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Tag: Fayemi

  • Help on the way for girls, says Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday lamented the inability of the federal government to free the 219 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram more than one year ago.

    Fayemi, who described the callous act of the insurgents as highly ignoble, said the experience of the pupils, their parents and family members is saddening and  traumatising, made worse by the failure of the government to properly coordinate its effort at getting the girls back.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi urged the incoming administration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to make the rescue of the Chibok girls a top priority.

    “As a father, I can imagine the level of pains, trauma and devastation being experienced by the families of the abducted girls, unfortunately, the government’s attitude to the rescue has been at best uncoordinated, dismissive and lackadaisical “, said Fayemi, adding that the lives and future of the abducted girls are as important as the lives of every Nigerian citizens and should be treated as such.”

    Fayemi, who headed the directorate of Policy, Research and Strategy of the General Buhari Presidential Campaign Council, said the current air of hopelessness surrounding the girls’ whereabouts and the pall of silence from the government would soon give way when the Buhari government injects life into the efforts at rescuing them.

    He urged the parents and families of the abducted girls not to lose hope, but continue to pray for their successful release, assuring them of divine intervention as well as a strategic intervention by the incoming administration.

    “And to you our girls, be assured help is on the way. Remain strong and hopeful. I am convinced you will all live to tell the story of your release. I am convinced that as the whole world mark the first anniversary of your abduction by Boko Haram, soon the whole world would rise to celebrate your release from captivity”. He added.

     

  • Oshiomhole, Amosun, Saraki, Fayemi, others greet president-elect

    Oshiomhole, Amosun, Saraki, Fayemi, others greet president-elect

    Governors and other eminent citizens yesterday congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory.

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said Buhari’s victory represents a new dawn in the nation’s polity.

    Oshiomhole, in a statement, said: “Let me congratulate you sir, on your historic victory at the presidential election, through a process which has been adjudged as free, fair and credible by both local and international observers. Indeed, your victory, on the basis of one man, one vote, represents a new dawn in the democratic governance of our great country

    “The spread of your victory across the length and breadth of the country shows your national acceptance as the man Nigeria needs at this critical stage to reposition her from the 16 years of misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “I have implicit confidence that, with you as president, Nigeria will no doubt get a true and selfless leadership needed to drive the much-desired change at the centre, which will start the process of reengineering the country and halt the drift, which the country had been plunged in the past 16 years.”

    Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has also congratulated the president-elect.

    Amosun expressed the hope that Buhari’s government would bring about the much needed security, economic growth and development.

    Amosun, in a statement yesterday by his spokesperson, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, added that the victory was a demonstration of the Nigerian people’s confidence in Gen. Buhari’s strong leadership qualities.

    Amosun said: “The people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes, their confidence in the ability of the president-elect to pull the nation out of its present economic woes.

    “The trajectory of the president-elect, his principles and uprightness are some of the qualities that must have endeared him to the electorate.”

    To the former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Gen. Buhari’s victory signposts a new beginning for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “History has just been made in our dear country”, declared Fayemi, who hailed Buhari’s victory over the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a victory for democracy and the Nigerian citizenry.

    Fayemi, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said going by the outcome of the election, Nigerians have demonstrated to the entire world their ability and readiness to tow the path of greatness and oneness.

    “Nigerians have spoken. They have spoken clearly through their votes. They want a new direction and a new approach to governance and the APC government under the leadership of Gen. Buhari owes them this and more”, said Fayemi.

    He added that the APC, through the victory, is now saddled with the responsibility of making a meaningful change in the lives of the people as promised during the electioneering.

    Fayemi, who chaired the APC national convention that produced Gen. Buhari as the party’s candidate, said Nigerians were the actual winners in the keenly contested election, having demonstrated rare courage and determination to effect the change they desired.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki dedicated Gen, Buhari’s victory to the citizens.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy, Bamikole Omishore, in Abuja, called on the president-elect to be magnanimous in victory.

