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Tag: Ekiti STATE

  • Ekiti: Four PDP guber aspirants rise against Fayose

    Ekiti: Four PDP guber aspirants rise against Fayose

    Four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Ekiti State have called on the national leadership of the party to disqualify Governor Ayo Fayose from playing any role in the primary election scheduled for April.

    They said the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus should disqualify Fayose having adopted his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, which they said amounted to the imposition on party leaders and members.

    The concerned aspirants at a news conference they addressed on Tuesday claimed that there was no time Olusola showed interest in ruling the state adding that “Fayose saw him as a weakling that can be manipulated against the interest of Ekiti people.”

    The four governorship hopefuls accused Fayose of unilateral imposition of Olusola, using state apparatus to promote him, intimidation and harassment of party members loyal to other aspirants, arbitrariness and one-man dictatorship.

    The alleged imposition of Olusola by Fayose, they said, has led to indifference and exodus of leaders and members expressing fear that the action may kill the party.

    The four aspirants who addressed reporters are former Minister of State for Works and immediate past PDP national spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Senate Minority Whip and former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi; former Secretary to the State Government and former High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Dare Bejide and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi.

    They also called for the dissolution of the state PDP executive committee led by Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase for allegedly betraying its expected neutrality calling for the constitution of a caretaker committee in its stead.

    The aspirants called for a strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution in the process leading to the conduct of the primary and emergence of flag bearer for the July 14 governorship election.

    Adeyeye lampooned Fayose for allegedly carrying out persecution of other aspirants to “a ridiculous level” by ordering party members in all parts of the state to reject Christmas gifts they sent to them.

    Adeyeye said: “The candidate he (Fayose) has chosen for himself is not a person that can win the election in this state. When you display billboards and you are writing “Meet Your Next Governor” on them, you are putting yourself in the position of God and that is very annoying.

    “We will not leave the party for him because he sees himself as all-in-all but we know he is not all-in-all. The governor being an interested party must be put in his place and no advantage should be accorded (Olusola) Eleka.”

    Mrs. Olujimi said: “We have not come here to tear our party apart, all we are demanding for is a free and fair process that will lead to the emergence of a candidate.

    “Can anybody who wants to win the election for PDP wish us away? If anybody wants to wish us away in the party, the consequences will be grave.

    “The primary will ne held in few months and nothing has changed. This (Fayose) was the same man who opposed the use of consensus when he was contesting the last time.”

    Bejide said: “Section 50 (i), 50 (2) and 50 (2b) of the PDP constitution spells out how our candidate will emerge.

    “Imposition, impunity and arbitrary action of a sitting governor is definitely ruled out and we will surely enforce the provision of the law.

    “The governor and the State Working Committee has no role to play except they are co-opted by the national leadership.”

    Ajayi said: “The governor may claim that he has the right to support any aspirant of his choice but the deputy governor has not come out to say he wants to be governor.

    “What the deputy governor has said was that he wants to back to the university to continue lecturing. The govenor is forcing the Deputy Governor on us.

    “The so-called was a fraudulent act, an illegal action; I want to tell you that eighty percent of those working with him are with us. They are only working for the money they are earning.”

  • 2018 Poll: ‘Ekiti people need someone with compassion’

    2018 Poll: ‘Ekiti people need someone with compassion’

    An Ekiti State Gubernatorial Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Kayode Ojo, has observed that the state has the potentials of creating its wealth and reduce total dependence on the allocations from the Federal Government before being able to grow its infrastructure.

    The Oil and Gas mogul made this known in a recent conversation with newsmen in Lagos, lamenting that Ekiti state, unlike many other states, is yet to discover its potentials not to talk of exploring it to create wealth for the people.

    Promising to focus on the industrial strength of the State and the people to drive its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Ojo noted that the state of infrastructure in the state is pitiful but can be better.

    The Ikoro-Ekiti-born entrepreneur said: “We should be working on how to move from being a rural state to an urban state where the about 136 towns and villages can boast of consistent power supply. To achieve this, all that we need is just 20megawatt of power. Unfortunately, what you see right now is darkness everywhere.

