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Tag: Ekiti

‘APC must field best candidate to win in Ekiti’

Former Ekiti State Commissioner for Works and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Chief Oladiran Adesua spoke with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on his ambition to rule the Fountain of Knowledge.

Why do you want to govern Ekiti State?

I think I am not only good for the job, like others, I am better because unlike others there are four qualities a person aspiring for the post must have. You must know Ekiti like the palm of your hand. You must be knowledgeable about the stakeholders who constitute your party. You must have the knowledge of the problems of Ekiti first hand. And you should know the potentials of Ekiti. For instance, the greatest problem confronting the state is unemployment. There is no village in Ekiti that you won’t find at least five unemployed graduates. So, to me this is a great problem that must be tackled headlong. Remember the saying that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. It will interest you to know that you can’t access the roads leading to Ekiti from outside and without good road leading to the state you cannot expect development to happen. Also, electricity supply in the state is bad. For the APC to provide good leadership in the next dispensation, it must field the right candidate like me.

Less than two years to the governorship poll, the APC remains factionalised…

What you call intra-party crisis is not peculiar to Ekiti APC. But I don’t believe that the party is factionalised. The crisis that you are talking about is a tendency that happens when you are not in government. You can understand the frustration of people. I can assure you that immediately the very formidable aspirants start to show up, those tendencies will naturally cease to exist. I know of a fact that we don’t have intractable crisis in our party, because we are a big family. As time goes on, the issues would be resolved.

What is your assessment of the Ayodele Fayose-led government?

In answering your question, I will be biased. Nevertheless, let me start by saying that in terms of infrastructure, he is doing some work here and there. He is doing the flyover. But, whether or not he has got his priorities right is the issue. However, personally, my priorities will differ from his. More importantly, in terms of the overall welfare of Ekiti citizens, I will score him zero. I was formerly a civil servant. I could not have imagined that workers could be owed seven months salaries, pensioners more than seven months and gratuities have not been paid in four years. This is more than hardship. The state is regarded as a civil servants’ state. Therefore, monthly salaries go a long way to grow the economy. I want to believe that it is only by the grace of God that they are surviving.

Why did the APC lose the last governorship poll in Ekiti?

Our party lost that election because there was a total disconnect between the government and the people. That was basically the reason we lost that election. Therefore, the lessons to be learnt are that those who are elected must be on the same page with the people. The party must avoid a repeat of that defeat by electing those who are loved by the people.

Given what happened in Ondo, do you still have confidence in the Odigie-Oyegun-led leadership to conduct a credible primary in Ekiti?

Our party did what was right in Ondo State. I have been in politics long enough to know that when primary is conducted, some people are bound to be aggrieved. There will be allegations and counter-allegations. As time goes on, such would be resolved. Today in Ekiti, we have about 20 aspirants, but with time, it will be streamlined. My faith doesn’t lie in Odigie-Oyegun, but in the delegates who will vote in Ekiti.

January 9, 2017
Ekiti APC bars exco from campaigning

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has barred its executive council members at ward, local government, senatorial and state levels from campaigning for any aspirant.

The state Acting Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, handed down the warning at the weekend when a governorship aspirant, Bamidele Faparusi, visited the party secretariat to donate bags of rice and other largesse for distribution to members.

Faparusi advised the APC leadership to zone the governorship slot to Ekiti South senatorial district, which had not produced the governor since the state was created 20 years ago.

Mrs. Olaleye said the party executives must maintain neutrality, warning that anyone caught hobnobbing with any aspirant would be sanctioned.

This, she said, was to ensure that the executives command the aspirants’ respect.

She explained that all aspirants are “children” of the party.

Mrs. Olaleye said: “We are ready to accommodate everybody; we don’t discriminate because all of you belong to us.

“We have come out with a rule that no member of the exco should be seen moving around with any aspirant and anyone who flouts this will be disciplined.”

January 2, 2017
Private radio station in Ekiti

The Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, has expressed joy at the siting of a private radio station in the community.

