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Tag: Fayemi

  • Ekiti PDP faults Fayemi, APC for alleged stoppage of N11m refund

    Ekiti PDP faults Fayemi, APC for alleged stoppage of N11m refund

    Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly stopping N11 billion refund on roads.

    The ruling party in the state said the alleged action of the minister and his party demonstrated their hatred for the workers and interest of the state.

    A former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, had filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to stop the Ayo Fayose administration from accessing the N11 billion refund on the work done on Ado-Ifaki Road.

    Joined in the suit are: Governor Fayose, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Director General, Debt Management Office, among others.

    A statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, by the state’s PDP Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, accused Fayemi and his party of playing “destructive politics” that could retard the development of the state.

    Adebayo condemned what he called the celebration of the stoppage of the refund by the APC on various social media platforms.

    This, the statement said, confirmed “that the opposition is a true enemy of the masses and an albatross alternative in Ekiti State”.

    The statement added: “It is unfortunate APC members are displaying deep ignorance and lack of patriotism, raising questions on how allocations are being spent, instead of joining hands in demanding what is right and resources due to Ekiti.

    “We challenge the minister and his party to explain to the people the propriety of this callous extension of the Federal Government’s deliberate economic humiliation of Nigeria to Ekiti.

    “The PDP would not have been worried if the refund does not have a direct implication on the welfare of civil servants in the state.

    “We want to stress that efforts of Governor Fayose to offset the salary arrears of workers before the end of his tenure should not be compromised by a reasonable individual and a party that meant well for the state.”

  • Adebayo, a fine gentleman, says Fayemi

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the first civilian Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who turns 60 today.

    Dr Fayemi, a former Governor of Ekiti State, in a birthday message described Otunba Adebayo as a humble and compassionate leader, a through bred Omoluabi, who combines good breeding, nobility, decency and commitment to excellence, in personal, business and political life.

    The minister described who himself as a beneficiary of Otunba Adebayo’s generosity of spirit and mentorship, recalling how he encouraged him to run for the governorship of the state and supported his administration from 2010- 2014.

    Describing Adebayo as a friend, brother and mentor with whom he has a unique and interesting relationship, Fayemi said the former governor is a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge builder good at honouring friendship.

    Fayemi said: “Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo is my egbon, leader and predecessor in office and a man that I have been privileged to know as a friend, ally, mentor and confidante.

    “His enduring legacy of a peaceful and tranquil state has made him such a moral force with an undeniable weight of authority in the affairs of Ekiti State politics, and indeed progressive politics at the national level.”

  • Bamidele: no more rift with Fayemi

    Bamidele: no more rift with Fayemi

    A former House of Representatives member, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the rift between him and former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi is over.

    Bamidele said he had reconciled with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the July 14 election in the state.

    The former Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy spoke yesterday while declaring his intent to contest next year’s governorship election on the platform of APC at his ward in Iyin-Ekiti.

    Bamidele was received by chairmen of two wards in the town, Mr. Opeyemi Ogundele, and Mr. Folorunso Adeuyi, as well as other party leaders.

    The former federal legislator left the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in controversial circumstances before the formation of APC for Labour Party (LP), where he was candidate in 2014 governorship election.

    He came back to the APC with his supporters shortly before the March 28, 2015, Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Announcing his intent, Bamidele said: “God has settled my rift with Fayemi and there are no more factions again in the party.

    “God, in His own way, has settled my differences with Dr. Fayemi. So, there is no more crisis and segregation. We are all one.

    “There are no groups called Bibiire or JKF. We are one APC, and that we shall continue to exploit to rescue Ekiti from the dungeon of economic doldrums.”

    The APC chieftain unveiled his blueprint for Ekiti development, tagged: Manifesto of Brighter Future for Ekiti, which encapsulates his mission and vision for the state, if elected.

    Shedding light on his blueprint, Bamidele said it consisted of programmes to proffer solutions to the socio-economic problems afflicting the state due to “bad governance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government”.

  • Why Fed Govt can’t concession Ajaokuta Steel plant, by Fayemi

    Why Fed Govt can’t concession Ajaokuta Steel plant, by Fayemi

    The Federal Government yesterday said legal encumbrances arising from the decision of the London Court of Arbitration over the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Complex are still tying down its efforts to concession the plant.

    The Sole Administrator of the complex, Sumaila Abdul-Akaba, told the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy that a 2010 audit report showed that $1.2 billion was required to turn around the moribund steel plant.The amount, he said, included balance of external infrastructure.

    Minister of Solid Mineral Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi told the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy, that until all issues that emanated from the position of the London Court of Arbitration were addressed, it would be difficult to put up Ajaokuta Steel Complex for concession.

    Fayemi, who spoke at the 2018 budget defence of his ministry, noted that the ministry was working assiduously to bring life back to the moribund steel complex.

    The minister was asked when Ajaokuta Steel would be brought back to life.

    The Federal Government and Messrs Global Steel Holding Limited, an Indian firm, started negotiations for amicable resolution of the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Complex in 2008.