    “The good people of Ekiti State are yearning for something fresh, someone without political baggage, somebody who comes in from the private sector with experience in developing people and an entrepreneur that knows how to turn one Naira to two Naira.

    “They want someone who has an antecedent in controlling several people to achieve a set goal, especially in the engineering sector where projects process takes long and you must deliver the project successfully, they want a person that has signed out cheques worth several millions. These are signs that such a person will not be moved by the money in government coffers and can control external influences.

    According to the young politician and mentor to many, the state might be disadvantaged location wise but cannot fold its arms and continue to watch without doing anything to better the situation.

    He praised Lagos State government for the feat achieved in drawing a budget of over N1trillion for 2018 fiscal year, noting that it is a record. “No state in Nigeria has achieved that feat. It’s because Lagos State is ready to generate enough revenue.Kayode Ojo

    “So Ekiti State too has what it takes to stand tall among other States in Nigeria. But we need commitment buckled with experience. And what do I mean by experience, I mean we need somebody who has been able to turn N1 to N2. That’s the kind of leadership we need in Ekiti State, so that we can tap into what we have and use them to generate more revenue to develop the State.

    He observed that the water produced by the state in partnership with UAC Nigeria Plc, Gossy Water could fetch the state more than the few millions it does right now, “only if it could be repackaged and rebranded. That table water has been like that almost since 2001 when it was established. Between then and now, how many times has Coca-Cola rebranded? So why is Gossy’s case like it is?” he pointed.

    Ojo confirmed UAC’s claim that GOSSY is the only Natural Spring Water that passes through countless layers of rock from the aquifer of the Ikogosi Natural Springs in Ikogosi, Ekiti State which acts as a filter before it passes through micron filters, without chemical treatment or additives to enhance the quality or formation, saying that it is in better position as against some others packaged under unhealthy conditions.

    “Nothing stops Ekiti from transporting the water to neighbouring states, especially Lagos with the large market. Our goal should be that Gossy is delivered to every five Star Hotel in town. It is regrettable that even within the state you can’t find it in the hotels. How much more outside the state.

    “Currently, the investment fetches the government about 250million annually but can be expanded to become a N5billion investment. If you look at Ekiti today, everybody has seen that what PDP came to do in Ekiti is more or less what we call ‘419’. They had no vision, their major promise was ‘stomach infrastructure’. But if you look at the people’s stomachs now, they are still as flat as they were in 2014.

    “So, majority of the people now understand that their lives cannot get better with just stomach infrastructure. They understand that their lives will only get better when there is opportunity for them to work, to earn money and use the money to support their families.

    “If you look at APC states, you’ll see appreciable progress. I’m not saying everything is perfect, but you’ll see development of the people and the state. Everyone can see that APC governments grow the people.

    “I have the track record, I have succeeded in the private sector, so, working for the people won’t be an issue. I have a successful engineering outfit that deals in all the equipment required for road construction and another one abroad that produces oil and gas specialized products. So, when I said Ekiti has the potentials to do far better than it is doing right now, you would understand that I have what it takes to fulfill these promises to Ekiti people.

    “Well, we’ve seen people come in from the private sector and disappoint in government, but what is missing in them is compassion. I have always said that if we do not have someone with compassion, who is his brother’s keeper, we won’t get governance right.

    “My life is not about me. It’s about others. That’s how it has always been and that’s why I’m in this race. I’ve looked in the eyes of ordinary people on the streets of Ekiti, and I feel for them; I know that their lives can be better.

    “All we need is a person that knows how to utilise resources, how to make sure that the funds that come in are not just consumed. We can’t continue to consume and consume, we must produce our way out of poverty.

    “What I am saying is that the people of Ekiti can entrust their futures and that of their children to me for the next four years. The state needs someone with compassion and across the state, and the people of Ekiti can testify that I have always shown compassion.

  • Ekiti 2018: APC prays for victory

    Ekiti 2018: APC prays for victory

    Leaders and members of Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held a prayer session for God to grant their party victory in July 14.