The monarch said the radio station, which is nearing its completion, will bring the town to limelight, create jobs and attract more investment.

Oba Alabi spoke at an end-of-the-year dinner with indigenes, praising the station’s proprietor, Lucas Falusi, for locating the project in his town.

Ekiti State, created 20 years ago, is yet to have any private radio or television station.

The royal father thanked his subjects for their support since he ascended the throne five years ago.

Oba Alabi revealed that a Federal Government college is currently under construction in Afunremu, Okebedo, which he said was influenced by renowned lawyer Femi Falana.

Oba Alabi set up a 15-man planning committee for his fifth year coronation anniversary scheduled for April 21-23.

The committee has Falana as Chairman, Philip Amujo as Vice-Chairman and Bunmi Olugbade as Secretary.

January 2, 2017
Day Ekiti stood still for Ogunsakin

•Fayose, Olanipekun, others celebrate uncommon Ex-cop

The occasion was a thanksgiving in all ramifications. The glorious day was laced with all the trappings of class. However, the attendant emotion exposed the humanity behind the subject of the day.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Ayotunde Ogunsakin, retired from the Nigerian Police Force after 34 meritorious years in service of the fatherland.

The event began from the church, St. Peters Anglican Church, Ikere Ekiti, where Ogunsakin revelled in thanksgiving. For a top-notch security officer, many in the church were surprised at the dance steps churned out by Ogunsakin. Even the presiding clergyman, Venerable A. O. Ayodele, the Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikere-Ekiti attested to that fact, saying in all his years of interaction with the police officer, not once had he seen him laughing uncontrollably.

According to him, the closest to a laugh he had ever seen on Ogunsakin’s cherubic face in all those years was a smile that does not even last long.

“But today, in this church, I have seen him smile and even try to laugh,” the clergyman said.

He, however, admonished the congregation to emulate the virtues of Ogunsakin, whom he said was able to stand tall throughout his service years in a society that has been highly compromised. “In almost 34 years in the police force, Ogunsakin has obeyed orders as a junior officer; enforced discipline as a boss; showed humility in leadership and led by example. By God’s grace, the retired AIG has battled the storm but was not consumed; has tasted fire but was not burnt to ashes; has demonstrated discipline and mercy without compromising standards; has been to the warfront and has returned alive. This is why we must thank God because he has brought honour to Ikere people and to his family,” he said.

Projecting into the future, the Vicar noted that it would be difficult for a person of Ogunsakin’s stature to go into oblivion having been a restless, compelling but compassionate officer honed through the years in the service of the Nigeria Police Force.

While advising Ogunsakin against dabbling in the murky waters of Nigerian brand of politics, the clergyman, on the other hand, wanted the retired AIG to use the influence he has amassed over the years to attract the best, politically and economically to Ikere-Ekiti.

Ayodele was specific. He said: “Don’t go into politics because your hard-earned reputation will be at stake but use your powers to ensure that Ikere produces the next governor of this state.”

The colourful reception, which was another funfair with all the trappings of high society event, had movers and shakers of the Nigerian society gracing the occasion. The guests were treated to a documentary about the celebrator, cultural dance, performances and presentations. There was no dull moment during the event.

Governor Ayo Fayose was there with his usual bluntness, saying his presence at the event was not out of love for Ogunsakin. The anchor of the programme drew the first blood by announcing that the reception should not be turned into a political rally; going by the number of politicians at the event.

The lady anchor was unaware of how Fayose would react to such statement at a time the governor was making his entrance into the venue. As expected, Fayose did not allow the soft blow go off without a return blow, saying the young woman should be forgiven because she is not a politician.

“When a governor is somewhere, or anywhere the governor is, politics is there,” he retorted. About the celebrator, he said: “I am not here because I love you. I am here because you are one of our leading lights in Ekiti. Your stepping aside from the Nigeria Police Force is not by mistake. One day, you will look back and thank God for leaving at the time you left. You will watch with your eyes why God took you away at the time He did. Your time will come. I know that it’s not easy for a uniformed officer out of office; but God will guide you. God will give you direction.

