The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • Group rallies support for Buhari in Ekiti

    Group rallies support for Buhari in Ekiti

    A group, the Buhari Support Organization (BSO), has intensified the house-to-house campaign and grassroots mobilization to woo voters for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group has also been going round markets, motor parks, bus stops, newsstands, palaces, public squares, shops and other public places selling the candidacy of Buhari to the people of the Land of Honour.

    Reviewing the activities of the group in a chat with reporters, State Coordinator of BSO, Hon. Femi Adeleye, said the group is encouraged by the support so far given to Buhari’s candidacy by electorate in the state.

    He explained that the sudden postponement of the general elections won’t save President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from defeat at the polls.

    Adeleye, a former member of the state House of Assembly disclosed that more volunteers have offered to join the group to help project Buhari’s message of change and the need to rescue Nigeria from the brink of collapse.

    The former state legislator disclosed that many PDP members have expressed their readiness to vote for Buhari on March 28 “in line with the current mood of Ekiti people.”

    He welcomed the decision of the Council of State to ignore calls for the postponement of the general election, stressing that Nigerians are ready to cast their ballots at the polls and would resist any attempt to “change the goalpost in the middle of the game.”

    Adeleye said the people of Ekiti State have resolved to vote for Buhari, having identified him as the right candidate that has the experience, pedigree, character and integrity to turn the fortunes of Nigeria around for good.

    He said: “Buhari is the right man for the top job and that is why we are working hard to sell his candidacy to the people both in the rural and urban areas. We are encouraged and overwhelmed by the way people are accepting him.

    “He is a former Head of State who has integrity and honesty; he is not corrupt and he did not use all the positions he had occupied in life to amass wealth and his desire is how Nigeria can move forward from the present sorry state.

    “Buhari is the face of the emerging new Nigeria The unprecedented reception he had received from all over the country is an indication that he is the man Nigerians want as their next President.”

    Adeleye urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be above board and conduct a credible, free and fair election that will meet with international standards.

    He also appealed to security agencies to be non-partisan, adding that they are maintained by taxpayers money.

    Another chieftain of BSO, Mr. Kehinde Ajayi, described the situation in the country as terrible. He added that Nigeria needs a personality like Buhari to remedy the situation.

    He said major opinion polls favour Buhari as the likely winner of the presidential election and that Nigerians are earnestly yearning for change.

    Ajayi, a former Secretary General of Ekiti Focus Group in the United States, said the world is watching Nigeria. He warned against any attempt to sabotage the election.

    He revealed that other pan-Ekiti unions in the United States are solidly behind the candidature of Buhari and that Nigerians at home should rally round the APC flag bearer to become the next President.

    Ajayi said: “We are expecting this poll to be free and fair; it will be a make-or-mar election. With solid preparations from INEC and security agencies, we hope that nobody will allow himself to be used to truncate the people’s wish.

    “Opinion polls show that Buhari is on ground, people are yearning for change, people are looking for change because the present system is not working.”

  • Our ordeal in the hands of Ekiti PDP thugs, by NANS officials

    Our ordeal in the hands of Ekiti PDP thugs, by NANS officials

    For attending and speaking at the presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ado-Ekiti on January 24, four officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)  were attacked, one almost killed, by hoodlums suspected to be agents of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State. Two of them shared their experience with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, January 24 where he addressed a mammoth crowd at the Ekiti Parapo Square on his vision for Nigeria if elected in the February 14 (now March 28) election.

    The rally which was a huge carnival attracted party members, supporters, interest groups and members of the general public who defied the scorching sun to receive the APC presidential flag bearer.

    One of the interest groups that added spice to the rally was the student movement and the interest of the students was well represented by their umbrella body, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    Ogunkuade Oluwatosin, who is NANS Vice President (External Affairs) addressed the rally on behalf of the Nigerian students whom he said had rejected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

    Ogunkuade, also known as Jasper, hinged his position on what he called the serial failure of the Jonathan administration to halt the decline in education and stop the incessant strikes in the education sector; the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State and; the nonchalant attitude to the welfare of Nigerian students abroad some of whom were murdered in questionable circumstances among others.

