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Tag: Ekiti 2018

  • Ekiti 2018: Presidency has not anointed anybody, says Bamisile

    Ekiti 2018: Presidency has not anointed anybody, says Bamisile

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Hon. Femi Bamisile has said that neither the presidency nor the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has anointed any candidate for next year’s election.

    Bamisile said the party will conduct a free and fair primary to pick its candidate to foster cohesion within the party.

    The former Speaker of the House of Assembly spoke in Ado Ekiti, while hosting some Muslims for the Eid-el-Fitr festival.

    He said he will not marginalize Muslims  in elective and appointive positions, if elected.

    Bamisile said some aspirants were spreading rumours that the candidate will be imposed from Abuja, adding that the rumour has been creating panic and disillusionment among the delegates.

    An Islamic Cleric, Dr Ahmad Aminullah , in his sermon tagged: ‘a virtuous leader’, urged the people of to look beyond partisanship in electing a good leader in 2018, adding the  contestants should be thoroughly scrutinized for the electorate to make the right choice.

    The Islamic scholar added that the state has been making mistakes in electing their governors, predicating this on deep hatred and politics of acrimony among gladiators.

    Bamisile said: “Let me tell you this. Nobody has been picked in Abuja. Our party did primaries in Ondo, Osun senatorial election, Edo, Kogi governorship elections held recently, so Ekiti can’t be different.

    “Some of the aspirants have been spreading the rumour just to deceive the delegates and this will never happen.

    “As an aspirant, I relied only on the delegates, even when some are relying on godfathers. But, how can an aspirant be relying on godfather when you know that the delegates will vote?

    He added: “This shows that they don’t have respect for  you  even as party members and that is the main reason why you have to vote for the right person that won’t have any godfather elsewhere”, he stated.

    On the complaint by Muslims that they were being neglected in governance in Ekiti, Bamisile said: “I am a Christian, but I love Muslims and I hate people who believe in religious bigotry because we are all one.”

    We originated from the same parent which was Adam, so why must be killing ourselves on the basis of religion.

    “If I am elected governor, I will not destroy mosques built in the state the way the present government is doing.  I won’t neglect you if I a elected, because you are so relevant and important to us.

    “The last population census showed vividly that Muslims accounted for 39.1 of the state population and with this, it shows that nothing wrong if the Deputy Governorship position is ceded to you as you have in Lagos, Oyo and Osun States.”

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: ‘Oni has best credentials’

    Ekiti 2018: ‘Oni has best credentials’

    An interest group, Ekiti Unity Forum (EUF), has canvassed support for All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, in next year’s governorship election.

    Oni is expected to formally declare his intent to join the governorship race on July 17 in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and open his campaign office same day.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, EUF Chairman Dr Sunday Ilori said the group decided to back Oni’s candidature “having identified him as the most credible among the aspirants showing interest in the top job”.

    Ilori, who noted that “every contestant against Oni will fail”, said the former governor performed well during his first tenure between 2007 and 2010,

    He said: “Oni has done it before and we believe he can do it again. Among the over 40 aspirants, he is the most credible. That is why we are rallying support for him in all the 177 wards and 16 local government areas.

    “Oni is a politically mature person. This came to the fore when the House of Assembly, during his tenure, had 13 ruling party lawmakers and 13 opposition lawmakers. But he never convinced any opposition lawmaker to defect to his party.

    “Ekiti youths are currently suffering. Instead of the present government to provide jobs for them, they are being used as thugs and political mobilisers.

    “Oni is a real gentleman. He is sensitive to the needs of the people and he is loyal and committed to the people. I am advising other contestants to drop their ambition and support him.”

     

     

  • Ekiti 2018: Aspirant unveils five-point agenda

    Ekiti 2018: Aspirant unveils five-point agenda

    A Governorship aspirant on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in Ekiti State, Dr. Makanjuola Owolabi, has unveiled a five-point agenda for the state’s development.

    He also launched his campaign organisation, the Ekiti Restoration Agenda (ERA), to sell his candidacy to party delegates and the electorate in the 16 Local Government Areas.

    Speaking in his Aisegba-Ekiti country home, Owolabi, a medical practitioner, said leadership with character is what is needed in the state. He promised to restore the honour and integrity of Ekiti if he succeeds in the governorship election.

    His five-point development blueprint include Education, Quality Health Care, Infrastructural Development, Mechanized Agriculture and Good Governance.

    Owolabi, who has been practising for over 40 years, promised to float the Ekiti Health Insurance Scheme at primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions in the state to complement the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    On infrastructure, the aspirant pledged to carry out aggressive rural electrification programme and provide potable water, roads, bridges and affordable housing for the masses.

