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Tag: Ekiti State Governor

  • Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    …Court admits more evidence against Nyako in N29bn fraud trial

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has frowned at the conduct of a defence lawyer in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

    Agbele is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro (who was arraigned in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye on 11-count charge in which they are accused of laundering about N1.2 billion.

    The money is said to be part of the N4.7billion allegedly transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by Obanikoro’s son.

    At the last proceedings on May 24, 2017 the court ordered Agbele’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who had applied orally to withdraw appearance for the second defendant – Sylvan McNamara – to file a formal application to that effect within three days and serve copies on other parties in the case.

    Yesterday, Ozekhome was absent, but sent a junior, Godwin Iyinbor, who informed the court that his principal were yet to serve the application as ordered by the court.

    An infuriated lead prosecution lawyer, Wahab Shittu said: “this is a calculated attempt by the learned silk (Ozekhome) to frustrate the trial process and it should be discouraged”.

    Shittu described the development as unhealthy. He noted that the prosecution has consistently produced its witnesses to court at great cost.

    Another defence lawyer, Olalekan Ojo also wrote the court that he was attending an interview for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) slated for Monday and Tuesday at the Supreme Court and sought for an adjournment.

    Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted Ojo’s application, but frowned at Ozekhome’s conduct.

    He ordered service of the application by Ozekhome on parties before the next adjourned date and adjourned to October 12 and 13, 2017.

    Meanwhile, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday admitted in evidence documents tendered by the prosecution in the trial of a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako.

    Nyako is standing trial on a 37-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29billion. He is being tried with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.

    Companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds are – Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    One of the documents tendered by the prosecution yesterday, through the 12th prosecution witness, Caroline Utsaha, showed that N80million deposit was made in a day in the name of Blue Opal Limited; one of the companies allegedly used by the former governor to siphon the state funds.

    The documents tendered and admitted in evidence include: Letter dated July 21, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Blue Opal Limited – Exhibit H1.

    Letter dated August 15, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Opal Corporate Limited – Exhibit H2.

    Letter dated February 26, 2015, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Crust Energy Limited, and was admitted as Exhibit H3.

    Led in evidnce by lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Utsaha, a Relationship Manager with First Bank said: “In 2014, the EFCC wrote our Bank, requesting for details of the accounts packages and statements of accounts of three accounts.

    “The accounts were: Blue Opal Limited, Opal Corporate Limited and Crust Energy Limited. I got all they requested and did a forwarding letter to the Commission and also did an identification letter, indicating that the statements and all the documents are from First Bank.”

    When asked to look at Exhibit H1 and tell the court about the transactions therein, the witness said, “The entries here are series of deposits of Zenith bank cheque”.

    She went on: “On March 29, 2012, there were eight deposits of Zenith bank cheque of N10million each. The deposits were done on the same day”.

    Justice Abang later adjourned to July 4, 2017 for the continuation of hearing.

  • Fayose urges FG to stop Fulani herdsmen killings

    Fayose urges FG to stop Fulani herdsmen killings

    The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government to pay more attention to the menace Fulani herdsmen in the country, especially in Benue State, saying “what is going on in Benue State is more like an organised pogrom and those responsible for the killings in the State must be arrested and prosecuted.”

    The governor said Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo should be allowed to function as the president so as to be able to deploy instruments of the federal government to tackle the herdsmen menace, pointing out that; “As it is today, it appears that the Prof Osinbajo does not have the full powers of the president.”

    In a release issued on Saturday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose, who declared support for the new law prohibiting open grazing in Benue State, said “those opposed to the law are only doing so as part of their plot to undermine the land and people of Benue State and they must be made to face the law.”

    He sympathised with the government and people of Benue State, adding that the Federal Government must stop playing ostrich to the menace of
    the Fulani herdsmen.

    Governor Fayose said; “Like I have maintained, cattle farming is not different from fish farming, snake farming, poultry farming, snail
    farming, etc. Therefore, if fish farmers are providing their own ponds and poultry farmers building their own pens, while also buying feed for their animals, there is no reason cattle farmers should not also provide their own ranch and feed their cows without encroaching on
    other people’s farmlands.”

    “How can Nigerians embrace farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their
    farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it?”