    But unknown to him and other student leaders who attended the rally, their appearance and utterances at the event which was televised live by major TV channels ruffled feathers among some local politicians offended by their action.

    With the rally over, the NANS officials headed for their various communities to continue their mobilization drive for the Buhari candidacy but they met what they didn’t bargain for later in the day.

    They were waylaid by some blood-thirsty roughnecks who swooped on them, attacked their vehicles which they forced to stop before unleashing deep machete cuts on one of them who could not escape immediately from the scene.

    Apart from Ogunkuade, others in the car at the time of the attack were Odebunmi Idowu, Alimi Yusuf, Obikoya Dayo and Adeleke Samson who was unlucky not to escape from the assailants.

    Adeleke was said to have been detained by the thugs for over ten hours and was wounded by machete cuts on his head and left for dead on the major road before he was taken to a hospital by a Good Samaritan where doctors are battling to save his life.

    Ogunkuade, Odebunmi, Alimi and Obikoya were later arrested and detained at the police station where another student activist, Bewaji Damilare visited them only to be detained as well.

    The brutality visited on the students, their arrest, detention and the battle to save the life of one them cast a thick pall of gloom on the student union movement in Ekiti State and heightened tension for about four days the drama lasted.

    But the PDP-led state government branded the victims as thugs and alleged that arms were found in their vehicle, an allegation vehemently denied by the students.

    Two of the NANS officials, Ogunkuade and Bewaji narrated their experience and insisted that no amount of intimidation could dissuade them from pursuing the cause they believe in-working for the victory of Buhari and the APC in the fast-approaching general elections.

    They maintained that their support for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket remains unquestionable and would never be deterred by the attacks on them by the thugs.

    Ogunkuade’s account

    I am Ogunkuade Oluwatosin a.k.a Jasper, the National Vice President, External Affairs, of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), an indigene of Ikogosi Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    Why Nigerian students’ support for change

    Every blame on bad governance is rooted in a bad citizen because it is only a responsible citizen that can produce a responsible leadership. The song of sorrow makes the heart bleed, the entire Nigerian students and youths have suffered setback during the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and we must not totally forget because history will give us another opportunity to reposition Nigeria come February 14, (now March 28) 2015 Presidential Election and here are the reasons why the entire Nigerian students must reject the Jonathan candidacy and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls:

    1 .The college of education /polytechnic students spent not less than 13 months at home on account of strikes of COEASU / ASUP.

    2 .The university students spent nine months at home for ASUU strike which paralyzed 2013/2014 academic session.

    3. Many Nigerians student leaders and youths are jobless and the aborted Abuja National Stadium Immigration recruitment tragedy left 18 youths dead and several others injured with no reasonable result up till date

    4 .The security of the nation is in shambles, as students in the northeastern part of Nigeria are in agonies and pains as result of Boko Haram insurgency, many Nigerian students were killed and these include 49 students in Potiskum, Yobe State on 11th November, 2014, 48 students in Buni Yadi, Yobe State on 25th February, 2015 and 16 students in Bayero University Kano, Kano State in 2012. We must not also forget the failure of the Federal Government to rescue the missing 219 Chibok girls of Borno State since 14th April, 2014.

    5.  Nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government to the welfare of the Nigerian students in the Diaspora. Series of report from Dubai (UAE), Ghana, South Africa, Ukraine and the recent case of the death of 22-year old Mathew Ajibade on January 2, 2015 in an isolated cell at Savannah police station in Georgia United States, which the Federal Government was yet to respond to.

    As a matter of fact, if you refuse to stand up for something you will fall for all things and freedom is not freely given to the oppressed until you fight for it. I can feel Nigerian students’ heartbeat; all my people want is a better Nigeria. Therefore, as the National Vice President External Affairs of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), I spoke out the voice of the Nigerian students for CHANGE at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential rally of Ekiti State on January 24, 2015 and reasons why General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo remain a better combination of ideology to take Nigerian students from mutiny to destiny.

