Ekiti born senior advocate was scared about the backlash of this conspiracy should the bubble burst at the end of the day.

    “For this, instead of taking up the brief and signing the affidavit and other documents on the matter, he directed the junior lawyers in his chambers to append their names.

    “In an affidavit deposed to by a junior partner in his chamber and dated June 28, 2016 in charge number HAD/2c/2007 in the Motion on Notice No HAD/71cm/2016 between the state government and complainants brought under Motion on Notice pursuant to Section 56 of Ekiti State Criminal Justice Law 2014 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, listed are the state government as the plaintiffs while the defendants at Dayo Okondo, Adegoke Olatunji, T.A. Aina and S.K. Dada.

    “The case in which the affidavit wanted to be listed for fresh hearing, sought the following reliefs:

    • That the case that was struck out on June 21, 2016 be re-listed for fresh hearing
    • That upon reading the record of the proceedings of June 21, it was discovered that the honourable court only struck out the action for want of diligent prosecution
    • That the prosecution witnesses are ready to state their case without delay of any kind
    • That the prosecution undertakes to prosecute and conduct trial from day to day as may be agreed and convenient to the honourable court until the matter is fully disposed; and
    • That the mistake leading to the absence of the prosecution witness and their counsel is absolutely that of the prosecution counsel.”

    The source added: “All these are being done without putting all the complainants, including the families of the deceased and their lawyers on notice. The families of the deceased never knew anything about any court hearing and the witnesses will now be selected by the government.

    “In fact, the deceased’s families have no information that the case has been re-opened. The judge made a mistake by not dismissing the case outright.

    “It is when they discovered that striking out a case does not foreclose the re-opening of the case again in the future that they started a fresh, secret move to get the case dismissed outright”

  • Daramola shuns Ondo APC

    Daramola shuns Ondo APC

    •Minister: my visit private

    A members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have berated the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof. Claudius Daramola, for his absence at a meeting at the party secretariat in Akure, the state capital.

    Party leaders and members, who arrived the secretariat on Oba Adesida/Oyemekun Road as early as 8am, waited till 4pm before leaving.

    It was gathered that this was Daramola’s third time of no-show meetings with APC leaders.

    Though, the Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, was not at the secretariat but it was learnt that he has directed his deputy, Ade Adetimehin and others executive members to receive the minister, who was to arrive at 11am

    A party member said Daramola arrived in the state capital at 6:30pm.

    “I saw him at one of the party leaders’ house on Stadium Road at 8pm. I was also told that he visited some other APC leaders in Akure before travelling to his home town Ode-Aye in Okitipupa Local Government.”

    Another source, Igbekele Olayiwola, said: “The minister was expected to meet APC members but we are disappointed that he did not show up.

    The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, apologised to reporters who were there to cover the event.

    But Daramola denied shunning the meeting. The minister, who spoke through one of his aides, Dr. Segun Ayodele, said his visit to the state was private.

    He said he holds the party members in high esteem.

    Daramola said he was in the state to visit the Halu of Ode-Aye, adding that he was also at Odigbo before returning to Abuja on the same day.