    He described the Buhari-led government’s continuous silence on the alleged killing of harmless Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen as unacceptable.

  • Sheriff: Wike gave Jonathan N50m for PDP stakeholders meeting

    Sheriff: Wike gave Jonathan N50m for PDP stakeholders meeting

    The court backed National Chairman of People’s Democratic (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has alleged that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike gave former President Goodluck Jonathan N50 million to organise the recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

    But Dr. Jonathan has denied the allegation, saying that he took it upon himself to convene the meeting out of his genuine concern for peace to reign in the party.

    Also reacting to the allegation, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose said Sheriff has taking his desperation too far by accusing the former president of taking bribe.

    Fayose, in an SMS message by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, stated, “If Sheriff has taken his desperation to serve his paymasters in the APC to the level of accusing Jonathan of being bribed to organise peace meeting for the PDP, there is no reason for any sane mind to continue to respond to the continuous advertisement of his political insanity”.

    But Sheriff who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh at a news conference at the party’s secretariat on Thursday, said Governors Wike and Fayose recruited the Jonathan into a fake peace effort pre-determined to scuttle ongoing peace initiative in the party.

    “The result is that President Jonathan was lured into committing a serious breach of protocol that led ‎to the failure of the exercise which was the intended outcome”, Sheriff said.

    According to him, Wike and the media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi have already established their own political party, adding that their mission was to tie the PDP down with undue controversies.

    He further stated that the party was worried that the amount of money Wike was spending on the crisis could smear the image of the PDP

    “This money belongs to the people of Rivers State and it should not be misappropriated at the expense of the people to whom it rightfully belonged.

    “We therefore call on party leaders and Nigerians to refrain from accepting these monies from Governor Wike in line with the spirit of our founding fathers”, Sheriff added.

    The party chairman restated his determination to go ahead with the plans to organise a convention for the party, saying preparations for a free and fair convention were in top gear.

    Sheriff directed state chapter chairmen of the PDP to forward to the party secretariat the lists of all statutory delegates to the convention on or before April 27.

    He added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party would hold on May 3.

    Dr. Jonathan who spoke through his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed Sheriff’s allegation that he collected N50 million from Wike.

    According to him, he intervened in the crisis because of his genuine commitment to bring about peace in the party that made him president.

    “I don’t think anybody will believe that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the meeting. It was out of his genuine concern to bring peace to the party.

    “He has been meeting with members of the party; he met with Sheriff severally, he also met with Makarfi severally. He met with the governors.

    “I don’t see any reason for anybody to say that Jonathan collected money from anybody to organise the stakeholders conference”, Eze said.

     

  • Fayose blames FG’s agencies for prisons congestion

    Fayose blames FG’s agencies for prisons congestion

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has blamed the current problem of congestion in the nation’s prisons on the arbitrariness of the Federal Government and its law enforcement agencies.

    Fayose argued that prisons in the country were over populated because Federal Government agencies like the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest and detain innocent citizens and perceived opponents of the Federal Government for flimsy reasons and on malicious, spurious and unfounded allegations.

    The governor canvassed this argument in his response to a letter by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), with reference number NSA/601/A and dated January 16, 2017, requesting his (Fayose’s) assistance in facilitating quick decongestion of the nation’s prisons.

    Monguno had, in the letter, argued that the problem of prison congestion by awaiting trial suspects and convicts has negatively hampered the ‎administration of justice in the country.

    buhariFayose noted, in his response, that many Nigerians were currently languishing in prison without any reprieve, “because of the trumped-up charges of heinous offences preferred against them by these agencies”.

    Copies of his response were addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Fayose said: “Specifically, the controversial arrests and continued detention of Messers Nnamdi Kanu, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) and Ibrahim El Zakyzaky among several others, and the flagrant disregard and disobedience to court orders directing their release from prison by security and law enforcement agencies are not only unjust, immoral and detestable but constitute an affront to the rule of law and a rape on democracy.”

    He urged the office of the NSA “to critically appraise the nefarious activities of the security and law enforcement agencies which not only constitute an infraction of the fundamental rights of the affected citizens, guaranteed under the constitution, but also directly contribute to the perennial prisons congestion”.