    He enjoined him to use his unique stature as a statesman to reunite the country and heal whatever crack that might be in the political demography due to the electioneering process.

    The Oyo Central senator-elect, Monsurat Sunmonu, congratulated Gen. Buhari on his victory at the polls.

    The House of Representatives members-elect for Oyo Federal Constituency, Prince Akeem Adeyemi and Waliu Ganiyu, greeted the president-elect, saying that his victory was well-deserved.

    The Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Mr. Ismail Ali, described the presidential and National Assembly elections as the best ever in the history of Nigeria.

    The APC chieftain congratulated the APC presidential candidate for the victory in the keenly contested polls.

  • APC will inherit a basket economy if we win – Fayemi

    APC will inherit a basket economy if we win – Fayemi

    Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said if the All Progressive Congress wins Saturday’s presidential election, it will inherit a basket economy.

    He, however, said the party has the creativity to rebound the economy.

    Fayemi said:”Our agenda for change is not hidden. We have the 2015 manifesto which is a product of research and travel across the length and breadth of the country. That is how we came about our strong focus on security, economy and corruption.

    “Everywhere we went this was an issue that resonated and the way to address it is to help lift the vulnerable. We will reduce inequality between the rich and the poor, so that the resources no matter how limited can be spread widely among our population.

    “Whether you talk of our free meal a day in school or social security benefits for the indigent or free health programme, we are strongly focused about these plans. We are not pretending, there are no challenges or the resources are available, we are going to inherit a basket economy.

    “If by God’s grace, Nigerians give us the mandate to rule, we will meet empty treasury, a debt ridden country and it will require a great deal of creativity and innovation on our part to plug all the leakages.

    “So put in place incentives that would unleash the creative abilities of our people, so we can generate more jobs and wealth for the populace.”

  • Atiku committed to Buhari’s victory – Fayemi

    Atiku committed to Buhari’s victory – Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has given assurance that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains committed to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in the March 28 presidential election,  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fayemi said the rumored plan of Atiku to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a gimmick from the ruling party to confuse Nigerians and cause division in the APC.

    He described Atiku as an important pillar of support for the Buhari campaign whose preoccupation is to ensure victory for the APC and Buhari at the presidential poll.

    Speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi said entreaties made to Atiku by emissaries of President Goodluck Jonathan for a return to the PDP has failed.

    He said the APC is primed for victory at the fast-approaching general elections and won’t be distracted by the antics of the PDP gripped by the morbid fear of losing the Presidency for the first time in 16 years.

    Fayemi declared that Buhari campaign is on course and any attempt to cause disaffection within the fold of the APC by sponsoring phantom defection to the PDP won’t work.

    He said: “Anybody can just pick some people on the street and call them members of Turaki’s group. Though, I am aware of the surreptitious plans to divide us, but wooing Atiku back to PDP will not certainly work because he is committed to this project.

    “So, Atiku is still in APC and he has come out boldly to denounce this group. It was a fact that he offered himself to be president but the delegate acted otherwise by voting for Gen Buhari.

    “I don’t foresee that he will walk away from APC on the basis of this because there is nothing on ground to make him do that. He has remained consistent for Gen. Buhari and he is committed to APC.”

    On Prof Jega, Fayemi said the entire Nigerian populace would query President Jonathan, if he sacks Prof Jega at this critical time, saying such attempt could bring suspicion that would do the country no good.

    On the mock accreditation conducted by INEC in 12 States to test-run the workability of the card readers, Fayemi advised the Commission to block all loopholes based on the reservations expressed by some critical stakeholders for the outcome of the elections to be acceptable.

    He, however, expressed optimism that the card reader would turn out to be a blessing in view of the success recorded in Lagos, which he said was known to be densely populated.

    Fayemi added:  “Our party is not that worried about this card reader thing, but we are only concerned about non-delivery of Permanent Voter Cards to some region.

