The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • Foetus found in hostel

    There was commotion at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State, last Thursday, following the discovery of a fresh foetus in one of the school’s halls of residence. The foetus, said to be six-month old, was found by cleaners in a polythene bag dumped close to a refuse incinerator.

    When the cleaners raised alarm, students rushed to the scene, expressing shock at the sight of the foetus. The cleaners reported the matter at the central office of the school porters.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the foetus was dripping blood at the time of its discovery, suggesting that the aborted baby may have been dumped in by a resident of the hostel. It was gathered that the hostel porters traced the blood marks on the ground until the mother was found in a room, bleeding. The lady, identified as Izuka and a 100-Level student, was taken to the institution’s health centre for attention.

    A resident of the hostel, who pleaded not to be named, said it was not the first time strange objects would be discovered in the hostel, noting that the foetus was dumped before dawn.

    Another student, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, said: “Aborting a baby of about six months old is an act of wickedness. Necessary action should be taken against the mother. We are students and our purpose in the school is what should take our priority.”

    There has been no word from management about the issue, but sources said the authorities may take punitive action against the aborted baby’s mother.

  • Olumilua: I have what it takes to develop Ekiti

    Olumilua: I have what it takes to develop Ekiti

    Olumuyiwa Olumilua  is the son of Evangelist Bamidele Ishola Olumilua, former governor of Ondo State. The Ikere-Ekiti –born politician was Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Project Monitoring, Integration and Intergovernmental Relations to former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi. The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant spoke with Emmanuel Oladesu on his vision for the Fountain of Knowledge.

    Why are you interested in governing Ekiti State?

    Firstly, as an Ekiti man, I have keenly watched the economy, the social and political scenarios in the state, and I discovered that things are not as rosy as they should be. Secondly, as a bonafide politician and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State Chapter, I need to contribute my quota to the development of the state, most especially in the areas where the state is lagging behind. In terms of infrastructure, good roads, equipped hospitals, tourism, qualitative education, etc, I believe I have what it takes to resuscitate the economy of the state. To take the educational level of our children to the highest echelon, and also to put food on the tables of our  people. With the inborn passion in me and the cooperation of the Ekiti people, I believe things will get better.

    What do you intend to do differently, it elected in next year election?

    Being an observer gives you the advantage of seeing things from a clearer perspective without the burden of bias. When you are on the hot seat, you tend to overlook some things that are crystal clear to someone looking critically, without the pressure of the occupier of the seat. I have keenly observed the governments of some truly great men; Governor Niyi Adebayo, Governor Ayo Fayose, Governor Segun Oni and Governor Kayode Fayemi, who happened to be my boss at that time. I have a compilation of their giant strides, their successes, and where people believed they could have done better. As an experienced politician who knows the how party should be run, party supremacy will be the hallmark of our administration. Presently, this does not exist. Hence, it is the party that gives birth to Governors, Governors are supposed to be answerable to their parties. This will surely be corrected by our administration to achieve the desired result, and make government closer to the grassroots.

    How would you describe politics in Nigeria when your father was governor and now that you are an aspirant?

    When my father was a governor and now that I am an aspirant, things are miles apart. Money has always been a factor in politics, but the use of money in determining candidates these days is totally obscene. Unfortunately, everybody is to blame for this; the leaders, my fellow politicians and the followers. It is really heart breaking. It has robbed the process of the ability of selecting deserving, good quality, well meaning aspirants.

    Now, it is a game of how much money you can afford to spend on elections. Thus making it possible for charlatans, mediocres and criminals to throw their hats into the ring, and actually win elections. It is most unfortunate, but I believe that it is never too late to retrace our steps. There has to be reversal of this trend, or this country will be lost completely.

    What is your advice to other aspirants and the people of Ekiti State?

    I will advise other aspirants to do a soul search, and see if they truly have what it takes to rescue Ekiti State from the precipe we are dangling from. We need serious-minded people in government, not clowns.

    Governance is serious business and should be left to serious-minded people. It involves the lives and well being of millions of people. It should not be joked with.

    The good people of Ekiti State, should learn to discern between aspirants who mean well, and who have the capacity to actualize the “EKITI DREAM”, and those who are just along for the ride. They should not let cheap money and gifts of food sway their judgment.

    As a youth, what plans do you have for Ekiti youths when you become governor?

    Development and empowerment of the youth is at the core of the Dream Big Ekiti Agenda.

    The need for youth empowerment is crucial to the future of Ekiti State. Our planned grogramme of action will improve their access to resources that will enhance their knowledge, skills and attitude.

    The gains from these development and empowerment programs will result in financial literacy, citizen responsibility and duties, skill acquisition, as well as education, to propel the Ekiti youth to their rightful place as next generation leaders. Our planned line of action also includes making capital available to youths that have business ideas that are bankable.

