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Tag: Ekiti STATE

  • ‘I’m the David that’ll bring down Ekiti Goliaths’

    He is not so tall but 44 years-old Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate, Akinloye Ayegbusi, says he is the underdog that is about to upset all calculations as he is set to change the course of history in Ekiti State. He spoke with Assistant Editor, Jide Babalola

    YOU are 44 years old and running for governorship of Ekiti State on the platform of SDP. Do you really see the passage of the Not Too Young to Run Bill into law as a potential source of encouragement for daring young Nigerians?

    As much as possible, any nation that plays with the destiny of its youths is actually playing with its future. If you look at the trend worldwide now, we now have 29-39-years old becoming presidents, which shows that the world is actually handing over the mantle of leadership to the young generation.

    Unfortunately, some of the African countries and Nigeria in particular are so used to the old faces that it is as if they are legends that will never fade away. When I was in primary school, we were reading about Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari and in my early secondary school days too, we read about so many of these old leaders and yet they are still there.

    The question is when will the youths take over the mantle of leadership and will the country ever move forward?

    How long have you been in politics and how did you emerge as SDP governorship candidate in Ekiti?

    There was no godfather of any kind. I will say it is just God at work. I had never been in politics before. In fact, as at March 15 this year, I was not thinking about politics at all as part of my plans for this year. I was thinking about something else. But then, the calls came and with the pressure from everywhere, with people saying ‘You can do this’. So, I decided to give it a try.

    When I got to the party, I met four very strong people on ground. One was a Former Deputy Governor and a former Managing Director of Wema Bank; the other was a former ambassador of Nigeria to Canada and another was a Secretary to the State Government to Segun Oni, while the last was a former Deputy Inspector General of Police and a serving member of House of Representatives. So, I was the only greenhorn and real underdog among them.

    When we started, I was grounded because I didn’t have anything but I was very aggressive about it by going round all the local government areas and 177 wards. I visited everywhere. We had campaigns and town hall meetings and we went to all the campuses. I had to let the youths know that this is the only opportunity that we have; it is either now or never. It is either you take your destiny in your hand or never. There is joblessness and there is no policy of industrialisation to move them to the next level.

    Don’t you feel intimidated by the existing structures of APC and PDP in Ekiti State, especially with people like Governor Ayo Fayose?

    Fayose is a spent force; Fayemi is a spent force too. Quote me, they said they are sending 77 men to help him for election. He didn’t ask for 77 men to come and help revamp the economy in Ekiti, he did not seek 77 people to come and address the hungry people in Ekiti. I know what they call them in Ekiti.

    So, what do they call you in Ekiti?

    They call me David. I am the David that will bring down the Goliaths of Ekiti.

    What are your plans for the people of Ekiti; what do you intend to do to make a difference?

    We found out that presently, the state is generating less that N400 million as Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) per month. And that brings Ekiti State to the position of being second to the last in poverty index in Nigeria. Out of 36, we are number 35. We need to move Ekiti State forward. One of those things that we found out is that over time, when Awolowo was working to develop the Western Region in those days, he saw that human capital will be generated in Ekiti. But because we did not harness our blessings and potentials very well, we ended up becoming teachers and lecturers.

    I was at a professor’s house (in Ekiti) and you will be shocked with what I saw there: the level of poverty he is going through while he carries a big title! This is supposed to be one of the highest paid individuals in the world. When you get to places like Abeokuta, their focus is more entrepreneurship inclined and that is why you have all sorts of businesses there and they are still thriving but in Ekiti we do not have anything.

    We need to open up the economy of Ekiti and we need to open up the minds of the people in Ekiti. We have to tell them that you cannot earn ₦18,000 minimum wage continuously and break even. Sise sise, omo aseje; s’owo s’owo, omo ase la.  We need to encourage people to do business and prosper.

    How do we intend to achieve that?