    “Your inaction or failure to address the above-mentioned acts of Executive rascality and lawlessness will definitely undermine and belie your sincere concern and genuine commitment to the decongestion of the prisons as stated in your letter.

    “It is, therefore, my candid advice that your office should urgently intimate appropriate authorities with the need to henceforth lead by example, by respecting the rule of law, eschewing all forms of arbitrary discriminatory and dictatorial practices and disobedience to Court orders

    “It is my believe that your prompt action in the above regard, may help to correct the growing public perception that the Federal Government is selective in its observance of the rule of law and is partial in its so-called anti-corruption crusade.”

  • Why Fayose’s seized assets cannot be released – EFCC

    Why Fayose’s seized assets cannot be released – EFCC

    …Court to hear gov’s motion Dec 19

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given reasons why the six houses seized from Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose may never be returned to him.

    The EFCC said the houses – both in Lagos and Abuja – were seized via a court order issued on July 20 this year while it was investigating the governor in relation to various offences including diversion of public funds.

    It said it has, in the cause of investigating Fayose, found that the houses were acquired through third parties, who it has identified and has “proceeded against.”

    The commission said the question of whether or not to vacate the July 20 order for the seizure of the house no longer arises as the new owners of the houses have been identified and a new order has been issued against them.

    The EFCC said this in its counter affidavit to a motion by Fayose asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate the July 20 order for temporary forfeiture of his houses.

    The house include: four units of 4 bedroom at Charlets 3, 4, 6 and 9 Plot 100 Tiamiyi Salvage Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Others are: No: 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and Plot 1504 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja.

    The EFCC said, in its counter affidavit, that its investigation has revealed that houses were acquired through companies known as J.J. Technical Service, Spotless Investment Limited and one Mrs. Moji Ladeji.

    It said at the expiration of the July 20 order given by Justice Nmandi Dimgba (of the Federal High Court, Abuja) for 45, it went before another judge of the court – Justice Okon Abang – for a new order of interim forfeiture granted on November 3 this year.

    The EFCC argued that in view of the new interim order of forfeiture, which is to last until the case against the new owners of the properties is concluded, Fayose’s motion now before Justice Dimgba has become an academic exercise.

    “An order was made by this court on the 20th of July 2016 for interim attachment/forfeiture of the properties contained in this application for a period of 45 days.

    “The order has since lapsed and the respondent, upon further investigation, discovered the names through which the properties were acquired and had to proceed against those names.

    “The respondent (EFCC) re-attached the properties and reapplied to this honourable court for fresh order before Honourable Justice Okon Abang, which application was considered and granted.

    “An order of interim or forfeiture is meant to preserve the res (subject matter) pending investigation or conclusion of trial.

    “It is thus of interest to state that in view of the respondent’s exhibit EFCC1 (a copy of the order by Justice Abang), the order now being sought by the applicant has already been overtaking by time and event.

    “The applicant’s (Fayose’s) application is thus, a pure waste of time and an academic exercise, which is based on nothing,” the EFCC said.

    The absence of Fayose’s lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) prevented the hearing of the Governor’s application Monday.

    Following the agreement of lawyers to both sides to return another day for the hearing, Justice Dimgba adjourned to December 19.

     

     

  • Fayose releases detained cows, signs peace deal with herdsmen

    Fayose releases detained cows, signs peace deal with herdsmen

    •  Herdsmen to register within 14 days
    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Thursday released nine cows ‘arrested’ and ‘detained’ in some parts of the state for contravening the Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing Law back to their owners.
    The cows were seized by the operatives of Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) recently inaugurated to crack down on grazing outside hours allowed by law and in unauthorised places.
    This was consequent upon a stakeholders’ meeting held by Fayose with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Ekiti and Southwest, traditional rulers and Fulani Community where the governor also signed a peace pact with the body.
    MACBAN after signing the agreement promised that its members will abide by the new law regulating grazing in Ekiti State and coexist peacefully with farmers and residents.
    As part of the measures to curb friction between the two sides, cattle breeders operating in Ekiti State are to register with the traditional rulers of their host communities. The governor also agreed to the pro‎posal that members of the MACBAN be part of the patrol teams.
    The free registration must, however, be done within the next 14 days after which the registered names would be forwarded to the state government for data keeping.
    The event, which took place at the Government House grounds, had farmers, traditional rulers, state government officials and MACBAN leaders and members from across the South-West region in attendance.
    But Fayose reiterated that the only hours allowed by law for grazing in the state remain 7.00 am to 6.00 pm insisting that any cow seen outside the 6.00 pm will be arrested alongside with the superintending herdsman and the owner face a jail term of six months without any option of fine.
    The governor explained that traditional rulers have been empowered to enforce the grazing law in their domains and apportion lands to herdsmen to do their businesses under a controlled situation.