“He will support you. On my part, when I retire, I’m not going to the Senate like other governors. I will remain here in Ekiti. I’m not running to America. This is where I will remain.”

Several guests had a word or two about the retired AIG.

Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said Ogunsakin’s service to the nation was exceptional. Though Adeyeye regretted that Ogunsakin’s efforts were not crowned with appointment as Inspector-General of Police, he was, however, thankful to God, saying “we thank God for his distinguished career in the force”.

In his goodwill message, Chief Wole Olanipekun described Ogunsakin as a very loving, charismatic, amiable, handsome, brilliant, resourceful, thoughtful and irresistible personality and gentleman.

Olanipekun said though they were cousins, the relationship does not explain the reason for their very close ties; “because two persons might be related by blood to another, without both of them being close in the real sense of it”.

Captain of industry, Oba Otudeko described the retired AIG as an exemplary cop, whose brilliance, dexterity and comprehensive knowledge of law enforcement were vividly demonstrated across the many important positions he held throughout his career.

“From his days as a young officer in Ibadan, AIG Ogunsakin (retired) exhibited courage, agility and devotion to duty; and it was not a surprise that he was soon attracted to the elite Interpol Unit of the Nigeria Police Force,” Otudeko said.

On his part, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), M. D. Yusuf praised his former sub-ordinate, saying it was a well-deserved retirement.

“I praise you for your years of service and achievements. Few have worked as hard as you had. I hope you enjoy directing your energies into your other special interests,” he said.

Col. O.O. Keshinro (rtd) said: “You weathered the storms and berthed safely after many years of dedicated service culminating in the rank of an AIG. Congratulations. The popular accolade ‘An officer and a gentleman’ fits you perfectly “.

Martin Nwogoh, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who described Ogunsakin as ‘my boss’, said: “I have never seen him shout or demonstrate anger on any officer or abuse and intimidate subordinates. Instead of abusing and insulting officers when they made mistakes which is not uncommon in the job, leaving the officer demoralised and feeling deficient, AIG Ogunsakin will rather draw defaulters near, show them superior logic why they should not act the way they did; telling them the right thing to do, thus leaving the officer more fulfilled, informed, confident and desirous to act more acceptably.”

Responding, Ogunsakin, who described his wife as his greatest inspiration and a pillar of strength that kept encouraging him to do the right thing, could not help but express a mild disappointment that, all over the world, people show some form of dislike for policemen.

“But you can’t do without policemen. In accepting to be a policeman, it means you have accepted to die. This is because, as in other forces, policemen stay awake while others sleep. That means, what you sign for is actually a duty to die for others to live. You sacrifice your own life so that others can live. The society must recognise that we have chosen to die in service to the nation,” he said.

For an officer who was saddled with the responsibility of unravelling some tough cases involving powerful personalities in the business and political terrain in Nigeria, the import of Ogunsakin’s statement is not lost to those who had gathered to felicitate with him for not only weathering the storm but also having the opportunity to come out with unblemished record.

Maybe it is for that reason that the celebration stretched into the night in the honour of a retired officer who remains unwavering in his pursuit of justice as he has taken up a new challenge in security and information management.

December 28, 2016
Ekiti promotes 15,772 workers, pays 2months salaries, Christmas bonus

Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti has given approval for the immediate promotion of 15,772 public servants in the spirit of Christmas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Sunday and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said the promotion cuts across workers in the local governments, teaching service and the core civil servants.

The statement said that the beneficiaries consisted mainly of those whose promotions were due since 2012, 2013 and 2014.

It said the governor had consequently ordered that letters of promotion be given the affected workers without further delay.

The statement, however, clarified that the promotion status still remained nominal, as the cash backing for the exercise would be effective only from March 2017.