    He also promised to construct an agriculture airport for the exportation of cash crops. He pledged to make Ekiti the hub of commercial agriculture in Nigeria and depend less on the allocations from the Federation Account.

    Owolabi said he would provide good governance through zero tolerance for corruption, block leakages of revenue generation, provide security for citizens and ensure separation of power among the arms of government.

    He said: “I am in politics to serve the people of his state and to give them good governance using the maifesto of our great party, APC. Leadership with character is what is needed in Ekiti and Nigeria.

    “Politics is not about fighting and demolishing petrol stations; you don’t lead by punishing people I believe I can offer myself for the service of our people because if decent people don’t participate in politics, you end up beng governed by nonentities who are inferior to you.

    “Politics is about being a helper to yur neihour and the people around you and not eating “booli” (roasted plantain) at junctions.”

    Owolabi’s wife Edna, said her husband has acquired experience as a medical practitioner, employer of labour and a philanthropist, adding that he only wanted to use politics to give better life to Ekiti people.

    Some party chieftains at the occasion included Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, Mr. Remi Osabusua, and Princess Omotunde Adelabu.

  • Ekiti 2018: Apc aspirant rejects zoning

    Ekiti 2018: Apc aspirant rejects zoning

    Despite coming from Ekiti South senatorial district, which is agitating for zoning, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Captain Sunday Adebomi, has urged the party leaders to throw the ticket open to all contenders, irrespective of their zones of origin.

    Adebomi, a retired officer in the United States Army, said it was a sign of weakness  to demand that the governorship be ceded Ekiti South, stressing that aspirants from the zone should be ready to slug it out with their counterparts from the two other zones.

    He made the remarks when he visited the party secretariat in Ado-Ekiti to unfold his agenda to the party leaders. Adebomi had earlier led his supporters on a street procession from Okeyinmi Roundabout to Ajilosun where the party secretariat is located.

    Adebomi said zoning has no root in the 1999 constitution, urging aspirants from the South, who were in the forefront of the agitation, to put their house in order to clinch the ticket.

    He promised to tackle the menace of youth unemployment ravaging the state, adding that he would be a rallying point for all the youths. He promised to offer a leadership that would turn around their fortunes.

    Adebomi was reacting to the agitations by aspirants from Ekiti South, comprising Ekiti South West, Emure, Ise/Orun, Gbonyin, Ekiti East and Ikere Local Governments that the time has come for the zone to rule the state, having been deprived of  the opportunity to lead since 1999.

    Adebomi  advised the party not to shut out aspirants from the Central and North districts, so that the contest can be free, fair and credible.

    He said: “Though, I  am  from the South and I want the zone to produce the next governor, but only a weak aspirant would be rattled by the presence of other contestants from the North and Central. All we need to do is to put our house in order to be able to win the primaries.

    “Our  party shouldn’t shut out anybody from the primaries. But what we need is a level-playing ground , so that whoever emerges can represent the wish of the people”.

    Adebomi  regretted that marginalization of the youth in employments and political  positions in the State, saying he has come to remedy the mistakes of the past if given the opportunity by embarking on aggressive youth employment, robust healthcare delivery and  provide infrastructure.

    The state APC Deputy Chairman, Mrs Kemisola Olaleye , assured that the party will not discriminate against anybody, saying all the aspirants be given a level-playing ground.

    Olaleye appealed to Adebomi to lead the youth, who were his support base  in the most decorous way , so that the party can benefit from their strength of  mobilization .

    The APC chieftain lauded Adebomi for respecting party supremacy and for not seeing the contest as a do-or-die affair.

  • Ekiti 2018: Afenifere demands credible primary in APC

    Ekiti 2018: Afenifere demands credible primary in APC

    The Ekiti State chapter of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has advised the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct free, fair and credible primary that will be acceptable to the governorship aspirants.
    Speaking while receiving one of the aspirants, its Chairman, Elder Yemi Alade, said the manipulation of the shadow election in favour of any of the over 30 aspirants would spell doom for the party.
    The Afenifere leader commended the aspirant, Dr. Wole Oluyede, saying he is a humble personality and that “Ekiti is specifically lucky to have an illustrious son like him who has devoted his life to serve humanity”.
    Alade said: “These are the kind of people we want and I pray that you will get there. In getting the best candidate, APC must be fair with its primary.”
    Oluyede assured the group that he would translate his international connections to wealth for the state, via massive industrialisation and agricultural investment, if he becomes governor.
    The aspirant who said he had cultivated 150 hectares of palm tree plantation declared that he will engage in active commercial farming as governor. He disclosed that he would also explore his international connections to ensure that Ekiti State benefits from the proposed Malaysian firm’s $18 million palm tree investment in Africa.
    He told members of the group that as part of his plans to empower the people, through industrialisation, he had invested massively in the hospitality industry in his hometown, Ikere Ekiti, to provide jobs for the youth.
    Oluyede said: “I have travelled to all the continents of the world, I want to say there is nowhere in the world where people depend on government for business. With me as your governor, I will promote business in Ekiti and diversify our economy, so that we can stop depending solely on federal allocation.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Aspirant unfolds plans

