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Tag: Ekiti community

  • Philanthropist fetes Ekiti community

    Philanthropist fetes Ekiti community

    It was celebration galore for the people of Ikole-Ekiti and other communities contiguous to it when a philanthropist, Mr. Funso Ayeni, brought succour to the children, youth, the elderly and teachers of public schools. The foundation stone of a winery was also laid at the event. 

    Residents of Ikole-Ekiti, one of the largest towns in Ekiti State and headquarters of Egbeoba land and the surrounding communities had cause to smile penultimate week as they benefited from the benevolence a youthful philanthropist, Mr. Funso Ayeni.

    Ayeni staged his annual end-of-the-year get-together for kids, youths and their parents to show appreciation to God for witnessing the end of another year.

    The get-together, which Ayeni had consistently sponsored for the past 10 years featured the Walk for Hope, a keep-fit exercise; outreach to the needy and payment of hospital bills of indigent patients and a party.

    This year’s edition was with a difference as it coincided with Ayeni’s 40th birthday which he marked in grand style. It was attended by many traditional rulers as the celebrator is a prince of Ilamo-Ekiti, one of the towns in Egbeoba land.

    There was also the foundation laying ceremony for a winery and planting of 40 grape trees. The winery, when completed, is expected to generate employment for indigenes and boost the economy of Ikole and the surrounding towns.

    On hand to perform at the ceremony was the popular gospel musician, Tope Alabi, who played her popular tunes. During her show, Alabi carried out a talent a hunt pageant which was won by Miss Aminat Adeniran.

    Alabi promised to take Adeniran to Lagos to groom her for a career in music. Adeniran sang some Alabi’s songs flawlessly to win the prize.

    The winner said although she is a Muslim by birth she now sings in the choir of one of the local churches in Ikole. That was one of the gains of the Funso Ayeni annual carnival in Ikole.

    The crowd at the event was massive. People dined and wined as there was plenty to eat and drink. Children enjoyed themselves as the philanthropist brought modern gadgets for them to play with.

    Food, toys, drinks, cash and other gifts were distributed to residents. The elderly were not left out in the distribution of gifts.

    On what inspired the selfless and service to his people, Ayeni said: “I am motivated and inspired by God’s grace. This is my community and this is what I have been doing for the past 10 years.

    “It’s just to encourage the needy in the society and also to give support to those who are in need to the glory of God.”

    Highlighting the programmes that featured in the week-long event, he said: “We had Walk for Hope and it was so fantastic. To the glory of God, the turnout was so massive. People now believe in the project, it is called Walk for Hope where we rekindle our hope in the development of the society. That spirit encourages our people to believe that in whatever circumstances they find themselves, there is still hope. This edition was so fantastic.

    “Today alone, we visited some hospitals in the town and gave them little token as we could. Also today, we planted grapes that will mark the beginning of the winery in Ekiti State, which will be first of its kind.

    “We planted about 40 trees. We will reward the best students in the local government and the best teachers. We are also instituting atewo eni, which is an empowerment scheme in which we give people N30, 000 each with zero interest and many more.

    “The winery, when completed, will generate employment opportunities, it will boost social life, it will give our people financial empowerment and lots more,” he said.

    Asked whether the gesture has any political undertone, Ayeni said: “I have not come out to announce any ambition. In fact, I am not nursing any ambition. If my people ask me to represent them, I will be available. This is basically my life, this is what I do, this is what I love to do and this is my hobby. Bringing kids, bringing the needy together and cheering them up in a festive season such as this, “he said.

    A friend of Ayeni, who is President of Ekiti State Golf Club, Gboyega Omotoyinbo, who attended the event with other dignitaries, said: “It’s a good event; the celebrator is actually a bosom friend and a business partner. He has spent so much to make his people happy.

    “The impact will linger in their minds for a long time. When I got here, the crowd I saw was massive and they are happy that their lives are being touched positively by a philanthropist who chose to identify with them.

    “I am happy about it because this event has given hope to people as can be seen in the positive effects the event is having on them already. Ayeni should keep it up and God will continue to bless him.” he said.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised the philanthropist, saying they appreciated his selfless efforts to make them happy.

    Five-year-old Dare Alani, of AUD Nursery and Primary School, Ikole, said: “I have collected gifts such as money, drinks and toys and I am very happy.  Mr. Funso Ayeni who has made these items available to us, God will continue to bless him.”

