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Tag: Ekiti 2018

  • Ekiti 2018: Five PDP aspirants team up against Fayose’s candidate

    Ekiti 2018: Five PDP aspirants team up against Fayose’s candidate

    •‘ Olusola’s imposition won’t stand’

    Five governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have resolved to work together and resist the alleged imposition of Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola as the “sole candidate” for next year’s election.

    They insist that there must be a free, fair, credible and transparent primary from where the party’s flag bearer will be elected.

    One of the aspirants, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, who is the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, as a guest at the inauguration of the campaign office of a fellow aspirant, Ambassador Dare Bejide.

    Ajayi, who was one of the closest and most trusted aides of Fayose before they fell apart after Olusola’s adoption, said the imposition of a governorship candidate could open the way for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to kick the PDP out of office in 2018.

    He said: “All PDP aspirants are working together. That is the reason all of us should work together. I want to assure you that all aspirants in the PDP are one, minus the one that was adopted.

    “All other aspirants – Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Ambassador Dare Bejide, Bisi Omoyeni and myself – are working together to ensure that there is no imposition of any candidate in PDP in this state.

    “To demonstrate the love among us, that is why I am here today to witness the inauguration of my friend’s campaign office. I believe that when I am going to do my own, I will also invite all of you to be there, and you will equally be there.

    “Because when one of us becomes the governor under a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere, there will be no problem for our party members. There will no crisis in our state. It will not be possible for APC to defeat us.

    “Impunity, imposition of candidates, lawlessness and recklessness by those who supposed to know the rules in our party must stop. These were responsible for the loss of our party in the 2015 general elections.

    “We don’t want our state to be taken over by APC; we don’t want impunity, imposition and lawlessness in our party again. That is why we are demanding a free and fair primary.

    “We will ensure that there is no imposition in the PDP. That is why we the aspirants, except the one purportedly adopted, are one and united. That is why I am here in solidarity with Bejide.”

    Ajayi urged the PDP national leadership to intervene in Ekiti and other state chapters so that the party will not lose more leaders and members to other parties.

    He said the PDP had not recovered from the 2015 loss in many states where party members defected to the APC to win governorship and legislative seats.

    Ajayi added: “Some of our leaders, because of the power they wielded, imposed their will on the people during the 2015 general elections and the party paid dearly for it.

    “Former Plateau Governor Jonah Jang fielded his son-in-law as the governorship candidate while his predecessor, Joshua Dariye, sponsored Simon Lalong, our party member, to contest on APC platform to win the governorship election.

    “This is despite the fact that PDP has the majority in the Plateau State House of Assembly. But we lost the governorship to APC.

    “Also in Benue, former Governor Gabriel Suswam imposed a candidate but our party member, Samuel Ortom, crossed over to APC to win the governorship election. We incurred these losses because of imposition.”

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Bejide promises better deal for teachers

    Ekiti 2018: Bejide promises better deal for teachers

    EKiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Ambassador Dare Bejide has promised to defend the rights of teachers, if elected as governor.

    He urged government at all levels to ensure that the primacy of education is given priority.

    Bejide, stated this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, through the Director General of his campaign organization, Dr. Kunle Folayan, while speaking with some teachers.

    According to him, Nigeria should learn from the experience of developed countries where the remuneration of teachers towers above other professions.

    He said: “An instructive experience was that of Germany where President Angela Merkel recently rebuffed agitations of top public servants for higher wages than what teachers earn, by saying she would not pay them salaries higher than those of the teachers who taught them in school.

    “Research has shown that teachers are the most important school-based factor in determining student achievement. Comprehensive teacher effectiveness reform must include bringing accountability to teacher preparation.”

    Bejide said that teachers in the state would enjoy better support from his government, if voted into power, because teachers are important in the development of the society.

    The aspirant attributed inability to pay salaries across the country to age-long reliance on proceeds from oil revenue and thereby promising a better days ahead in the state as his government would improve internally generated revenue.

    Bejide however, called on the federal government to look at the challenges facing teachers from a national perspective in order to get the required attention in proffering solutions to the problems.

    The leader of the teachers group,  expressed concern over the current economic challenges, saying that workers and teachers in particular are the worst hit by the present economic crisis.

    He urged the Federal Government to take over the responsibilities of funding primary education as the finance of the local government is over-burdened and cannot cope with such responsibilities.

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Will Fayemi run?

    Ekiti 2018: Will Fayemi run?

    Many partisan groups have been urging Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi to run for governor of Ekiti State. To them, the entry of the former governor into the race will alter geo-political calculations and rekindle a fierce battle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Fountain of Knowledge. EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.

    Many indigenes still remember the Fayemi years with fondness in Ekiti State. Although he failed to secure a second term in the 2014 poll, his legacies are evergreen. Party chieftains may have faulted his style of party management, his achievements speak for him. It is therefore, not beyond expectation that many leaders, individuals and groups are rooting for his second coming.

    No fewer than 50 governorship aspirants are scrambling for the APC ticket in Ekiti. They include former Governor Olusegun Oni, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Hon. Femi Bamisile, Isola Fapounda, Bimbo Daramla, Dr. Wole Oluleye, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua and Hon. Dele Faparusi. However, in the past few weeks, some groups have been urging Fayemi to join the race. The former governor is still largely perceived as one of the arrow heads of the party. In fact, it is generally believed that Ekiti APC has three leaders-Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Oni and Fayemi. Already, Oni has thrown his hat in the ring. If Fayemi joins the race, the buck of leadership will now stop at Adebayo’s table. However, the former governor is silent on his next step.