    The prayer meeting, which lasted about two hours at the party’s secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, was also used to pray for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, peace and stability in Nigeria.

    The Christian prayer was led by Pastor Gbenga Agbeyo; the Muslim prayer was led by Mr. Tajudeen Akingbolu and the traditional prayer by Mrs. Abiodun Adesina.

    The first lesson of the day from Psalm 100 was read by the APC Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye; the second lesson, II Chronicles 7: 9 – 18, was read by Mr. Femi Fakorede.

    Agbeyo, who read from Leviticus 27 Verse 24 and 1st Corinthians 15 Verse 57 urged party members to trust God for victory in the poll.

    Speaking on the topic: Ask For Your Portion, Agbeyo said: “The APC is able to take over the Government House at Oke Ayoba with the efficacy of prayers.”

    Addressing reporters after the prayer, Mrs. Olaleye said it was meant to seek God’s help to heal Ekiti and give power back to APC at the poll.

    The deputy chairman said the prayer was also meant for a peaceful, credible and successful primary in April and May.

    She said it would be replicated in the 16 councils.

    Mrs Olaleye urged party members to be law-abiding in APC’s quest to win the poll.

  • ‘Buhari should not be castigated over restructuring’

    ‘Buhari should not be castigated over restructuring’

     

    A former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Chief Orisalade Adetunji Taiwo had condemned the widespread castigation of the New Year Speech of President Muhammad Buhari, especially on the issue of restructuring.

    According to the Ex Lawmaker, Buhari’s critics ought to fully educate themselves on the issue before voicing out an Opinion.

    Restructuring, according to him is a purely constitutional issue since it touches on the alteration of the present structural paradigm of the country as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution of 1999.

    He noted that the two burning issues in the restructuring agenda; policing and control of natural resources are dealt with in the constitution.

    Taiwo said Nigerians should not and cannot expect President Buhari , singularly and by executive fiat, to alter the present structure thereby unlawfully amending the Constitution which he had sworn to uphold.

    He maintained that the President had not done anything wrong with his stance on restructuring in the speech as it amounts to his own opinion on the issue which he is entitled to.

    He therefore advised champions of restructuring to first sensitise the populace on the need for same and access the National and State Assemblies to canvass the need for restructuring.

    He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the President for more grace and sound health to achieve his good intentions for the nation.

  • Fayose has become a pharaoh in Ekiti, says Adeyeye

    Fayose has become a pharaoh in Ekiti, says Adeyeye

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State,Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of harassing party members and preventing them from accepting Christmas/New Year largesse from party leaders who do not belong to his camp.

    Also read :  PDP’s failure to learn from past blunders

     Adeyeye, the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the party called for the intervention of the national leadership to Fayose’s alleged dictatorial tendencies which could force members to join the opposition.

    He said Fayose “has become a Pharaoh in Ekiti” by allegedly blocking party members from enjoying milk of kindness from aspirants and leaders willing to make them enjoy the Yuletide.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, who denied the allegations against Fayose described the governor as a “compassionate human being loved by the people of the state.”

    He described Adeyeye’s allegation as “an attention-seeking gimmick that should not be taken seriously by members of the public.”

    Ogunsuyi said Fayose is busy implementing policies that will make life better for the people of the state and would never be distracted by the ranting of failed politicians.

     

     

  • Honour for Fasuan, champion of Ekiti State creation

    Honour for Fasuan, champion of Ekiti State creation

    It was a glorious day for the arrowhead for the creation of Ekiti State, Chief Oladeji Fasuan, as he was honoured by his community, Afao-Ekiti at the weekend with the prestigious title of Asiwaju. The honour was in recognition of Fasuan’s legacies of sacrifice and service over the years. 

    Chief Deji Fasuan is a household name in Ekiti State and Nigeria. He had spent greater part of his life servicing his country, his home state and community.

    “A prophet has  honour except in his own home” is a popular maxim in the Holy Books. But this is not so for Fasuan as he was honoured in Afao-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State,  where he was born on October 1, 1931.