It announced that all categories of workers in the state had been paid two months salaries in December, while Christmas bonus would be paid immediately after the Christmas holiday.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that, though, the state was currently grappling with economic challenges, it did not mean that deserving workers should not be recognised for hard work.

“We won’t deny our workers their dues and entitlements, economic recession or no economic recession, as leaders of the state, we must be fair to all and that is what we are doing

“Our administration is resolute in giving the best to all Ekiti people, including those in the public service.

“This month alone, we have paid two salaries, we are also paying Christmas bonus after the holiday

“We deliberately spaced the payment of the bonus so that after the Christmas holiday, workers will still have something to fall back on,” it said.(NAN)

December 25, 2016
Engineer killed in Ekiti

Residents of Federal Housing Estate on Afao Road in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, are mourning, following the murder of an engineer, Kunle Enisan.
Enisan, a father of two, worked with Ido/Osi Local Government Council.
He was waylaid on his way from work at 8.15pm and killed shortly after his wife who was with him alighted from their vehicle.
His brother-in-law, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the slain engineer had a stopover after which the wife took a shorter route home.
He said: “When he didn’t return home, a search party went after him.
“When it was 9pm, the wife became agitated because the deceased doesn’t keep late nights. Just a few metres from home, she and the search party saw his car and the doors were opened.
“At first, they didn’t see him. They later went back and saw his body beside his car.
“We believe it was an assassination because nothing was taken away from the car.
“We only saw some documents scattered on the ground.”
Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said detectives are on the trail of the perpetrators.

December 21, 2016
Another person killed in Ekiti

A local government staff has been murdered in Ado-Ekiti, barely 24 hours after the kidnapping and consequent killing of Ekiti Police Command paymaster by gunmen.

The local government staff, an engineer, was identified as Kunle Enisan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Enisan, a father of two, was in his early 40s.

Sources told NAN that he was an employee of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti, and was killed in the wee hours of Monday at Housing Estate area, along Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Relaying how the incident happened, the deceased in-law, Mr Adeoye Aribasoye, said the victim was returning home with his wife in his Toyota Highlander Jeep and stopped over on the way, while the wife dropped and headed home.

“ When it was getting too long, the wife became agitated because the deceased don’t keep late nights.

“ The wife started looking for him. Just a few metres from home, she and the search party saw his car parked few metres from home and the doors were opened

“But because of the fear, they could not see him on the ground on the other side of the car, they later came and saw his lifeless body beside where his car was parked,” he said.

Aribasoye added that the family immediately reported the matter to the police.

Ekiti Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He said that detectives were already on the trail of the perpetrators of the nefarious act.

December 20, 2016
Ekiti workers to EFCC: monitor bailout funds

Civil servants in Ekiti State have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Organised Labour to monitor the bailout package to be released soon.

An interest group, Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), claimed that only N5 billion of the N9.6 billion received from the Federal Government last year was used to pay one month salary to workers while pensioners’ benefits were not paid.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by EWF Coordinator Mike Bamidele, the workers advised the Federal Government not to pay the new bailout funds into the state’s account.

The workers suggested that the funds should rather be paid into a dedicated account that will have the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General as signatories.

Besides the EFCC, other bodies that should be represented in the disbursement are the national secretariats of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“The team should demand from the state the salary vouchers and order payments directly into the accounts of individual workers and the same should be done for pensioners.

“The fund should be protected in such a manner that no governor would have any form of control over it.”

December 19, 2016
Ekiti 2018: Can zoning be deciding factor?

The 2018 Ekiti State governorship race is gathering momentum. Aspirants from the three senatorial districts have started mobilisation. Ekiti North and Ekiti Central have each produced two governors. But, since 1999, Ekiti South has not enjoyed the slot. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the arguments for and against zoning in the Fountain of Knowledge.

Zoning plays an important role in ensuring equity, balance and proportional sharing of offices and positions in politics.