    It is insufficient to teach them skills without giving them the necessary support to bring the acquired skills to the point where they will solve the problem of crushing poverty within the state, and amongst the youths especially.

    When you become governor, what becomes of the LCDA’s created by the Kayode Fayemi’s Administration?

    We will by the grace of Almighty God, revisit the LCDA issue when we get to government, just like it is being operated in Lagos State.

    The reason the present administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose jettisoned the LCDA is not far fetched, it is because he does not belong to our political party.

    The LCDA’s in Lagos State have been enjoying patronage by successive governments, because the same political party that created them has been occupying the Governorship seat. We will sustain them, and make a success of the objective of their creation.

  • NSCDC arrests two suspected child traffickers in Ekiti

    The Ekiti Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Tuesday said it had arrested two “notorious” child traffickers.

    Its Commandant, Mr Donatus Ikemefuna, who announced the arrest at a news conference at Ado Ekiti, named the suspects as Stephen Udoh and Ede Thomas.

    “Operatives of the NSCDC nabbed the suspects after they trafficked 32 minors into the state for illicit businesses.

    “We have trailed the suspects for quite some time; they specialise in intra-state child trafficking between Benue and Ekiti, and unto other states in the South-West.

    “They bring the children here for child labour and prostitution. Most of the children are between five and 18 years,” he said.

    He said that the operatives arrested the suspects on Sunday, after men from the counter-terrorism unit trailed them to the location where they had taken their victims who were mostly primary and secondary school children.

    Ikemefuna disclosed that the two suspects had been on the watch list over the last two months, adding that the victims confirmed being promised jobs with attractive wages in Ado Ekiti, Igbonla in Ondo State and Ogbomoso in Oyo State.

    “Such ‘juicy’ jobs have proven over time to be child labour and prostitution; we arrested them with 32 children which they have turned to mere goods to be exported and imported.

    “ We intend to investigate the matter after which we will hand them over to NAPTIP for proper action,’’ he said.

  • 32 kids rescued from suspected traffickers in Ekiti

    The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended two suspected child traffickers on transit from Benue State to the Southwest states.

    The two suspects, Stephen Udoh, a driver and Ede Thomas, the gang leader, were nabbed about 1 p.m. on July 28 on Ado-Ikere Road, with their 32 victims aged between eight months and 23 years.

    The children, who are pupils and students of primary and secondary schools and of Benue origin, were being trafficked to Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states for child labour and prostitution in an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus, registered as BENUE UKM 133 XA.

    State NSCDC Commandant Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna said some of the victims confirmed that Udoh and Thomas promised them jobs and good salary.

    He said the suspects were fond of trafficking children between ages five and 18 to those states, describing child trfficking as “terrorism and slave trade in the 21st Century”.

    Ikemefuna explained that the two suspects had been on its watch list for over two months.

    “During preliminary investigation, some of the victims confirmed that the duo of Udoh, a driver and Thomas promised to give them jobs with good monthly wages in Ado Ekiti, Igbonla in Ondo State, Ogbomoso and Oyo towns without details of the kinds of jobs, but this has proved overtime to be child labour in the fashion of house girl and prostitution.

    “The victims confirmed that Thomas facilitates the business trips every month on special request from these states. Most of them affirmed that their parents are in the picture of the crime.

    “The  need to apprehend the suspects became necessary because the calls were much on the spate of child trafficking  to Ekiti State, which can pose a threat in the nearest future. The importation and exportation of underage to NSCDC is terrorism.”

    “We are talking of 32 children here. Children are not goods that we export and import. The little kids are cooperating, likewise the driver and the manager and I can assure you that the matter will be thoroughly investigated.

    “We are handing them over to NAPTIP  for proper action, because it is always in our culture to hand over culprits to proper government agency for actions.”

  • Oni can win Ekiti for apc, says group

    An interest group, Ekiti Unity Forum (EUF) has advised national and state leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field former Governor Segun Oni as the candidate for the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    The chairman of the forum, Dr. Sunday Ilori, who made this known to The Nation, said only Oni, out of the aspirants who had so far declared their intent to run, has the pedigree, experience and acceptability to win Ekiti for the APC.

    Oni, who is the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), served as  governor between 2007 and 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before his tenure was cut short by the Court of Appeal, which declared Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the then Action Congress (AC) as the winner of the 2007 governorship poll.

    Ilori said the crowd that followed Oni to the APC secretariat last week when he officially unveiled his ambition was a proof that he is the “most popular aspirant capable of unseating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power.”

