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Tag: Fayemi

  • Mysteries of Fayemi’s defeat ’ll be unravelled, says Soyinka

    Mysteries of Fayemi’s defeat ’ll be unravelled, says Soyinka

    •Tambuwal, governors, clerics attend outgoing-governor’s thanksgiving

    The mysteries surrounding the defeat of Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election will be unravelled one day, the Nobel laureate, Prof. Woke Soyinka, has said.

    Soyinka spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while inaugurating the new Government House , christened “Ayoba Villa”.

    He was apparently amazed at the outcome of the election despite Fayemi’s performance, which he said had placed Ekiti on a strong footing through the programmes and legacy projects put in place.

    The dramatist said the state had been “resurrected from its dull state by Fayemi’s good works,” adding that the joyful atmosphere that permeated the event was an indication of his conviction.

    He advised the people to put aside all the mysteries surrounding the loss and continue to build on the “good foundation” the governor had established.

    Soyinka said the government lodge is open to the next governor to “either honour or desecrate.”

    He added however that the decision to toe Fayemi’s honourable path is the choice of the governor’s successor.

    The poet, who noted that Ekiti State had known many honourable people like the late Governor of the old Western State, Adekunle Fajuyi, stated that he had been watching Fayemi and he was happy that the outgoing governor did him proud.

    His words: “I have known you, I am watching you and I am proud of you. This building here, this edifice, has known honourable people. This edifice, I know it didn’t exist at the time I want to speak of very briefly, but I am talking about the seat of government in Ekiti State. It has known honourable, brave, intelligent and committed people like for instance Adekunle Fajuyi.

    “My hope is that it will after the departure of Kayode yet again know honourable, intelligent, committed, humanistic rulers. Don’t despair, don’t give up. I have the honour and the delight of opening this building and applauding the gesture that it is being done without the slightest rancour, being done to leave it open to a next governor to either honour or desecrate. The choice is his”.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said posterity would be a better judge that Fayemi ruled Ekiti State in dignified ways to the extent that he left indelible marks.

    He  added that Fayemi combined good governance and politics, saying despite losing election, the governor still continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

    The speaker hoped that successive administration would continue where Fayemi stopped.

    Earlier, a church thanksgiving was held at the St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti for the successful completion of the four-year term of the Fayemi-led administration, which is the second time a governor would complete his tenure in the state since the beginning of civil rule in 1999.

    The Vicar General of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Felix Odesanmi, in his homily, praised Fayemi for his consistency in gratitude to God.

    He recalled that the governor had on assumption of office in 2010, came to give thanks to God.

    The assistant Bishop of the Ekiti Catholic Diocese added that the governor’s achievements would continue to speak because he is leaving Ekiti better than he met it.

    Fayemi, who read the second lesson from Philippians 4 verses 12 – 20, thanked God for helping him successfully complete his tenure and fulfilling the promises he made to Ekiti people.

    The governor, who said that it was the extraordinary grace of God that made it possible for him to be Governor of Ekiti State – which was an opportunity for him to serve the people, added that the Ekiti success story had not yet ended.

    He noted that everything that happened during his administration was about moving Ekiti forward so that it could be better than what he met.

    The governor said it was left to the incoming administration to either honour it or desecrate the service done to the people.

    He stated that honour, integrity and compassion to the people had guided his government in the last four year, even as he thanked the people for their support.

    “For us, the job is not finished. It is not yet over. We are committed to deepening democracy in this country. We are not tired of serving our people and we will continue to offer service to our people. You can see this building. It shows that we did not just start strong, we also finished strong. We have not concluded. We are on a journey. We are not yet at the destination. We will keep moving until a greater Nigeria, a Nigeria of our dreams becomes a reality”, the governor said.

    At the event were the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, his wife Olufunso, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, the wife of the Governor of Osun, Mrs. Serifat Aregbesola, wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.

    Others were the former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonaya Onu, and wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu.