Political parties, in a bid to ensure that offices are equitably distributed, share them to members after winning elections on the basis of where they come from to ensure that no geo-political zone, region, state and local government area is exluded.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the only party which has officially adopted zoning as a means of sharing offices in its constitution. Other parties also implement zoning, although they do not have it in their constitutions.

It is an unwritten rule across the federation that a governor and deputy cannot come from the same senatorial district. Also, the President and the Vice President are not expected to cone from the same geopolitical zone.

The practice of electing a President or governor from another zone or senatorial district other than where the incumbent comes from is being entrenched in the nation’s political culture.

The failure to adhere strictly to zoning in the PDP was one of the reasons why former President Goodluck Jonathan lost last year’s presidential election.

The North which felt aggrieved that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua could not complete his term on account of his deaths expected power to come back to their zone after Dr.Jonathan completed the remaining one year and went ahead to win another four-year term.

In Ekiti State, zoning has not influenced voters’ decision during governorship poll occupies since 1999 .

Voters in Ekiti. They always vote in favour of any popular and acceptable candidate irrespective of where he comes from.

Ekiti State has three senatorial districts; Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South.

Since the state was created in 1996 and had the opportunity of electing the first civilian governor in 1999 (after being ruled by military administrators for the first three years of its existence), only Ekiti South has not had the opportunity of producing a governor.

In 1999, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo from Iyin Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti Central Senatorial district who ran on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) defeated Prof. Tunde Adeniran, from Orin Ekiti Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti North senatorial.

In the 2003 governorship poll, the two major candidates were from Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area in Ekiti Central.

The winner, Mr. Ayo Fayose from Afao Ekiti, who ran on the platform of the PDP, defeated Adebayo who was seeking a re-election on the platform of the AD.

It was a battle of two major candidates from Ekiti North Senatorial District in the 2007 contest, Segun Oni from Ifaki Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area running on the PDP platform against Dr. Kayode Fayemi, from Isan Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area? ran an the platform the flag of the defunct Action Congress (AC).

Oni was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a long litigation ensued before the Court of Appeal ordered a rerun in 2009.

Oni won the rerun in highly controversial circumstances after which Fayemi relaunched another marathon legal battle before being declared winner on October 15, 2010.

Fayemi held office until another election was held in 2014 when Fayose was again fielded by the PDP lost to Fayose.

It should be noted that before Fayose won the PDP primary on his way to victory at the main election, a battle was launched by some forces within the umbrella party to have the ticket zoned to Ekiti South senatorial district which produced the highest number of aspirants.

A move was made to adopt consensus to chose the PDP flag bearer but pro-Fayose forces prevailed on the Jonathan Presidency to use a primary election to elect a flag bearer which Fayose won in acrimonious circumstances.

The implication of is that Ekiti Central has occupied the governorship seat on three occasions (Fayose twice, Adebayo once) while Ekiti North had the privilege twice (Oni and Fayemi, once each).

As the 2018 governorship election draws nearer, political gladiators from Ekiti South are staking a big claim for the highest office state as it remains the only senatorial district yet to produce governor.

Ironically, the zone has the largest land mass, as it extends from Ogotun, which shares boundary with Osun State to Emure and Ikere which share boundaries with Ondo State and Omuo, which shares boundary with Kogi State.

Ekiti South has more local government areas than both Ekiti North and Ekiti Central. Ekiti North and Ekiti Central has have five local government areas each while Ekiti South has six local government areas.

Local government areas in Ekiti South are Ekiti Southwest, Ikere, Ise, Emure, Gbonyin and Ekiti East. Council areas in Ekiti Central are Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Efon and Ijero while those in Ekiti a North are Moba, Ido/Osi, Ilejemeje, Oye and Ikole.

Ekiti State has a total number of 177 wards with Ekiti South having the lion share of 64. Ekiti Central has 57 and Ekiti North 56.

In terms of the number of registered voters voters on the three senatorial districts, Ekiti South comes second behind Ekiti Central while Ekiti North is last.

Records with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that Ekiti Central has a total number of 301, 687 registered voters while Ekiti South boasts of 239, 243. Ekiti North has 191, 203.