    Fayemi has spoken of an unfinished business in Ekitiland. The remark has been given two interpretations. Many felt that he was ousted from power in a controversial election, judging by the post-election confession of soldiers who alleged connivance among top PDP leaders and security chiefs in the power shift plot. The other interpretation is that the former governor is entitled to a second term, if given the ticket. A source said the on-going probe of his administration by a panel is part of the agenda by the ruling party to thrown obstacle on his way, if he signifies his intention to run.

    Fayemi is a household name, not only in Ekiti, but also in Nigeria. Apart from serving the state creditably, he is also an asset to the APC. As a founding member of the party, he presided over its presidential nominations in Lagos. As a minister, he has been up and doing, traversing the country to establish the non-oil sector as another income-yielding sector in the country’s bid for economic diversification.  A party source said if Fayemi had joined the race, many aspirants would not have shown interest because he commands their loyalty.

    But, it is a most challenging time in Ekiti. The APC appears to be a divided party in the state. The activities of the contenders may have further polarised the platform. Also, some politicians have introduced zoning, which ordinarily has no basis in Ekiti politics, thereby creating a gulf between aspirants from the South Senatorial District and their counterparts in the Central and North.

    In 2006/2007, Fayemi did not vie out of his own violation. He was raised as an aspirant in the image of his leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The former governor of Lagos State rallied the party machinery behind him. At the primary, he defected other formidable rivals, including Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Ayo Arise and Paul Alabi. A post-primary crisis engulfed the party, leading to the defection of many progressive politicians to the PDP.

    Although Fayemi won the election, Oni was declared winner by the electoral commission. Tinubu threw his weight behind Fayemi during the protracted litigation. Later, he retrieved his stolen mandate at the Court of Appeal. However, between 2010 and 2014, a sort of gulf was said to have developed between the godfather and the godson. Indeed, during the ministerial nominations in 2015, Fayemi’s name was conspicuously absent from the list recommended by the ‘APC National Leader.’ Analysts have highlighted some of the factors that led to Fayemi’s failed second term bid. Sources said key chieftains were aggrieved about his style. Among them was Opeyemi Bamidele, who temporarily left for the Labour Party (LP). Others said the scholar and pro-democracy activist-turned politician was arrogant. But, the defunct Ekiti Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)’s crisis resolution mechanism was also weak. Once there was conflict, reconciliation was difficult, if not impossible. Although observers have said the 2014 poll was not devoid of foul play, it was evident ACN went into the exercise as a divided house.

    After the poll, Fayemi conceded defeat, until the confession of the soldier on electoral duty fueled the rigging controversy. But, party chieftains also started to trade blames. The party was polarised into four camps. The blocs were led by Fayemi (Isan Group), Ojudu, Bamidele and Oni, who defected from the PDP to become the APC National Deputy Chairman. The chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe, fled the state for fear of persecution by the ruling party. The camps, sources said, started working at cross purpose as they gazed at 2018.

    However, the rival camps have not been able to edge Fayemi out of his leadership role. He is a busy minister. But, he is also in touch with home. The former governor had wanted to unite the camps through the regular meetings he initiated, but some leaders have refused to cooperate with him. Today, he is the link between the Federal Government and Ekiti State. He is a trusted minister of government, held in esteem by the president. Almost all the federal appointments by President Buhari from Ekiti, except those of Ojudu, the presidential political adviser, and Emmanuel Adesoye of the Board of Ports Authority, had his blessings. Fayemi has attracted Federal Government’s presence to his far-flung state. Through his efforts, it appears that Ekiti will now be included in the Western Standard Gauge Rail Line. He will also take the credit for the construction of the Federal Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.  Following his complaints to the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA), the agency has sent relief materials to victims of floods in Ekiti.

    A credible source said Fayemi is interested in returning to the familiar terrain, but it is not a do or die affair. “The minister is holding forte in an important ministry. He is busy laying a solid foundation for the ministry in terms of creating a road map, solid minerals development, creating a synergy among the federal, state and host communities. He cannot resign abruptly to pursue a governorship ambition. It is a matter he has to discuss privately with the president before he dumps his portfolio for the governorship ambition,” he said.

    According to the source, “it is not proper for the minister to no go and inform the president that he has a governorship ambition in Ekiti State as soon as the president returned from his medical vacation. The proper thing is to allow him to settle down, give an account of his stewardship and set a date for disengagement. If he does not obtain a clearance from the president, he cannot return to Ekiti.”

    If Fayemi declares his ambition, the atmosphere of contest may change. The race may be narrowed down to him, Oni and Aluko, who may lean on zoning. But, zoning has never shaped the governorship race in Ekiti, except that it may now become a strong factor, following the strategic decision of Governor Ayodele Fayose to endorse his deputy, Prof. Olusola Eleka, from the South. Olusola is also expected to pick his running mate from Ado-Ekiti.

    APC governors; two from the Southwest-Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN) of Ondo-their northern counterparts and some ministers may build a wall of goodwill and solidarity around Fayemi during the preparations for the primary. Many of them want him to return to the Ekiti Government House to resume his unfinished business. But, since charity begins from home, the onus is on him to unite the party and rally its key chieftains, if he will run. It is most likely that some contenders may withdraw from the race, if he unfolds his agenda.

