The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti STATE

  • Only progressive govt can liberate Ekiti – Group

    Only progressive govt can liberate Ekiti – Group

    A socio-political pressure group, Ekiti Awake, has called on the people of Ekiti State to elect a progressives government to power in the 2018 governorship election.

    It called on Ekiti people to “wake up from their slumber and retrace their steps back to the progressives where good governance, rule of law, integrity, truth, justice and delivery of dividends of democracy are accorded priority.”

    Ekiti Awake in a statement on Monday by its Coordinator, Bamikole Ayekooto, expressed displeasure with the hardship being faced by the people of the state “whose standard of living has plummeted in the last three years.”

    The body regretted the suffering of civil servants owed arrears of salaries and pensioners owed monthly allowances, massive unemployment, unfavourable business environment, harsh tax policies, alleged misplacement of priorities and diversion of bailout funds.

    Ekiti Awake explained that the major achievements which had positive impact on the lives of the people of the state were executed during the progressive administrations led by Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The statement said: “The hardship being faced by the people of Ekiti State is a wake-up call to reject the conservatives and vote in the progressives in the 2018 governorship election.

    “Considering the achievements recorded in the state during the tenures of former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi, our state could not afford to do otherwise than to go back to the progressives in the next political dispensation.

    “Nothing is working as far as Ekiti is concerned; our people including school pupils are reeling under tax burden while businesses are closing down and investors are fleeing in droves because of the harsh economic climate under the Fayose government.”

     

     

  • Fayose’s aide warns Ekiti CNPP against blackmail

    Fayose’s aide warns Ekiti CNPP against blackmail

    The personal assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on General Administration and Stomach Infrastructure, Mr. Sunshine Anifowose has described the media report authored by the Chairman of the State Chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Tunde Ogunlola that himself and seven other aides and associates of his boss are security threat, as unfounded, baseless and unsubstantiated.

    In a statement personally signed by Anifowose and given to our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, he alleged that Ogunlola was instigated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to issue the statement just to rubbish the recent statement credited to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo that Ekiti State has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria.

    Anifowose who described himself as a responsible man from a reputable family, said unlike Ekiti under the immediate past Governor, Kayode Fayemi that witnessed about ten political killings and violence, the state under his boss, Fayose, has been very peaceful and orderly, just as recently posited by the Nigeria Police.

    The statement reads: “Acting the already prepared script of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, one Mr. Tunde Ogunlola, who claimed to be the Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Ekiti State, on Saturday the 9th of June, 2016, in a petition dispatched to the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim and the Director General of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, Alhaji Lawal Daura, described my humble self, Sunshine Anifowose and seven other aides and associates of the Governor as threat to the security of our dear State.

    “As long as i would have loved to ignore this imaginary tale, however, the concerns so far shown by my friends and family members’ within and outside the shore of Nigeria necessitated this rebuttal.

    “I want to say explicitly for posterity, that firstly, this accusation against my esteemed person is an outstanding lie from the pit of hell. This is an attempt to tarnish my irrefutable integrity. Let me say for the sake of emphasis that i am a responsible man from a reputable family.

    “I am known for zero tolerance for gangsterism, hooliganism and violence. I have never been arrested by nor detained by or at any police formation in the country neither have i ever been charged to any court for any crime or been remanded in any prison custody within or outside Nigeria.

    “I want to put it to Mr. Tunde Ogunlola and his paymasters that their latest petition is a satanic attempt to rubbish the statement credited to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo on June 1st  2016 as published by virtually all Newspapers in Nigeria that Ekiti State, under the leadership of my boss, Dr. Peter Ayo Fayose, has the lowest crime rate in Nigeria.

    “I say without gainsay that we in the Fayose’s political camp align ourselves with the position of DIG Adebanjo on the state of security in Ekiti State. It is on record that ever since Fayose became Governor 30 months ago; our state has not witnessed any political killing neither has any opposition gladiator or member been attacked, assaulted or molested by any agent of the incumbent for political reason.

    “Also, compared to other states of the federation, our state has the lowest cases of armed robbery and kidnapping in Nigeria. Also, violent demonstrations and communal clash are not synonymous to our state.

    “I therefore advice the police and DSS to place APC leaders, especially, Tunde Ogunlola, the state publicity secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatunbosun and their cronies in Ekiti on security watch because from our past experience, their modus operandi is that they always accuse people of whatever evil plans they plan to perpetrate.

    “I reiterate the fact that Gov. Fayose is the father of all in Ekiti at the moment. He respects the Elders, the traditional institutions and the rights of the people to associate. When Fayemi was to be made Minister, Fayose called on Senators from Ekiti State to ensure that he’s cleared without any hindrance.”