All these demographic features supposed to work in favour of Ekiti South but the politics being played in the state is peculiar and highly unpredictable.

The million dollar question in Ekiti politics, ahead of the next governorship poll is: will power shift to Ekiti South, which has never had the opportunity to produce the governor?

In a bid to realise the dream, a group, the Ekiti South for Governor Movement, has taken up the gauntlet by rallying forces in the district, ahead of the 2018 poll.

Members of the group include governorship aspirants, party leaders, interest groups, opinion moulders and leaders of thought from the senatorial district. It recently sponsored an advertorial in national dailies on the Ekiti South governorship agenda.

They are reaching out to traditional rulers, labour unions and other groups to ensure that the district produces the next governor.

This explains why Ekiti South has the highest number of governorship aspirants, although only one of them has officially inform his party.

The two major political parties in the state-APC and PDP-are yet to come out with any zoning formula.

In the ruling PDP, Fayose, who is expected to vacate office in 2018, holds the ace in determining who picks the governorship ticket. There are speculations that he is planning to defect to another party due to the protracted crisis in the party.

In the PDP, eyes are on Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola; the Senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi; former Minister of State for Works Prince Adedayo Adeyeye; former Deputy Governors Adebisi Omoyeni and Abiodun Aluko; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Owoseni Ajayi and the Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi.

Olusola, Aluko and Omoyeni are from Ikere, Ikere LGA. Olujimi is from Omuo, Ekiti East LGA. Adeyeye and Ajayi hail from Ise, Ise/Orun LGA while Odeyemi is from Ode, Gbonyin LGA.

All of them are from Ekiti South District and they are being tipped by party members, based on their experience, pedigree and loyalty to the party.

Fayose had publicly acknowledged Olusola’s loyalty to him. But, his earlier declaration that the two of them were leaving in 2018 may prevent the former from succeeding his boss.

Olujimi, Adeyeye, Omoyeni, Aluko, Ajayi and Odeyemi are tested and experienced politicians. But, Fayose’s alleged plan to choose a successor from another senatorial district other than Ekiti South is causing disquiet in the party.

The governor, like his Ondo State counterpart, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is allegedly plotting to anoint a successor from Ekiti Central where he hails from. Sources in the PDP allege that Fayose may throw up a politician from Ado, the state capital, as the party’s candidate for the next election. Fayose’s hometown, Afao Ekiti, is less than 10 kilometers from Ado Ekiti.

Mimiko’s gamble of anointing a successor from the Ondo Central, where he hails from, backfired in the recent governorship election.

Unless the game changes with the dynamics of politics, Fayose is said to be mulling over the choice of Mr. Kayode Oso, his former Chief of Staff and Works Commissioner during his first term, who also served, until recently, as Works Commissioner.

Oso, who hails from Ado Ekiti, resigned on April 6 from the State Executive Council in controversial circumstances, although the government claimed that he resigned on “health grounds.” He traveled abroad immediately after resigning only to return few months later.

At the Udiroko Festival, which marked the commencement of Ado Ekiti traditional calendar in August, Oso stole the show as he brought his friends and political allies to pay homage to the Ewi, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, which gave a hint of a possible governorship ambition.

Fayose’s plan to anoint an Ado Ekiti indigene as successor is believed to be the reason why he is executing key capital projects in the city including the palace of the Ewi. Ado Ekiti has about 130,000 registered voters and any candidate that wins there and the second largest town, Ikere Ekiti usually clinches the governorship seat.

But the Mimiko/Jegede fiasco in neighboring Ondo State is reportedly giving Fayose some headache as voters in other parts of Ekiti may not not be favourable disposed to an Afao indigene handing over to a native of Ado Ekiti.

In the APC, only the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Olufemi Bamisile, has officially informed the party about his intention to contest.Bamisile is from Omuo, Ekiti East council.

The APC parades a galaxy of aspirants.