    Ekiti 2018: Aspirant unfolds plans

    An aviation expert, Dr Makanjuola Owolabi, has joined the long list of aspirants vying for the Ekiti 2018 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    He has promised to ‘restore Ekiti dignity’, if elected governor at the poll next year.
    Owolabi unfolded his plans during a courtesy visit to the APC Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. He was received by party leaders, including Deputy Chairman Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun, Women Leader Mrs. Dupe Bakare, party chairmen from the three senatorial districts and other members of State Working Committee.
    The aspirant was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Edna Owolabi, representatives of the traditional ruler of his hometown, Aisegba Ekiti, the Apalufin, Oba Solomon Omotoyinbo.
    Owolabi is an aviation consultant and the facilitator of Aerospace Medicine in Africa.
    He said his intention to rule the state is strengthened by the saying of the philosopher, Plato, that “when good people refuse to participate in politics,they end up being governed by the inferior.”
    Dr. Owolabi said he has a unique plan to bring positive change to the state, adding: “That is what brought about the slogan ‘Ekiti Restoration Agenda’ (ERA).”
    He said the redemption of Ekiti would be achieved in seven different phases: “Mentality of honour; self worth of Ekiti; collective sense of responsibility; fertile land; sense of signity; leadership endowment and fear of God/family value.
    He added that three obstacles must be swept away from the state. The obstacles, according to him, are: “transactional commercialised politics; bastardised Yoruba culture; thuggery and laziness.”
    The aspirant therefore charged the leadership of the party to be impartial and transparent in handling the primary election which would lead to the selection of the governorship candidate.
    The APC Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Olaleye,who stood in for the State Chairman, Chief Olajide Awe declared that Owolabi is one of the best materials out of the contestants so far.
    While describing the APC as “the root of democracy” Olaleye implored the aspirant to fulfill his campaign promises when he gets to the position.
    She promised that the party would be fair to all aspirants running on the platform of the party and deliver a primary that would be a model in the annals of the state.
    Mrs. Olaleye said contrary to speculations that over 38 contestants have come out in the APC, Dr. Owolabi is the fifth contestant to officially inform the party of his intent to run on its platform.
    However, the Ekiti APC Elders’ Forum has appealed to the aspirants to conduct themselves within the ambit of the party’s constitution by shunning desperation and uncouth statements as the governorship poll draws nearer.
    The elders said the body won’t support any aspirant who will win election and abandon them as witnessed in the past.
    The Chairman of the Forum, Chief George Akosile, spoke in Igbara Odo, Ekiti, in Ekiti South West Local Government, while playing host to a former member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi.
    Faparusi, who visited the elders in furtherance of his aspiration, canvassed for the zoning of the governorship ticket to the South senatorial district. The elders described the idea as a legitimate right.
    The chairman of the forum implored those calling for zoning to reach out to all party stakeholders to achieve their goal.
    Akosile said : “Though we are elders, but we can play prominent role in government. We can be appointed based on our experiences. We don’t want any aspirant to ride on our back only to abandon us when they get there”.
    The former federal lawmaker added: “This is the first public declaration that I would do since I started this consultation and this underscores the fact that I will never abandon you if I get there.
    “I can’t disparage your experiences and your contributions to our party and whoever does so is risking his political future.
    “I have passion to develop Ekiti. Though, we might not have oil, but we have brains which we can deploy like Finland and Israel, who rely on agriculture and technology to develop their economies.
    “As I speak with you, I have never worked for anybody in my life. I took up my own job after graduation despite that I came from a poor background. Today, I have close to 100 per sons working for me. So, whoever that will lead Ekiti must first display dexterity at his own level”.
    Faparusi begged the leaders to help in amplifying the advocacy for zoning to make it sink deeper into the minds of the party leaders , both at the state and national levels.

  • Ekiti 2018: Aspirant unfolds plans

    An aviation expert, Dr Makanjuola Owolabi, has joined the long list of aspirants vying for the Ekiti 2018 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He has promised to ‘restore Ekiti dignity’, if elected governor at the poll next year.

    Owolabi unfolded his plans  during a courtesy visit to the APC Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. He was received by party leaders, including Deputy Chairman Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatunbosun, Women Leader Mrs. Dupe Bakare, party chairmen from the three senatorial districts and other members of State Working Committee.

    The aspirant was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Edna Owolabi, representatives of the traditional ruler of his hometown, Aisegba Ekiti, the Apalufin, Oba Solomon Omotoyinbo.