    After the speech at

    the rally

    Unknown to us (after the rally) we were on PDP watch-list since the hour of the declaration, I was in my hometown at Ikogosi-Ekiti with my colleagues on the evening of Sunday, January 25 when suddenly at about 8pm, the hoodlums of Governor Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to attack us. They came in a black Camry Toyota Car with registration number SMK 967 BU belonging to Segun Adewunmi, an indigene of Erinjiyan Ekiti, as well as the House of Assembly candidate of PDP in Ekiti West Constituency 1. They held dangerous weapons, cutlasses, axes, sticks, guns and vandalized our car, we all ran away to secure our life before we discovered that Adeleke Samson (OBAMA) was caught in the attack, kidnapped and held hostage for about ten hours over the night.  He was left to die by the roadside where he was found seriously injured and unconscious the following morning by a Good Samaritan who took him to the hospital

    The unlawful arrest

    and detention

    As an apostle of justice in the temple of peace and orderliness, all we could do was to locate the nearest police station which is Efon –Alaaye for complaints because the hoodlums have laid ambush at Erinjiyan leading to Aramoko police station. Acting on the order of Governor Fayose and false report of Adewunmi to Aramoko DPO, we the complainants became suspects as our car was searched and Buhari/Osinbajo campaign materials were found. No incriminating materials were found before, myself (Ogunkuade Oluwatosin), Odebunmi Idowu, Alimi Yusuf and Obikoya Dayo, were detained at Efon Alaaye police station and later transferred brutally at gunpoint by DPO Atanda and his team to Aramoko police station where our car was searched for the second time and no incriminating material was discovered.

    To our outmost dismay, early Monday morning on 26th January at Aramoko police station, a colleague of ours who is the immediate past NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairman of Ekiti State axis, Bewaji Damilare, who came to visit us was also detained on the orders of the Governor and Adewunmi.  The five of us were later transferred to the ‘Black Cell’ at State CID Police headquarters in Ado Ekiti.

    Our freedom from cell

    Let the hottest room in hell be reserved for a man who keeps mute in the face of social injustice because injustice to one is injustice to all. Thanks to our ever gallant Nigerian students who stood by us to establish the truth and defend our integrity and right for freedom of association which eventually facilitated our release from shackles of oppression and victimization around 10pm on Tuesday January 27, 2015. Also to a section of the leadership of Nigerian students who have collaborated with Fayose’s paid agents to deny us brotherhood and support false accusation leveled against us to defame our character and the name of our organization, we say kudos to you and never stop spending the money you collected from Fayose on Wednesday January 28, but always remember the end of Judas Iscariot in the Bible as the end will justify the means.

    The false accusations

    Ekiti State Government and  Ekiti State Broadcasting  Service( EKTV and 91.5 FM) which lack credibility and independence under the leadership of Fayose’s  media aide, who specializes in misinforming the populace through  false information without facts should retract all the false accusations leveled against our integrity and NANS as a body or else, they sit on a keg of gun powder which can explode anytime. Also, the Public Relations Office of the Nigeria Police State CID in Ekiti State, should give a comprehensive statement establishing the fact to the whole world as our car was searched and no incriminating material was found.

    State of the injured Adeleke Samson

    With praises to the Almighty God, our colleague is responding to treatment and we thank God the PDP hoodlums did not succeeded in killing this young talented colleague of ours. We pray for quick recovery for our brother.

    Our stand for change

    A man must decide whether to walk in the light of creative altruism or darkness of destructive selfishness. It is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has failed Nigerian students so nothing changes around you until something changes within you, therefore our stand for Change remains. To be informed is to be transformed and if you are not informed you will be deformed, the time for Nigerian students to rise up for change has come or else we perish as a liability. Therefore let us mobilize Nigerian students with no fear of intimidation from state to state, zone to zone and vote for men of capability and integrity, courage and intelligence who never take no for an answer but stand their ground to conquer. The only way to save the destiny of Nigerian students is to vote for the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and the vice presidential candidate,  Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

    Bewaji’s account of the incident

    My names are Bewaji Damilare Kayode. I am from Erijiyan-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State. I am a graduate of Business Administration and Management from the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, an aspirant for the House of Assembly seat in Ekiti West Constituency 1 on the platform of APC in the just conducted primaries of the party. I am the immediate past Chairman of the Joint Campus Committee of National Association of Nigeria Students, (NANS JCC) Ekiti State axis.

