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Tag: Ekiti

  • Why we boycotted anti-Jega rally – Ekiti OPC

    Why we boycotted anti-Jega rally – Ekiti OPC

    Members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ekiti State have dissociated themselves from the protest staged in Lagos on Saturday against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    The Lagos rally was spearheaded by the OPC National Coordinator Gani Adams who has endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan for the March 28 presidential poll.

    The Ekiti OPC members also revealed that they boycotted the Lagos rally in solidarity with their leader, Niyi Adedipe also known as Apase, who is on remand in Ado-Ekiti prisons.

    Adedipe was accused of complicity in the killing of former state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye on September 25 last year.

    Speaking on the development in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, the Ekiti OPC Deputy Coordinator, Olowo Oladele, stressed that they are standing by their leader, Adedipe, whom he said Adams had forsaken since he (Adedipe) was remanded.

    Oladele who addressed journalists alongside the OPC State Secretary, Idowu Julius and Adedipe’s Personal Assistant, Kamarudeen Lateef, said members are angry with Adams for attempting to coerce them into his personal agenda without supporting Adedipe in his trying times.

    Oladele said Ekiti OPC members cannot be lured with a “bogus and questionable” pipeline security contract to attend a jamboree in Lagos when their state leader is languishing in detention.

    He disclosed that they received the notice to attend the Lagos rally on Thursday with Adams directing that each OPC state chapter should send 50 delegates adding that member of the group was promised N50, 000 as largesse from the pipeline security contract.

    Oladele said members of the group in Ekiti conferred with their leader in the prisons where they resolved to boycott the rally where a protest march was held against INEC chair Jega

    He said: “Our members are not interested in any pipeline contract or any filthy lucre for that matter.

    “What we are interested in is how our leader, Apase, will be released from the prisons because we strongly believe that he did not commit the offence for which he is being remanded.

    “We all resolved not to go to Lagos when our leader is inside prison because neither Jonathan nor Adams has offered him any support and they did not bother about his plight.

    “In fact, we all entered into an oath that nobody should attend the Gani Adams rally in Lagos even if they offer us N1 million each because the freedom of Apase who is an innocent man is very important to us.”

    Julius said all the 16 local government chapters of the OPC are solidly behind Adedipe maintaining that Adams ought to have supported him (Adedipe) in his travails rather than summoning them to Lagos.

    “We cannot be going for a jamboree in Lagos and be dancing naked in the marketplace when our leader is detained in the prisons and that is why we resolved not to go to Lagos and the compliance was full and total.

    Lateef said: “All the 16 local government coordinators in solidarity with Apase decided to stay away from the anti-Jega rally.

    “We dissociated ourselves from the anti-Jega rally because we don’t want to lose focus of why OPC was established which was to protect the interests of the Yoruba anywhere in the world.

    “OPC is for Yoruba interests and not for somebody’s personal interests and that is our stand and we have no apology for that”.

  • First Lady came to Ekiti to entertain, says APC

    First Lady came to Ekiti to entertain, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described Monday’s campaign visit by First Lady Patience Jonathan as a comical show.

    The party said Mrs. Jonathan failed to prove why the people should vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It said Mrs. Jonathan only showcased her theatrical prowess, instead of a more robust and issue-based campaign to list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti in the last four years and his plans for the state, if he wins.

    The APC urged the First Lady to emulate the wife of its presidential candidate, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who  showed class and panache in her campaign engagements.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party regretted that the First Lady only came to Ekiti State to entertain the indigenes.

    He regretted that Mrs. Jonathan and Governor Ayo Fayose treated Ekiti people and other Nigerians watching the event live on television to insipid and dry comedy with their lack-of-grace speeches.

    Olatubosun said throughout the campaign, Mrs. Jonathan created the impression that what Ekiti people needed was entertainment and theatrics to quench their thirst for growth and development.

    He said: “Throughout her speech, she manifested an image of an entertainer providing a momentary comic relief to a poverty-ravaged community not in a hurry for socio-economic salvation.

    “You would have thought that the First Lady would list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti State and then give the people some hope that her husband would build upon those achievements.