    “Like in Ogun State, I heard governor Ibikunle Amosun complaining that about 250,000 PVCs are yet to be delivere , this is a peculiar case.

    “But it was available in some areas like Ekiti, but people decided not to collect .Though that had been taken to be cases of multiple registration.

    “So, in the area of collection, INEC cannot be blamed because people may decide not to vote.”

  • Ekiti poll audio: Soldiers ready to testify, says Fayemi

    Ekiti poll audio: Soldiers ready to testify, says Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said some military officers are ready to testify regarding the audio clip that “caught” senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and military chiefs plotting how to rig the June 21, last year, governorship election.

    Speaking on a live programme, “APC Change Hour”, on ADABA 88.9 FM, Fayemi said the postponement of the 2015 general elections was not about security but about a plot to rig the polls.

    The audio clip was aired on the radio station with the alleged voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro,   Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan, Osun State PDP governorship candidate Iyiola Omisore and Gen. Aliyu Momoh discussing how to rig the election.

    He said the postponement was about a “desperate government and a desperate President who is afraid of losing and using a military that became a willing tool”.

    The former governor said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration was trying to re-enact the rigging perpetrated in Ekiti with the alleged misuse of the military.

    Fayemi said the upper echelon of the military was guilty of treason with its role in the dramatic postponement of the polls.

    “The first duty of the government through the Armed Forces is security of life and property,” Fayemi said, apparently referring to the service chiefs’memo in which they said they could not guarantee security in four states.

    He deplored a situation in which the military had been desecrated where army generals were being harassed and intimidated by politicians desperate to rig elections for their party.

    The former governor said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would resist an alleged plot by the PDP to use soldiers in the general elections on the strength of a Federal High Court, Sokoto, judgment which ruled against the use of soldiers for electoral duties.

    “We, in the APC, will not allow the use of the military to oversee the conduct of the elections because we know and we are aware that they have sewn fake police uniforms, they have sewn fake army uniforms but we will not allow them,” Fayemi said.

    The former governor, who reiterated that the second part of the rigging audio file would be released, said other steps were being taken on the matter, which may become a subject of litigation.

    “We are taking appropriate constitutional steps on the matter. In fact, there are soldiers who are ready to testify in court.

    “There are many Captain Sagir Kolis who are willing to give evidence in court. I am just appealing to all Nigerians to be patient as events unfold.”

    Fayemi said it was unfortunate that Ekiti was used as a sacrificial lamb for the new rigging technique, noting that it failed in Osun because the plot was exposed with an alleged plot to deploy Gen. Momoh to Osun to re-enact the Ekiti feat.

    On the actors in the rigging drama, Fayemi said all the voices could be recognised as they were very clear and distinct.

    Reminiscing on the outcome of the poll, which he described as “mysterious”, the former governor said a party (APC) with three senators, six members of the House of Representatives, 25 House of Assembly members, council chairmen and councillors could not have lost so scandalously.

    Answering questions on why he conceded a day after the poll, Fayemi said there was a “grand plan” from Abuja to kill many people after the election should there be any demonstration or protest against the result.

    According to the ex-governor, some soldiers posted to the state for election duty drove vehicles that conveyed PDP chieftains and members to arrest many APC chieftains and members who were released after the election.

    “Yes, I carefully couched my statement and I said if this is the will of the people of Ekiti, then I accept but in the second paragraph I said the peace of Ekiti was paramount to me and I said I am choosing peace first, then justice later,”he said.

    Speaking on the political activities of his successor (Fayose), Fayemi said: “Fayose is fighting for his life; he is more desperate than President Goodluck Jonathan and he believes that all his atrocities will come to haunt him. The judges who were beaten, the legislature that was sacked, the civil servants who were harassed are coming to haunt him.

    “They are using the military to rig elections and Nigerians must be vigilant. It is when the situation cannot be handled by the police that you call in the military.