The APC aspirants from the South include Senator Gbenga Aluko, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, Mr. Kola Alabi, Dr. Wole Oluyede, Chief Bisi Aloba, Chief Sesan Fatoba, Chief Dele Okeya, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, Captain Sunday Adebomi, Mr. Bayo Idowu, Mr. Bayo Babalotin, among others.

Aluko and Faparusi are from Ode. Afuye, Alabi, Oluyede, Aloba Fatoba and Olumilua are from Ikere while Adebomi, Idowu and Babalotin are from Ise. Adaramodu is from Ilawe.

Aspirants from Ekiti Central include Dr. Adebayo Orire, Dr. Femi Thomas, both of whom are from Ikoro in Ijero Local Government Area. Aspirants from the North include Mr. Bimbo Daramola is from Ire and Ayo Akinyemi Jnr is from Ikole.

Aluko, Faparusi, Daramola are former federal lawmakers. Afuye, Aloba, Fatoba, Okeya and Thomas are former commissioners. Orire and Idowu are former board chairmen. Adaramodu is a former Chief of Staff. Oluyede, Alabi, Akinyemi, Babalotin and Adebomi are new breed politicians.

There is a new twist to the struggle. Oni and Fayemi, who are from the North, are said to be intrested.

Oni is the APC Deputy National Chairman (South). Fayemi is the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

Although they have not declared their interests, their foot soldiers are on the field feeling the pulse of party members and selling them to interest groups and the electorate.

In Ekiti, it is a crowded race. Parties are neck deep in claculations about how zoning will shape the process. Ekiti is one zone. But, it was divided into three zones, based on the three senatorial slots. The three districts are not different in language, culture and tradition. There is neither a case of discrimination nor marginalisation.

However, politicians are fueling sentiments about imaginary zoning. It is not a big issue in Ekiti politics.

The next few months will determine the extent to which zoning will determine who wears the next governorship crown in Ekiti.

December 19, 2016
‘Ekiti ‘ll return to progressive bloc’

Hon. Bamidele Faparusi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) represented Ekiti South Constituency 2 in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. In this interview with ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA, he speaks on the Ondo governorship election, the Ekiti 2018 election and other issues.

What is the import of the recent APC victory in Ondo State?

I want to congratulate the people of Ondo State for coming all out to vote in favour of progressive politics in Ondo State. I want to congratulate them for voting en masse for the APC. No doubt that is the direction for development and Ondo people don’t want to be left behind. It was not a surprise, knowing that the incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko had deceived the people for eight years when resources coming to the state were enormous. The state has been receiving 13 per cent derivation as an oil-producing state, yet there is no visible development on ground to justify the receipt of such big allocation. Workers are not receiving their salaries as and when due and there are lots of problems on ground. All these served as pointers to the APC victory at the election and the candidate of the APC is an astute lawyer, a Senior Advocate and a very credible candidate. He is a man of character who, to some people, is not the usual politician; he will call a spade a spade and tell you what he will do. I am very close to him; he is a very principled man in the sense that he is not the usual politician that will want to deceive voters to get their votes. So, the people of Ondo should expect that all the elusive development will come back to their state and we hope that very soon, the backlog of salaries will be paid to workers. We want to congratulate the people of Ondo State for the choice they have made.

Do you see the Ondo feat being replicated in Ekiti State in 2018?

We are very optimistic; our people in Ekiti State have weighed the two and they have realised that the administration of Ayo Fayose is a deceptive and they are prepared to chase him out. You can see the discontent in Ekiti today; people are already tired of this administration. Fayose is like somebody who is sinking and he is trying to hang on to any available straw for survival. But, I want to assure Nigerians that come 2018, there will be no trace of the PDP in Ekiti.

But Fayose has boasted repeatedly that he will beat the APC 16-0 again in 2018…

That is just grandstanding; it’s his usual way to mask his fear, because he is already gripped with fear, seeing what happened in Ondo State. Mimiko is even a better politician than Fayose in looking for the good of the people and if Mimiko could not survive in Ondo State, I don’t see Fayose surviving in Ekiti State in 2018. What he is just saying is empty grandstanding; an empty boast just to deceive his supporters, but time will tell.