    “But she engaged in a “duet” with her host and soul mate, Fayose, in an empty campaign comedy to a thoroughly dazed enlightened Ekiti people.

    “It was a perfect duet by two comedians that one does not need any counsel that Nigeria must be rescued from the captivity of the costumed ‘people of power’.”

    The APC spokesman berated Mrs. Jonathan for her relentless attacks on the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, saying her conduct betrayed a woman hit by the failure of her “husband’s mandate to govern Nigeria”.

    His words: “She consistently painted Buhari as a man who would herd Nigerians into jail without committing any crime whereas Buhari only insisted that criminals during his coming administration would go to jail.

    “She said she was not ready to prepare food for Fayose in jail. Inadvertently, Mrs Jonathan was telling Nigerians that Fayose is a candidate for the prison, if Buhari wins.”

    Olatubosun challenged the First Lady to tell Ekiti people the benefits of SURE-P, which she flaunted at the rally, saying the programme was just a bazaar for a few selfish party leaders.

    He faulted her claim that women were appointed into government positions by Fayose, saying this was a clear case of falsehood, which had become synonymous with Jonathan’s administration.

    “Fayose has a four-man cabinet running his administration. Apart from the secretary to the state government, where are the other women Fayose has appointed?”

  • Ekiti threathens to arrest ex-officials over car loans

    The Governor Ayo Fayose-led administration in Ekiti State has threatened to arrest about 54 officials who served under his predecessor Dr Kayode Fayemi over their alleged refusal to pay over N109 million outstanding monetised vehicles debt.

    According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, the former political appointees must pay the outstanding debts without delay to avert  forceful recovery by the police.

    The statement claimed that brand new vehicles were given to the appointees who served Fayemi under the monetized policy with only 54 of them so far completing payment.

    But the affected officials appointees said that the state government will be acting in error since they have gone to court for redress.

    The affected political according to the statement, included former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi (N1,623,332.00), former Commissioner for Works, Mr Sola Adebayo, Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode (N1,623,332.00), former Commissioner for Education and APC House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central I, Mrs Eniola Ajayi (N1,723,332.00), former Commissioner for Information, Tayo Ekundayo (N4,121,508.00), former Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole (N1,723,332.00) among others.

    Those owing more than N4 million are: Tolu Ibitola, Simeon Adeyanju, Aderemi Ajayi, Kehinde Ojo, Chief Tunde Odetola, Mojeed Jamiu, Tolani Olufemi, Wole Olugboji  and Ebun Awoyemi while Bamidele Ololade is owing N5.5 million.

    In the category of N1.7 million are Wole Adewunmi, Debo Ajayi, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi, Sola Adebayo, Kayode Olaosebikan, Kayode Jegede, Mrs Bunmi Dipo-Salami, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu, Babajide Arowosafe, Biodun Oyebanji, Prof Olusola Fasuba, Funminiyi Afuye, Paul Omotosho and Chief Folorunso Olabode while Remi Olorunleke is owing N1.8 million and Babalola Olorunfemi owing N1.4 million.

    Chief Dayo Fadipe, Olalekan Faromika, Segun Ologunleko, Tolulope Dare, Tale Oguntoyinbo, Biodun Akin-Fasae, Wale Fapohunda, Bayo Aina, Isola Akingbade, Engr T. Fakorede, Ibirinde Foluso, Bunmi Awotiku. S. F. Lawal and Eben Alade are owing between N2.02 million and N2.9 million.

    Those owing more than N3 million are Bayo Kelekun, Mrs. Ronke Okusanya, Bunmi Adelugba and Oluwole Ariyo.

    The government said  all entreaties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart to pay the N109 million has remained abortive as letters written to them were neither acknowledged nor replied.

    But the affected officials described the threat of arrested another crude ploy by Fayose to harass and intimidate opposition members, especially those who served in the APC government.

    They maintained that they had taken Fayose and his government to an Ado-Ekiti High Court through a suit filed by former Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu and 34 others over the monetised vehicles.