    “If you hear what Captain Koli said, he said they were given instructions (to rig Ekiti poll). Chris Uba, who is not a military officer, giving orders to military officers. Isn’t that absurd?

    “Soldiers drove the vehicles that conveyed PDP members to arrest APC members. Our members were arrested and they were not released until the election was over.”

    Speaking on the alleged plot to remove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the former governor urged Nigerians to hold President Jonathan to his words as spoken during Wednesday’s presidential media chat that the electoral chief would not be removed.

    He said Jega holds the ace on the “three-month terminal leave”, arguing that if he (Jega) insists on not leaving office, until the expiration of his term, “there is noting the Executive can do”.

    Fayemi urged Nigerians to use their votes to flush out what he called “an incompetent government”, saying Nigerians need to be vigilant to ensure that their electoral wishes are not tampered with.

  • Fayemi strikes gold

    Fayemi strikes gold

    Former Ekiti State Governor  Kayode Fayemi turned 50 last Monday. He marked the golden age with a thanksgiving service at St Martins Catholic Church in his Isan-Ekiti hometown, reports Odunayo Ogunmola.

    Isan-Ekiti, a rustic community in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State  came alive last Sunday, when its illustrious son, former  Governor John Kayode Fayemi celebrated his 50th birthday.

    Fayemi, who turned 50 last Monday, marked the birthday in church on Sunday because of the prevailing political mood.

    Despite his tight schedule as All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council’s Director of Research and Strategy, he returned home to celebrate with his people.

    Guests started trooping into Fayemi’s Eyiyato Lodge, as early as 7am to welcome him into the golden age, before following him to St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti, for the thanksgiving service.

    The service featured hymns, Bible readings,  Gospel acclamation, profession of faith,  homily and Holy Communion session.

    The choir was at its best, dishing special numbers. The wardens ensured orderliness during the service.

    With the church filled to brim, those who couldn’t make it sat under the canopies provided outside.

    Fayemi sat with his wife, Bisi, siblings and other family members on the front row.

    The service was attended by former Ekiti State Governor, Adeniyi Adebayo; former Chief of Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade; former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; husband of the late Deputy governor Mr. Lanre Olayinka, federal and state lawmakers and many of those who served in the Fayemi administration.

    In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, told the celebrator to always be grateful to God.

    Stating that God is not yet through with Fayemi, Rev. Ajakaye urged the ‘birthday boy’ to always do good to others whether or not they will pay him back.

    The cleric said Fayemi came from a good family and was trained to fear God, adding that this had rubbed off on his leadership style during his tenure.

    Leading in a Yoruba song: “Ise t’Olugbala ran mi, ajeye in o je”, which literally means, “I will carry out the assignment God has sent me to accomplish and live”, the bishop said Fayemi has fulfilled the assignment God gave him in Ekiti.

    The bishop extolled Mrs. Fayemi for being a good wife, mother, daughter-in-law, soulmate and pillar of support to her husband. He called on couples to celebrate one another.

    “When you (Dr. Fayemi) were in power, you said you should not be addressed as ‘Your Excellency’ until after you have finished your tenure but now, I believe I can  address you as ‘Your Excellency.’

    “You are from a quality family with a quality wife and a quality child. If you have a friend that cannot tell you the truth, that is not good.

    “Don’t relent in doing good whether people appreciate you or not. Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, continue to be yourself, your qualities and continue to maintain them.

    “Don’t be a professional politician but a statesman. Statesmen are better than all these professional politicians because most of them are chop-I-chop, ‘moneticians’, ‘pocketicians’ who are fond of saying ‘they are not allowing me to eat’.

    “Failure to tell ourselves the truth is one of the greatest problems of this generation. One of the prayers I have been praying is that may God shame the shameless. Never frustrate yourself, never frustrate others and never allow anything in life to frustrate you”.

    In his remarks, Fayemi said he was able to attend the service following the postponment of the elections.

    The former governor told the congregation that though he is the last child of his family, he is always the first to celebrate birthdays because he was born in February.