    I am sure you heard about the Yunis Foundation that trained and developed a lot of microfinance initiatives worldwide. We intend to bring such to Ekiti and establish microfinance initiatives everywhere in Ekiti so that a woman that wants to start a small scale business of selling palm-oil or kola nut which is wasting away in Ekiti will be empowered. That is the only way we can generate higher IGR. We can empower women who can package various products to other parts of the country where such is in high demand.

    How much is the debt profile of Ekiti State?

    The debt profile of Ekiti State is over N57 billion, which is a lot of money whereas Lagos is generating over N50billon every month and Ekiti is still on N400 million and we have cashew seeds everywhere in Ekiti and nobody is doing anything about it. These are things that make real money anywhere in the world. If you make people realise the economic value of those things, you will see supply and demand.

    I heard sometime that Nigeria is exporting yam. How can we be exporting yam when we can supply it to pharmaceutical companies to produce starch here. We can add value to it here and make much more from it and spend less to export the value-added product instead of the raw yam. And then, a whole Minister of Agriculture was celebrating the exportation of raw yams!

    Will you be considering asking the EFCC to step in and investigate the preceding administrations like that of Fayemi and Fayose as well as the management of resources in Ekiti State?

    I don’t want to distract myself with the investigation of past leaders because I will have so much to do than looking for scapegoats. It is not part of my agenda. If they have problems, they can sort themselves with EFCC. The level of deprivation right now is terrible; both graduates and skilled employees are being exported to different parts of the world while some graduates are here riding okada; it is sad. It is so sad that the only way that many leaders empower the youths now is by buying them okada. An honourable member of the legislature, after my visit to his constituency and being well received, the next day, he gave the people there 100 motorcycles (Okada). Things have gotten so bad that even the little children don’t have role models any longer. There are just so many problems that we need to address.

  • Adeyeye: Ekiti people poorer under Fayose

    …Says Fayemi will give them succour

    Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged lack of vision and inflicting hardship and poverty on the people of Ekiti State.

    Adeyeye said Ekiti people are poorer under Fayose because the governor abandoned human capital development programmes of his immediate predecessor in office who is now the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Speaking on a special interview programme on Voice 89.9 FM, Ado-Ekiti, Adeyeye urged the electorate to reject Fayose’s anointed candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Adeyeye urged the electorate in Ekiti State to vote Fayemi, whom he said has a genuine vision to make life better for the people and develop the Fountain of Knowledge.

    He said a vote for Olusola is a vote for continuation of poverty, hardship, misery, hunger, lack of focus and placing Ekiti in Fayose’s grip after he might have left office.

    Adeyeye, who defected to the APC on May 29, accused Fayose of playing games with the state treasury and lack of accountability.

    The former minister said Fayose has failed to declare the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) despite various forms of taxes imposed on the people of the state.

    Those reeling under tax burden, according to Adeyeye include owners of small, medium and large scale businesses, artisans, civil servants, tertiary institution workers and pupils in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

    Read Also:Akeredolu to Fayose: you can’t stop me from election campaign in Ekiti

    According to Ise-Ekiti born politician, Fayose’s alleged draconian laws have driven investors away while many businesses are folding up on daily basis.

    He criticized alleged plots by the Fayose administration to poison the minds of Ekiti people against the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Adeyeye assured teachers and civil servants of job security and better welfare packing saying Fayemi has no plan to sack them as being alleged by Fayose and Olusola.

    According to him, it was hypocritical for Fayose who claims to be a friend of workers and teachers to be owing them several arrears of salaries with a good number of them dying because of lack of money to take care of themselves.

    He said: “Fayose is a liar and a noise maker, Fayemi will never sack any civil servants in Ekiti, teacher, local government worker, he will even employ more workers into the civil service.

    “Fayose, who called himself a friend of workers, presently owes workers between six and nine months’ salary.

    “Fayemi paid workers regularly and he did not owe any workers salary during his first term. Fayose is a liar, he always lied against Fayemi.”