    The former appointees berated the governor for grandstanding when he is yet to pay the severance allowance and other allowances, despite completing their tenure, which qualified them for the severance pay in line with the laws.

    Reacting to the threat which was aired on state owned radio and circulated via press statements by the government, the forme officials in a statement made available to journalists, described the planned clampdown on them as a deliberate ploy by Fayose to keep them and other notable APC chieftains out of circulation ahead of the March 28 presidential election and subsequent elections.

    The officials said in a statement that the planned clampdown would be the second attempt by Fayose and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to get them out of circulation, having made a similar attempt to get many of them arrested in February before the presidential election which was originally scheduled for February 14 was postponed.

    Explaining the circumstances surrounding the monetised cars, they said that it was a policy of the immediate past administrations in the state to monetise official cars to public office holders of certain categories.

     

  • Jonathan’s wife was in Ekiti to entertain – APC

    Jonathan’s wife was in Ekiti to entertain – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, said Monday’s campaign visit to Ekiti state by the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan was a mere entertainment and comical show rather than an opportunity to prove reasons the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deserves re-election

    The party said Mrs. Jonathan only showcased her theatrics prowess instead of a more robust and issue-based electioneering to list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti in the last four years and what are his plans for the state if he wins.

    The Ekiti APC tasked the First Lady to emulate the wife of its presidential candidate, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who has shown class and panache in her campaign engagements, giving hope to Nigerians for a serious and purposeful leadership ‎that will take Nigeria back on track of development.

    In a statement on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party regretted that the First Lady only came to Ekiti State to entertain the indigenes as people without aspirations for good life and development.

    He regretted that Mrs. Jonathan and host Governor Ayo Fayose treated Ekiti people and other Nigerians watching the event life on the television to insipid and dry comedy with their speeches lacking grace.

    Olatubosu pointed out that throughout the campaign programme, ‎Mrs. Jonathan created impression that what Ekiti people needed was entertainment and theatrics to quench their thirst for growth and development.

    He said: “Throughout her speech, she manifested an image of a village masquerade providing a momentary comic relief to a poverty ravaged community not in a hurry for socio-economic salvation.

    “You would have thought that the First Lady would list her husband’s achievements in Ekiti State and then give the people some hope that her husband would build upon those achievements.

    “But she engaged in a duet with her host and soul mate, Governor Ayo Fayose, in an empty campaign comedy to a thoroughly dazed enlightened Ekiti people.

    “It was a perfect duet by two comedians that one does not need any counsel‎ that Nigeria must be rescued from the captivity of the costumed ‘people of power’ without responsibility.”

    The APC spokesman berated Mrs. Jonathan ‎for relentless attacks on APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, saying her conduct betrayed a woman hit by failure of her ‘husband’s mandate to govern Nigeria along the path of development  but was now acting desperately in railroading Nigerians into accepting a visionless leadership as a fate that must be embraced.

    His words: “She was consistently painting Buhari as a man that would herd Nigerians into jail without committing any crime whereas Buhari only insisted that criminals during his coming administration would go to jail.

    “She said she was not ready to prepare food for Fayose in jail‎. Inadvertently, Mrs. Jonathan was telling Nigerians ‎that Fayose is a candidate for the prison if Buhari wins.”

    Olatubosun challenged the First Lady to tell Ekiti people the benefits of SURE-P ‎she flaunted at the rally, saying the programme was just a bazaar for a few selfish party leaders without any benefit for the entire citizenry.

    He also faulted her claim that women were appointed into government positions in Ekiti State by Fayose, saying this was a clear case of falsehood, which had become synonymous with Jonathan’s administration.

    “Fayose has a four-man cabinet running his government. Apart from the Secretary to the State Government, where are the other women Fayose has appointed?

    “Mrs. Jonathan only came to Ekiti to entertain in a political theatre full of deceits and false props constructed by Fayose for maximum personal profits,” Olatubosun explained.

    Stressing that Ekiti people had made up their minds to vote Buhari, he added that ‎they had become wiser and would not vote a regime that did not hold any promise for their future.

     

     

  • APC resumes rallies in Ekiti

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Central senatorial district will resume final campaign rallies ahead of the March 28 National Assembly election and April 11 House of Assembly polls.