    Fayose said: “I have decided to release these cows to strengthen our union. So, I expect you to comply with the law because after now if you contravene the law, we will take appropriate sanctions against you.

    “You can’t because you are rearing cows be destroying our farmlands. Our people rely on these  farms to survive and the moment you are destroying them, then they will not be interested in going into farming and hunger will affect all of us.

    ‎”You are all my brothers and there is no reason to trouble you.‎ Many of you have been here for long and your families are here too.‎ Ali Garba from Malumfashi , Kaduna State was part of my first term administration and currently an Igbo man is a councillor in Ward 10 of Ado Local Government. What we are doing today is to ensure a peaceful relationship between you, your host communities and the state government.
    “Those killed in Oke Ako are gone and can’t be alive again and we should not allow a repeat of such terrible incident.‎ Ekiti people buy cattle from you and you are making profits.
    “We are not asking for much, just for you to obey our law.The law is not targeted at those who obey the law.You have to register with traditional ruler of your host community.
    ‎”It is you who will inform the monarch of new faces coming to join you ‎or pretending to be herdsmen. Going armed will not be tolerated. No form of weapon is allowed in Ekiti State for cattle rearing.
    “A company will be monitoring your activities fro‎m the air. They have done air surveillance of Ijero Forest Reserve and we saw some buildings deep down the forest. We must all be security conscious,” he noted.

    Fayose threatened to deal with whoever harasses the cattle rearers while doing their legitimate businesses, urging the leaders of Miyetti Allah to always report directly to him any case of intimidation and oppression against  their members.

    Speaking earlier, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi said the law was drafted to curb the excesses of some cattle farmers.
    In his remarks, the Southwest leader of MACBAN, Alhaji ‎‎Mohammed Kabir, who said he was born and bred in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said his group had gone round states in the region to sensitise members on the need for peaceful co-existence.
    He added that the effort resulted in the few recorded cases of herdsmen/farmers clashes in the region compared to the South-East and the Middle Belt.
    Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers in the state, the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, said the governor spoke the minds of Ekiti people.
    The monarch said: ‎”What we want is what our governor has said and that is peaceful coexistence. Farming is our profession and what the governor told you is what the people are telling him.
    “We are peace-loving here and not murderers. We want the peace to continue to reign and we are satisfied with how your leaders have spoken.”
  • Confiscated cows to go for ‘stomach infrastructure’ – Fayose