    Also Oluwaseun Akintade, a young lady from Oke Aleu Quarters in Ikole, and a fashion designer said: “I benefited from the gifts distributed by Mr Ayeni. I thank him immensely for what he is doing. He is a very nice person. What I need from him is to assist me buy sewing machine.

    Also, 12-year-old, Habeeb  Kabiru, a primary six pupil of the Fountain Primary School said : “I pray that God will continue to empower him. I will come next year. In the nearest future, I too will do what Mr. Ayeni is doing for us.” he said.

  • Fire razes girls’ hostel in Ekiti community

    Fire razes girls’ hostel in Ekiti community

    A noon fire has razed the hostel of Federal Government Girls’ College at Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State.

    The fire, which was said to have occurred on Monday, reportedly destroyed the pupils’ personal effects, like clothes, books and provisions.

    No life was lost in the incident.

    Also destroyed in the blaze were mattresses, cupboards, curtains and some facilities belonging to over 150 pupils.

    A source told our reporter yesterday that the fire might have been caused by a power surge as a faulty electricity point in the dormitory was reportedly rectified the previous day.

    The fire, which razed the Favour Integrity Hostel, was said to have started from the ceiling.

    All the pupils in the hostel have the single uniform they were wearing when the fire started while other uniforms and personal clothes had been burnt.

    The pupils urged the Federal Government, the owners of the school, to come to their aid.

    The school authorities called men of Fire Service from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and nearby Ilesa in Osun State but their vehicles could not get into the school because of the hilly topography.

    The inability of the firemen to enter the school compound prolonged the time the inferno razed the dormitory and the materials inside.

    The Alaaye of Efon, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, was at the school for over three hours.

    Parents who had been notified of the fire on phone rushed to the school yesterday to check the conditions of their children and wards.

  • Ekiti community gets Army base to tackle robbery, kidnapping

    Ekiti community gets Army base to tackle robbery, kidnapping

    The Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, yesterday said his community is enjoying peace with the deployment of soldiers in the area to tackle armed robbery and other violent crimes in the past one year.

    The monarch said the community is building an Army base to show appreciation and encourage the soldiers, who he said had kept robbers and kidnappers at bay.

    Oba Ilori-Faboro addressed reporters at his palace on activities marking this year’s Ajodun Ido Oganganmodu Festival, which reached a climax on Saturday with the launch of N250 million development fund.

    The first-class monarch said the foundation of the Army base had been laid, adding that it would be completed in six months.

    He said the project would be funded with cash to be raised during Ajodun Ido.

    Oba Ilori-Faboro said the soldiers had been working in collaboration with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and local hunters to conduct a “show of force” as a warning to potential criminals.

    He urged indigenes of the town within and outside the country to come home and contribute their quota to the development of their community assuring them of their security during the festival.

    Chairman of the Planning Committee Mr. Sola Ogunsina said the festival had assisted the community to execute many development projects without government support.

    He added that other activities lined up for Ajodun Ido include environmental sanitation, inter-school debate, a free health services for indigenes, widows’ empowerment, a marathon race, a football competition, stage play on Kiriji War, homage to the Olojudo and cultural competition.

     

     

  • Ekiti community shortlists Oluyede, four others for governorship race

    •PDP members back Omoyeni

    An influential interest group at Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Ikere Development Fund (IDF), has shortlisted five aspirants from the two major parties – the state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the man opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) – as possible candidates for the 2018 governorship election.

    IDF reportedly took the decision at a meeting at the weekend, where it narrowed down its choice after conducting  “rigorous interview” of the aspirants from the town and perused their credentials.

    While three aspirants from APC were cleared for nomination, two got the nod from PDP.

    The three from the APC are doctor and businessman Dr. Wole Oluyede; former House of Assembly Majority leader and ex-Commissioner for Information Mr. Funminiyi Afuye; and former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Sesan Fatoba.

    The two PDP aspirants, who got IDF’s nod are: Deputy Governor Prof. Kolapo Olusola; and former Deputy Governor and former ex-Wema Bank Group Managing Director Chief Adebisi Omoyeni.

    IDF, with the like of former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) as members, has been working to ensure that the community presents its best aspirants for nomination.

    The body set up an 11-member committee, chaired by Mr. F. S. Ogundana, a lawyer, to screen aspirants from the town and ensure that the best are narrowed down for their parties’ primaries.