    Dr. Fayemi said: “The next person in the order of birthdays was born on March 4, the next person, March 25, the next person, March 28 and the next person April 23.

    “Ironically, our first born happens to be the last on the birthday roll as she was born in August and that is the way God wants it.

    “As small as I am, I enjoyed many privileges from my elderly siblings. My wife was born in June. I would uphold the scriptures that enjoin us to count the number of our days.

    “I am not somebody who loves partying and that is where my wife always stands for me and because of this, I have offended many people but I believe they have forgiven me.

    “I thank God for everything in life, there will always be storm in one’s life but the most important factor is for the storm not to blow you away.”

    Fayemi sought the forgiveness of those  he might have offended, saying: “I want to plead with all those that I have offended to forgive me. You will recall what happened on June 21 last year and June 22 when I conceded, some of our people were wondering why I did not allow them to pour into the streets to vent their anger.

    “But I said if indeed it is the will of the people, we will accept and I added that we should seek for the peace of our people. I will rather go for peace first and justice later because the interest of the people must supersede personal ambition.

    “The news of the audio clip (of the pre-election rigging plot) that was reported yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) is not a surprise to me.

    “Those who denied that it is not their voice, they will hear the second part of the recording and they will keep quiet.

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

    “It should not be a surprise to anybody that such happened because what I said after the election was not different from what is unfolding now”.

    Reception followed at the Eyiyato Lodge where there was plenty to eat and drink.

    Fuji musician Adeniyi Akinola popularly known as “Sese Alhaji”thrilled the guests.

  • Audio clip: Soldiers ready to testify in court – Fayemi

    Audio clip: Soldiers ready to testify in court – Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that some military officers are ready to give evidence in court over the audio clip that caught senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and military chiefs plotting how to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.

    Speaking on a live programme, “APC Change Hour,” on an Akure, Ondo State-based ADABA 88.9 FM monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi said the postponement of the 2015 general elections was not about security but about a high-wired plot to rig the polls.

    The audio clip was aired on the radio station with the alleged voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, former Minister of State (Defence), Musiliu Obanikoro, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan, Osun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore and Gen. Aliyu Momoh haggling about rigging plans ahead of the poll.

    He said the postponement was about a “desperate government and a desperate President that is afraid of a loss and using a military that became a willing tool.”

    The former governor said the PDP-led administration was trying to re-enact the rigging perpetrated in Ekiti with the alleged misuse of the military at the forthcoming general election.

    Fayemi stressed that the upper echelon of the military was guilty of treason against the state with its role in the dramatic postponement of the polls, saying the first duty of the government through the armed forces is security of lives and property.

    He deplored a situation in which the military institution has been desecrated with the army generals being harassed and intimidated by politicians desperate to rig elections for their party.

     

  • Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

    Fayemi: more Ekiti rigging audio details coming

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Fayemi: Celebrating change agent at 50

    Fayemi: Celebrating change agent at 50

    Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi is 50 today. His Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, pays tribute to a simple boss.

    it was a warm afternoon at the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa, sometime in March 2013. Dr Kayode Fayemi and I were returning to Lagos after receiving the Samsung Award for Best State Government in ICT Education at an impressive ceremony in Cape Town. Mr Governor, as he is fondly called, had sought to spend some time at the business class lounge of the South African Airline, and because we were engrossed in a discussion, together with another official of the administration, Muyiwa Ogunmilade, he had urged me to come along.