    Confiscated cows to go for ‘stomach infrastructure’ – Fayose

    • Inaugurates grazing enforcement marshals
    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has declared that any cow confiscated under the State Grazing Regulation Law will be slaughtered and shared to the people as part of the “Stomach Infrastructure” policy of his administration.
    The governor who disclosed this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti during the inauguration of Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) said herdsmen caught grazing their cattle beyond the 6.00 pm risks six months jail while their animals will be confiscated.
    Fayose explained that the setting up of the EGEM force was a further step to nip the killing of innocent people and destruction of their means of livelihood by armed herdsmen in the bud.
    The EGEM men thrilled the audience with their parade while local hunters also performed at the ceremony. Some of the marshals displayed placards some of which read “No To Terrorism By Herdsmen”, Fayose Is Working, Ekiti Is Moving”, among others.
    Fayose who were an olive green long sleeve shirt with a camouflage fez cap to match explained that the marshals are not to carry arms and therefore would collaborate with security agencies empowered by law to carry arms to tackle armed cattle rearers.
    He said: ‎”We have a right to life and to survive and holding things for our survival especially peasant farmers, whose means of livelihood are taken away by cattle feeding on their crops.‎ If the gains of peasant farmers are taken away in a jiffy, that is condemnable.‎
    “We will bring to a permanent end, the situation whereby some people take away the means of livelihood of others.
    “On August 29, 2016, the Anti-Grazing Bill was passed by the House of Assembly and the bill was signed into law by me on August 30.‎ Some people go as far as grazing in the night when farmers are no longer at their farms.‎
    “Any cattle found grazing after the time stipulated by the law will be confiscated by the  government.Such cattle will be sold or killed on the spot ‎and shared to people as part of our Stomach Infrastructure programme,” he said.
    The governor had Wednesday last week personally stopped open grazing along Afao Road and supervised the “arrest” of a cow on his way to commissioning projects in Ikole Ekiti.
    Fayose contended that 10, 000 cattle could not compensate for the life of the human being lost to a conflict between herdsmen and local farmers.
    While frowning at cattle rustling by some people, Fayose added that the law was in the interest of cattle rearers too, as their operations would be streamlined.
    The governor added that the phone numbers of the marshals would be made public and warned the marshals against going beyond their mandate.
    “This is not an opportunity to harass or intimidate innocent people. You are to enforce the law and not to break it. Anybody found going beyond his bounds would be dealt with accordingly,” he stressed.
    In her opening remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade, said the law had helped in curbing incessant attacks on local farmers by herdsmen and feasting on crops by cattle.
    The Chairman, Hunters Association, Ikole Local Government, Joseph Osasona, commended Fayose for the initiative.
    Osasona recalle‎d that it was the prompt intervention of the governor in Oke Ako-Ekiti early in the year when some armed herdsmen attacked the people, that sent a strong signal to lawbreakers to stay away from the state.
    He noted that it was inhuman for anybody to jeopardise the lives and means of livelihood of others because he wants to rear cattle.
  • Ondo Poll: APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    Ondo Poll: APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo state has described Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose’s call for violence should the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loss the forthcoming Governorship election in Ondo State as unfortunate and a barbaric conduct.

    The Party emphasised that the statement was unbecoming of a Governor and a supposed Chief Security Officer (CS0) of Ekiti state.

    Fayose was quoted to have said during the PDP rally held in Akure on Wednesday, that there would  be a repeat of 1983 violence in  Ondo state if PDP loss the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.

    A statement issued by the APC’s spokesman in Ondo Central, where the rally took place, Charles Titiloye, noted that the statement had exposed the evil plot of PDP and its candidate Eyitayo Jegede who all the while have been promoting a political ethnic agenda tagged “Akure Agenda”.

    APC noted that Fayose and Jegede are now frustrated that the multi ethnic and peaceful Akure people have refused to be deceived into a third term agenda of Mimiko under the guise of “Akure Agenda”.

    It urged the PDP to focus its attention on its intra-party crisis of choice of candidate and not drag Ondo state into any form of electoral crisis.

    The party noted that the party was on firm ground in Akure and its environs as the party presently occupies the senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats.

    It urged Fayose to face his war against cattle farmers and normads in Ekiti and continue to arrest cows,saying“ We are not cows in Ondo state and nobody can push us into a violent fight and barbaric criminal killings.

    The APC advised the governor to commence the 1983 electoral violence in his domain in Ekiti.

    It urged the citizenry to remain calm and continue to live peacefully among one another.

  • Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu

    Fayose condemns attack on Tinubu

    From an unlikely quarter came a support for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the battle for the soul of the ruling party in Nigeria.

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday condemned what he called the “conspiracy against Asiwaju Tinubu by those he made that are now being allegedly used against him warning those hoping to reap political benefits in the APC crisis to have a rethink.

    Fayose who belongs to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in condemning the attack on the former Lagos State governor emphasized that “humiliation of Tinubu is as good as humiliation of the Yoruba race.”

    The self-styled “Opposition Leader in Nigeria” declared that he won’t keep silent in the face of attack on a revered Yoruba leader like Tinubu stressing that “Yoruba leaders must be protected.”

    He recalled that similar attacks were visited on Yoruba icons like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Onabanjo (all of blessed memory), Alhaji Lateef Jakande, among others.

    Fayose said: “Even though I am not a member of APC and I will never be, I have elected to stand in defence of the Yoruba nation once again by saying no to the continuous dishonourable treatment being meted to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having paid his dues.”

    Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose, said; “if Tinubu is allowed to be embarrassed and disgraced just the way our past leaders were humiliated by these same elements, the Yoruba nation would have been made to suffer for uprightness.”

    The Ekiti helmsman condemned the Tuesday’s alleged sponsored protest against the APC leader at the party’s national secretariat, saying; “it is unfortunate that Tinubu is now being vilified in a party he invested heavily in and his fellow kinsmen that he brought up politically are part of this conspiracy.

    “In their desperation, they have even tried to set him against the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, by insinuating that tried to prevent his (Osinbajo) emergence as President Mohammadu Buhari’s running mate, this is sad!”

    He lamented that “when other tribes protect own, it is becoming historically common among the Yorubas to allow themselves to be used against their leaders just for momentary political gains at the expense of the collective interests of the Yoruba nation.

    “It should be noted that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sent to jail by the conspiracy and collaboration of some Yorubas with the external aggressors.”

    Fayose said: “Tinubu is a prominent stakeholder; we should not sit back and watch while those he used his own sweat to make conspired with others to humiliate him.

    “Most importantly, it is my position that irrespective of political affiliation, no leader of the Yoruba nation must be vilified unduly, especially by the same people who humiliated our past leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande and others.

    “To me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be seen just as an APC leader, but acknowledged as a major stakeholder in the Yoruba nation that we must all protect beyond politics.

    ”It should be recalled that these were among the issues that I raised when I visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State few months ago on the need to work together beyond party affiliations.

    “Here in Yorubaland, it is said that if a household is at peace, it is because the bastard child of the family is yet to attain the age of maturity and those people that Asiwaju Tinubu made, but are now being used against him should watch it.

    “I therefore condemn this conspiracy against Asiwaju Tinubu and I admonish those that are hoping to make political benefits from it to have a rethink.”

    The governor, who called for greater unity among the Yorubas, added that; “We are first Yorubas before becoming members of political parties, it is my opinion that our leaders must be defended and protected not-minding the personal gains of today.”

  • Aisha Buhari’s US visit: Arewa Youths Demand Fayose’s Apology

    Aisha Buhari’s US visit: Arewa Youths Demand Fayose’s Apology

    Following the visit of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari to the United States of America, the Arewa youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) has asked the Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose to immediately apologise to Nigerians and the first family after he claimed Mrs Buhari was a fugitive from justice in the US over the Halliburton scandal.

    Addressing journalists in Abujaon Friday, AYIF national president, Comrade Abubakar Ibrahim said this visit by the President’s wife is a further proof that Fayose lied in his claim about Mrs Buhari.

    He said, “We pointed out this visit because of its significance to what had transpired earlier when Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose came up with his tales by moonlight in which he vigorously tried to mislead the public with claims that Mrs Buhari was a fugitive from justice in the US over the Halliburton scandal. Various persons that set the records straight that the wife of the President was not the same ‘Aisha Buhari’ mentioned in the court documents were ridiculed and bad mouthed.

    “May we remind Fayose that Mrs Buhari was not the one who was recorded in a hotel suite conspiring with others to breach the Electoral Law. The first family did not tell him to engage in money laundry involving billions of naira ferried from one airport to another. It was not Mr President that made the lodgement of proceed of crime into the Ekiti state governor’s bank account. It was not northerners that made Fayose to be richer than Ekiti state neither were we responsible for his inability to sell his family to pay salaries to workers’ whose money he has diverted into his personal account.

    He said now that Mrs Buhari’s visit to the United States has confirmed that Fayose wasnt telling the truth, “we are calling on him to apologize to the first family, and Nigerian women.”

    Ibrahim said Fayose should rather focus his energy to explain his misrule to Ekiti people when his tenure expires.

    He said, “We see the vintage Fayose, upon realising that his lies have been found out, desperately looking for a way to distract the nation by calling attention to the handbag Mrs Buhari was holding in one of the pictures from the US. This obvious attempt to trivialize the issue with the woman’s bag is a new low for Fayose even by his own standards.

    “Our expectations are that beginning with Ekiti state at the end of Fayose’s tenure the electorates would insist that psychiatric evaluation and a consequent certificate of mental competence would be requisite for all the candidates seeking elections.”

    The youths urged Mrs Buhari not to relent on her life changing activities and should rather increase the tempo upon her return from the United States.