    Other members of the panel are: Dr. Kola Adeyina, Mr. R. T. Arifayan (Secretary), Prof. O. J. Ayodele, Rev. Tope Popoola, Tunde Fakoyede, Mr. Ola Olanipekun (SAN), Mr. Ola Alonge (Ikere Local Government Chairman), Mr. Olu Afolabi (deceased), Mr. Wale Ayeni and Mr. Femi Ekundayo.

    A source, who was at the meeting, said yesterday that the move was meant to “enhance the chances of Ikere producing the next governor and separate the wheat from the chaff”.

    He said the interview and drilling of Ikere aspirants was conducted on July 17.

    The source added: “All the aspirants underwent rigorous interviews to determine their suitability for the governorship position they are seeking and the IDF special committee has come out with the result of its screening.

    “We perused their credentials, antecedent, political experience and pedigree, and we have narrowed down our choice to Dr. Wole Oluyede, Funminiyi Afuye and Chief Sesan Fatoba, from the APC and Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Chief Bisi Omoyeni, from the PDP.”

    Also, scores of PDP members at Ikere-Ekiti have defied Governor Ayo Fayose by declaring their support for Omoyeni.

    Led by a former Ikere Local Government Caretaker Chairman Sesan Owoeye, they welcomed Omoyeni to the town, on Saturday, amid pomp and ceremony.

    They described Omoyeni as the best man for PDP’s flag and the governorship seat.

  • Fayose imposes curfew on Ekiti community

    Fayose imposes curfew on Ekiti community

    •Monarch barred from palace, sleeps inside mosque

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Awo-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area following the yearlong kingship tussle rocking the community.
    The restriction of human and vehicular movement takes effect from 6pm to 6am daily, until law and order returns to the community.
    Fayose, in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the curfew is with immediate effect.
    The governor directed the Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, and other security chiefs to enforce the curfew.
    The statement reads: “We are calling on the people to embrace peace and be civil in resolving their differences.
    “We are also assuring our people that religious crisis has no place in Ekiti. We are one regardless of our political affiliations and this government will maintain.”
    Crisis erupted in the community last year when the government named Azeez Olaleye Aladejuyigbe as the Alawo. He was presented with staff of office immediately.
    But some interest groups accused the government of imposing him on them. They vowed not to accept him as their monarch and sealed off the palace.
    Tension rose in the community at the weekend, following intelligence reports that some youths were planning cause chaos.
    The crisis assumed a religious dimension, with princes, who are Christians, claiming that some external forces were allegedly planning to Islamise the throne.
    Aladejuyigbe, according to sources, was not the preferred candidate of the elite and kingmakers but was said to have been enjoying government’s backing.
    It was gathered that some political office holders in the Fayose administration, mostly Muslims, worked with Muslim leaders to influence his appointment.
    A source said: “The man claimed to be a prince, but there was no record to show that he has contributed anything to the development of the palace and the town at large.
    “The Aladejuyigbe family has run several adverts to disown him. So to us in Awo-Ekiti, he was never a king.
    “Well, why we are not unaware of the fact that the new king was not born in this town, what of his father. There was no record to show that he has meaningful contributions in this town.”

  • Ekiti community protest two-year power outage

    Ekiti community protest two-year power outage

    Hundreds of youths yesterday protested two-year power outage that has crippled social and economic activities in Ikogosi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
    The youth accused the government of abandoning the famous Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, which has made the community famous.
    As early as 7.30 am, they marched on the streets singing war songs and accused the Benin Electricity Distribution of Company (BEDC) of putting the town in darkness.
    The protesters said the electricity company has not done anything to restore light to the community.
    The protesters blocked all the major roads leading in and out of the town.
    One of the protesters, Segun Alabi, called on authorities to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.
    Alabi condemned the alleged neglect of the tourist centre lamenting that the Ayo Fayose government failed to maintain the facilities left behind by the previous administration.
    He said government is a continuum, noting that the indigenes expect the Fayose administration to build on the efforts of its predecessor.
    President of Ikogosi Development Union (IDU) Rotimi Eso lamented the blackout in the town, which he said also affects two communities -Erijiyan and Ipole Iloro.
    Eso said the development has driven many people who depend on electricity out of business.
    He called on the government to intervene in the blackout and also save the tourist resort from decay.

  • Ekiti community hails Buhari for nominating indigene as envoy

    Ekiti community hails Buhari for nominating indigene as envoy

    The Iyin Ekiti community in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State has eulogized President Muhammadu Buhari for nomination of a member of the community, Lawrence Ayodele, for ambassadorial position .