    From humble beginning at St. Andrew’s School, Are-Ekiti,  Fasuan had his secondary education at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti before moving to Fourah Bay College, Sierra-Leone where he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specialising in Public Finance.

    In the course of his public service career and post-retirement life, Fasuan had received not less than eight chieftaincy titles from communities in Ekiti and Kwara states.

    But his honours cabinet lacked any from his hometown, Afao-Ekiti. But at God’s time, the octogenarian was honoured in his native land.

    Eighty-six-year-old Fasuan’s distinguished career traversed the old Western Region, the old Western State before retiring in the old Ondo State in 1986 at the then retirement age of 55.

    He was the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation (IICC), the precursor of Odua Investment Limited; Permanent Secretary in many ministries in the West and Ondo State; Chairman of the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State; former Chairman, Ekiti Council of Elders, former Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    Fasuan also held other positions of responsibility. They included foundation General Manager,  Ondo State Investment Corporation; first Chairman, Owena Motels Limited; Chairman, Odua Textile Mills; elected member, Constituent Assembly; Chairman, Ekiti State Government Advisory Committee and Baba Ijo of St. David’s Anglican Church, Afao.

    He was renowned for the leading role he played in a five-year struggle for the creation of Ekiti State out of the old Ondo State. The struggle also involved prominent traditional rulers, professionals, technocrats, politicians and other Ekiti patriots.

    It involved meetings, journeys, interfaces with powers that be, presentation of memoranda and underground roles which resulted in the creation of the state on October 1, 1996 by the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

    It is a striking irony that Fasuan shared the same birthday with Ekiti State and Nigeria. Or could it be described as uncommon coincidence?

    Fasuan is a renowned economist, experienced industrialist, boardroom guru, patriotic Nigerian, a prolific writer and author and commentator on public affairs.

    The Alafao-in-Council, the body of traditional chiefs in the community eventually decided to confer the title of Asiwaju (leader) of Afao on their illustrious son.

    Afao, the hometown of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, received guests from far and near last Saturday, who came to honour Fasuan.

    Traditional rulers who attended the event included the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti and Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba Oladiran Agunbiade; the Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi; the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye; the Owatapa of Itapa-Ekiti, Oba Makanjuola Ajaja and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe who was represented by his chiefs (the Ewi-in-Council).

    Other notable guests were former Minister of National Planning, Chief Ayo Ogunlade; Chairman of Little By Little Group, Chief Adegoke Ajayi; prominent educationist, Chief Francis Daramola and mother of Ekiti State Governor, Evangelist Olufunke Oluwayose.

    Before Fasuan stepped out to receive the chieftaincy title from the Alafao, Oba Joseph Ademilua, his citation was read by his kinsman, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in old Ondo State and Ekiti State, Chief Makanjuola Esan (SAN).

    Esan described Fasuan as “a patriot and architect of grassroots development of Afao and the first university graduate that Afao had produced.”

    Fasuan stepped forward alongside his wife, Bolanle, to receive words of prayers from the Alafao who wished him well and prayed that he would use his new position to serve the community better.

    He was decorated with the akoko leaves firmly placed under his cap. The new Asiwaju later paid homage to the monarchs present and acknowledged cheers from friends, associates and townsmen and women.

    In his acceptance speech, Fasuan said he considered it a privilege to be honoured with the title which he said would further spur him to rally other indigenes for the development of the town.

    He said: “I consider it a privilege standing before you all this morning to acknowledge, accept, and be grateful for the honour given to me by my community.

    “I grew up in this humble environment; many people consider it a miracle that I climbed the greasy pole of life having regards to the incidence of geography, upbringing, culture, attitude and environment.

    “With a start at St. Andrew’s School, Are-Ekiti in February 1939, the greasy pole ended with my graduation in Freetown, Sierra-Leone in 1959. After this formal journey, the real plunge into life began.

    “I entered the public service at Ibadan. I was persecuted by the high and mighty for views I held, or perceived. In all, I did not waver.