    According to him, civil servants, local government workers, teachers, pensioners and artisans, who form the largest bulk of the voting population, are clamouring for Oni’s return on the crest of his performance during his first tenure of office.

    Ilori said: “Oni is the most credible candidate in the APC and you can attest to this by what happened last Monday when the streets of Ado-Ekiti were shut down by the crowd following him.

    “The people have been expecting him to come out and contest and it took him over three hours to reach the party secretariat because of the surging crowd. This was because he performed fantastically during his first term.

    “Looking at his head on that day, Oni wore an Awo cap, spoke like Awo, laughed like Awo and people accepted him as Awo. He is a true Awo follower and this is the type of person needed by Ekiti people at this point in time.

    He added: “Personally, I am advising all contestants to join hands with Oni to build the state and they should forget about sectionalism. Oni is a thoroughbred Ekiti person.

    “I also want to advise our national leaders especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to fully support the Oni candidacy. They should send independent assessors to Ekiti to come and gauge the popularity of aspirants and they will discover that the name on everyone’s lip is Oni.

    “Oni is the right person he can invest on and the investment will yield. he is the man of the masses.”

  • It is time to send locusts out of Ekiti, says Ojudu

    It is time to send locusts out of Ekiti, says Ojudu

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has charged all well-meaning Ekiti people to prepare to send the present government packing with their votes in the next governorship election. This, he said, would pave way for meaningful development of the state.

    He said this at separate meetings held with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, party executives and other stakeholders in some of the local governments that make up the Ekiti South Senatorial District at the weekend in continuation of his community mobilisation outreach programme which he kick-started in Ekiti North earlier in the year.

    According to the Special Adviser, Ekiti has suffered for too long under the current political leadership, subjecting the state to untold ridicule and exposing sons and daughters at home and abroad to embarrassment of the highest order.

    He informed his audiences at the various locations where he was received with fanfare that with the cantankerous and combative stance of the present administration, the state is losing out on billions of naira that could have come in form of support from many of the intervention initiatives by the federal government to cushion the effect of the recession and restore the economic health of the nation.

    He listed some of these as taking full advantage of the free rice mill programme, the free school feeding programme, the cocoa plantation renewal scheme, the free tractor and land clearing programmes, the rice out grower scheme, among others.Ojudu noted at the various stops in Omuo, Agbado, Emure and Ise that liberating Ekiti State is the task of all citizens of voting age.

    Reacting to his charge, the stakeholders expressed appreciation to him for taking the time out to share vital information on what the state can benefit from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and his promise of support to chase out the PDP-led administration in the state.

  • ‘Ekiti South should produce next governor ‘

    ‘Ekiti South should produce next governor ‘

    A group has called on political parties in Ekiti State to field candidates from Ekiti South senatorial District as the electorate go to the poll next year to elect a new governor.

    The Ekiti South for Governor Forum, warned that “Ekiti risks an imminent breakout of internal crisis,” if the South district is relegated in the politics of the State at a time when Nigerians are clamouring for total restructuring to correct some imbalances.

    Its Chairman Chief Oluwole Ariyo, who made the call at a news conference in Ikere-Ekiti, stressed that the zone has quality aspirants worthy of being elected into the state highest office.

    Ariyo said it was against equity, justice and fair play to deny Ekiti South an opportunity to produce governor for the first time since the state was created over 20 years ago. Ekiti Central and Ekiti North had enjoyed the slot before.

    The call came on the heels of the declaration of former Governor Segun Oni for governor race while speculations are rife that his immediate predecessor and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi was also interested.

    Ekiti South comprise Gbonyin, Ikere, Ekiti East, Ise/Orun, Emure and Ekiti Southwest local government areas.

    “The other two senatorial districts will be carrying a deadly and cancerous burden if they say the South does not have the right to produce governor in next year’s governorship election,” Ariyo contended.

    He dismissed the argument of some interest groups in the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the party’s constitution does not make provision for zoning of political offices and positions.

  • Ekiti community gets water bays

    Ekiti community gets water bays

    Residents of Ayegbaju-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State recently had cause to smile when six water bays constructed by a son of the soil, Mr. Michael Ale, the National President of the Association of Professional Rig Owners and Borehole Drilling Practitioners (AWDROP), were commissioned for public use during the body’s mid-term assessment meeting. The body also brainstormed on the water situation in Nigeria ans offered advice on how it can be improved. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Water is life, so says a popular and age-long axiom. But access to this essential commodity is still low in Nigeria which prides itself as the giant of Africa. Access to water and sanitation hygiene are important components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) which Nigeria is still struggling to achieve.

    With public water supply gradually becoming a pipe dream owing to corruption and inefficiency of water corporations in the country, Nigerians are resorting to self-help to get potable water for domestic and industrial use.