    The party is back on the campaign trail after a six-week lull occasioned by the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The  rallies start tomorrow in Aramoko where the party will present its candidates.

    A statement yesterday by the APC Media Committee Chairman, Tai Oguntayo and the Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman, Oladapo Karonwi, revealed that the rally will be taken to Ipole Iloro, Ikogosi, Erijiyan, Erio and Aramoko.

    The rally, which will start tomorrow, is expected to end on March 26 visiting the five local government areas namely; Ekiti West, Efon, Ijero, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ado local governments.

    The statement added that the senatorial candidate, Gbenga Olofin and the two House of Representatives candidates- Oyetunde Ojo and Dr Eniola Ajayi -and the eight House of Assembly candidates are expected to mobilise supporters to the venues of the rallies.

    The campaign committee urged all members to be peaceful.

    The party said: “We are not unaware of the plan of our main rival party to cause mayhem in order to pick our leaders up before the election.”

     

  • Ekiti 2015: Where will the pendulum swing?

    Ekiti 2015: Where will the pendulum swing?

    As the participating political parties and their candidates for this year’s elections put finishing touches to their preparations, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on what he describes as the Ekiti State political rematch

    Ahead of the all important rescheduled general elections that will see ousted All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the now ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, analysts and political observers are talking about how the electorates in the state are likely to vote eight months after Governor Ayo Fayose’s controversial victory over ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC.

    Checks by The Nation revealed that there is serious anxiety within the two leading political parties ahead of the decisive elections. While the PDP is determined to complete its hold on the politics of the state by winning all national and legislative seats available, the APC is prepared to reclaim some lost grounds by stunning Fayose and his party at the rescheduled polls.

    So uncertain is the current political pendulum in the state that some insist it is too early to predict how the results will look in spite of claims by both Fayose’s ruling PDP and Fayemi’s APC that the people of the state will vote for them. One of the factors analysts believe may influence the voting pattern of the people this time is the presidential contest between the two leading political parties.

    “It is unclear how the people of the state will vote. Although the PDP has been in power for about eight months now, a lot of things have happened to create a dicey contest. Both the PDP and the APC are aware that they cannot take the voting pattern of the people of the state for granted. Both parties are out there struggling to convince the people,” Femi Bajo, State Coordinator of Voters’ Right Agenda (VRA), said.

    “For the PDP, the coming polls should simply be a repeat of what happened last June, when in spite of Fayemi being the seating governor, the announced result favored Fayose who was earlier seen as the underdog by pundits. But the APC is looking towards turning the heat on Fayose believing a lot of other factors may work together to make that possible unless something drastic is done by the ruling party.

    Like some people are saying, the presidential contest between General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP may affect the voting pattern of the people of the state. While Fayose may still enjoy the support of his people as governor, it is unclear if the people of the state, especially the political elites, are willing to buy into Fayose’s undying support for Jonathan’s re-election.

    Even within his party, there are people who are not so keen about the President’s re-election bid. This is because they are finding it difficult to sell the idea to their people at the grassroots. “Ekiti people are enlightened and current. They are aware of the trend across the country and it is not likely they will be swayed to support Jonathan by their love for Fayose,” Bajo added.

    But PDP state Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, said APC and Buhari should not count the state as one of those it would win in the general election. He said the PDP had appraised the political situation in Ekiti and was confident that the opposition had no chance in the state because the people of the state are comfortable with President Jonathan’s administration.

    “We look at the main opposition, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and all we can see that they can never recover from the thrashing they got during the governorship poll. The people of the state have rejected them and their hypocrisy. They will not win any seat in the February state and national assemblies’ elections in the state, while their presidential candidate, Buhari, will lose woefully. We will record overwhelming victory for President Goodluck Jonathan in the coming elections in the state,” he said.

    However, a chieftain of the APC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Osinkolu, said the triumph of the APC candidates, especially its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in Ekiti is not negotiable.

