The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • Fayose, Fayemi cannot stop me from winning Ekiti poll-Ayegbusi, SDP candidate

    The Social Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Akin Ayegbusi, says he remains confident that he would emerge victorious in the July election.

    Ayegbusi, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday, said projections from his interactions with the grassroots shows he has a better chance of winning in spite of the presumed popularity of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kplawole Eleka and that of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The 44-year-old Investment Banker explained that his forays into politics was informed by the contradictions in the management of the state’s human resource capital, especially the youth who have been rendered idle by government’s unsustainable policies.

    He said, if elected, he would add vigour to governance and engage the youths and all other citizens meaningfully in vocations that would develop the state in sectors such as agriculture and industrial development, health, tourism, welfare and poverty alleviation.

    Describing himself as the David that is poised to defeat the political Goliaths in Ekiti, Ayegbusi said he would tap into his experience in the banking sector to bring sustainable programmes and funds to the state.

    “When you speak of the political influence of Fayose and Fayemi, I think they are both dead on arrival. The people of Ekiti are tired of seeing the same set of leaders. The general feeling is that they have seen PDP and APC for many years and they want a fresh face. We have been have intra and inter party affiliations and I remain the best alternative in the present situation. For every Goliath, there is a David that will bring him down.

    “Ekiti people are tired of politics of gangsters and stomach infrastructure. Even playing the religious card would not help Fayose because Ekiti State is homogenous. I have been getting a lot of support as the youth are keying into my campaign to re-orientate them to take their destinies into their hands instead of being as political thugs,” he said.

    Ayegbusi, while vowing to change the narrative of Ekiti State as a Fountain of Knowledge, but without any notable industrial zones apart from producing teachers and professors, said he has developed a model that would bring high-end investor to the state for sustainable development.

    Highlighting his vision and mission, he said it would include, among others, the need to “lead a people-oriented and goal-getting government that will restore Ekiti’s dignity, rich socio-cultural and political values and hopes by ensuring, engender equitable distribution of the hard-earned dividends of Nigeria’s nascent democracy; Rejuvenate and strengthen the state’s emaciating economic potentialities and lift Ekiti state to an enviable platform in the comity of the states in the country.”

  • Buhari: let’s rescue Ekiti from PDP

    President Muhammadu Buhari last night urged the Southwest caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to take the mission to rescue Ekiti from the opposition Peoples Democratic Partry (PDP) seriously.

    The President spoke during a dinner with them at the State House in Abuja.

    He urged party members to work together and assured the people of his support.

    He told the group that as he promised, he would not interfere in the internal affairs of the party at any level.

    Former APC Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande said: “We are politicians. We have election in Ekiti on July 14th and we came to get some inspiration, presidential inspiration.

    “Ekiti belongs to APC and the progressives from the beginning. But, unfortunately, it slipped in 2014 because there was some mishandling. So this time, we are all going to queue behind our party so that we can win the state back come July 14.”

    To the Ekiti people, he said: “We will only tell them to avoid belonging to an unpopular party, a party that will not allow Ekiti to develop. And they should belong to the APC.”

    The meeting, which started around 8.30p.m at the new Banquet Hall, was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Akande and  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The party’s governorship candidate Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the runner-up in the primary, Chief Segun Oni, also attended the meeting.

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, who conducted the primary, also attended.

    There wers also some federal lawmakers, ministers and stakeholders.

  • Two killed as robbers attack bank in Ekiti

    •Monarch: it was a war-like situation

    Suspected robbers  yesterday attacked an old generation bank in Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government of Ekiti State.

    In the operation, which lasted over one hour, the gunmen killed a policeman, Bayo, and a bank worker, whose name could not be ascertained last night.

    Another bank worker was reportedly shot in the arm.

    The robbery occurred barely a month after another old generation bank was attacked in Ifaki-Ekiti, where a police inspector was killed.

    An eyewitness told The Nation that the hoodlums stormed the bank located close to the Alawe’s palace, about 2:45 pm, and operated for over an hour.

    They reportedly blasted the bank’s security door with dynamite.

    The eyewitness said the dynamite blew up a blue Toyota Camry car.

    The robbers reportedly stole an unspecified amount of money.

    The source said: “They just came suddenly and started shooting. Shop owners scampered for safety, because the shooting was deafening.

    “After blasting the security door, they went into the banking hall and seized workers and customers. They stole an undisclosed amount of money.

    “They escaped via Ilawe-Igbara Odo-Ogotun Road.”

    Confirming the incident in a phone chat with The Nation, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, expressed shock at the incident.

    He said the robbers turned his domain to a warfront by firing dynamite and grenade, which caused panic and paralysed activities.