    Adeyeye disclosed that an APC government, when elected, have plans to revive the income generating business ventures allegedly abandoned by Fayose which he said would provide more jobs.

    Attesting to the competence of Fayemi to turn around the fortunes of Ekiti if elected, Adeyeye said his (Fayemi’s) second tenure would usher in peace, prosperity and banishing poverty from the state.

    Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said he was not surprised by Adeyeye’s outburst describing him as a spent force and a man still frustrated by his loss at the PDP primary to Olusola.

    Fayose boasted that Adeyeye and Fayemi will meet their waterloo at the July 14 governorship election describing the two APC men as “birds of the same father who cannot win election anywhere.”

    “The duo are birds of same feather, flocking together. They never won any credible election in their lives. So, they cannot appreciate credible election.

    “Has Fayemi ever won any election in Ekiti State? No. Even the primary election of the then Action Congress that preceded the 2007 general elections was manipulated to favour him.

    “By joining the APC, Adeyeye has taken a wrong step he would regret later. Adeyeye too has no history of winning election.

    “In 1999, as Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, he lost to PDP’s Gbenga Aluko. It was only Adeyeye that lost his senatorial election to a People’s Democratic Party candidate in the South West. In the primary of the Action Congress in 2006, he lost and in protest he defected to
    the PDP.

    “His profile has only been boosted with political appointments rather than election.

    “He was appointed the Chairman of Ekiti SUBEB under a PDP- led government. By God’s grace, I was instrumental to his appointment as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I later appointed him the Chairman of the Governing Council of Ekiti State University. I also got him the position of the National Publicity Secretary of our party, now he is claiming to be what he is not.”

  • Pomp as Ekiti inaugurates new High Court complex

    Ekiti State occupies a pride of place in Nigeria’s judicial system because of the contributions of those indigenous to it in areas dispensation of justice, advocacy, human rights and legal scholarship.

    Some of the legal titans of Ekiti origin include former Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria, the late Justice Olajide Olatawura; founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN); former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); former President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), just to mention a few.

    While these eminent jurists did and are still doing exploits in other parts of the country plying their trade with the aid of better facilities provided elsewhere, the High Court Complex of their state of origin lacked many facilities to make work easier for judges, lawyers, court workers and litigants.

    The main structures of the High Court complex were built in the 60s during the Western Region period but were given a facelift when Ekiti State was carved out of the old Ondo State on October 1, 1996.

    It was against this background that Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose decided to construct a befitting High Court complex at the State Judiciary Headquarters to end inconveniences being experienced by workers and visitors.

    Fayose, being a beneficiary of judiciary himself, with strings of cases he won in the temple of justice, decided that the only way he could pay that arm of government back was the construction of a befitting High Court during his second tenure.

    The icing on the cake on the building of the new Court was the governor’s decision to name the edifice after the pioneer Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Oba John Ademola Ajakaye the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti.

    Oba Ajakaye later became the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja and he is currently the Chancellor, Diocese of Ekiti State Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

    The monarch, alongside the pioneer Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Raphael Makanjuola Esan (SAN) who were both pupils of Aare Babalola, laid the foundation upon which Ekiti Judiciary grew to become what it is today.

    The Oluyin,  accompanied by his wife, Olori Josephine Ajakaye, was beaming with smiles because of the immortal honour done him by Fayose with his name etched at the top of the building.

    The Ekiti State government, led by Fayose rolled out the drums to celebrate the judiciary with the dedication of the new court complex on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

    The new court building was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen who was represented by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, a Justice of the Supreme Court.

    Some of the dignitaries at the inauguration included Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Fayose’s wife, Feyisetan; Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola; Aare Babalola, General Secretary, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide; Chairman, Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Chief Oladeji Fasuan; Chief Esan, former General Secretary of NBA, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN); Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), former Ekiti State Attorney-General, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) and other top government officials.