    On the event that happened on Saturday, January 24, at the General Buhari’s rally in Ado-Ekiti, it was historic and a bombshell to the ruling party in the state because they never believed what they saw. Despite the intimidation from Mr Fayose to members of our party, people trooped out to welcome our flag bearer, students were not left out. It was me and Comrade Ogunkuade Tosin, Vice President of NANS (External Affairs) that coordinated the student wing for the rally. We had over 1000 students who are schooling and voting in Ekiti in attendance because we worked with their PVCs during the course of mobilization. So, that is why we suspected that they might attack us. Again, when we got to the campaign ground, we were given an opportunity to talk on behalf of Nigerian students, which Ogunkuade Tosin did as an office holder in NANS and as a native of Ekiti. So that was what led to our attack following day.

    How the attack happened

    I was not at the venue of the attack, because the attack happened in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ogunkuade’s hometown and I was at Ikere-Ekiti that night. I only got to know when Ogunkuade Tosin called to inform me of the incident. He called to inform me because of my standing in NANS, as a native of Erijiyan-Ekiti and a stakeholder in APC in my constituency. As a leader in NANS and a stakeholder in APC, I went to check them in the police station where they were detained on Monday morning, (January 26), on getting to the station, myself, Ogunkuade Tosin and three others that were detained, it was there one Adewumi Segun from Erijiyan-Ekiti, the PDP candidate for Ekiti West House of Assembly constituency 1 came with some thugs, he ordered them to attack me, I was beaten and I was later arrested by the DCO of the station.

    What led to our attack was our involvement in the APC presidential campaign rally and they knew we were in charge of our constituency. I never thought I would be attacked in the police station not to talk of being arrested.

    Experience at the

    police station

    We were treated badly at Aramoko police station. It was quite unfortunate that someone could be attacked under the noses of the police, and they couldn’t do anything than to arrest the person that was attacked. Our experience at the state CID was much better than that at the Aramoko police station. The officers at the state CID are well trained and responsible. So the treatment there was much much better than that of Aramoko.

    Government allegation that weapons were found in your station

    On the issue of allegation that weapons were found in our vehicle, that is what PDP and Mr Fayose are known for. It’s a big lie, that was their plan for us, they wanted to implicate us by dropping weapons in our vehicle, but kudos to the DPO of Efon Alaaye police division, who made the DPO of Aramoko police division to know that nothing incriminating was found in our vehicle when Ogunkuade Tosin and others were arrested. If weapons were found on us or in our vehicle, why was it that the police were yet to parade us with those weapons till today? If weapons were found on us why was it that the police were yet to issue an official statement to back up the allegation? So, you can see how desperate Mr Fayose and his boys are. So it’s a big lie. Very soon a legal action will be taken to that effect from our side.

    Present condition of

    your injured colleague

    To God be the glory, he is getting better even though we had spent huge amount of money on him. We need prayers for his quick recovery.

    No amounts of intimidation and threat that can stop me from working for General Muhammed Buhari’s victory because if you stand for nothing, you will fall for all things. Change is inevitable, the time in now for change.

    Government insists they are thugs

    But the PDP government insisted that the NANS officials who were arrested and detained are thugs working for the APC.

    In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, they were allegedly recruited to cause mayhem and unleash terror in Ikogosi-Erijiyan axis.

    The statement read: “Four thugs allegedly recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Constituency 2, Oyetunde Ojo to terrorise supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Erijiyan and Ikogosi Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government, have been arrested by the police.