    Owolabi is an aviation consultant and the facilitator of Aerospace Medicine in Africa.

    He said his intention to rule the state is strengthened by the saying of the philosopher, Plato, that “when good people refuse to participate in politics,they end up being governed by the inferior.”

    Dr. Owolabi said he has a unique plan to bring positive change to the state, adding: “That is what brought about the slogan ‘Ekiti Restoration Agenda’ (ERA).”

    He said the redemption of Ekiti would be achieved in seven different phases: “Mentality of honour; self worth of Ekiti; collective sense of responsibility; fertile land; sense of signity; leadership endowment and fear of God/family value.

    He added that three obstacles must be swept away from the state. The obstacles, according to him, are: “transactional commercialised politics; bastardised Yoruba culture; thuggery and laziness.”

    The aspirant therefore charged the leadership of the party to be impartial and transparent in handling the primary election which would lead to the selection of the governorship candidate.

    The APC Deputy Chairman, Mrs.  Olaleye,who stood in for the State Chairman, Chief  Olajide Awe declared that Owolabi is one of the best materials out of the contestants so far.

    While describing the APC as “the root of democracy” Olaleye implored the aspirant to fulfill his campaign promises when he gets to the position.

    She promised that the party would be fair to all aspirants running on the platform of the party and deliver a primary that would be a model in the annals of the state.

    Mrs. Olaleye said contrary to speculations that over 38 contestants have come out in the APC, Dr. Owolabi is the fifth contestant to officially inform the party of his intent to run on its platform.

    However, the Ekiti APC Elders’ Forum has appealed to the aspirants to conduct themselves within the ambit of the party’s constitution by shunning desperation and uncouth statements as the governorship poll draws nearer.

    The elders said the body won’t support any aspirant who will win election and abandon them as witnessed in the past.

    The Chairman of the Forum, Chief George Akosile, spoke in Igbara Odo, Ekiti, in Ekiti South West Local Government, while playing host to a former member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi.

    Faparusi, who visited the elders in furtherance of his aspiration, canvassed for the zoning of the governorship ticket to the South senatorial district. The elders described the idea as a legitimate right.

    The chairman of the forum implored those calling for zoning to reach out to all party stakeholders to achieve their goal.

    Akosile said : “Though we are elders, but we can play prominent role in government. We can be appointed based on our experiences. We don’t want any aspirant to ride on our back only to abandon us when they get there”.

    The former federal lawmaker added:  “This is the first public declaration that I would do since I started this consultation and this underscores the fact that I will never abandon you if I get there.

    “I can’t disparage your experiences and your contributions to our party and whoever does so is risking his political future.

    “I have passion to develop Ekiti. Though, we might not have oil, but we have brains which we can deploy like Finland and Israel, who rely on agriculture and technology to develop their economies.

    “As I speak with you, I have never worked for anybody in my life. I took up my own job after graduation despite that I came from a poor background. Today, I have close to 100 per sons working for me. So, whoever that will lead Ekiti must first display dexterity at his own level”.

    Faparusi begged the leaders to  help in amplifying the advocacy for zoning to make it sink deeper into the minds of the party leaders , both at the state and national levels.

  • Ekiti 2018: Faparusi unfolds development agenda to apc elders

    Ekiti 2018: Faparusi unfolds development agenda to apc elders

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has appealed to the governorship aspirants to conduct themselves within the ambit of the party’s constitution by shunning desperation and uncouth statements.
    The elders said they will not support any aspirant who will win election and abandon them as witnessed in the past.
    The Chairman of the Forum, Chief George Akosile, spoke in Igbara Odo Ekiti, Ekiti South West Local Government Area, while playing host to a former member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi.
    Faparusi, who visited the elders, zoning to the south senatorial district, which the elders described as a legitimate right.
    The Chairman counseled that the agitators for zoning should reach out to the party machinery to be able achieve their goal.
    Akosile said: “Though we are elders, but we can play prominent role in government. We can be appointed based on our experiences. We don’t want any aspirant to ride on our back only to abandon us when they get there”.
    “This is the first public declaration that I would do since I started this consultation and this underscores the fact that I will never abandon you if I get there.
    “I can’t disparage your experiences and your contributions to our party and whoever does so is risking his political future.
    “I have passion to develop Ekiti. Though, we might not have oil, but we have brains which we can deploy like Finland and Israel, who rely on agriculture and technology to develop their economies.
    Faparusi added: “As I speak with you, I have never worked for anybody in my life. I took up my own job after graduation despite that I came from a poor home. Today, I have close to 100 staff working for me. So, whoever that will lead Ekiti must first display dexterity at his own level”.
    Faparusi urged the leaders to help in amplifying the advocacy for zoning to make it sink deeper into the minds of the party leaders at the state and national levels.