    The occasion offered another opportunity to speaker after speaker to dissect and analyse the state of judiciary in Nigeria and proffer solutions that will make the arm truly independent.

    Onnoghen has advocated a strong Judiciary to dispense justice without favour and deepen the nation’s democracy.

    He expressed regrets that budgetary allocation to the Judiciary has been dwindling over the years, a situation he said hampers its operations and effective service delivery.

    Onnoghen said the Federal Government should provide the enabling environment for the third arm of government to thrive and give justice to the people of the country.

    He said: “The country’s judiciary must rise up and dispense justice without fear, favour or ill-feeling. Judges must give quality judgments and rise up to the challenge of interpreting the laws of the land for the stability of our nation.

    “In doing this, the executive arm must provide enabling environment for members of staff of the judiciary to discharge their duties.

    “We want to salute Governor Ayodele Fayose for this feat and we appeal to other states of the federation to replicate this kind of state-of-the-art facility in their domains to make our members of the judicial staff comfortable in discharging their duties.”

    Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, said history would be kind to Fayose for bequeathing such an imposing temple of justice to the state.

    Daramola said like Oliver Twist, he would ask for more from the governor for the benefit of the judiciary in the state.

    Fayose used the occasion to throw jibes at the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of muzzling the Judiciary and persecuting judges which has made many of them to become timid.

    He also advocated for the establishment of a Customary Court of Appeal in Ekiti State and appointments of more Judges into the State judiciary by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Ekiti State, Fayose said, currently lacks the required number of judges on its Bench, even as he urged the Federal Government through the National Judicial Council (NJC) to approve candidates that have been recommended.

    “Judiciary, as our hope and refuge, must stand up for us. Don’t fear to give judgment. I said this when President Muhammadu Buhari came on board that this government will be vindictive. What they wanted is for judges to fabricate judgments in their favour and this must not happen if our democracy must survive,” he said.

    Expressing serious opposition to dearth of Judges in Ekiti, Fayose said: “We have only 11 Judges in Ekiti judiciary out of which there was only one female. This is wrong and unacceptable to us.

    “Some of our judges have retired and the NJC has failed to replace them. What have we done wrong? Is Ekiti State no longer part of Nigeria? What have we taken from them?  Don’t let our people think this was deliberate and political.

    “We have good career men in our judiciary whose careers were being wasted away. Ekiti was being sidelined in the appointments of Judges and this is not fair.”

    Fayose warned against politicisation of the judicial arm, describing such tendency as dangerous to Nigeria’s future.

    “Judges without political inclination should be made to preside over election petition tribunals. I have seen governors lobbying for judges to be given such position. Judiciary and opposition are the bedrock of democracy.”

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel described the edifice as one of the best in the country and a clear statement that any governor can perform, even with meagre resources.

    “What Governor Fayose has done had proved us right that when a governor is faithful with meagre resources, he can perform wonder because this is not about money, but about ideas,” he stated.

    Aare Babalola commended Fayose for having the desire to construct the High Court complex to make the work of Judges, Magistrates and lawyers easier.

    He said Fayose has done well with the gesture and has lived up to the expectation of the people who elected him to office.

    Ozekhome said Fayose has made history with the new court building, hailing the governor for having the penchant for naming iconic monuments after prominent Ekiti sons and daughters and not after himself.

    NBA Chairman in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, said the construction of the court was evidence that Fayose has regards for the Judiciary and the legal profession.

    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade advised members of staff of the judiciary to imbibe maintenance culture for the edifice to stand the test of time.

  • Alleged Corruption: Ekiti community urges Fayose to remove Monarch

    Spokesman: It’s not true

     

    The residents of Iyemero Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Areas Monday staged a public protest against their monarch, the Olu, Oba Ebenezer Agboola Ogungbemi .

    The residents including traditional chiefs, youths and women began their protest with solidarity songs and marched to the headquarters of local council area.