    Statistics reveal that only 30 per cent of Nigerians have access to safe drinking water with the remaning 70 per cent of the population at the mercy of waterborne diseases which account for an appreciate level of mortality rate.

    It is against this background that the Association of Professional Rig Owners and Borehole Drilling Practitioners (AWDROP) converged on Ayegbaju-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the hometown of its National President, Mr. Michael Ale, to brainstorm on the water situation in the country.

    The association held its midterm assessment meeting in the sleepy community which was attended by executives from all parts of the federation. Six borehole-driven water points were also commissioned as part of community development efforts of the association which are being replicated in other states.

    The meeting hosted by Ale also had in attendance National Vice President, Southwest, Alhaji Oluwatosin Yusuf; National Vice President Northwest, Alhaji Abubakar Musa and chairmen and other executive of state chapters.

    AWDROP members expressed concern about lack of patronage by governmental agencies who prefer to patronise “quacks” which they said was responsible for unresolved issues relating to provision, suply and regulation of water in Nigeria.

    Ale said AWDROP is not just lamenting the water situation but is taking the bull by the horn by drilling not less than 100 boreholes in different communities rehabilitating in Nigeria at the expense of its members to give ordinary Nigerians access to water.

    The AWDROP chief, who is a geologist with a bias for water drilling, noted that his hometown, Ayegbaju-Ekiti, was chosen as the starting point for the self-sponsorship project because “charity begins at home.”

    Ale said: “We are here in my hometown, Ayegbaju-Ekiti commissioning a water project called “Okun Inu, Eye Ode,” which means “inner strength, outer beauty.” It is part of our water in community project of the association where we are bringing to life water and rehabilitating. Abandoned and dilapidated boreholes in our communities across the country.

    “You can see a sign of Donald Trump, this is part of my campaign promise for the President of the United States of America (U.S). I had promised that I would drill about 100 boreholes in different communities in Nigeria if Donald Trump wins the election and this is being done in fulfilling that promise. We have six water points in this community as I am starting from my community. They say charity begins at home.”

    “I grew up in this community and had stayed here for a very long time without water. So, bringing the water here is a way of encouraging other communities to do this for themselves. We can all do one thing or the other for our community’s needs in terms of every social infrastructures such as water, electricity, hospital and so on.”

     

  • Ekiti 2018: ‘Oni should quit as APC deputy chair’

    A member of the seventh National Assembly in the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Bamidele Faparusi, has threatened to join forces with other like-minded persons to prevent some All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains from relegating Ekiti South Senatorial District to the background.

    Faparusi noted that for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to keep its integrity intact before and after the primary, former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni and Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party should relinquish his position, having joined the governorship race.

    The former lawmaker said he suspected that deliberate conspiratorial strategies were being contrived by some powerful leaders in the state and beyond to perpetually keep the people of the area from having a shot at the governorship seat.

    He said it will be tantamount to neo-colonialism for the people of the South District to be insulated from having a shot at the governorship position 21 years after the state was created.

    Faparusi spoke yesterday at Ode-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area while reacting to Oni’s expression of interest in the governorship race.

    The APC chieftain said though he had enormous respect for the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and could vow for their integrity, there were fears that the party’s primary may not be transparent, if Oni kept his position.

    He said: “Our party is bigger than any individual and the party should not allow itself to be put to disrepute by Oni and his cohorts.”

  • Two killed in Ekiti road crash

    •FRSC: speeding caused accident

    Two persons died yesterday at Ajebamidele Junction on Ikere Road in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, in a road crash at 8 a.m.

    A red Mazda car, said to be coming from nearby Ikere-Ekiti, rammed into a stationary Mercedes Benz truck parked on the roadside.

    The loud bang from the crash caused panic in the area.

    The car, which carried five persons, was said to have lost control and veered off the highway.

    The identities of the victims could not be ascertained last night.

    The Mazda car’s registration number is (Lagos) TY 333 AAA while the Mercedes Benz truck was marked (Lagos) AAA 242 XA.

    Some bystanders waiting for commercial vehicles and bikes on the side of the road escaped being hit by car.

    The impact of the crash displaced the truck.

    The accident caused a traffic gridlock on Ado-Ikere highway as anxious residents trooped to the scene. Many of them broke down in tears when the bodies of the victims were removed from the car.

    Policemen and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) joined other residents to rescue the accident victims from the mangled car.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the death of two of the victims.

    He said three others were on danger list at the Emergency Ward of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).

    FRSC’s Public Education Officer for Ekiti Sector Command, Mohammed Olowo, said the accident was caused by speeding.

    Olowo said: “Speeding on the part of the driver of the Mazda car caused the accident. Five people were involved and the victims were taken to the hospital.”