    If Fayemi does not run, who will he back? At the primary, he cannot be neutral. Will the former governor back Oni, from who he retrieved his stolen mandate in 2010? Will he back Ojudu, who appears not to be on the same page with him? Or Bamidele who fought him with the LP arrow? Will he endorse zoning by supporting an aspirant from the South?

     

  • Ekiti 2018: ‘Adoption of Olusola’s of no consequence’

    Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary and a governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, staged a road show recently in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, in solidarity with him over the crisis sparked by the adoption of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as the party’s candidate for the 2018 governorship election by Governor Ayo Fayose. Adeyeye, who spoke with reporters at his campaign headquarters, insist that he is still in the race and that a credible shadow election will be held to choose the party’s candidate for the election. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA was there.

    Governor Fayose said the emergence of Prof. Olusola as his candidate for Ekiti 2018 was a divine choice…

    I hope he has not put himself under a serious curse for using the name of the Lord in vain. Be that as it may, we called a meeting today to reassure members of the Prince Adebayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) and to put the records straight; we asked them to send only representatives, few members from each of the 16 local governments. But they decided to storm this place, because everybody wanted to come. I had to personally speak with many of the leaders to restrain a lot of people from coming. They all came on their own volition. Igbo people came, Hausa people came, Urhobos came and all these people have spoken here today; major of the ethnic groups living in Ekiti were here today. We also have artisans, tailors, barbers; many PDP members, young and old, were here. They all wanted to hear from me. We were expecting few representatives of the people, so that we can disseminate information about my position on what the true situations of things are. That was the whole purpose of calling this meeting; it was not a formal declaration. When we are going to make a formal declaration, the whole country will hear it.

    When are you planning that for?

    Why can’t you wait? Our declaration will come sooner than later in the light of this development. What happened last week Wednesday (September 6) was a huge joke. If somebody decides to stage the alawada (comedy) theatre, who are we to ask him not to stage it? So, what was staged at the Government House was a joke to entertain the people. It’s of no consequence; it’s neither in conformity with the party constitution, nor the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Code.

    Maybe, it is an agenda to ruin the party. What I am saying is that I called my people here to assure them that there will be a primary in this party and the rules and regulations will be followed, the constitution of the party will be followed and they should just keep on spreading the gospel.

    How were you able to resolve the leadership crisis which almost consumed your party?

    Some people wanted to claim the glory for the resolution of the crisis.  I thought all these things should be behind us and that was what brought the problems of Ali Modu Sheriff on us and it became an albatross on those who imposed him on the party. Impunity, imposition and the likes almost brought the party to its knees. Don’t forget that it was an attempt to impose that led us into the crisis from which we did not wriggle out until July 12. The only solution to avoid problem in our party is for people to return to the path of constitutionality, justice and equity.

    Would the lives of the delegates not be in jeopardy, since the governor is insisting on his deputy?

    I want to assure that they have nothing to fear about our primary. If anybody commits any act of violence, he will be arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law. No one can violate the laws of the land and not be made to pay for it. Anybody trying to perpetrate violence shall be resisted and be put in his place and it will not be in his own interest.

    Would you advise aggrieved aspirants to take legal action to fight the alleged imposition?

    I will not want any of the aspirants to take any legal action. If an act is a nullity and is of no consequence, just laugh it off and continue with your work. We‘ve not had our primary; it is still six months away and anybody has the right to stage a theatre over it. Anybody has a right to stage a theatre in his house or can you stop somebody from staging a theatre in is house? Anybody who is aggrieved can explore the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism. I am not favour of the idea of going to court every time. There is no need for it, because this matter, we are going to resolve it.

    You may be accused of being ungrateful to Governor Fayose for the role he played in making you a Minister and Chairman of Governing Council of Ekiti State University?

    How am I ungrateful? I started by telling you that in 2014, it was very glaring and every record shows that I could have won at least 70 per cent of the ballot (at PDP primary). I was on ground and our structures were all over the place and that was why when they did their abracadabra; over 14 aspirants were in contention, it was me that they called for negotiation. The former President, the former Senate President, our former National Chairman were involved in the deliberation and the position of minister was used to appease me; that is the truth. Jonathan made me minister and he made me minister based on what happened in Ekiti. In that case, if I had asked my PAAM members who were sitting on the fence not to participate in that election, you knew what would have happened.

    At what point did you and the governor fall apart?

    We have been accommodating and tolerating each other, as leaders of the party. We are of different characters in the party, because we came from different backgrounds. We try to tolerate people, we try to manage people and we have managed ourselves so far. But, if it gets to a point where the situation becomes unmanageable, then what do we do?

    Prof. Olusola’s adopted as the sole candidate does not preclude those who are still interested from contesting the primary…

    I don’t want to insult them; the person who brought them together is talking of sole candidacy and at the same time still talking of a primary. Is that not a contradiction? That is a contraction; maybe they have intellectual deficiency, because the two cannot go together. That is why I call the action a charade; it’s a huge joke; it is meaningless and should be disregarded.

    As a PDP member, are you proud of what Governor Fayose has been able to achieve so far?