    The protesters accused Oba Ogungbemi of misappropriating money meant for the payment of monthly stipends of traditional chiefs and illegal sale of land in the community.

    President of the town’s Union, Fatoyinbo Idowu said the monarch ascended the throne through questionable means as he that the monarch was not entitled to Iyemero kingship.

    He also accused the monarch of unilaterally withholding the stipends due to the traditional chiefs of the town in the last ten years.

    Read Also:Ekiti shooting: Bamidele moved to Lagos for post-surgery treatment

    The protesters who had earlier met the council of Obas in Ikole local government threatened to petition the monarch by calling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should the monarch jettison the appeal of well-meaning sons and daughters of Iyemero Ekiti.

    Also, two youth leaders of the town, Odeleye Adeleye accused the monarch of shortchanging the town.

    Another youth leader, Francis Olayinka urged Governor Ayo Fayose to remove the Olu for allegedly desecrating the throne.

    In a swift reaction, the spokesperson to the monarch, Prince Michael Ogungbemi said the protest is the handiwork of some disgruntled individuals in the community.

    He said the monarch is not selling lands in the community and community chiefs have been collecting stipends from the monarch.

    The prince urged the subjects to cooperate with the monarch and should not allow themselves to be used to cause chaos in their hometown.

    The lingering crisis rocking the town over the removal of the traditional ruler of the town began about two years ago, and every attempt made to settle the feud has not yielded a positive result.

  • Ekiti 2018: Aluko gets Accord governorship flag

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has been handed the governorship flag of Accord ahead of the July 14 election.

    The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado, led the national executives to welcome Aluko and declared readiness to win the governorship poll.

    They pledged to give maximum support to Aluko to woodland Ekiti voters to the side of the party at a ceremony held at the National secretariat in Abuja.

    According to a statement on Tuesday by ACCORD Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State,  Deacon Joseph Anifowose, said the flag presentation was consequent upon Aluko’s victory at the primary.

    Speaking on the occasion, the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji  Nalado  extols the Values and integrity of Aluko.

    Other Speakers also spoke in the same direction and gave kudos to Ekiti state Leader of the party,  Akogun Banji Ojo for standing solidly behind the party in her trying periods.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Battle for governor’s seat heats up

    The state Executives headed by Chief Samuel Ode Oba were also commended for the peaceful conducts of the state political activities.

    The flag presentation was like a relay race where Barton’s were exchanged. The National Chairman Alhaji Nalado presented the Party’s Flag to the National Vice Chairman South West Mr.  Babarinde who handed it over to Ekiti state Chairman, Chief Samuel Abiola Ode Oba.

    Chief Samuel Abiola Ode Oba handed over the Party’s flag to Aluko as the official Flag bearer for Accord in the forthcoming Ekiti 2018 Governorship Election.

  • Ekiti 2018: Lawmakers hold sitting on highway

    …… Endorse Olusola for governor

     

    Members of Ekiti State House of Assembly on Monday held a special sitting on the major highway in Ado-Ekiti to declare their support for the candidature of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The lawmakers, who held their plenary at the foot of the Ado-Ekiti Flyover commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday, declared Ekiti “a no-go area for rigging” by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    At the sitting which commenced at 12.13 pm,they all resolved to work for Olusola’s victory at the poll to ensure the realization of the continuity agenda of the Fayose administration.

    Led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole, the lawmakers vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government and its allied agencies “to scuttle the wishes of the people through their votes at the July 14 governorship election.”

    In the lead debate by the House Leader of Business, Mr. Olatunji Akinyele, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, the legislators affirmed their loyalty to Governor Ayo Fayose for using his mandate for the benefit of Ekiti people

    Akinyele commended Fayose for “changing the face of Ekiti” with people-oriented projects including dualization of roads in Ado-Ekiti and other major towns which culminated in inauguration of the flyover last Saturday by Jonathan.