    “The thugs were arrested with guns, axes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons while trying to escape through Efon-Alaaye at about 3am.

    “The thugs were Odebunmi Idowu (from Ilupeju-Ekiti), Aliyu Yusuf (from Ibadan), Oladayo Obikoya (from Ikogosi) and Ogunkuade Oluwatosin (aka Jasper).

    “They were arrested in a red-coloured Nissan Sunny with registration number Ekiti AH 176 EFY, and were moved to the Aramoko-Ekiti police station, where they were detained briefly before they were moved to the Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti”.

    Ekiti youth vanguard kicks

    A socio-political group, Ekiti Youth Vanguard, has vowed to hold Governor Fayose responsible if any untoward fate befalls the injured student leader, Comrade Adeleke Samson, currently in the intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital.

    The group expressed dismay that thugs allegedly working for the PDP-led regime were sent after Adeleke and his colleagues for endorsing the presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari at the rally held in Ado-Ekiti on January 24.

    A statement by the spokesperson of the group, Charles Fakunle, said:  ”We read in the newspapers and social media about the gruesome attack on a Students’ Union leader, Comrade  Adeleke Samson (Obama), by suspected thugs of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.

    Fakunle said Adeleke’s offence was that he attended General Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential rally and joined other student leaders to endorse him.

    “The thugs trailed Obama and his colleagues to Ikogosi Ekiti where they were brutally attacked with machetes and axes.

    “It was in this process that Obama was abducted and taken to the bush where he was dealt machete cuts on his head which almost broke his skull.  His other colleagues escaped by the whiskers and ran to Aramoko police station to report the incident.

    “To add insult to injury, his colleagues, Ogunkuade Tosin, Odebunmi Idowu, Oloye and one other person were arrested by the police in Aramoko when they went to report there.

    “The fifth student, Bewaji Damilare, who went to check on them was also arrested and all were thereafter transferred to Ado-Ekiti police headquarters,” Fakunle explained.

    He said it took a letter from the National Association of Nigerian Students to the Inspector General of Police and a threat to march on the police headquarters to free the innocent students whom Fayose’s aide already labeled as armed robbers.

    Fakunle said: “We wonder why the ‘armed robbers’ were released quickly without charging them to court. We wish to alert all men of good conscience to come to the aid of the students who have become endangered species in Ekiti State simply because they support the candidacy of General Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The right to support a candidate of choice based on personal conviction is guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “There is no reason why Governor Fayose should send thugs to go after those who don’t share his political belief, neither can he explain why he should lead thugs from town to town to shoot sporadically and harass political opponents in a democracy that is supposed to guarantee freedom of choice.”

    The youth leader urged Fayose to tread softly, warning that the governor will incur the wrath of Ekiti youths if anything bad happens to Comrade Adeleke who is still unconscious in the hospital.

    “We urge the police to tender an unreserved apology to the students who were unjustly detained after being attacked while they left the thugs who attacked them to go scot-free because they are untouchable!

    “The police must fetch the thugs who attacked Comrade Obama and bring them to book without further delay while we pray God to spare the life of the maimed student leader,” Fakunle concluded.

    Adeleke’s battle for survival

    As parties in the drama continue to trade blames, Adeleke is still battling for survival. His fellow comrades have vowed not to give up the struggle. They are appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to assist them save the life of the young man.

    Ogunkuade said: “We are not giving up in this battle despite the condition of our comrade. This is a typical example of man’s inhumanity to man and we urge all Nigerians to rise in unison to condemn this bestiality.

    “We appeal to lovers of democracy to support us in taking care of our colleague who was almost killed for his conviction and the last has not been heard of this battle.

    “We are going to explore all legal and constitutional means to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime and their sponsors to book to serve as a deterrent to others”.

  • Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

    Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

    •APC: we’ve been vindicated •Fashola: Obanikoro, Fayose can’t deny their roles.

    More details of how the June 21 , last year, election in Ekiti State was “rigged” are on the way, former Governor Kayode Fayemi  said yesterday.