    “Ekiti people are ready to vote for Buhari and the APC en masse. What is paramount to Ekiti people now is real development and governance in all the sectors of the country’s economy as being witnessed in some other states of the federation and Ekiti State must not be an exception.

    We believe in the change that is promised by Buhari and his party. Ekiti people are not swayed by partisan outbursts of some people. We are elites of the Yoruba stock and we are democrats. Fayose’s recent vituperations towards Gen. Buhari had portrayed the state in bad light in Nigeria and the global community as a whole,” he said.

    The Ekiti Central Senatorial District candidate of the APC, Gbenga Olofin, also assured that the party’s people-oriented programme will ensure victory for all its candidates. The candidate hinged his optimism on the discipline within APC as the most organised party grounded in grassroots appeal.

    “Buhari is a reputable and responsible person with proven record of integrity, which will brighten the party’s chances in the polls.  Above all, Ekiti voters are wiser now and would not want a repeat of suffering and poor governance going on in the state and in the national and state assemblies,” he said.

    Also, a recent admittance by the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, that the viral audio clip that surfaced on the internet recently detailing how Fayose, former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and other political leaders rigged the 2014 Ekiti Governorship Election in favour of the PDP, is authentic, may have generated widespread sympathy for the APC amongst the people of the state.

    Contrary to the denials by Fayose and Obanikoro that they were involved in a meeting where strategies for rigging the June governorship election were discussed, Adesiyan, who was also at the meeting, admitted that the meeting actually took place. According to sources within the state, following his shocking confirmation, many people in Ekiti were forced to conclude that the PDP and Fayose didn’t actually move into Government House on the strength of the people’s vote.

    “This is creating a serious credibility problem for Fayose and the PDP in the state. And if you understand the nature of the average Ekiti man, you will know that they hate injustice. The same way they supported Fayose few months back when it appeared he was about to be unjustly stopped from exercising his mandate, that is the same way many are now ready to support Fayemi to reclaim his rigged mandate.

    The Nation also learnt that the APC, learning from its June mistake, may have gone all out to reposition itself for the electoral battle ahead. According to Osinkolu, APC in the state had become more sturdy and it’s the party to beat following various reforms embarked upon by major stakeholders within the party, especially the Action Group.

    “What we are doing now is a total reformation and structural adjustment of our party to confront the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and because of this, no stone will be left unturned to build the party in order to win elections in Ekiti and Nigeria in general. It is a known and indisputable fact that the APC has become the party to beat, as a result of bad governance being witnessed in the state at the moment.

    “We have learnt our lessons and the people are better informed now than before. Moreover, the level of impunity of the present administration towards the electorate has no doubt set the people against it and the resultant effect of it is a blessing to the APC and with the level of preparedness of the party towards the polls, the party will record a landslide victory,” he declared.

    But the PDP expressed confidence that it will win all seats in the forthcoming national and state Assembly elections because, according to them, the Fayose led administration in the state is performing and the party is waxing stronger.

    “We are satisfied with the performance of Governor Ayo Fayose. Despite the huge debt the APC left behind, he has not failed to live up to expectation. He has embarked on road projects, water scheme resuscitation through which water is gradually flowing in many places. He has taken the challenge of improved electricity supply by the horn. Market stalls are being built.

    “We are also happy that Governor Fayose has not failed in paying salaries of workers despite lean resources. His novel idea of stomach infrastructure, which APC needlessly condemned, is being copied by all, including the APC. The welfare of the people is our concern as a party and we are not going to fail in that respect.

    “APC will not win any seat in the state and national assembly’s election. Their main stock in trade is to engage in fruitless propaganda and thank God, the people have now seen their deceit and they cannot cover anybody’s face with any veil again,” Aluko told The Nation.

    But the PDP may have to act more than it is talking as the elections draw nearer. This is because there are signs of cracks within its wall, sending signals that it may not be easy for it to win as convincingly as Aluko and other chieftains believe it should.

    Few weeks back, the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Network, Ekiti State chapter, vowed to work against and ensure its presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, loses woefully in the presidential election. The Ekiti Coordinator of the network, Tope Musowo, made the threat in a press statement.