    He added: “We support the candidature of Prof Kola Olusola for the governorship of Ekiti State and we urge the people of the state to vote for the continuity of Fayose’s legacies.

    “We also warn that the Federal Government should steer clear of the forthcoming governorship election because rigging will not be allowed in Ekiti State.”

    The lawmaker representing Ijero Constituency, Mr. Dayo Akinleye, said Ekiti people would not be intimidated by federal might at the election.

    He said: “The federal might cannot intimidate us because the PDP is on ground in Ekiti. We call on INEC to declare the real votes of the people and the Police should not allow themselves to be used for dirty jobs.”

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Battle for governor’s seat heats up

    The lawmaker representing Oye Constituency 1, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, claimed that the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was not popular at home.

    Omotoso said: “Fayemi is from my constituency, he is not popular at all. For several elections, Fayemi has only been able to win his one ward out of six wards in all the previous elections.

    “I have not seen how such candidate can be helped, this is a message to INEC and FG, that the candidate of Fayemi is like a patient that the doctor would say have poor prognosis.

    “The coming election is like that for APC, they cannot win and can never win, we are united in continuity under Fayose and we have great confidence in Eleka who have is a professor of Building Technology, unlike a doctorate degree holder in war studies who would only destroy.”

    Speaker Oluwawole said: “This is plenary is a special one in the sense that the government of the day has performed excellently well and we are elated and we have decided to come to the open to commend the immeasurable and outstanding performance of Fayose in executing various project in the state.

    “I want to correct an impression, have only one member in suspension the six others not here have obtained permission.

    “This is to correct an impression that some people are boasting that 10 of us are decamping, that is a fallacy. Fayemi is a serial loser who has never won any election, the last one was through judicial abracadabra.  He will lose in July 14.

    “I say this for record, that we are a united house, dogged, cannot be intimidated, nor harassed or kidnapped. We have unalloyed and unshakable commitment to Fayose who has demonstrated to the whole that he is committed to the service of humanity in Ekiti.

    “The kind of mammoth crowd that witnessed the flyover commissioning was tsunamic, and astonishing. We declare our total loyalty to the administration of Governor Fayose, we call on the people of Ekiti to show support as a payback for Fayose by voting Eleka and Ogunsakin on July 14.

    “It is a divine mandate that will b executed not only by the masses but also the host or heaven.”

    Other lawmakers who spoke at the “special sitting” are new Deputy Speaker, Mr. Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West Constituency 2) Mrs. Cecilia Dada (Ilejemeje Constituency) and Mr Tope Fasanmi (Ado Constituency 2).

  • Ekiti 2018: APC slams Jonathan for warning Buhari not to rig poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said former President Goodluck Jonathan was not fit to demand for the conduct of a credible governorship poll on July 14.

    The party said Jonathan lacked the moral justification to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to resist the temptation to deploy instruments of coercion in favour of his party (APC) at the governorship election.

    It also criticized Jonathan for describing the Ado-Ekiti flyover built by Governor Ayo Fayose at the whopping cost of N17b as the best of its type in Nigeria is a slap on the faces of Ekiti people and reasonable
    Nigerians in general.

    The former President was in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend to commission Fajuyi-Ojumose flyover in the state capital where he described the project as the best in Nigeria.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement on Monday accused Jonathan of affront, hypocrisy and dishonesty in his call on President Buhari to ensure free governorship election on July 14.

    Read Also: ’Tinubu’s panel saves APC from implosion’

    He said: “We had thought that Jonathan would behave like a true statesman and apologise to Ekiti people over the criminal taking over of government he supervised in 2014 when he unleashed soldiers, DSS and police to chase away opposition to the bush while several opposition leaders were illegally clamped into detention to disenfranchise the opposition party in the election that returned his stooge to power.

    “We condemn this unconscionable conduct by the former President who unleashed a horrendous electoral heist on Ekiti people, but who now turns around to demand for free and fair poll he could not give.