    An online news portal, Sahara Reporters, released at the weekend an audio recording, which reportedly captured the voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan at a meeting where they ordered military officers to rig the poll for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The former governor spoke at his 50th birthday thanksgiving service at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.

    Fayemi said: “The news of the audio clip, which was reported yesterday, was not a surprise to me.

    “Those who denied that they were not the ones will hear the second part of the recording and they will keep quiet.

    “Justice belongs to God. God will vindicate us because we have worked hard for our people.”

    The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev Felix Ajakaye, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.

    The cleric urged Fayemi to continue to exhibit the qualities that marked him as a servant of the people during his four-year term, urging the ex-governor not to relent in offering himself for the service of humanity.

    Rev Ajakaye, who noted that God has not concluded his work in Fayemi’s life, advised the ‘birthday boy’ to always be good to others, regardless of whether or not they will pay him back.

    “Don’t relent in doing good whether or not you are appreciated. Be good to people whether they will pay you back or not”, the bishop tells the former governor.

    The service was attended by the wife of the celebrator, Bisi; former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo, former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd); former Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu, husband of the late deputy governor, Mr. Lanre Olayinka, federal and state lawmakers, and other officials, who worked with the governor during his tenure.

    Alluding to the postponement of the general elections in his homily, Ajakaye urged Nigerians, whose enthusiasm has been dampened by the shift of the polls, to put the disappointment behind them and still hope for a brighter future.

    The bishop said: “The journey continues, don’t lose hope about Nigeria. Don’t be discouraged that we want to vote and they are now shifting the goal post. Some people are somewhere now drinking wine and clinking glasses.

    “When we learnt of the plan to postpone the election, we knew it was the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

    “Nobody can play God, the controversy about whether or not we will vote, all I can say about it is that one day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.

    “Failure to tell ourselves the truth is one of the greatest problems of this generation. One of the prayers I have always prayed is that may God shame the shameless.”

    The bishop earlier led a song: “Jesus never fails, the man of the world may let you down but Jesus never fails” to drive home the point that human beings are fond of disappointment when much is expected of them.

    He continued the song: “Your best friend may let you down, your best politician may let you down, INEC may let you down, Jega may let you down but Jesus never fails.”

    The rendition of the song sent everybody in the church reeling in laughter.

    The bishop noted that Fayemi served the people to the best of his ability and  fulfilled the purpose God sent him to accomplish.

    Rev Ajakaye said one of the ways Fayemi demonstrated leadership by example was  discouraging people from addressing him as “Your Excellency”.

    He urged the governor not to be a professional politician but a statesman, saying “statesmen are better than all these professional politicians, most of them are chop-I-chop, ‘moneticians’ and ‘pocketicians’, who are fond of saying they are not allowing me to eat”.

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said Obanikoro and Fayose could not deny their involvement in the audio clip.

    Fashola, in an interview in Surulere, said the audio clip, which has gone viral on social media, smacks of impunity and clearly explains the PDP’s desperation to win elections at all cost.

    He said:  “Well, I am sure some of those people who spoke in that audio, especially the one who claims that the promotion of security officer is in his hands, and they have drawn the Presidency into it.

    “They said they were acting on behalf of the Presidency. I am sure that fellow, even his grandchild, will know that is his voice; so how he wants to deny it I don’t know.

    “His grandchildren will recognise his voice as many of us have done. This must open the minds of Nigerians to what it takes to win an election.

    “When Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was celebrating, I know what he went through, because we have been through it, we have been in opposition here, and when we win elections in Lagos as we have always done, we know what it takes to do so, to protect votes that are legitimately cast for us.

    “Those people in that audio are the examples of some of the kind of base desperation for power that you will ever see. So, when ordinary Nigerians are struggling in the sun, trying to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), trying to vote, you see what they are doing at night, you see how seriously that party that they represent takes your vote and your effort and your sacrifice for democracy.

    “I’m sure now that Nigerians are getting wiser, because all of the things that they thought was done in the dark are now in the open.”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it has been vindicated by its claim that photo chromic ballot papers were used to fix the election.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said it was shocking that principal participants did not hide their evil plot as they spoke freely of an elaborate rigging.