    Musowo, who decried the PDP-led federal government’s handling of the situation in the country, said President Jonathan has failed by surrounding himself with sycophants. “It is quite unfortunate that President Jonathan surrounds himself with political vultures who will mess up his good works, and these people don’t care if he loses or not. Let me make it clear here that Ekiti voters are the most sophisticated voters in Nigeria.”

    Thus, the battle lines remain drawn between the PDP and the APC in Ekiti State ahead what can best be described as a political rematch. Expectedly, the gladiators more than even before, are dying to make definite statements about who the real political leaders of the state are. However, in all, the electorate holds the ace, and by this time next month, we will know who laughs last.

  • Ekiti APC lawmakers condemn alleged plan to attack Tinubu

    Ekiti APC lawmakers condemn alleged plan to attack Tinubu

    The 19 All Progressives‎ Congress (APC) lawmakers in Ekiti State House of Assembly have condemned the alleged planned attack on the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning the agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to respect the sanctity of human life in their pursuit of power.

    Reacting to Tinubu’s alarm over alleged plan to assassinate him by PDP over political differences and threats posed by him for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election bid, the APC lawmakers said the political mood in Nigerians as expressed by voters to change political leadership did not support shedding the blood of opposition figures to secure victory.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Wole Olujobi, the lawmakers said PDP should note that Nigerians had seen PDP’s deceits, corruption and ineptitude in the last six years and had made up their minds that enough of dashed hopes for a new lease of life.

    The statement also said PDP should demonstrate in practical terms the declaration by Jonathan that his re-election is not worth the blood of one Nigerian, stressing that it would be dangerous to re-enact Ekiti bloody scenario of intolerance on the national scale.

    “It is dangerous that what we thought was a local problem in Ekiti State in the hands of an intolerant and desperate administration is fast spreading to the national stage where our national leaders are being targeted for elimination.

    “We condemn this as totally unacceptable. PDP has done enough damage to the national psyche and economy and has created conditions that gave bleak hope for the future of young Nigerians. After succee‎ding in killing Nigerians’ dreams, it should spare the lives of the opposition figures who have the vision to turn around the fortunes of Nigerians for good,” Olujobi said.

    He said Tinubu is a patriot and visionary who would not compromise his democratic credentials to sit in court with felons‎ to gang-rape the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the name of contraption called Interim Government that PDP leaders were luring him to participate as the Vice President.

    “Tinubu has come a long way. He is conscious of his place in the history of political development of Nigeria, particularly his roles in mid-wiving the nation’s ‎democracy through his activities in NADECO.

    “It is shocking that the man that helped in erecting democratic pillars for Nigeria is the same man PDP is expecting in a conspiracy to sabotage the democratic rights of Nigerians to have a democratically elected President,” the media aide said, adding that the APC leader would continue to lead the way in growing democracy for national transformation and salvation.

    The statement also warned the ruling party to stop its plan to implicate opposition leaders in trumped-up charges to put them out of circulation ahead of March 28 presidential election‎.

    It urged the security agencies to provide protection for Nigerians for peace to reign before and after the polls while it said PDP would be held responsible for any untoward happenings to APC leaders.

  • Fayose’s antics not representative of Ekiti Ethos – APC

    Fayose’s antics not representative of Ekiti Ethos – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said Governor Ayodele Fayose’s anti-social behaviour and belligerent postures against elderly Nigerians do not represent the ‎standard conduct of Ekiti people.

    APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun‎, said in a statement that Fayose’s tantrums against APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, represented the quality of the governor’s personality, noting that his record of interpersonal relationships with others reflected a man ravaged by desperation, recklessness, greed and riotous handling of issues not representative of Ekiti credo.

    Fayose had said on the live telecast of the meeting of PDP Governors’ Forum in Lagos that Buhari was of the same age with his mother, who he said was bedridden in pampers‎ and no longer physically strong to do productive things.

    He said for the reason of same age with his mother, the APC candidate should stay clear of presidential contest for the young blood, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But Olatubosun said Nigerians should not be surprised that the governor made that declaration on his mother in a live programme beamed around the world, explaining that Fayose was a special breed of Ekiti son with record of ‎lack of decorum in all his actions.