    The name of Ayodele, a retired career diplomat, was among the list of 46 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by  the President to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

     In a statement by its spokesman, Olusola Oladele, the community expressed confidence that the nominee would bring his rich vein of experience to bear when confirmed for the post.

     Oladele described the nominee as:  ”A worthy son of Iyin-Ekiti who has contributed his quota to the progress and uplift of the community. Ayodele is an experienced career diplomat and he will use his vast experience to rebuild the image of the country for the better, as an ambassador.”

  • Ekiti community aglow at Yam Festival

    Ekiti community aglow at Yam Festival

    The cultural heritage of Ikere Ekiti was on display as the people of the community joined their monarch, the Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, to celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival known locally as Odun Ijesu. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Ikere Ekiti, a town which prides itself as the gateway to Ekiti land celebrated this year’s New Yam Festival with pomp and ceremony. It was the first to be celebrated since the new Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II ascended the throne.

    Since time the ancient time, the festival known in local parlance as Odun Ijesu had been celebrated but this year’s edition was taken to a higher pedestal as it was marked elaborately.

    Oba Adu and his subjects had every reason to roll out the drums because his reign has witnessed the construction of a modern palace built by the Ogoga himself, an administrative building and the new palace gate.

    Apart from the new yams rolled out at the festival which was a harbinger of agricultural fecundity of the community, the monarch, his chiefs and other residents, turned the event into a carnival.

    The Ogoga wore a highly embroidered Aso Oke and a gleaming white crown. He sat regally on his throne placed at the entrance of the main palace building with his wife, Olori Olufunmilola Ololade sitting in front of him.

    •Some crowns worn by the Ogoga on display at the event.
    •Some crowns worn by the Ogoga on display at the event.

    The various crowns worn by the Ogoga were displayed at the festival and guests and indigenes alike admired them.

    Crowd control became taxing at the event as the security men and women deployed to the palace were seemingly overwhelmed by the huge crowd that attended the event.

    The major feature of the ceremony was the homage paid by the traditional chiefs led by the iwarefas, the oloris (palace queens), the ibedos (age grade groups), traditional hunters, iyalojas, iyalajes (market women), the Oyopejus (Ikere indigenes who have their roots in Oyo) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the community.

    The oloris, who decorated themselves with royal beads, stole the show with their dexterous dance steps to which the Ogoga applauded. Their performance also drew a thunderous applause from the crowd.

    Non-indigenes including the Ebira, Igbo, Urhobo and Idoma who had taken up residency and earn their livelihood in Ikere took their turns to pay homage to the Ogoga who waved his irukere (horsetail) to acknowledge their reverence.

    Dignitaries at the festival were led by Governor Ayo Fayose who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Kolapo Olusola who is an indigene. deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Janet Olusola; Chairman, Ikere Local Government Area, Ola Alonge; member representing Ikere Constituency 1 in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Wale Ayeni; House of Assembly member representing Ikere Constituency 11, Sunday Akinniyi; Provost, College of Education, Ikere, Dr. Mojisola Oyarekua; Deputy Provost, Dr. Olu Atunramu and Registrar, Gbenga Ojo.

    The dignitaries including the deputy governor, the council chairman and the two Assembly members also took turns to pay homage to the Ogoga.

    One of the local hunters who paid homage to the king said: “This Kabiyesi is a harbinger of good things in Ikere. He should be celebrated by all his subjects.” The hunters’ homage ended with a staccato of gun shots.

    Delivering the welcome address, the Odolofin of Ikere, Chief James Ayodele Alonge, said the festival was aimed at fostering unity and love among Ikere indigenes and other residents; saying the festival “is in no way connected with idol worshipping.”

    He said: “This is our culture; it is in no way connected with idol worshipping which scares our Christian brothers and sisters. It is used to thank God that a little piece of yam that was put in the soil became a big yam ready for eating.

    “A new dawn is here, what the architect of modern Ikere, Agirilala did is now manifesting in his son, Agirilala II. He is the paramount ruler and prescribed authority of this kingdom.

    “All of us must co-operate with this progressive Oba to make Ikere take its pride of place in Ekiti land. New Yam festival is done in nearly all locations in Ekiti State. A little piece of yam that was planted by people and watered by God became big.”

    Delivering his speech, the Ogoga, Oba Adu who described the Ikere people as ariremako (people who don’t reject good things), expressed gratitude to his subjects for their co-operation since he mounted the ancient throne.