    Oba Alabi said: “It was a terrible experience; my palace is very close to the bank. It was terrifying, it was like a warfront. They detonated grenades during the attack.

    “I was in the palace during the robbery; the attack happened less than an hour after a bullion van brought cash to the bank.

    “We have been in touch with the governor and the police command.”

    Effort to get the police reaction was not successful last night.

  • Two feared dead as robbers attack bank in Ekiti

    …MONARCH: IT WAS A WARLIKE SITUATION

     

    Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday attacked an old generation bank in Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    In the operation that lasted over one hour, the robbers killed a policeman, whose name was given as Bayo and a bank worker whose name could not be ascertained at press time.

    Another bank worker was also reportedly shot by the bandits in the arm.

    The Ilawe robbery attack happened barely a month after another old generation bank was attacked in Ifaki-Ekiti in which a police inspector was killed.

    An eyewitness told The Nation that the robbers stormed the bank which is located close to the Alawe’s Palace at about 2.45 pm and operated unhindered for over an hour.

    They reportedly blasted the bank’s security door with dynamite before gaining entrance.

    The eyewitness disclosed that the dynamite also blew up a blue colour Toyota Camry car parked within the vicinity of the bank.

    The robbers reportedly stole an unspecified amount of money.

    Confirming the incident in a telephone chat with The Nation, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, expressed shock at the incident.

    Read Also: Robbers kill four policemen, six others in Kwara

    He said the robbers turned his domain to a war front by firing dynamite and grenade which caused panic and paralyzed business, traffic and other social activities.

    Oba Alabi said: “It was a terrible experience, my palace is very close to the bank. It was terrifying, it was like a war front. They kept detonating grenades during the attack.

    “I was in the palace during the robbery, the attack happened less than a hour after a bullion van delivered cash to the bank.

    “We have been in touch with the governor and the state police command.”

    Effort to get the police reaction to the bank robbery was not successful at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Ekiti Polls: AGAP elects Oluponmil as Governorship candidate

    One of the newly registered political parties, the All Grand Alliance Party ( AGAP ) has elected Steve Oribamise and Engr Sola Oluponmil as its governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the Jul6 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

    National Chairman of the party, Engr Okey Chikwendu who disclosed in Abuja said out of three aspirants who contested the position, one of the. Was disqualified because of age.

    He said: “Our Party had its primary on 12th of May, at Little by Little Hall in Ado-Ekiti. We had three aspirants, but one of the aspirants, Mr. Ifemide who commands a massive youth followership was underaged constitutionally to contest the gubernatorial election.

    “The Screening Committee Set up by the NEC recommended that he be stepped down from contesting the election. So, he was advised that he could not participate in the election.

    The other two young aspirants who contested were Mr Steve Oribamise and Engr Sola Oluponmile”.

    He said Steve Oribamise emerged the governorship candidate of the Party while his co-contender, Sola Oluponmile was later chosen as running mate.

    Read Also: EKITI 2018: I’m not on revenge mission, says Fayemi

    “We are happy that a very transparent primaries was conducted, which has produced Oribamise as our elected party’s flagbearer, All Grand Alliance Party. Our party’s flag was ceremoniously handed over to him and in his acceptance speech he requested to have Engr.Oluponmile as his deputy and he accepted.

    We ask the Ekiti people and youths especially to come out enmass and support AGAP as we ultimately desire to bring prosperity to the people”, he said.

  • FUOYE students protest ‘no school fees, no examination’ directive

    Students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Monday embarked on a protest against the institution’s directive preventing students who had not paid  their school fees from sitting for the ongoing first semester examination.

    Further reports confirmed that the students, who took to the  Oye-Ikole highway, impeded vehicular movement for hours before returning to the main gate of the  institution to continue the protest.

    One of the protesters, who pleaded for anonymity,  told our reporter  that  some students were denied access to the examination hall on May 10 in spite of the fact that the deadline for the payment of school fees had not lapsed.

    It was also reported that the protest disrupted the examination.

    Read Also: FUOYE students protest dean’s removal

    But the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Godfrey Badji,  told our reporter that some students who had not  fully paid their school fees were the ones protesting.

    He said the institution’s   management had directed that  those who had not  completed payment of   their school fees should not sit  for the examination.

    “While implementing this directive, some students who had not paid their school fees were not allowed to participate in the ongoing semester   examination.

    “This is the reason why those students affected have resorted to protest this morning,” Badji said.

    NAN

  • Ekiti Primary: Al-Makura commends process

    Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti Governorship Primary Election Committee, has attributed the success of Saturday’s primary to mature conduct of aspirants and delegates.