    ‎”Fayose is the most desperate among Ekiti sons. We don’t know the spirit that drives his actions. If a man could‎ paint his own mother in such a disgusting manner to advance his reason why Nigerians should not vote for Buhari, then we can appreciate how desperate Fayose is in doing things when his political interest is at stake,” APC spokesman said.

    Explaining that the governor had a record of treating elderly people with disdain and humiliation while he impoverishes the young ones, Olatubosun said: “Fayose’s record speaks volumes of his tempestuous lifestyle in both private and public life.

    “For instance, the report of the Security Panel set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate political killings in Ekiti State between 2004 and 2006 revealed that Fayose was allegedly culpable.

    “As  Ekiti State governor during his first stint,  government’s agents arrested the Atta of Ayede-Ekiti, the late Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi and put him in the booth of his car over alleged failure to support his government, the same way the octogenarian Elekole of Ikole, the late Oba Adetunla Adeleye, was dragged out of his car and the car forcefully taken away in broad daylight for not supporting him.‎”

    Noting that no Ekiti man had ever behaved like Fayose in history, Olatubosun said if the governor could do this to revered traditional institution, ‎people should not expect any limit to his irrationality fueled by unrestrained capacity for violence.

    Fayose has no record of maintaining a long standing relationship as none of his close aides is still with him to date.

    Olatubosun said Fayose should have told the world that his mother and Buhari were bound by the same fate ‎and should have told Nigerians how many times his mother changed diapers daily or how long his father was in diapers before he died in 2009.

    APC spokesman said Fayose was on his own in his uncivilized and desperate manner of doing things.

    While apologizing to Buhari for the embarrassment, he also apologized to Nigerians on behalf of Ekiti people for the shame and embarrassment the governor is causing them every day.

  • Fayose to Ekiti lawmakers: You can’t sue me in Lagos

    Fayose to Ekiti lawmakers: You can’t sue me in Lagos

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Lagos to adjudicate over a suit filed against him and others by Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and 18 other members.

    The governor said he cannot be sued outside Ekiti State where the “cause of action” took place.

    According to him, the court lacks the “territorial jurisdiction” to decide the case.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to nullify Omirin’s purported “impeachment” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers for being unconstitutional.

    Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the new “Speaker” Dele Olugbemi are among the respondents.

    Olugbemi’s loyalists, namely Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Isreal Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni; and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti are the other respondents.

    Others are three commissioners cleared by the House under Olugbemi – Oweseni Ajayi (Attorney-General), Kayode Eso (Commissioner for Works) and Toyin Ojo (Commissioner for Finance).

    The plaintiffs, in their originating summons, are praying the court to declare that Omirin and his deputy are entitled to occupy their offices except removed by the Assembly’s two-third majority votes.

    They are also seeking a declaration that Fayose’s alleged attempt to force them to join the PDP and denounce the All Progressives Congress (APC) is against their constitution right to freedom of association.

    They are praying the court to hold that Olugbemi’s election as Speaker is illegal, and all deliberations and actions of the seven lawmakers are invalid.

    But Fayose, in a preliminary objection filed by the three “commissioners” (12th to 14th respondents), is praying for an order striking out or dismissing the suit in its entirety for lack of jurisdiction.

    “The suit as presently constituted is incurably defective and grossly incompetent. Consequently, this Honourable court cannot sit over an incompetent suit,” he said.

    Besides, ‎the governor said the action was not filed through due process as it was not signed by a judge as required by law.

    “This honourable court lacks both subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction to entertain the suit,” the respondents said.

    Besides, they said the suit is an abuse of court process because the plaintiffs had allegedly instituted similar action on the same subject-matter for substantially the same reliefs in another suit pending at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    “The cause of action which gave rise to this matter as revealed by the Originating Summons and other processes filed by the applicants/respondents took place in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State,”‎ the respondents said.

    The plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN) said they would file a response to the preliminary objection.

    The lawmakers are also praying for an order of mandatory and perpetual injunctions restraining the “commissioners” from laying claim to offices they were not duly appointed to.