    •Cross-section of Ikere traditional chiefs at the event.
    •Cross-section of Ikere traditional chiefs at the event.

    The traditional ruler said the development witnessed in the town in the last one year of his reign was made possible by peace enjoyed by all. He urged them to always live in harmony to facilitate more development.

    The Ogoga said: “By this time last year, we celebrated Odun Ijesu and God has given us another opportunity to celebrate this year’s edition.

    “I acknowledge the unflinching support of the governor and his deputy. I also want to thank all the chiefs for their support and co-operation which has made us to achieve what we have achieved so far.

    “I thank all sons and daughters of Ikere; I appreciate your support and prayers. Let us join hands together to lift Ikere to greater heights because we don’t have another town we can call our own.

    “We have a lot of projects at hand; our city hall and roads are there and by the grace of God we must accomplish them. I also want to appeal to you all that we should support our council chairman to execute these projects.

    “Let us love one another, let us support one another because we are all brothers and sisters. Development of Ikere is our common project which we must pursue with all vigour because we don’t have another place other than Ikere.”

    Going down memory lane during an interaction with reporters after the programme, the Odolofin, Chief Alonge revealed that Ikere was founded in the 11th Century and had evolved to a big melting pot of people from various backgrounds within and outside Ekiti State.

    He said: “Ikere came into existence in the 11th Century and at a stage, we had a legend called Olosunta and we were worshiping him because he came into this town but was later betrayed and driven out of the town.

    “The wrong done to him brought about epidemic and the Ifa Oracle instructed us to appease him every year. After the appeasement was done, there was rain and all the crops planted flourished and bountiful harvest was recorded.

    “The New Yam Festival is one of the ways we celebrated the fertility of our land and to appreciate God for blessing our efforts in the last planting season.

    “So, our message to the people of Ikere is to join hands with the Agirilala II to develop this town. We have begun to see progress in this town; our Oba must be encouraged by others to key in to his dream for the development of our community.”

  • Ekiti community boils as youths protest outage

    Traffic was paralysed for hours yesterday on the Ado-Ikare Federal Highway, as Ijan-Ekiti youths in Gbonyin Local Government blocked the road to protest nine-month power outage.

    They demanded the restoration of power by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    The youths marched to the palace of the Onijan, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi and urged him to make representations to the BEDC authorities, saying they could no longer bear the blackout, which had paralysed social and economic activities.

    The protesters, who carried placards, said the outage gave robbers and other criminals the opportunity to perpetrate evils.

    They gave BEDC a seven-day ultimatum to restore electricity or they might be forced to take legal actions.

    They urged Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the electricity company to desist from disconnecting communities when it was only some individuals that defaulted in the payment of electricity bills.

    Oba Fadahunsi pleaded for civility in

    carrying out the protest, describing the outage as embarrassing.

    He said he had made efforts to compel the BEDC to see reason why electricity should be restored, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The monarch said the youths’ request would be conveyed to the government and the company.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Kola Oluwawole, enjoined BEDC to ensure that communities enjoyed the electricity they paid for.

    Oluwawole, who reacted in Ado-Ekiti through his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, in a statement, said it was becoming a daily occurrence for youths to protest lack of electricity due to what he called “the lackadaisical attitude” of the company.

     

  • Free health scheme for Ekiti community

    The President, Ado-Ekiti Central Lions Club, Taiwo Odebunmi, has revealed that over 1,200 people have been screened in its free health scheme in less than two years.

    Odebunmi spoke at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on the activities of the club, adding that they have also attended to over 460 people this year.

    He noted that the club is meeting special needs of the youth as a priority as well as creating awareness on various health challenges such as blindness, hypertension and diabetes, HIV and AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.

    Odebunmi said: “The future of any community depends largely on the youth and how the youth are nurtured and positioned. One of the core projects for the Lions year is the contribution of a hospice to be sited at the state teaching hospital in Ado-Ekiti.”

    The group reeled off some of the projects it embarked upon to include health talk, various eye surgeries; donation of incubator to the Ekiti State Specialist Hospital, Ado-Ekiti and yearly donations to the motherless babies’ home at Iyin-Ekiti, among others.

    Explaining further, Odebunmi said the Lions Club has its theme for 2015-2016 Lions Year as “Dignity, Harmony and Humanity”, adding that their survival is attributed to co-operation, team work, family structure and harmony among members.