    Abdul-Akaba gave breakdown of the amount as $513 million for rehabilitation, completion and commissioning while 4687 will be used for balance of external infrastructure.

    He appealed to the committee to ensure the total rehabilitation, completion and commissioning of the steel complex describing the plant as viable.

    The Sole Administrator also told the committee that by April 55 mw electricity plant installed in the complex would come on stream.

    He said there were 10,000 houses in the complex with about 4,000 completed.

    Abdul-Akaba assured the committee that machines installed in the complex are first class stressing that “all we need to do is to sort out legal issues surrounding Ajaokuta Steel to bring the plant to run.”

    He said the over $10 billion steel imported into the country annually could be save if Ajaokuta was brought on stream.

    On what the ministry is doing about lead poisoning especially in Zamfara State, Fayemi said they had constituted a team on lead poisoning jointly with the Ministry of Health.

    The minister also said they have blocked the use of mercury  which he said leads to lead poisoning.

    Fayemi said they are addressing the issue of institutional capacity and infrastructure.

    According to him, “For the first time states are also getting 13 per cent derivation due them from solid mineral exploited from their states.

    He said that they have constituted mines surveillance task team appointed by the Inspector General of Police.

    The minister said: “We also believe that artisan miners should be protected, to create employment in the area and enable the people to benefit.”

    It was gathered that the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe-led committee has concluded arrangements to visit Ajaokuta Steel Complex for first hand information as well as to see how that the National Assembly can facilitate the rolling out of steel complex.

  • Why FG can’t concession Ajaokuta steel plant – Fayemi

    Why FG can’t concession Ajaokuta steel plant – Fayemi

    The Federal Government said on Tuesday that legal encumbrances arising from the ruling of the London Court of Arbitration on the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Complex are still tying down efforts to concession the steel plant.

    The Sole Administrator of the steel complex, Sumaila Abdul-Akaba, told the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy that a 2010 audit report showed that $1.2 billion was required to turn around the moribund steel plant.

    The Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, told the committee that until all issues that emanated from the position of the London Court of Arbitration were addressed, it would be difficult to put up Ajaokuta Steel Complex for concession.

    Fayemi, who spoke at the 2018 budget defence of his ministry, said they were working assiduously to bring the moribund steel complex back to life.

    The minister was responding to a question on when the Ajaokuta Steel will be brought back to life to function maximally.

    The Federal Government and Messrs Global Steel Holding Limited, an Indian firm, started negotiation for amicable resolution of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex ownership tussle in 2008.

     

  • Fayemi to Fayose: we shall meet in court over your ban

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said the latest suit by the Ekiti State government accusing him of fraud is “a desperate attempt to tarnish his public service record”.

    In a statement by his media aide, Olayinka Oyebode, the minister expressed his readiness to meet the Ayo Fayose government in court.

    He said: “This just goes to show their level of desperation to tarnish Dr Fayemi’s public service record. The government, out of desperation, refused to release the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report of the panel to Fayemi’s counsel, more than a month after he sent in a written application for the CTC of the report.

    “The lawyer asked for the CTC of the report as part of the documents he needed for a suit he filed challenging the outcome of the panel. Now, the same government, which refused to release the report, is going to court based on the same report.

    “Can you see mischief, double standard and deliberate witch-hunting? But we shall meet in court.”

  • Supporters rally monarchs, cleric for Fayemi

    Supporters rally monarchs, cleric for Fayemi

    Loyalists of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have visited traditional rulers and clergymen in Ekiti State to support his yet-to-be-declared governorship bid.

    Acting under the aegis of Just Keep Following Group (JKFG), the supporters urged the monarchs and clerics to support Fayemi when he eventually declares for the top job ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    They said Fayemi’s tenure between 2010 and 2014 represented the “golden era of Ekiti development,” which should be replicated again after the 2018 poll to bring relief to the people.

    They visited the Chairman of the State Council of Obas, who is also the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, and the state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joshua Orikogbe.

    The JKFG team also visited the Grand Imam of Ekiti State, who doubles as the President of League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta states, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, and the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye.

    Fayemi’s men sought royal and celestial blessings for the minister to succeed in the governorship project, if he eventually joins the race.

    Led by the State Coordinator, Comrade Bisi Dada, the JKFG team presented a letter to the traditional rulers and clerics, stating the reasons Fayemi should take another shot at the governorship seat.

    At Oloye’s palace, Dada said Fayemi executed many life-changing projects at the grassroots during his tenure, including the construction of five-kilometre roads in towns and villages and N5,000 monthly stipends for aged people.

    Dada added that Fayemi held obas and their wives in high esteem, sponsored the construction of palaces, a special health scheme for obas, chiefs and their families, procured and distributed brand new vehicles to monarchs.

    He said: “Your Majesty, we seek your prayers for the overall development of our dear state and your son, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to continue to support the uplifting of the state wherever he finds himself as an individual, if he eventually yields to our request to join the governorship race.”

    Oba Ademolaju said: “All politicians interested in the governorship race are our children. We obas are not politicians; we are after the development of Ekiti. We are fathers of all and we are for peace.”