    “The opportunity came to serve this and neighbouring communities. In 1980 when on a punitive transfer, I found myself as General Manager, Ondo State Water Corporation, then based in Ondo town.

    “With God’s help and the co-operation of my Board of Directors, I surveyed the area between Ureje in Ado and Afao and got water flowing into these areas within eight weeks of my administration in Ondo.

    “Then followed electricity supply four years later; with the co-operation of my late friend, Deji Olaofe of Are, we got government to extend electricity supply from Iluomoba to our community.

    “Of all the struggles, the one I cherished most was the establishment of Are/Afao Comprehensive School which, together with my late counsin, Femi Esan and Deji Olaofe of Are, we got the Ondo State government to approve in 1978.

    “It took almost nine months before we could collect the mandatory N40,000 which the Ondo State government demanded as deposit in government account before our project was approved. Indeed, we surpassed the target by collecting and lodging N40,150.

    “I owe a lot to my root and I keep strictly to it. Today, by the grace of God, friends and associates will sit under cocoa and palm trees drinking palm wine, eating roasted yam (isu olo) which are common features of our annual feast, ‘Buffet-in-the-Jungle.’

    “I want to thank the Oba, Council of Chiefs, Chairman and members of Afao Development Council for this singular honour, and I wish to solemnly pledge that, God being with me, I shall continue to serve this community in particular and Ekiti State in general for the rest of my life.”

    Shortly after the conferment ceremony, Fasuan and the celebration train moved into his country home where the annual “Buffet in the Jungle” was held.

    It is an annual feast of senior citizens/aged people hosted by Fasuan in which they ate, drank and deliberated on issues of development in Ekiti State and Nigeria.

    It is a feast celebrated with palm wine and roasted yam.

  • Boko Haram: LG Chairmen ask court to void approval for $1bn

    Boko Haram: LG Chairmen ask court to void approval for $1bn

    Sixteen Local Government Chairmen in Ekiti State have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to void the approval given for the Federal Government to withdraw $1billion from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation for the prosecution of its fight against Boko Haram.

    Their request is contained in a suit they filed, listing the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the 36 state Governors and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission as defendants.

    The Chairmen, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1264/17, want the court to restrain the Federal Government, the 36 state Governors and their agents from giving effect to the appropriation and/ or approval of appropriation of  $1b or any other sum, from the Excess Crude Account of the Federation, as contained in the decision made on December 15, 2017 unless and by means of statutory allocation by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    They also want the court to declare that the approval of $1b by the 36 state Governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal government, which has been sufficiently funded from the Federation Account, without the their consent is ultra vires, unlawful, null and void.

    They equally want an order of court declaring that in the discharge of its constitutional duty to safeguard the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria, being the 1st defendant’s principal (AGF), must be funded in accordance with its Appropriation Act and by means of due accruals from the Federation account only.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare  that the 1st -37 defendants’ appropriation and /or approval of appropriation of the sum of $1 from the Excess Crude Account of the federation made at the National Economic Council meeting of December 12, 2017 without regard to the consent of the 38th defendant (the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission), the plaintiffs; and the due appropriation of the various states’ Houses of Assembly, is unconstitutional, unlawful and of no effect whatsoever.

    They equally want a declaration that they are entitled to full share of all revenue accrued and accruable to the Federation Account and the Federation Excess Crude Account or any other Account whatsoever operated by and for the Federation of Nigeria, including the sum of $1,000,000,000 (which was purportedly approved for the expenditure of the Federal Government by the 1st-37th defendants at the 83rd, National Economic Council meeting of December 15, 2017, in accordance with section 162 of the 1999 constitution and the provisions of Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account) Act.

    The plaintiffs raised some questions for the court’s determination. They include:

    *Whether by the provisions of sections 153 (1) (h), 162 and paragraph 18, part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution, the 1st -37th defendants can lawfully appropriate and or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the federation of Nigeria, without affecting, reducing or obliterating the plaintiffs’ lawful share of proceeds from the federation accounts.

    *Whether the 2nd defendant can lawfully appropriate and /or approve the appropriation of funds in the excess crude account of the federation of Nigeria, without the consent and /or consultation of the plaintiffs.