There seems to be a crack in the Southwest APC…

I want to urge Nigerians to disregard the rumour of a crack in the Southwest APC; the party is one in the Southwest. Mr. President is the leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is our National Leader recognised by all. So, in the Southwest, the party is one. The rumour being peddled around is just a mere wishful thinking on the part of PDP elements to destroy our party, by projecting it as factionalized like theirs. But, that will never happen.

You are one of the many aspirants for the APC ticket in 2018. Ekiti APC may be heading for a rancorous primary election as witnessed in Ondo…

I don’t envisage that happening in Ekiti; anybody eligible to contest should be given the opportunity to do so. In our party, we encourage anybody that has something to offer to come out and present his plan for the state. Nevertheless, the state is looking towards Ekiti South senatorial district to produce the next governor. Be that as it may, whatever lesson that was learnt during the Ondo primary will definitely help us in Ekiti State to have a better primary devoid of rancour. You cannot give 100 per cent perfect election, but if an election is graded to have a pass mark, it should be acceptable. Whatever it is, I am very hopeful that a level-playing ground will be provided for all the aspirants and I believe that nobody will want to impose any aspirant on the party. If that is taken out, and people are allowed to choose freely who they believe has the best quality to lead them, we won’t have any rancour in Ekiti.

Fayose has just branded APC as a party of hunger. He says if he were to dump PDP, his destination won’t be APC…

The likes of Fayose are not welcomed in the APC; he is a shallow politician. The APC is not a party that embraces caricature politics he plays and for him to be saying that the APC is not an option is like overrating himself. We don’t want him in the APC and we are very clear about that: he is trying to use that as bait, but we don’t want characters like Fayose in our party.

Are you saying that if he decides to join the APC today, he won’t be accepted?

He is a liability to the party he is now, so how can we accept him in a party of decent people? Fayose is one of the people who destroyed the PDP to the level the party now finds itself. We don’t want the fate that befell the PDP to befall our party; he should not just think about it. We are intellectuals in the APC and his kind of politicking cannot stand in the party. So, as I said earlier on, he is just grandstanding, and to me, he should not be taken serious, because he has lost ground completely.

What makes you believe that your party has the edge over the PDP in 2018?

In the APC, we focus on development, infrastructure and human development. We are better politicians, because we are sincere and we don’t play the type of deceptive politics that Fayose plays. Deceptive politics is giving a family man one kongo of rice and N200 and you think you have empowered that fellow. Or cutting a narrow road into two and claiming that you have dualized the road; that is deception. Most of his programmes and activities are to deceive the people. But, in the APC, we focus on developing the state; we focus on developing the people. We provided employment for the youths under Youths in Agriculture scheme where we established farm settlements for graduates to stimulate commercial agriculture. We gave aged people N5,000 every month but Fayose has cancelled that. Thousands of youths were employed under various programmes and we don’t line people on the streets like beggars in the name of stomach infrastructure. Yet, he has refused to pay salaries of workers for about six months running. To me, the difference is very clear between the APC and the PDP in Ekiti State and I am sure people have compared the two and they have seen that really they need to go back to the APC.

What is your message to the people of Ekiti, as 2018 approaches?

My message to our party members is that we should work harder, by reaching out to the people; we should connect more with the people and work together as a team. We are a single family; we should work in love and harmony and we should not allow any seed of discord to germinate in our midst. With that, we are definitely going to take over Ekiti State in 2018. Now, to the people of Ekiti State, I just want to urge them to sustain the courage to confront the menace this time. I just want to tell our people that a new dawn is coming; they should be steadfast and pray for the state and continue to support our party. We have the confidence that under the APC, Ekiti will move forward and our people will get the best from an APC-led government.

December 15, 2016