    “It was shocking that one of the participants spoke of how he must deliver on the assignment given to him by the ‘President’. The fellow said: ‘I am not for a tea party but to deliver on the president’s assignment’.

    “Another voice said he had been governor in the last 12 years and should not be toyed with. The voice blamed a major general, who was also heard defending himself, of not cooperating in the assignment.

    The voice said the major general nearly sabotaged him in using the soft copy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) papers and computers given to him to ease the assignment.”

    Olatubosun said it was  clear that Fayemi could not be defeated by Fayose, considering the love Ekiti people had for him based on his integrity and unprecedented development he brought to Ekiti State.

    He urged Ekiti people to brace up for the challenge ahead to peacefully and legally retrieve Fayemi’s mandate.

     

  • Fuel scarcity looms in Ondo, Ekiti

    Fuel scarcity is looming in Ondo and Ekiti states, following threats by members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ore Depot, to embark on a three-day warning strike from today.

    The strike is hinged on the failure of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to make products available at Ore Depot since 2013.

    A communiqué at the end of the meeting signed by leaders of Independent Marketing Branch (IMB) and the Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) Yemi Akinde and Olakunle Ajulo, said the stakeholders made several efforts at addressing the problems.

    The stakeholders said they would not allow trucks to bring petroleum products to Ondo and Ekiti states from any depot.

    “We will mount road blocks at all entry points to the two states. We urge the Federal Government and the PPMC to ensure pumping of fuel to the Ore Depot within the three days that the strike would last.”

  • Why I’m supporting Jonathan – Fayose

    Why I’m supporting Jonathan – Fayose

    The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose on Monday said his support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan was in appreciation for the opportunity given him to serve the people of Ekiti state.

    Fayose, who made this known during his campaign tour to Ikole in Ekiti, said it would be wrong on his part if he did not support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Fayose said: “I was removed as Ekiti state governor in 2006 by one President but re-elected as governor in 2014 under another President and I will forever be grateful to the latter.

    “The overwhelming support I have been receiving from the people of Ekiti since my assumption of office has clearly shown that I was wrongly removed in 2006.

    “You should show the support during the February elections by voting for the re-election of President Jonathan and other candidates under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    The governor reiterated his commitment to the welfare of Ekiti people and pledged to always do what would alleviate poverty and improve their living standards.

    Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of PDP flags to the party candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representative and the Senate seats from the area.

    The candidates are Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan- Ikole State Constituency 1, Mrs. Titilayo Owolabi-Ikole 11, Pastor Kehinde Agboola- Ikole Federal Constituency 1 and Chief Duro Faseyi- Ekiti North Senatorial District.

  • Card reader ‘ll eliminate fraud, says Ekiti Rec

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, has identified the use of smart card reader as an antidote to  malpractices afflicting the nation’s electoral system.

    Olumekun spoke on the readiness of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible general elections next month.

    Addressing  reporters in Ado-Ekiti, he also debunked rumour making the rounds that the general elections will be postponed. He said:  “We are not contemplating changing the date of election”.

    He explained that, although the 2011 polls were widely acknowledged to be credible, some flaws noticed in the elections made INEC to go back to the drawing board to fashion out a strategy to curtail malpractices in future elections.

    Olumekun said this necessitated the resolve of the commission to use smart card readers for the 2015 general elections.

    The INEC chief said the device would electronically confirm prospective voters during accreditation and record them centrally which would prevent over-voting and other malpractices.

    Olumekun said: “The era of electoral malpractices are gone for good and those that will be elected  will be truly the choice of the electorate and we are going to deliver free, fair and credible elections.

    “INEC went back to the drawing board after some flaws were noticed during the 2011 elections and we decided to raise the technological content of the electoral process.

  • Card reader ‘ll eliminate electoral fraud, says Ekiti Rec

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, has identified the use of smart card reader as an antidote to  malpractices afflicting the nation’s electoral system.