    I don’t want to talk about that now. In my opinion, he has done well, but we can do better. By the time I become governor, God willing, we will do better. We have not done well in the employment of youths, low productivity, and even in education for which we are noted; we are lagging behind other states in the Southwest. Look, Ogun State has 14 universities, Osun State has 10, Oyo maybe seven or eight, Ondo has about seven and Ekiti has only two. What are we proud of? I developed a programme as far back as 2005, it is in my manifesto that we could make Ekiti the hub of higher education in Nigeria, by establishing more universities. See the impact of the Afe Babalola University in this state, the economic activities around that place and the multiplier effect on the economy of Ekiti State. Imagine you have four or five of that in the state, people are not looking into those areas, they are looking at ephemeral things as if that is what we need. If you want to develop people, you need to get people to work; I was one of the people — including Segun Oni — that persuaded him to establish that university here. I am happy Chief Afe Babalola used to say it. I believe so much that becoming governor, the private sector will come in and Ekiti will become the hub of higher education in Nigeria. A lot of Nigerians go to Ghana to attend mushroom universities, because people are really searching for education. Which rice do I eat? I eat Ebonyi rice in my house. Ebonyi rice is better and nutritious than any other brand of rice in America or Malaysia. If we have the vision and foresight, we can do it in Ekiti here. I had developed a blueprint as far back as 2005, it is in my manifesto which I will give to you in few days time and you will put about 50,000 people to work and package it for export. We had an industry in 1965, 1967, textile mills, but today we have none and nobody cares about it. We are looking at ephemeral issues. We need to put our people to work. A lot of our people are idle these days; most of them are riding okada. These are the things that worry me personally. It is not by building one billion bridges that we can develop; how many overhead bridges do we have in London? Is that we what we need? Look, I don’t want to talk about the achievements of the government, just leave that one out. But the truth is that Ekiti is in urgent need of development and the time is running out. It is not good when we depend solely on federal allocation. Take Kebbi State for example, Lagos State government gave them a contract of N10 billion for them to supply rice to Lagos. My brothers, if N10 billion enters Ekiti State today, don’t you know the implication?

    We are just here, everybody waiting for allocations. About seven or eight months arrears of salaries are being owed. For the past 10 years, I have been appealing to politicians in Ekiti, for us to join hands and establish a (private) radio station. Ekiti is the only state that does not have a private station. I ask myself, why can’t I do it? And because of my passion for the development of this state, I have to go out of my way to establish a radio station (Voice 89.9 FM) here. When I was getting the licence, somebody wondered why I should site it in Ekiti and not Abuja or Lagos? I said no, I want it established in Ekiti, I don’t mind.

  • Ekiti 2018: Transparent APC primary, key to defeat Fayose’s factor’

    Ekiti 2018: Transparent APC primary, key to defeat Fayose’s factor’

    Hon. Bamidele Faparusi (a.k.a ‘Fappy’), is a former member of House of Representatives and one of the leading aspirants for the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti state. In this encounter with Daniel Adeleye, he speaks on his ambition to lead Ekiti state, what he would do differently and how APC should manage its primary election to unite the party to defeat Fayose’s factor. Excerpts

    You’re one of the numerous APC stalwarts seeking for the governorship seat in Ekiti 2018; What  makes you think that you are suitable for the job?

    The reason why I joined the race is born out of my desire to change the unpleasant level of development in Ekiti State and the instability that has bedeviled the state over the years. The people want a fresh start; they don’t want former governor coming back as a result of the bitter and horrific experience of Fayose’s administration. They want their next governor to have political experience and not a political novice. I have been a member of this progressive family since the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD). My political experience among other aspirants in the field is above all, having served as a member of House of Representatives under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN).

    The party members and delegates alike want a politically stable and consistent person. What they call party man; I am a party man to the core.

    More so, the people want the next governor to come from the South Senatorial District, because the senatorial district is yet to produce a governor of the state since her creation. And to ensure equity, fairness, justice and political balancing, the people of the state, irrespective of political alignments, have resolved that the next governor of Ekiti State must come from the south. To God be the glory, am from Ekiti South and one of the leading aspirants from that senatorial district. These are just few of criteria set by the people and I fit in perfectly into those criteria to be the next governor of Ekiti State.

    And what are you bringing to the table for the people of Ekiti State?

    I’m bringing political stability and economic development. I’m bringing my wealth of experience in business environment. I started a business from the scratch and I nurtured it to an employment status. I play in my field globally, though I stay here in Nigeria. So, I know how to start from the scratch. I know restarting Ekiti will be a bit challenging but it’s not impossible to achieve. Today, the major problem of Ekiti State is lack of wealth creation. We solely depend on federal allocation for the survival of the state. With the recent agitation from the South-South region, asking for resource control, nobody knows when that will come to a limelight, when there will be no resource coming from anywhere. We need to prepare ahead of tomorrow. If other countries, which have no access to oil, can stand as a nation and do well, I see no reason why Ekiti State cannot stand with little dependence on federal allocation. So, one of my first major challenge would be how to create wealth and make Ekiti State financially independent. Agriculture is one of the areas where we can achieve that. With synergy from private sectors, both local and international, we’ll be able to bring investors into the agricultural sector of the state. Tourism is also an area that can bring direct foreign investors to Ekiti State. We are known for our hills and green valleys, which can be commercialised to bring visitors who in turn will bring their resources to develop the state. And technology, I mean knowledge based economy; Ekiti State is known for human capacity and resource. We may not have the resource on the ground in the area of solid minerals and oil, but we have it upstairs. We are known and reverenced for academic prowess in the past. I believe it’s a gift from God that we need to harness. So, part of the strategy would be how we can make Ekiti State a pivot of knowledge base economy in Nigeria by bringing investors, and developing incubation centers across the state to task the brain of our youth to be able to be innovative in their thinking. Also in the area of trade, Ekiti State is positioned in a good location. Countries like Dubai took advantage of their location as a centre point between Europe, Asia and Africa and they become a hub for world trade. So, I see no reason why Ekiti State cannot also be a hub for trade in Nigeria. Dubai was just a desert without any population but they created an enabling environment that brings people from Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe to invest in Dubai. And Dubai is a good story for everybody to read today. Ekiti State also being the centre point between the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, Lagos and Abuja, the political capital of the country, can actually serve as a hub for a lot of manufacturing companies in Nigeria. They can make the state their distribution hub. There are different areas and ideas that can create employment opportunities for our teeming youth in Ekiti and also create revenue for the state. What is important is good leadership, leadership that investors can trust and reason with and know that their investments are secured.