    After going through my boarding pass and discovering that I was billed to fly the economy class, the female SAA official politely stopped me from entering the lounge.   JKF’s attempt to convince her to allow me in order for us to conclude our discussion was met with a straight face by the official. The waitress however said I could be allowed in if the Governor and Ogunmilade could present their gold cards. Pronto, they both brought out their gold cards. Having confirmed the cards the official was about giving another condition when the activist in JKF came out. He politely asked that his card be returned to him and told the officials that he would rather take a walk around the airport with me rather than being denied my company at the lounge. I made a futile protest against his decision to abandon the lounge because of me, knowing he needed to catch some rest. Alas, it was too late. “No, Yinka, it isn’t worth it. What is the big deal about the lounge? Don’t worry, let’s just take a walk around before boarding time:” Thus we left the lounge and spent about  half an hour buying books at a particular books store at the airport and the remaining time was spent strolling around before boarding time.

    That South African experience was, for me, perhaps the most humbling experience I have had as an adult. It was a lesson in simplicity and leadership taught in the simplest manner imaginable. It also typifies the experiences of many who have come in contact with Dr Fayemi whether in the classroom, newsroom, lecture room, political rallies, in the trenches or in the hallowed chambers of the Ekiti State Executive Council where he presided over the affairs of the state, together with his carefully selected team for four impactful years.

    Fayemi in and out of office believes in two things- service and justice. He believes life is worthless without service- service to mankind.  On justice, Fayemi is a firm believer in that timeless Latin legal phrase: Fiat justitia ruat caelum  (Let justice be done though the heavens fall). He remains today one of the few  Nigerian politicians that have really  tested the country’s legal system in the bid to determine some knotty issues. It is no longer news how he fought from one court to another for three and a half years to retrieve his mandate which he eventually got via the declaration of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on October 15, 2010. It is also on record that his administration lost some cases in the state courts and that put paid to some actions of the government including the conduct of the local government election which the Peoples Democratic Party stopped through an injunction from the state high court in January 2012.

    JKF believes that political participation as well as seeking elective office should be motivated by service. He believes that commitment to service and its delivery remains the vital tonic that energises and motivates a public office holder to forge ahead and remain focused even in the midst of competing and conflicting interests. He believes that service does not end with the completion of one’s tenure in office. To him, service continues for as long as one still has his breath. He was recently asked how he has been coping with life after service during a lecture he delivered at the Afenifere Renewal Group annual lecture in Abeokuta,Ogun State  last month. His response: “I am still in service. My idea of service does not end with occupying an executive position. Even attending party meetings, executing some assignments on behalf of my party,  or town’s union amount to service.”

    Many believe that JKF’s headship of the hugely successful national convention and presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December last year and his current assignment as the head of Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the party’s presidential campaign have kept him even busier than his former assignment as governor of Ekiti State. Perhaps what they do not know is that such excellent organisational touch he brought to bear on the APC convention- regarded as the best organised in the country’s history- is simply the JKF signature that distinguishes his four year tenure in Ekiti and makes it a reference point in developmental circle. He believes that when a leader provides the right leadership, the followers would embrace excellence and make it an habit.

    For those who have followed his trajectory right from his students activism days through pro democracy agitation and the current political participation, JKF is guided by the social democratic principle of lifting the weak and vulnerable in the society. His four years stint as governor of Ekiti State witnessed a sincere and consistent effort at banishing poverty and sickness. This was because he knows too well that a poor society is a sick and sickly one. His genuine concern  include how  transactional politics can be replaced with transformational leadership. How institutions of state can be strengthened in order to ensure effective service delivery. Whereas  his critics would readily fault these ideas, describing them as lacking in immediate political gains. Yet, JKF earns their respect for his commitment to these ideals.

    His penchant for development and insatiable desire to get the government to provide for the weak and vulnerable in the society led to some policies including the social security scheme which pays 5,000 monthly stipends to elderly indigent citizens above 65 years; free and compulsory primary and secondary education; computer per child initiative in the public secondary schools; comprehensive renovation of all public schools and hospitals; free health for the physically challenged, children under five, pregnant women and elderly citizens among others. The need to spread development across the nooks and crannies of the state also led to the introduction of five kilometres road project implemented yearly in all the council areas. And when you add this to the structured empowerment programmes for the youths and women, you have a government that had something for everybody under the JKF administration.