    Omirin, who was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2011, said a team of heavily-armed security operatives were deployed to the Assembly’s premises last November 17, and prevented the plaintiffs from conducting their legislative duties.

    While the APC lawmakers were locked outside the gate, PDP’s seven lawmakers were escorted into the Assembly, where they confirmed the commissioners’ appointment by Fayose and approved the appointment of Local Government caretaker committees chairmen and members.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till March 25 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

  • Beware of Fayose’s antics, APC tells Ekiti workers

    Beware of Fayose’s antics, APC tells Ekiti workers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has warned civil servants not believe Governor Ayo Fayose’s claims that his administration is hampered by lean treasury in fulfilling commitments to employees on government payroll.

    Fayose had on Sunday night made an unscheduled broadcast on the state radio and television bemoaning the financial situation of the state which has seen its allocations from the Federation Account dwindle and recording a low revenue profile.

    The governor’s broadcast which were also aired repeatedly on Monday also saw him emphasizing that he would not be able to pay leave bonuses, September salary arrears and other financial obligations.

    Fayose said in the broadcast that he loved the workers and was willing to make them happy but his administration was hamstrung by huge debt burden expressing hope that things would change for better “very soon”.

    But the state APC in a statement on Monday warned the people of the state not to be taken in Fayose’s “frequent radio and television live broadcasts to paint gloomy financial position of the state.

    The Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun said Fayose’s broadcast was devised to deceive and deny workers of their entitlements describing the governor’s action as a “mindless rhetoric and an alibi for his administration’s failure to meet salary obligation to them.”

    Olatubosun claimed Fayose cannot be trusted since hundreds of Ekiti workers had been sacked and bond debts payment suspended for six months while ‎several promotions were reversed.

    He argued that money saved from the losses to workers and cancellation of empowerment schemes should have been enough to pay workers entitlements, particularly as allocations payment was regular while there were no new capital projects being executed by the governor.

    Warning the governor to stop reeling out what he called “his abracadabra debt and payment figures” to the more intelligent Ekiti workers, ‎ Olatubosun said the governor’s antecedents had given him away as he tried to hoodwink the innocent workers.

    “It is good that Ekiti people know the kind of governor they have. In one breath, he said he spends N1.4b to pay salary monthly. The next minute, he said it is N1.6b in the same broadcast‎, which gave him away, as usual, as a man playing games with the lives of Ekiti people.

    “All these mathematical gymnastics are callous demonstration of breach of faith in government and the governed relations.

    “What is the governor doing with full monthly federal allocation to the state when the bond debt repayment has been suspended for six months? 300 members of Traffic Management Agency have been sent packing. 800 members of Volunteer Peace Corps have been relieved of their jobs.‎

    “Social Security scheme for 20,000 old people receiving N5000 every month each has been cancelled. This is apart from the over 20,000 Youth Volunteers earning N10,000 monthly who have also been disengaged by Fayose.

    “Many of the youth who were trained in various skills under the Fayemi administration by Odua Skills Acquisition Centre have been abandoned by Fayose while the programme has been replaced with a pedestrian concept of stomach infrastructure,” Olatubosun explained.

    The APC spokesman also noted that many permanent secretaries had lost their jobs while allowances to traditional rulers had been cut even as running grants to civil servants had also been cut to save costs, wondering why the governor should still be complaining of paucity of funds in the face of savings from these cancellations.

    He added: “‎Teachers’ special allowances for rural postings and core subjects have been abolished while workers, including primary and secondary school teachers, who were promoted since April last year, had their promotions reversed.

    “The security agencies are no longer well-funded, leading to the current armed robbery cases across the state. Streetlights are turned off at 10.00 pm on the excuse of the cost of fuel, thus ‎paralyzing nightlife and causing insecurity as well as putting in jeopardy late night business activities in the state capital,” he explained.

    Olatubosun said the governor with a three-man cabinet should explain in transparent manner how he is spending Ekiti money, including ‎the N22b refund from the Federal Government and N2b Ecological Fund he later admitted collecting after two months of denial.