    Receiving the team, CAN Chairman Rev. Orikogbe promised to convey the message to all Christian leaders.

    Sheikh Kewulere and Bishop Ajakaye prayed for the team.

  • Fayemi: govt frustrating efforts to get panel’s report

    Fayemi: govt frustrating efforts to get panel’s report

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has accused the Ekiti State government of blocking his efforts to get the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, which barred him from holding office for 10 years.

    Fayemi said the Ayo Fayose administration had been frustrating his efforts to get the report, more than one week after it was made public with release of its White Paper.

    He accused the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dupe Alade, as well as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, of ignoring his written applications for the CTC of the panel’s report.

    Fayemi contended that the government does not have any reason to block him or any other citizen from accessing the panel’s report, even after it has been made public.

    The panel released the report on December 13 while the White Paper was endorsed by the State Executive Council (Exco) and made available to the media on January 15.

    The White Paper banned Fayemi and his Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Oladapo Kolawole, from holding public office for 10 years.

    It also recommended that the duo should refund over N2 billion to the state.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, Fayemi’s lawyer Rafiu Balogun said his client needed the CTC of the panel’s report to challenge the recommendations in court.

    The lawyer averred that the CTC is needed in the case the former governor will file to challenge the verdict of the seven-member jury, led by Justice Silas Oyewole (retd).

    He added that his letters of January 11 and 12 to Alade and Kolade were received on January 12 but without a response from the government, despite repeated calls to its offices.

    Balogun said: “When we got the news from the print and electronic media that the Commission of Enquiry had submitted its report to Ekiti State government on December 13, 2017, our clients – Dr Kayode Fayemi and Dapo Kolawole – briefed us to do the needful and get the CTC of the report from the registry of the commission.

    “To that effect, we caused a letter to be written to the Secretary to the Commission, Mr Gbemiga Daramola, but he asserted that having submitted the report to the governor, the commission had concluded its assignment and wound up. He, therefore, directed us to the SSG.

    “We quickly wrote to the SSG on January 11, and it was received on January 12. We also wrote to the Attorney General of Ekiti State, requesting for the report, since he chairs the committee to review the report and advise government on the White Paper.

    “The content of our letters to the duo is clear and unambiguous. We gave the officials seven days to make available the CTC of the report of the commission of enquiry and other documents submitted by the commission.

    “Our representative had, at various times, called at the offices of the SSG and the AG to follow up, but he was told that the two senior government officials were not available and that he should visit again on Monday, January 22. The officials were also evasive when our representative requested for the report on Monday.

    “We are not pleased with the lackadaisical attitude of the Ekiti State government to a simple request for CTC of the report in their custody, even when we have informed them of our readiness to pay the requisite fee for production and certification.

    “What does it take to produce and certify the report? It is in the public domain now that the government has accepted the report of the commission of enquiry by issuance of White Paper and requested our clients to return some money when the commission did not find them guilty of fraud or embezzlement of any contract sum and it was not found that they have any interest in any company that they claimed did not execute the projects.

    “Our clients were also purportedly barred from holding public office for 10 years. Are they not entitled to the report as of right? We wonder why the government is afraid of releasing the report.”

  • Ekiti government blocking my efforts to panel’s report – Fayemi

    Ekiti government blocking my efforts to panel’s report – Fayemi

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has accused the Ekiti State government of blocking his efforts to get the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry report which barred him from holding public office for 10 years.

    Fayemi said the Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration has been frustrating his efforts to get the report more than one week after it was made public.

    He particularly accused the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Dupe Alade and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, of ignoring his written applications for the panel’s report.

    He contended that the government does not have any justifiable reason to block him or any citizen from accessing the panel’s report, even after it had been made public.

    The panel released the report on December 13, 2017 while the White Paper was endorsed by the State Executive Council and made available to the press on January 15.

    The panel banned Fayemi and the state former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Oladapo Kolawole, from holding public offices for 10 years.

    It also recommended that the duo should refund over N2 billion to the state coffers.

    Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday, counsel to Fayemi, Chief Rafiu Balogun, said his client needed the CTC of the panel’s report to challenge the recommendations at the court of law.

    Balogun said the CTC is one of the important documents needed in the case instituted by the former governor to challenge the verdict of the seven-member jury led by Justice Silas Oyewole (retd).

     

  • FG to save N32b from leakages in mining sector – Fayemi

    FG to save N32b from leakages in mining sector – Fayemi

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, lamented that despite government’s efforts, economic saboteurs wishing to undermine the efforts of the government exist in the sector.

    He said the government is inaugurating a new model of revenue generation that entails the engagement of consultants to identify leakages in the system.

    The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a revenue mobilization strategy that would help the Federal Government to save about N32 billion from leakages in the mining sector.

    Read Also: Rep urges Fayemi to join Ekiti race

    He said the consultants would be mandated to collect and analyse data from 2012 – 2017 in the course of their work, thus giving federal government the opportunity to demand and receive accruals due to them from the referenced period.

    Fayemi stated these on Monday at the launch of the Revenue Optimization and Verification Project in Abuja.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu, said 100 consultants have been carefully selected for the exercise.