    “His endorsement of Fayose after he had put Ekiti State in N56b debts and workers owed between six and 10 months’ salary arrears while Ekiti State remained at where it was in 2014 in infrastructure development is also unfortunate.

    “Ekiti people will not be deceived and defrauded again after 2014 criminal takeover of government supervised by Jonathan, as Ekiti people and workers in particular live in hunger over unpaid salaries, and they have vowed to give their votes to our party with records of achievements and honesty in running a transparent government.”

    Olatunbosun alleged that the cost of the flyover which was awarded N5.9 billion was jerked up to N17 billion, an act he insisted Jonathan should condemn rather than praising.

    Olatunbosun added: “It is unfortunate and irresponsible to hide under partisanship to lend support for a clear case of fraud in the 800m one-lane flyover built on a dry land at a whopping cost of N17b as if the former President never supervised the construction of better flyovers at lower rates when he was president.

    “Even though Fayose at various times had claimed that the flyover at Fajuyi and Ojumose stretch of the state capital is 1.3km and 1.5km, the truth is that that stretch of road is 800m and it cannot stand the standard of a better flyover in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, built at a lower cost by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but unfortunately the former President gave a stamp of approval to a clear case of fraud in a flyover that was first awarded at the cost of N5.9b without the Tenders Board’s approval but later reviewed upward single-handedly by the governor to its present cost of N17b.

    “It is also immoral to praise Fayose for diverting bailout, Paris Club refund and Budget Support Facility, all approved to pay workers’ salaries, to build a flyover at over-bloated cost of N17b awarded to Fayose’s friends’ companies outside the state after deceiving contractors of Ekiti origin during his campaigns to patronize them exclusively for all his projects.”

  • Ekiti 2018: ‘Fayose’s unpaid salaries will make our victory easier’

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ekiti State, Mr.Makinde Araoye, has said failure of Governor Ayo Fayose’s government to pay salaries as and when due would make victory easy for the opposition in the July 14 governorship election.

    Araoye expressed confidence that government workers would vote massively for the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, having experienced hard biting poverty in the last three years due to alleged incompetence manifested in Fayose’s inability to pay workers’ salaries and pension.

    He said it was wicked for a governor to be owing workers and pensioners eight month arrears in an environment that was heavily anchored on civil service monolithic economy, saying this had further lowered the standard of living of Ekiti populace.

    Speaking with reporters on Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Araoye said time has come for workers to appropriate their votes in a more judicious and appropriate way, by voting for Fayemi based on his track records and belief in running worker-friendly policies.

    The APC chieftain said it sounded unfathomable for Fayose to intentionally kill those legacy programmes initiated by Fayemi that could have shored up the Internally Generated Revenue, pointing out that the measure was largely responsible for the failure of governance
    in Ekiti.

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: 15,000 corps members to participate in election

    Araoye said: “When the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi came on board in 2010, he appreciated the fact that there was an urgent need to establish those investments that could generate money for our dear state.

    “That was why he took N20b from the capital market out of which he invested over N2 billion on Ikogosi Warm Spring, built  the State Pavilion located along Ado New Iyin Road, revived Ire Burnt Brick that was inaugurated by former Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Musa
    Kwankwaso, set a solid foundation for youth engagement in Agriculture and many others.

    “Before Dr. Fayemi’s exit, the Ikogosi Warm Spring was already generating over N45 million into the state coffers monthly. The Ire Burnt Brick had begun skeletal production and was attracting serious patronage within and outside Ekiti.

    “But today, those programmes have been abandoned. They have returned to that moribund States they were before Dr. Fayemi came on board.

    “One wonders why should those programmes be rendered impotent just because of politics by Governor Fayose, even when he makes noise everyday that the state is economically challenged.

    “This is the major reason why our people must divorce themselves from unnecessary emotions and vote wisely on July 14.

    “They should resist attempt by clever politicians to delude them into taking decisions that would land them in more sufferings and gnashing of teeth after all they have seen and made to pass through in the last few years.”