    Money politics remains a prevalent issue in this part of the world; are you seeing this coming to the fore in the forthcoming election in Ekiti State?

    In Nigerian politics, we cannot out rightly rule out money politics because we need to back up every activity with money. But the forthcoming election in Ekiti State is not going to be cash and carry. Money bags will be disappointed. Expectations of the people have grown beyond money.

    While going round the state, I had opportunity of discussing with a lot of delegates; they are actually looking beyond money. Fine, money is important and necessary, but the way I heard them out, I discovered they have learnt their lessons. Some people coming on board because they have a lot of money to buy votes would be disappointed. From what the people are saying, they can as well take your money and still not vote for you. And that has been part of our campaign, I Bamidele Faparusi may give you money but if you don’t have confidence in me to lead you, don’t vote for me. And same applies to other aspirants; so, the next Ekiti State governor is not going to be for sale. That I know.

    There are other big names in your party, APC vying for the same seat in 2018; doesn’t that bother you?

    It doesn’t bother me. I served at the national level and am convinced within myself that my good works are there speaking for me. So, big names or no big names, you need to work the politics. Big name alone will not win you delegates in an election. So, there would be a lot of surprises come 2018. People have their criteria to elect the next governor in Ekiti State. So, the lucky thing is that I’m fit into their criteria. People who advertise for employment do so by stating the basic criteria to qualify for the job being advertised. And if you want to apply for such job, you must look at the criteria of the people. If you don’t look at the criteria and put in your application, your application is dead on arrival.

    The incumbent governor, Fayose, seems to have a strong popularity in the state. How prepared are you to tackle his factor?

    I want to disagree about the issue of strong popularity. It’s a perception born out of deception. When you say people are popular, the question is, are you known for good or bad? As I speak today, he has lost the little credibility he had when he assumed office in 2014. He has lost it with the workforce, artisans and with virtually every sector of the state. Look at the backlog of salaries, with all the billions he got from the bailout fund, yet the state has nothing to show for it. Is it the white elephant project bridge that he has spent multi billions of naira on? So, people have seen that Fayose is a master deceptor and they are just waiting for another election to show him that he’s not a mini god. It’s very easy for anybody to go to the street riding ‘Okada’, ask people to take his photograph and put it on social media to deceive people. Some of these things are stage managed

  • Ekiti 2018: ‘Adoption of Olusola’s of no consequence’

    Ekiti 2018: ‘Adoption of Olusola’s of no consequence’

    Governor Fayose said the emergence of Prof. Olusola as his candidate for Ekiti 2018 was a divine choice…

    I hope he has not put himself under a serious curse for using the name of the Lord in vain. Be that as it may, we called a meeting today to reassure members of the Prince Adebayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) and to put the records straight; we asked them to send only representatives, few members from each of the 16 local governments. But they decided to storm this place, because everybody wanted to come. I had to personally speak with many of the leaders to restrain a lot of people from coming. They all came on their own volition. Igbo people came, Hausa people came, Urhobos came and all these people have spoken here today; major of the ethnic groups living in Ekiti were here today. We also have artisans, tailors, barbers; many PDP members, young and old, were here. They all wanted to hear from me. We were expecting few representatives of the people, so that we can disseminate information about my position on what the true situations of things are. That was the whole purpose of calling this meeting; it was not a formal declaration. When we are going to make a formal declaration, the whole country will hear it.

    When are you planning that for?

    Why can’t you wait? Our declaration will come sooner than later in the light of this development. What happened last week Wednesday (September 6) was a huge joke. If somebody decides to stage the alawada (comedy) theatre, who are we to ask him not to stage it? So, what was staged at the Government House was a joke to entertain the people. It’s of no consequence; it’s neither in conformity with the party constitution, nor the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Code.

    Maybe, it is an agenda to ruin the party. What I am saying is that I called my people here to assure them that there will be a primary in this party and the rules and regulations will be followed, the constitution of the party will be followed and they should just keep on spreading the gospel.

    How were you able to resolve the leadership crisis which almost consumed your party?

    Some people wanted to claim the glory for the resolution of the crisis.  I thought all these things should be behind us and that was what brought the problems of Ali Modu Sheriff on us and it became an albatross on those who imposed him on the party. Impunity, imposition and the likes almost brought the party to its knees. Don’t forget that it was an attempt to impose that led us into the crisis from which we did not wriggle out until July 12. The only solution to avoid problem in our party is for people to return to the path of constitutionality, justice and equity.

    Would the lives of the delegates not be in jeopardy, since the governor is insisting on his deputy?

    I want to assure that they have nothing to fear about our primary. If anybody commits any act of violence, he will be arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law. No one can violate the laws of the land and not be made to pay for it. Anybody trying to perpetrate violence shall be resisted and be put in his place and it will not be in his own interest.