    As Fayemi attains the golden age today, it is obvious that the energy and wisdom to run even a more impactful race in the second half of the century are bubbling in him like an hyper-active volcano.

    Born on February 9, 1965 into the family of the late Chief and Mrs. Francis Falade Fayemi. A native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area, he had his elementary education in Ibadan before attending Christ’s School, Ado- Ekiti for his secondary education between 1975 and 1980.

    John Kayode Fayemi received his first degree in History from the University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in 1987 and a doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, England in 1993, specializing in civilian-military relations and defence planning.

    Prior to joining partisan politics, Dr Fayemi  was the pioneer Director  Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). He was a Georgetown University Leadership Fellow in 2000 and a Senior Visiting Fellow in African Studies, North Western University, Evanston, USA in 2004. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan and was on the Adjunct Faculty of the African Centre for Strategic Studies, National Defence University, USA, between 2001 and 2005.  He was a member of the Governing Board of the Open Society Justice Institute, New York and African Security Sector Network.

    Fayemi has written and lectured extensively on governance and democratization.  He is also a recipient of several awards, fellowships and grants including the Ford Foundation grant on  Special Initiative on Africa and the Macarthur Foundation research grant. His tenure as Governor of Ekiti State witnessed many reforms and earned the state a number of first positions in the areas of   education, agriculture, health, rural development and social empowerment. This was attested to by local and international organisations leading to special recognitions including: Leadership Newspaper’s Governor of the year award, 2012; the Zik’s Prize in Leadership (Good Governance) Award in 2013; Champion Newspapers Governor of the Year award in 2014.

    Even with what some might consider as his foibles, there is no doubt that in JKF the researcher, the teacher, the activist, administrator and strategist come together with all the ideas that can help us change the way we think and act about leadership, scholarship, political tolerance, social justice and human capital development.

    From the four corners of the country and beyond come fifty gbosas for this innovator,  democrat and change agent- above all, an Omoluabi – as he joins the golden club today.

  • Fayemi didn’t donate money to Buhari’s campaign, says APC

    Fayemi didn’t donate money to Buhari’s campaign, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government for using the media to blackmail former Governor Kayode Fayemi by alleging that he (Fayemi) donated N1.5billion to the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

    It said in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, that the allegation, which was also circulated through text messages and the Internet, was “spurious, malicious and obnoxious.”

    The story, which was broadcast by a Yoruba newspaper review programme on Ekiti 91.5 FM, Lati Inu Aka, alleged that Fayemi made the donation through a Barclay’s Bank, Accra, cheque.

    The party spokesman said Fayemi did not operate any account with any branch of Barclay’s Bank around the world, hence the issue of donation did not arise.

    He said the ex-governor never donated any fund to the Buhari Campaign Organisation, adding that the latest attempt to tarnish his image would fail, just as other plots hatched by the PDP-led Federal Government in the build-up to the elections.

    According to him, the allegation, which started as a syndicated SMS by PDP officials, was later broadcast on the state radio and television under the supervision of state officials.

    Olatunbosun added that the allegation was a panicky response by the PDP administration to Buhari’s growing popularity across the nation and the imminent change through the February 14 poll.

    He said: “This latest attempt to tarnish the image of Dr. Fayemi through this wicked and senseless allegation has failed just as being hatched by the PDP in the build-up to the elections.

    “Dr. Fayemi stands out around the world as impeccable in his dealings. He never donated any money to the campaign, neither did he lobby before he was appointed to organise APC convention.

    “He has never been associated with fraud. Fayemi is not integrity-challenged like Fayose, whose entire being is denominated in naira and kobo.

    “He is in court over alleged N1.3billion poultry project fraud. He can’t explain the whereabouts of the N22billion refund and N2billion the Federal Government paid into the coffers of Ekiti State government.

    “Now he is playing N1.5 billion donation card to divert people’s attention from this wicked, fraudulent behaviour against Ekiti people.