    Araoye advised Fayose to stop turning Ekiti into a beggarly State in the name of stomach infrastructure, saying: “making our people to queue under a scorching sun for several hours because of a kongo of rice and N200 was not only debasing but ridiculing Ekiti’s collective
    integrity.

    “The July 14 election is a reclamation war for all of us. It is a time we must seek our political freedom and this we must realize for those lost glory to return and for us to regain our pride as truly a set of Knowledge people.”

  • Afe Babalola bags pillars of Sports award

     …as NAPHER-SD gets new exco in Ekiti

    Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, has decorated as the Pillar of Sports and Health in Nigeria for his contributions to sports and health sectors.

    The renowned philanthropist was honoured for sponsoring sporting activities and establishing a talent Discovery Centre in the university to for students to hone their skills and develop a possible career in sports.

    Babalola bagged the honour at the inauguration of the new executive council of the Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD) in Ekiti State.

    The Ekiti NAPHER-SD has Dr. Collins Aribamikan as Chairman and he was inaugurated alongside members of the executive. The exco will be in office for a period of two years renewable for another term of two years.

    Read Also: Afe Babalola proffers solutions to falling education quality in Africa

    ABUAD was named the Trailblazer University in Nigeria; the award was received on behalf of the university by the Founder’s wife, Yeye Modupe Babalola.

    ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, was decorated as a NAPHER-SD Grand Patron

    The ceremony which held at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) featured presentation of papers by Prof. J.A. Adegboyega, Dr. Pat Oyeniyi and Mr. B.O. Adewumi.

    The new exco was inaugurated by NAPHER-SD National President, Alhaji Dauda Yusuf, who was assisted by the first National Vice President, Prof. Okuneye; National Secretry, Dr. Abiodun Moronfolu and Southwest Secretary, Mr. Ige Jenyo.

    Some personalities were recognized for their contributions to sports development including a student of ABUAD, Kehinde Bademosi, who was named the best sports personality of the year.

    Other personalities at the ceremony include ABUAD Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Sylvester Ojo; Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode; Bursar, Pastor Modupe Babalola; Prof. Israel Orubuloye and General Manager, Ekiti State Sports Council, Mr. Deji Samo.

  • Ekiti 2108: ‘Don’t  shed blood to win election’

    Some indigenes of Ekiti State resident in the United States have appealed to politicians not to engage in any act of bloodshed in a bid to win the July 14 governorship poll.

    Acting under the aegis Ekiti Coalition for Change, the indigenes advised politicians to think more about the future of their state and its development “rather than exhibiting bitterness that can affect the lives of the populace adversely.”

    In an online statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by its Coordinator, Mr. Samuel Ayodele, the group said politicians must think of the 1983 crisis and the one of 2009 during rerun elections that negatively affected the development of their home state.

    Describing election as a civil matter that should be undertaken under a peaceful atmosphere, Ayodele advised that the poll should not be allowed to slide into anarchy or deviate from the international best practices.

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: NBA tasks security agencies on peaceful election

    The group appealed to the commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Ahmed and the Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Promise Iheanacho, to ensure adequate security during the electioneering campaigns and manage the situations in the most professional way in the interest of peace.

    The statement said: “As concerned Ekiti indigenes, we appeal to security agencies not to take side in this election.

    “They must be professional and the moment politicians notice that they are neutral, they will naturally comply with the extant rules guiding the game.

    “Let me also tell our politicians not to see the game as a do or die affairs, they must think about peaceful co-existence among Ekiti residents than their own survival in this election.

    “The political crises of 1983 rendered many homeless as properties worth several millions were destroyed. Some suddenly became widows and some childless due to election that was meant to elect just an
    individual.

    “That is why it is imperative that we must all be circumspect of our actions and utterances. We must guard against hate speeches and brigandage, because there will surely be Ekiti after this election.”