    He made this known on Monday in Abuja while presenting the committee’s report on the primary election to National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Al-Makura, governor of Nassarawa state, said that delegates and other party members supported the process with cooperation and orderly behaviour.

    According to him, in spite of the rains, the delegates carried themselves in a very mature way and even embraced themselves after the results were announced.

    The governor urged the party’s leadership to leverage the solidarity exhibited by members at the primary to ensure cohesion among its members, especially in Ekiti.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: INEC promises not to compromise standard

    He blamed the disruption that led to the botched May 5 primary to activities of hoodlums who took advantage of security lapses to cause crisis.

    He commended members of his committee for their efforts, and also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity given to the members to serve.

    Receiving the report, Odigie-Oyegun praised the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the disrupted primary gave the party an opportunity to organise a perfect one.

    According to him, the committee, aspirants and delegates at the primary deserve a gold medal.

    The chairman announced that the party’s leadership had started work at consolidating on the victory recorded at the primary.

    “We are working to ensure that the victory you have started is carried through, come July 14, the governorship election in Ekiti,” he said.

    He said that the APC was taking the Ekiti governorship poll seriously “to redeem the state from what a very abusive government”.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, Ekiti state present governor is very abusive and lacks decorum.

    NAN

     

  • Orisalade calls for unity in Ekiti APC

    Former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adetunji Orisalade has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to eschew whatever ill-feelings, bitterness and rancor from the primary election campaign.

    In a statement Orisalade said it is now necessary to concentrate on the great mission of getting the party united to rout the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) away from the political landscape of the state.

    “The task ahead of us as a party is a very great one that cannot be undertaken and accomplished by Dr JK Fayemi and his supporters alone. It is a collective task for the entire party and it must be done.

    “This is our common goal and interest as a party and all hands must be on deck for a successful outing comes July 14, 2018. Henceforth, all disparaging and negative comments about our flag bearer must cease.

    “Our party, the APC still stands out as the greatest alternative to the PDP in Ekiti State and we must utilise this golden opportunity well. I commend the earnest and early efforts of Dr JK Fayemi in commencing the process of re-uniting the party with the extension of love to fellow aspirants in his acceptance speech coupled with the solidarity visits to them.

    “This process should equally be taken up by other elders, leaders and members alike. We are one Great family and we must act as one so as to continue to be relevant politically,” Orisalade stated.

  • Man docked for alleged assault on wife with hot semovita

    A 35-year-old man, Bawa Joshua, on Monday appeared in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly pouring hot semovita on his wife, Grace.

    The defendant had pleaded not guilty to a count charge of assault.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 7, at about 8:00 p.m., at Ayoomodara St.,  Ado-Ekiti.

    He said the defendant quarreled with the complainant, and in the process poured hot semovita on her, which caused her harm.

    He said that the offence contravened Section 415 of the Criminal Code, Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

    Read Also: Driver docked for allegedly bolting with employer’s N170, 000

    The prosecutor applied for adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

    The defendant’s counsel, Mr Kayode Oyeyemi, urged the court to grant bail to his client, and promised that he would not jump bail.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until June 15 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Reconciliation: Fayemi visits 15 co-contestants

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Sunday began  reconciliatory moves with his co-contestants barely 24 hours after he emerged the party’s flag bearer for the July 14 governorship election.
    Fayemi, who on Saturday was declared winner of the APC primary having polled a total 941 votes, visited no fewer than 15 of the aspirants in their respective homes on Sunday.
    The candidate, who was accompanied by APC Ekiti State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, and some chieftains of the party visited Engr Segun Oni at his Ifaki-Ekiti country home early on Sunday morning.
    Thereafter, he visited Rt.Hon Femi Bamisile, another aspirant and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly at his Ado-Ekiti residence. Fayemi  also visited Mr Kola Alabi and Dr Wole Oluyede  at their respective residences in Ikere –Ekiti.
    The APC candidate also visited Senator Gbanga Aluko at his Ode-Ekiti country home.
    Other aspirants visited by Fayemi in their respective homes on Sunday include: Mr Muyiwa Olumilua; Mr Kayode Ojo; Hon Bamidele Faparusi; Dr Adebayo Oriire; Dr Oluwole Oluleye; Mr Diran Adesua,  Mr Victor Kolade, Coker Olumuyiwa and Mr Sesan Fatoba.
    Dr Fayemi described his discussion with his co-contestants as “frank and useful” useful discussion, even as he expressed optimism that the party would go into the July 14 poll as a united entity.
    The APC standard bearer, had a few hours after his declaration as winner of the governorship primary, told his supporters of the need to maintain cordial relationship with other co-contestants and their supporters.
    He had also hinted on plans to constitute a body of all co-contestants into the Candidate’s Advisory Council.