    Would you advise aggrieved aspirants to take legal action to fight the alleged imposition?

    I will not want any of the aspirants to take any legal action. If an act is a nullity and is of no consequence, just laugh it off and continue with your work. We‘ve not had our primary; it is still six months away and anybody has the right to stage a theatre over it. Anybody has a right to stage a theatre in his house or can you stop somebody from staging a theatre in is house? Anybody who is aggrieved can explore the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism. I am not favour of the idea of going to court every time. There is no need for it, because this matter, we are going to resolve it.

    You may be accused of being ungrateful to Governor Fayose for the role he played in making you a Minister and Chairman of Governing Council of Ekiti State University?

    How am I ungrateful? I started by telling you that in 2014, it was very glaring and every record shows that I could have won at least 70 per cent of the ballot (at PDP primary). I was on ground and our structures were all over the place and that was why when they did their abracadabra; over 14 aspirants were in contention, it was me that they called for negotiation. The former President, the former Senate President, our former National Chairman were involved in the deliberation and the position of minister was used to appease me; that is the truth. Jonathan made me minister and he made me minister based on what happened in Ekiti. In that case, if I had asked my PAAM members who were sitting on the fence not to participate in that election, you knew what would have happened.

    At what point did you and the governor fall apart?

    We have been accommodating and tolerating each other, as leaders of the party. We are of different characters in the party, because we came from different backgrounds. We try to tolerate people, we try to manage people and we have managed ourselves so far. But, if it gets to a point where the situation becomes unmanageable, then what do we do?

    Prof. Olusola’s adopted as the sole candidate does not preclude those who are still interested from contesting the primary…

    I don’t want to insult them; the person who brought them together is talking of sole candidacy and at the same time still talking of a primary. Is that not a contradiction? That is a contraction; maybe they have intellectual deficiency, because the two cannot go together. That is why I call the action a charade; it’s a huge joke; it is meaningless and should be disregarded.

    As a PDP member, are you proud of what Governor Fayose has been able to achieve so far?

    I don’t want to talk about that now. In my opinion, he has done well, but we can do better. By the time I become governor, God willing, we will do better. We have not done well in the employment of youths, low productivity, and even in education for which we are noted; we are lagging behind other states in the Southwest. Look, Ogun State has 14 universities, Osun State has 10, Oyo maybe seven or eight, Ondo has about seven and Ekiti has only two. What are we proud of? I developed a programme as far back as 2005, it is in my manifesto that we could make Ekiti the hub of higher education in Nigeria, by establishing more universities. See the impact of the Afe Babalola University in this state, the economic activities around that place and the multiplier effect on the economy of Ekiti State. Imagine you have four or five of that in the state, people are not looking into those areas, they are looking at ephemeral things as if that is what we need. If you want to develop people, you need to get people to work; I was one of the people — including Segun Oni — that persuaded him to establish that university here. I am happy Chief Afe Babalola used to say it. I believe so much that becoming governor, the private sector will come in and Ekiti will become the hub of higher education in Nigeria. A lot of Nigerians go to Ghana to attend mushroom universities, because people are really searching for education. Which rice do I eat? I eat Ebonyi rice in my house. Ebonyi rice is better and nutritious than any other brand of rice in America or Malaysia. If we have the vision and foresight, we can do it in Ekiti here. I had developed a blueprint as far back as 2005, it is in my manifesto which I will give to you in few days time and you will put about 50,000 people to work and package it for export. We had an industry in 1965, 1967, textile mills, but today we have none and nobody cares about it. We are looking at ephemeral issues. We need to put our people to work. A lot of our people are idle these days; most of them are riding okada. These are the things that worry me personally. It is not by building one billion bridges that we can develop; how many overhead bridges do we have in London? Is that we what we need? Look, I don’t want to talk about the achievements of the government, just leave that one out. But the truth is that Ekiti is in urgent need of development and the time is running out. It is not good when we depend solely on federal allocation. Take Kebbi State for example, Lagos State government gave them a contract of N10 billion for them to supply rice to Lagos. My brothers, if N10 billion enters Ekiti State today, don’t you know the implication?

    We are just here, everybody waiting for allocations. About seven or eight months arrears of salaries are being owed. For the past 10 years, I have been appealing to politicians in Ekiti, for us to join hands and establish a (private) radio station. Ekiti is the only state that does not have a private station. I ask myself, why can’t I do it? And because of my passion for the development of this state, I have to go out of my way to establish a radio station (Voice 89.9 FM) here. When I was getting the licence, somebody wondered why I should site it in Ekiti and not Abuja or Lagos? I said no, I want it established in Ekiti, I don’t mind.

  • Ekiti 2018: Akerele promises better status for women

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Otunba Yinka Akerele has assured women of better status, if he wins the poll.

    The aspirant spoke during a meeting held with women leaders in continuation of his consultation with  stakeholders. He said women have been politically marginalised in the past, adding that his administration would empower them for their commitment and loyalty.

    APC women leaders from the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and the 177 Ward’s Women Leaders attended the meeting.

    Akerele said he had come a long way in contesting for the number one citizen of the state, having put in over 13 years of his life into the struggle.

    The governorship aspirant, who was accompanied to the meeting by his wife, and two of his children, said he had sacrificed a lot in his bid to achieve the onerous ambition of governing the state.

    Explaining that his tenacity was borne out of a desire to change the fortunes of the state, he said what attracted him to the APC about a year ago when he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the internal democracy  in the broom party.