    Olumekun spoke on the readiness of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible general elections next month.

    Addressing  reporters in Ado-Ekiti, he also debunked rumour making the rounds that the general elections will be postponed. He said:  “We are not contemplating changing the date of election”.

    He explained that, although the 2011 polls were widely acknowledged to be credible, some flaws noticed in the elections made INEC to go back to the drawing board to fashion out a strategy to curtail malpractices in future elections.

    Olumekun said this necessitated the resolve of the commission to use smart card readers for the 2015 general elections.

    The INEC chief said the device would electronically confirm prospective voters during accreditation and record them centrally which would prevent over-voting and other malpractices.

    Olumekun said: “The era of electoral malpractices are gone for good and those that will be elected  will be truly the choice of the electorate and we are going to deliver free, fair and credible elections.

    “INEC went back to the drawing board after some flaws were noticed during the 2011 elections and we decided to raise the technological content of the electoral process.

  • EKITI monarchs praise VC

    The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has praised the Ekiti State University (EKSU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Aina, and his team for the progress the university has made in the last three years.

    The Monarchs made the commendation during a fact-finding mission to the institution by its committee on Education. The leader of the Education Committee, the Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Adejuwon Omonigbehin said they were impressed by the structures they saw in the university during their visit.

    Oba Omonigehin said: “Things have changed dramatically in this university; words may not be enough to describe our happiness that our University can now rank among notable Universities in Nigeria.

    could We are highly impressed from what we have seen.”

    Responding, the Vice-Chancellor said that he was happy that the traditional rulers had noticed the positive development in the university. He explained that 99 per cent of the programmes in the university were accredited.  He added that the university was ready for the accreditation of its medical programme.

    The Provost, College of Medicine, Prof Mathew Araoye said he was confident the accreditation would be granted and appealed to the monarchs to pressurize the government to adequately fund the college.

    Some of the traditional rulers that visited included: The Apeju of Ilupeju-Ekiti, Oba Olaleye Oniyelu, the Olojido of Ido-Ile Ekiti, Oba Aderemi Obaleye, the Alaworoko of Iworoko- Ekiti Oba M. O. Aladejana.

  • Ekiti elders’ chief condemns Fayose’s outburst on Buhari’s health

    Ekiti elders’ chief condemns Fayose’s outburst on Buhari’s health

    A chieftain of the Ekiti Council of Elders, Dr. Bayo Orire, has criticized Governor Ayo Fayose’s claim that the All Progressives Congress ( APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is suffering from health challenges which might hamper his capacity to function as President if elected.

    Fayose had alleged during last Tuesday’s presidential campaign rally of President Goodluck Jonathan in Ado-Ekiti that Buhari looked sickly and was deliberately planted as opposition presidential candidate to re-enact the crisis that trailed the uncertainty of the health status of the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    But Orire, who is a medical doctor, lampooned Fayose for making what he called “unguarded clinical assumption” against Buhari’s health advising the governor to face the task of governance and convincing the electorate in Ekiti of the worth of the candidate paraded by his party.

    The former Chairman of Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board who spoke with reporters on Sunday berated the governor for his unrelenting attacks on the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo advising the Ekiti chief executive to settle any issue with the retired general amicably rather than attacks on the soap box.

    He argued that “a well-cultured Yoruba man does not abuse elders recklessly” saying it is only a politician that is bereft of ideas that will leave issues and be attacking personalities.

    Orire, who is also the Publicity Secretary of the APC Elders’ Forum in the state said Nigerians are tired of the PDP stranglehold on power for 16 years at the centre and are determined to use the opportunity of next month’s general elections to effect a change.

  • Buhari for Ekiti Jan. 24

    Buhari for Ekiti Jan. 24

    THE APC presidential Campaign scheduled for today  has been shifted to January 24 by the NEC of the party.  APC Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State Taiwo Olatunbosun in a statement said: “We wish to tell our members and the good people of Ekiti that all arrangements to give GMB (Nigeria Next President) a befitting reception  are ongoing.