    *Whether in the discharge of the federal government’s constitutional duty of safeguarding the security and territorial integrity of Nigeria, (as mandated by section 217 of the 1999 constitution, the Federal government can lawfully resort to funding other than by means of its Appropriation Act.?

    The plaintiffs are: Deji Ogunsakin (Ado LGA); Bola Alonge (Ikere LGA); Lanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti South West LGA); Dapo Olagunju (Irepodun/Ifeelodun LGA); Samuel Adeniyi (Ekiti East LGA); Olumide Falade (Ise/Orun LGA); Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin LGA); Tayo Ogundare (Oye LGA); Chief Ayodeji Arogbodo (Ido/Osi LGA) and Taiwo Oguntuase (Emure LGA).

    Others are Kolawole Omotunde (Ekiti West LGA); Bolaji Jeje (Efon LGA); Adesola Adeyanju (Ikole LGA); Ganiyu Bakare (Ilejemele LGA); Adeniyi Adebayo (Moba LGA) and Abiodun Dada (Ijero LGA).

  • Appeal Court affirms Olafeso as S’West PDP boss

    Appeal Court affirms Olafeso as S’West PDP boss

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday granted an Interim Order staying execution of all orders granted by the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti restraining the Dr. Eddy Olafeso-led Southwest Zonal Executive from functioning.

    The three-man panel led by Justice Ahmad Belgore stopped all proceedings at the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo pending the determination of the appeal.

    In granting the application for stay of execution of Justice Taiwo’s orders, the appellate court took cognizance of the pending application to commit Olafeso and his exco to prison for contempt scheduled to be heard at the Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court on 6th December.

    The court frowned at a letter dated 30th November, 2017 addressed to the Presiding Judge for the Ado-Ekiti Division, Justice Belgore, written by a factional Zonal Chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, seeking the postponement of the hearing of the motion for a stay of execution brought by Olafeso.

    While Olafeso belongs to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s National Caretaker Committee, Ogundipe belongs to the sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction.

    The Supreme Court had on 12th July affirmed Makarfi-led exco as the authentic leadership of the party and removed Sheriff from office as the national chairman.

    Justice Belgore ruled: “All the orders and rulings of the lower court delivered on October 17, October 23, November 8 and November 27, 2017 have been stayed in the interim, meaning that those orders and rulings are of no value as from now and cannot be used anywhere having been rendered null and void and that all the proceedings at the Federal High Court have been stayed pending the interlocutory appeal that is before the Appeal Court.”

    The court, subsequently, adjourned further hearing on the appeal till 15th January, 2017.

    Ogundipe had in a suit number FHC/AD/CS/18/2017 averred that the Supreme Court judgment did not invalidate his executive claiming the verdict only affected the national body led by Sheriff.

  • Ekiti Doctors to Fayose: Pay our salaries, we’re suffering

    Ekiti Doctors to Fayose: Pay our salaries, we’re suffering

    Doctors are avoiding work in Ekiti State over poor working conditions occasioned by unpaid salaries and poor funding of the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

    The state Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Dr. Kunle Ajayi, who disclosed this on Wednesday urged Governor Ayo Fayose to save the health sector from collapse.

    Ajayi made the appeal at the inauguration of the union’s secretariat/office complex, MDCAN House, located within EKSUTH premises.

    The building was commissioned by Fayose who was represented by Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, who appealed to the doctors to bear with the government.

    Doctors in the employ of Ekiti State government are owed between seven and eight months arrears of salaries with resident doctors already on an indefinite strike.

    Ajayi said many best brains in the field of medicine left what he called “juicy appointments” elsewhere and came to EKSUTH shortly after it was upgraded from State Specialist Hospital in 2008 lamenting that the health institution has suffered neglect.

    He said: “When this place was upgraded to Teaching Hospital in 2008, a lot of us on juicy appointments came. We left behind all privileges we were enjoying.

    “But this hospital (EKSUTH) has received little attention in terms of funding, capacity building. This hospital has not received serious funding since inception.