    According to him, the assurance that what happened to him in PDP where the primary he won in 2006 was snatched from him without any justifiable reason cannot repeat itself in APC.

    “As for me, women are indispensable in any political sojourn because they are mostly voters and dependable supporters who unfortunately are being used and abandoned in most cases. I have always enjoyed your support and I am here to familiarise with you and seek your support to take off as a team with mutual understanding to work together and prosper together.

    “Many have indicated interest in being governor but I have been consistent in this race and have not sought for any other position all the while because this is an area I know I can actually turn around the fortunes of our people and make things better for us”.

    The State APC Woman leader Mrs Dupe Bakare led a team of women leaders of the Local Government Areas/Local Council Development Areas who received Akerele at the party’s state secretariat in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti, capital city.

    APC Deputy Chairman Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, who joined the meeting later, in her remarks, urged the aspirant to give women suitable roles to play in his government if elected because gone are those days when women are used for campaign and dumped after election.

    Olaleye said Ekiti parades high calibre women and integrity capable of functioning effectively in any position of responsibility.

    Akerele promised to ensure that women enjoy political patronage from the council, to state Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and are better positioned if given the party ticket. He also promised to give nothing less than 35 percent slots to women in appointments into his cabinet.

    He said: “I am very passionate about the women. If you train a girl child, you have trained a nation, but if it is a male child, you have only trained an individual. This is why you are so dear to me. I will even support women’s ambition to seek for elective positions at all level.”

     

  • Ekiti: Fayose endorses deputy as PDP candidate

    Ekiti: Fayose endorses deputy as PDP candidate

    Less than 48 hours after saying he was waiting on God for the choice of his successor, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose may have settled for his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, as his successor.

    Stakeholders in the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including party leaders, political office holders and supporters of Fayose, yesterday adopted Olusola as “the sole candidate” for the 2018 governorship poll.

    At a meeting at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the governor’s loyalists said adopting Olusola as the “PDP sole candidate” did not preclude other aspirants from competing for the party’s ticket at the primary.

    Olusola, who was recently appointed Professor of Building Technology by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State, hails from Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti South.

    His adoption may have ended the governorship ambition of Senate Deputy Minority Whip Abiodun Olujimi; PDP’s national spokesman Dayo Adeyeye; former Deputy Governor Sikiru Lawal; former High Commissioner in Canada Dare Bejide and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi.

    Olujimi and Adeyeye have resisted Fayose’s insistence that they drop their ambition.

    Party sources said Fayose anointed Olusola after receiving a field report that his preferred candidate and former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Kayode Oso, “may not be sellable” to the electorate.

    One of the sources said the governor briefed prominent indigenes of Ado-Ekiti, Oso’s hometown, including a prominent lawyer and a traditional ruler, at a meeting Tuesday night.

    The source added that Fayose called a stakeholders’ meeting where he announced his decision to endorse Olusola.

    The meeting was said to have been attended by 177 councillors, 177 ward chairmen, 16 local government party chairmen, 16 local council chairmen, chairmen and members of boards and corporations.

    Others at the meeting include State Executive Council (Exco) members, House of Assembly members, serving and former members of PDP State Working Committee (SWC) and the ex-deputy governor.

    A communique issued at the end of the meeting reads: “After due consultation, without prejudice to provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”

    Those who signed the communique are: Anifowose Mustapha (for councillors), Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu (for ward chairmen), Femi Bamisile (for local government party chairmen), Dapo Olagunju (for local government chairmen, ALGON) and Senator Bode Ola (for chairmen of boards and corporations).

    Others are: Dr Modupe Alade, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, (for State Executive Council, Exco), Kolawole Oluwawole, House of Assembly Speaker and PDP’s State Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase.

    After Olusola’s adoption, Oguntuase said the party’s organs would abide by the decision of the stakeholders in the interest of the party and people of Ekiti State.

    The party chairman noted that the adoption will not preclude any member of the party interested in the governorship from contesting.

    He pledged that an open and transparent primary will be held in accordance with party rules. Chairman, Forum of Ward Chairmen, Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu, hailed the decision, adding: “Wherever Governor Fayose goes, we will follow him.”

    Mustapha said the 177 councillors supported the governor and “the decision of the party stakeholders remained binding on us”.

    Dr Alade described Olusola as “a competent and loyal member of the Fayose political family”.

    She added that his adoption was a reward for loyalty, dedication and commitment.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose grooms ex-commissioner as successor

    Ekiti 2018: Fayose grooms ex-commissioner as successor

    Indications have emerged that Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose is grooming former Commissioner for Works and Transport, Kayode Oso, to take over when his tenure expires on October 15, 2018.

    Oso, an indigene of Ado-Ekiti, served as Fayose’s Chief of Staff and later Commissioner for Works and Transport during his first tenure, which ended abruptly with impeachment on October 16, 2006.

    He narrowly escaped arrest while following his boss for an overseas trip at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos in July 2006 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested some aides of the governor for alleged N1.4 billion poultry scam at the time.

    After Fayose’s dramatic comeback to power on October 16 2014, Oso was reappointed Commissioner for Works and Transport but quit on April 6, 2016 under controversial circumstances.

    The administration claimed Oso resigned on “health grounds” while Oso travelled to London shortly before returning towards the end of the year.

    The ex-commissioner holds chairmanship of key committees coordinating many activities in the Ado-Ekiti Government House.

    One of the committees holds regular interface with interest

    groups like artisans, labour unions, market women, students, youths and ethnic nationalities, serving as Fayose’s contact person.

    Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship aspirants include former Minister of State for Works and spokesperson of the National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Dare Bejide, and former Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko.

    They declined to drop their ambition for Fayose or his protégé.

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Pressure mounts on Ojudu to run

    Ekiti 2018: Pressure mounts on Ojudu to run

    THE Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, arrived  Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, at the weekend to a tumultuous reception by friends, relations, stalwarts and youths of the All Progressives Party (APC). They all have one message: Ojudu should ,contest in the coming 2018 gubernatorial race in the state.

    The mammoth crowd of admirers besieged the Iworoko road residence of the journalist and politician to appreciate his past efforts in lifting the state on the path of progress and said it was time he provide the needed leadership that can galvanise the state positively from its present sorry state.

    The crowd, a representation of old school mates of Ojudu, friends, market women, artisans, socio-cultural organisations, faith groups,  APC leadership in Ado Ekiti Local Government and members, decried the current political situation in the state and called for a quick fix which they believe Ojudu can provide.

    The presidential aide played significant roles in the ouster of incumbent governor Ayodele Fayose’s administration in 2006, following outcries resulting from seemingly anti people’s stance of the government of that time.

    He was also at the forefront of the battle to reclaim the rigged 2007 electoral victory of Dr Kayode Fayemi, which was secured through a Supreme Court ruling from Engr. Segun Oni , in 2010.

    Hinging their resolve on the lingering poverty and squalor that have now became the lot of Ekiti people under the present administration, coupled with perceived reputation damage caused by the character of the incumbent governor, the people cried for  urgent need for a re-order that would bring urgent sanity into the polity.

    Chairman of a pressure group, E11, Femi Ajiniran, said the time to get a credible person to lift Ekiti State from its present sorry state is now.

    According to him, “poverty in the state is now walking on four legs while youths unemployment is alarming.

    We are in a situation where our able bodied youths now roam the street, begging for alms to feed. The culture of self-discipline and hard work which formed the fulcrums of our existence has taken flight.

    “We need people that can create wealth at this point. And this is why Ojudu has to listen to the yearning voice of the people and run in the coming gubernatorial poll in Ekiti State. If Ojudu fails to declare, I  will pack my load and go back to Lagos. This is because he is capable to deliver the goods. He loves Ekiti, but he needs executive power to be able to deliver effectively,” Ajidara said.

    Corroborating this, a 1977 set of Ado Grammar School, Ojudu’s alma mater, Prince Adetukasi Adetunji, said the time for the presidential aide to take up the leadership is now, noting that his friends have resolved to take it upon themselves to make him accede to the call to service.

    Adetunji who traced the leadership quality in Ojudu right to his secondary school days, said machineries have been put in place to mobilise support for him to ensure he won flat and square in the 2018 guber polls.

    “We are pursuing his emergence as the next governor of Ekiti State as a project. We are going to be loyal to him. We shall feature prominently in the campaign. Ojudu is liberal; he is for everybody across party line.

    So, we are going to build on his personality. We shall hold vigils for him. We shall ensure his victory,” he said.

    While not turning down the call to run, Ojudu, reacting, pointed at the need to build the APC foundation as most important to winning the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti by the party.

    According to him, the need for cohesion became so imperative in building a formidable platform that can sufficiently take power from the incumbent government.

    He admonished a gathering of party leaders and members at the Ado Ekiti town hall to eschew disloyalty and embrace the culture of mutual respect for APC as a party and its leadership.

    According to him,  the chances given the party to lead the state in 1999 and 2010 were bungled by internal wrangling, fueled by intolerance, disrespect for the party leadership and disloyalty to party.

    He reiterated the need for joint efforts, preparatory to the 2018 gubernatorial election so as to collectively oust the incumbent PDP government, who according to him has only brought poverty, squalor and hopelessness to the people

    Ojudu bemoaned the present situation whereby able bodied adults have no viable jobs to do other than to roam the streets and beg for money.

    He noted that laziness is alien to Ekiti people but a culture imported into our society by the present administration, whose stock in trade is showing bad examples to the youths.

    “When a governor now roams the street, eating poff poff or akara, abusing someone as old as his father and wishing him dead even when the person he is fighting has never at any point insulted him. When you have a governor that has no initiative than to go to Abuja at the end of the month to collect the state allocation, divide it, change his own to dollars for keeps and bring the rest to Ekiti to share in N200 with a kongo of rice to the people, then you know there is a serious problem.

    “Ekiti people are very civil. Ekiti people are hardworking. My father was a worker at the Odua Textile, Ado Ekiti where he was earning 30 pounds. It was with this meager amount he sent me to school. He never stole anybody’s money. That was the way we were brought up and that is why many of us cannot steal.

    “Kebbi State has employed over 80,000 youths into their rice farms through the Federal Government scheme to aid agriculture. Many other states, like Ebonyi, Cross Rivers and others have keyed into the programme and they are getting substantial aids through the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Federal Government has another programme where they assist farmers to clear their farms free of charge. But our governor is not interested in all of these.

    “The free lunch programme of the Federal Government where school pupils are given lunch n school days is  there. A meal worth N800 is given to each pupil per school day but our governor is showing no interest. He is not interested because the money for the project goes direct into the account of the appointed caterers and not to the state government. He has not shown interest even when a state as close as Osun is benefitting.

    Ojudu therefore called on all APC members to join forces, mend all fences and provide a common front to send the current government parking.