    Anifowose said that despite the barrage of insults being passed against Fayose daily on Social Media, Newspapers, TV and Radio by some APC Governorship Aspirants and their supporters, the Governor has refused to be provoked.

    The Governor’s aide stated that opposition members have been coming to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital to hold rallies even against the electoral law without being attacked.

  • Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Fayose to Corps members: Be security conscious

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has called on corps members serving in the state to be security conscious and avoid unauthorised journeys.

    He made the call on Monday at closing ceremony of the orientation course for Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members held at NYSC Orientation Camp in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose advised the corps members to respect the norms and cultures of the host communities of service.

    Fayose also charged them to make best use of opportunity to contribute to the development of the state which he described as one of the most secured in Nigeria.

    Earlier in her address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Nwanne Ukagha, explained that 2,084 corps members participated in the orientation course.

    She urged the corps members to give their best in serving the community of posting whether they are well remunerated or not saying their service is to the nation.

     

  • ‘Why Fayose is after my life’

    ‘Why Fayose is after my life’

    The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of posing threat to his life by giving support to union leaders to destabilize the institution.

    The university boss claimed that Fayose sent the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Modupe Alade, to the state police headquarters where he union leaders were detained to facilitate their release.

    The detained union chairmen allegedly released on Fayose’s order are Ekundayo Ajibaye of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Mutiu Ademola of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Adebayo Dada of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

    Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Soremekun accused Fayose of exerting pressure on him while serving as the Chief Returning Officer for the Edo State governorship election by sending one of his (Fayose’s) aides to him (Soremekun).

    He claimed that Fayose had allegedly been after his life after serving as the Chief Returning Officer in Edo Governorship Election held last year September 28, where Governor Godwin Obaseki had defeated the candidate of the PDP, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

    Soremekun revealed that during the convocation week of the university held late April, Fayose who was passing through Oye-Ekiti stopped his convoy and personally participated in the destruction of the huge banner hung at the university junction in the town.

    He said: “He (Fayose) ordered his convoy to stop and tore the banner of our convocation. He said it was not properly done, he alighted himself and tore it by himself before proceeding on his journey.”

    “The unionists were becoming so unruly in recent time. In fact, they beat up some lecturers and we called for their arrest only for the Secretary to the State Government(SSG) to bail them out acting on governor’s directive.

    Reacting through his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said he has no business with the university.

    He said: “Beyond maintaining peace and protecting the rights of all residents of Ekiti State, Governor Fayose does not have any business with Federal University, Oye Ekiti.

    “The Vice Chancellor is the one that should search his conscience whether or not he is doing the right thing concerning the management of the university.”

    “Be that as it may, it sounds so illogical that the head of a university will stand before the press to say that university staff members should be arrested and detained by the police for protesting.”

  • Marketers condemn Fayose’s threat to demolish more filling stations

    Marketers condemn Fayose’s threat to demolish more filling stations

    Petrol marketers in Ekiti State have condemned a threat by Governor Ayo Fayose to demolish more petrol stations in the wake of withdrawal of fuel supply by national secretariats of Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    Spokesman of the state chapter of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ademola Ajayi, said the alleged mobilization of thugs to attack some filling stations in Ado-Ekiti last week was a bad signal to investors wishing to do business in the state.

    Ajayi who spoke in an interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM monitored in Ado-Ekiti accused Fayose of ruining businesses with what he called “draconian policies” saying the threat to demolish more filling stations would complicate the crisis on ground.

    The fuel scarcity which was sparked by Fayose’s face-off with local marketers and national unions of associations in the downstream sector has reached the third week.

    He said the threat allegedly issued by Fayose while appearing on a programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) was an indication that he (Fayose) has declared war on the marketers and wanted the crisis to drag.

    Ajayi disclosed that Fayose filed a court action against the unions shortly after holding a peace meeting with them wondering why the governor would take them to court after inviting them to a meeting.

    The IPMAN official revealed that  Fayose imposed a levy of N10,000 on each filling station for a training on how to handle emergencies saying: “since we paid N10,000 per station, no training has been held and we have about N3,000 petrol stations and the money has not been refunded.”

    Ajayi said: “The governor went to Abuja and filed a suit in the court against us and other bodies he invited to a peace meeting. He was the one that called them and he was the one that sued them. They were shocked that he could take them to court and they said they won’t allow their trucks to go to Ekiti because they could be set on fire.

    “We are in the process of resolving the crisis, is the court the next place to go? The governor fights everybody; fights pepper sellers, fights palm oil sellers, fights private school owners and tipper owners. Must you fight everybody?

    “Are we supposed to be friends or enemies? If the governor has conscience, his conscience will be telling him that what he did was wrong. Part of the problem is that the governor is demanding payment of other fees.