    “The more (doctors) that would have come have been prevented because of the experiences of people on ground so that the future of people who left various places won’t be jeopardised.”

    But Ojo said: “I will speak with the governor on your behalf; there is no responsible father that will see his children suffering. The governor feels for you but he has been incapacitated by financial limitations.

    “The governor appreciates our consultants, resident doctors are currently on strike but I want to plead with them to come back. Everybody knows what is going on the allocations coming from Abuja.

    “I don’t want you (doctors) to be militant, let us show our strength during this period. All institutions on subvention in the state are going through this situation.”

  • Ward Congress: Fayose’s alleged imposition of delegates tears Ekiti PDP apart

    Ward Congress: Fayose’s alleged imposition of delegates tears Ekiti PDP apart

    A fresh crisis has hit the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State over the ward congress conducted last Saturday.

    Some party chieftains are accusing Governor Ayo Fayose of violating the party’s guidelines and the constitution by allegedly compiling the names of his stooges and imposing them as “elected delegates.”

    They claimed that the development has sparked tension in Ekiti PDP and has provoked majority of party members who looked forward to a free, fair and credible congress to elect delegates expected to vote at the December 9 National Convention.

    The aggrieved Ekiti PDP stakeholders in a petition addressed to Ekiti State PDP Ward Appeal Panel a copy of which was made available to The Nation on Tuesday urged panel members to disregard the list of national delegates that may emerge from the Local Government Congress
    held on Tuesday, 21st November.

    The petition was signed by Board of Trustees member, Chief Clement Awoyelu; Senator representing Ekiti Central, Mrs. Fatimat Raji Rasaki and House of Representatives member representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Mr. Olamide Oni.

    Others who endorsed the petition are Former House of Representatives members, Mrs. Titilayo Akindahunsi and Mr. Olufemi Adeyemi; Mrs. Titilayo Oluwatuyi, Dr. Kunle Folayan, Chief Williams Ajayi and Mr. Fatai Ibraheem.

    The petition reads; “We members of PDP in Ekiti State hereby wish to bring to the notice of the chairman and members of the above-named panel that there was no Ward Congress in Ekiti State on Saturday, 18th November, 2017 or anytime directed by the National headquarters of our
    great party.

    “What actually happened in Ekiti State was the usual practices of Governor Ayo Fayose to single handedly compile the names of his stooges as delegates without following the stipulated guidelines of the party.

    “What this means is that Governor Fayose’s choice rather than the people’s choice emerged as candidates. This singular action has disappointed and provoked majority of members of PDP in Ekiti State.

    “The essence of this is for the governor to enable him select those delegates that would vote for candidates of his choice rather than the popular choice of Ekiti people at the National Convention on the 9th December, 2017.

    “We hereby appeal to your panel to void and disregard the list of delegates submitted by the governor and by intention disregard the list of national delegates that may emerge from the local government congress scheduled for Tuesday, 21st November, 2017.”

    But the PDP Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, described the petition of the aggrieved party chieftains as a ruse and a mischief of the highest order.

    Adebayo who spoke in a telephone chat maintained that valid ward congress was held saying: “the action of disgruntled elements against an organized house will not stand.”

    He said: “The petition is a ruse and a mischief of the highest order; the dates for the congresses were held and everybody knows the venues and they were held according to the constitution of the party.

    “The Electoral Committee supervised the (ward) congress, except they are trying to cover up their inadequacies and unless they did not go to the venue of the congress.

    “That is why they sit down in the corners of their rooms to be writing rubbish in their petition. To us as a party, a valid congress ward congress was held on 18th November and delegates emerged.”

    When asked if the petition written against the alleged imposition of delegates by Fayose did not portray division in the party Adebayo said: “There is no division in the party.

    “If some people are not acting according to the rules of the party, maybe because of their ulterior motives, they are writing petition against the congress conducted in 177 wards in the state.

    “There was no imposition at the congress and we want to urge our well-meaning party members to ignore the action of a disgruntled element against an organized house.”