    “Our business partners said they can’t risk their lives of their drivers to come to Ekiti because of the attitude of the governor. It was the governor that unleashed thugs on our filling stations and he had said this a day earlier when he appeared on a radio programme.

    “He said that some thugs wanted to come out and the thugs came out the following day and there was nothing the Police and DSS could do. We learnt that the thugs who did the job were given N1, 000 each while others were given N5, 000.

    “The matter on ground is beyond us, let the governor listen to our national unions in Abuja and withdraw the case from the court. What sort of despotic behaviour is that threatening to demolish more filling stations?

    “For you to bring a bulldozer to my station and say you want to demolish it? Do you want to render many people jobless, turn them to okada riders and thugs to be given N1, 000 each?

    “We want the people of Ekiti State and other Nigerians to beg the governor. He should create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and not to destroy people’s businesses. People should appeal to him to stop what he is doing because he is the first person to be elected governor in our state. In a related development, the National Chairman of PTD, Otunba Saliman Oladiti, said the crisis could be resolved if Fayose is sincere to dialogue with all stakeholders involved.”

    Oladiti who spoke in a phone-in programme on Radio Nigeria Progress 100.5 FM monitored by our reporter said it was wrong for Fayose to order the marketers to relocate their stations after government have them valid approvals.

    He said: “Unless the government has a sincere dialogue with the unions, there would not be timely resolution of the fuel crisis in Ekiti. The owners of the stations being asked to relocate has C of Os and other papers.”

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ekiti State Petroleum Task Force, Elder Adeyemi Adebayo, alleged that the marketers are colluding with outside forces to unleash hardship on Ekiti people saying the governor is
    resolved to sanitize the system once and for all.

    Adebayo said: “When I spoke to the chairman of the tanker drivers in Ekiti, he explained that the directive to prevent petroleum tankers from coming to the state was from the national body of the oil marketers.

    “My advice to the oil marketers is to heed to the directive given by the governor and start to sell the fuel, because the governor is the overall head in Ekiti. He takes the final decision on any issues about the state and his decision overrides anyone outside the state.

    “I also want to advise the national body of oil marketers in Nigeria who have been said to be the brain behind the fuel crisis in Ekiti, to urgently release all the petrol tankers which they withdrew, so that they don’t make the people of Ekiti to suffer.”

  • Fayose’s crackdown on petrol dealer naked show of power- APC Chieftain

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Isola Fapohunda, has criticized Governor Ayo Fayose’s crackdown on petrol marketers which has brought the state to its knees
    in the last two weeks.

    Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Fapohunda condemned destruction of some petrol stations by suspected thugs on Tuesday maintaining that the governor ought to have used tact and
    diplomacy to resolve his face-off with fuel marketers.

    He argued that the destroyed filling stations remain Ekiti businesses whoever own them which must be protected as little enterprise in a state with very little economic activities.

    Fapohunda said the alleged government sponsorship of hoodlums that vandalized the filling stations was not justifiable  and contrary to Fayose’s self acclaimed appellation of “ore mekunnu” (friend of the
    poor).

    He said: “Must we embark on wasting resources by going on destructive spree just because we feel opposed to some structures being in some places? To be modest, these moves looked very much like a show of power than an attempt to serve the people.

    “We need to advice government at this stage that there are several ways to skin a chicken. Tact and diplomacy in governance are attributes that must be embraced for the peace and prosperity of the
    state.

    “Progress is possible only in an atmosphere of peace. For nearly three weeks now that fuel has not been available anywhere in Ekiti, the experience has remained one of needless gridlock and immobility. Why?

    “Despite all these and considering the fact that Ekiti people have suffered needlessly as a result of the scarcity, a situation which has tolled heavily on various businesses and lives, a situation that has even caused our dear state national embarrassment, I want to appeal to the marketers to sheathe their swords and call off the strike in the best interest of Ekiti people.

    “Vehicular movements and conveyances, especially of goods, have been affected beyond believe, with attendant rise in costs,  especially of transportation, a situation which is uncalled for and could have been very well avoided, if His Excellency Mr. Governor had managed issues
    better.

    “The marketers have been unjustifiably treated by someone who should know better, but who has chosen to ignore wise counsels. But still, I want to appeal to petrol dealers to consider the current impasse and
    suffering of the people and reopen their stations for the benefits of the residents of the state who have so far helplessly, but needlessly bore the brunt of this unavoidable impasse.

    “Let this body know that currently, the situation is going out of hands. Hospitals cannot run properly and patients might be dying. Students and public servants cannot access their schools and work
    places on time.

    “I can go on and on, reeling out what our people (my people and their own people too) have had to face amidst this contrived fuel scarcity. The petrol dealers should kindly consider all these and re-open their
    stations for the sale of fuel. This is in the best interest of the people.”

  • Fayose seeks to complete aborted tenure

    Fayose seeks to complete aborted tenure

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State said on Monday that he would contest in court his removal from office during his first term tenure.

    The governor spoke on his monthly public enlightenment programme, “Meet Your Governor in Ado Ekiti.

    He said since the Supreme Court had ruled that his impeachment was illegal, null and void, he reserved the constitutional right to so contest the removal.

    According to him, since his tenure had been adjudged by the Supreme Court to have been illegally truncated, he had no option than to approach the same court to seek interpretation of the judgement.

    The governor said the pertinent question to ask the court was whether by virtue of an earlier judgement in his favour dismissing his removal, he had no right to seek to complete his remaining tenure of seven months.

    He emphasised that the case as to whether he was entitled to complete his tenure or not must first be determined before there could be another governorship election in the state in 2018.

    NAN reports that Fayose got sworn-in for the first term tenure in May 2003, but got his tenure terminated through impeachment on Oct. 16, 2006.

    Meanwhile, the governor has said that he was not bothered by the ongoing strike by fuel dealers in the state.

    He said he would not rescind his decision to stop further erection of filling stations in residential areas, even if they strike for one year.

    He said full demolition of such fuel stations, including those erected near schools would commence on Tuesday.

    Besides, he placed a ban on commercial activities in all fuel stations that were currently on strike.

    He said there was no way he could allow shops attached to fuel stations to be opened to business when the real filling station was closed to motorists.

    Fayose expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for renaming the Federal University, Oye Ekiti after the late Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, adding “I begged for it.’’

     

  • Fayose seeks to complete aborted 2006 tenure

    Fayose seeks to complete aborted 2006 tenure

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State said on Monday that he would contest in court his removal from office during his first term tenure.

    The governor spoke on his monthly public enlightenment programme, “Meet Your Governor in Ado Ekiti.

    He said since the Supreme Court had ruled that his impeachment was illegal, null and void, he reserved the constitutional right to so contest the removal.

    According to him, since his tenure had been adjudged by the Supreme Court to have been illegally truncated, he had no option than to approach the same court to seek interpretation of the judgement.

    The governor said the pertinent question to ask the court was whether by virtue of an earlier judgement in his favour dismissing his removal, he had no right to seek to complete his remaining tenure of seven months.

    He emphasised that the case as to whether he was entitled to complete his tenure or not must first be determined before there could be another governorship election in the state in 2018.

    Fayose got sworn-in for the first term tenure in May 2003, but got his tenure terminated through impeachment on Oct. 16, 2006.

    Meanwhile, the governor has said that he was not bothered by the ongoing strike by fuel dealers in the state.

    RELATED: ‘Why we impeached Fayose in 2006‘

    He said he would not rescind his decision to stop further erection of filling stations in residential areas, even if they strike for one year.

    He said full demolition of such fuel stations, including those erected near schools would commence on Tuesday.

    Besides, he placed a ban on commercial activities in all fuel stations that were currently on strike.

    He said there was no way he could allow shops attached to fuel stations to be opened to business when the real filling station was closed to motorists.

    Fayose expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for renaming the Federal University, Oye Ekiti after the late Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, adding “I begged for it.’’

  • Laptop gift: Ekiti students leave gov house disappointed

    Laptop gift: Ekiti students leave gov house disappointed

    Students in Ekiti state were on Wednesday disappointed after Governor Ayodele Fayose failed to fulfil his promise of giving them laptop computers during a visit to the Government House.

    Gov Fayose attracted several students and youths to the Government House grounds whose ages range between 18 and 22 with the promise of giving the first 300 that arrived laptop computers.went home disappointed when the promise was not fulfilled.

    TRENDING: No law stops me from leaving PDP – Fayose

    Unfortunately, the students went home disappointed when the promise was not fulfilled.

    However, the governor promised to organise a raffle draw to determine the laptop winners which did not go down well with the youths who were eager to go home with their prizes.

  • Fayose appoints 12 new executive secretaries, general managers

    Fayose appoints 12 new executive secretaries, general managers

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Friday approved the appointment of 10 serving directors as executive secretaries in the public service of the state.

    The State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti that the appointments also included two general managers.

    According to the statement, those appointed as Executive Secretaries are Mr Joseph Obaparusi, Mr Bamidele Arowosola, Mr Bola Akomolede, Dr Felix Ojo, Mr Adesola Babatunde and Dr Babatope Adeyemi.

    Others are Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, Mr Ajaja Gabriel, Mr Yakubu Oladele and Mr Vincent Omodara in acting capacity.

    The governor also approved the appointments of Mr Dada Olutayo as Acting General Manager of Ekiti State Sports Council, and Mr Phillip Atere as Acting General Manager of the state Electricity Board.

    The statement explained that all the appointments took immediate effect.