    The Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Jude Arogundade, his Ekiti counterpart, Most Revd Felix Ajakaye, retired Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Samuel Abe, the Alaaye of Efon,  Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and the Alare of Are Ekiti, Oba Boluwade, among other important dignitaries, were also at the event

  • Fayemi: Worthy legacy of a Trojan horse

    Fayemi: Worthy legacy of a Trojan horse

    AT last, Governor Kayode Fayemi is expected to bow out of the scene and take a deserved brake from the Ekiti political scene this week. While his failure to hold on to power has dominated discussions since the June 22 declaration of Mr. Ayo Fayose as winner of the governorship election, it has somewhat been difficult to consign the Fayemi administration to the rubbish heap. His adversaries concede that he worked for restoration of values in the state and that he made bold moves to upgrade infrastructure. Whoever knew Ado Ekiti before Fayemi would agree that a lot has been done to transform the capital town to a modern and befitting lead town. Whoever was ever at Ikogosi would not fail to note the transformation of that resort. Whoever appreciates what beautiful roads could do to an economy would not fail to note that the outgoing governor indeed sowed into a wonderful future fort the Ekiti people.

    It is not in my place to say the people made a wrong choice. Neither do I have to insist that projects such as the Oba Adejugbe Hospital, the Pavilion and the Government House would remain reference points in the history of the state in following decades. While I agree that the decision was for the electorate to take and they did so as it occurred to them, I equally believe that the governor who has been playing host to guests from different parts of the state, showcasing his work and worth in the past week, has enough to thank the Almighty for. He is a true friend of the people, even if he was misunderstood. He is my hero.

    In 2010, I had cause to write about Nigeria’s unusual politicians. I also confessed that the two that I identified might not be the only ones, but that Peter Obi and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti deserved accolades. The events since June 21 were not enough to change my mind. In respect of Obi, too, the defection to the PDP is not enough to make me believe that he did not work selflessly for his people. Both men could have made some miscalculations. But, who does not? Besides, it is the miscalculation that makes them different from others. IT seems to me that the voters wanted omelete, but would not contemplate breaking eggs. They want a modernizing worker as governor, yet wanted the governor, when elected to apply the same old, jaded and failed formulae to run affairs.

    This is one juncture to salute John Kayode Fayemi. He came to office fully prepared. He worked for the people and thus made enemies of the parasites who wanted to make a feast on the treasury. He protected the common patrimony from those who thought politics is sharing the cash and kept away from noise makers. In the process, he was dubbed an acada. When he won handsomely the legislative elections of 2011, he was not presented as a textbook politician, but, with the return of Hurricane Fayose in a furious manner, the Isan-Ekiti-born politician and activist has been called names.

    I am impressed that he has played his part. He has delivered as much as he promised when he submitted himself for the office at the inception of his administration.

    He fought a good fight; ran a good race and has etched his name in gold in the hearts of decent people. I remember that, in 2003, Rabiu Kwankwaso, another modernizing, transformational leader was pushed away for Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano State. He was misunderstood and called names. Shekarau found a way to hold on to power for eight years, but Kwankwaso bounced back. He had the last laugh. Something tells me that the revisionists will ultimately have the frown and, in Ekiti, Fayemi shall bounce back in style. He would have the last laugh.

    Ping pong in Adamawa

    The jigsaw puzzle in Adamawa is still unraveling. Who is or should be the rightful governor of the state-the impeached Murtala Nyako who insists that his removal was illegal or his deputy who refused to follow him to the APC and rather chose to play a fast one on the House of Assembly and has now been installed the governor. Or Umar Fintiri, the erstwhile Speaker of the House who held forte for almost three months and had begun to see himself as the governor-in waiting.

    The coast is not yet clear. Fintiri has appealed the verdict of Justice Ademola. We are waiting for the last word from the Supreme Court. Until then, mum is the word.

  • …her death painful –Fayemi

    …her death painful –Fayemi

    EKITI State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has expressed sadness on the death of Mrs. Felicia Adejoke Fasanmi, wife of Afenifere leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described Mrs. Fasanmi’s death as painful and unfortunate. He also described the deceased as a virtuous woman who lived a life of integrity, sacrifice, commitment and selfless service to humanity. The governor said Mrs. Fasanmi, who died some days after her husband celebrated his 89th birthday, was a trusted and committed soul mate to the Second Republic Senator.

    He noted that the death of Mrs. Fasanmi was painful because she died at a time her husband needed her company most having weathered the storms of life together in the time past. Fayemi said the deceased was a strong pillar of support for the Afenifere chieftain and was there for him throughout the thick and thin of an unblemished career in the public service. He urged the family of the deceased to be consoled by the good legacies she left behind. The governor prayed God to grant Senator Fasanmi the courage and equanimity to bear the loss of a woman who radiated beauty physically and in character. “The government and the people of Ekiti State, share with the family of our leader, Papa Fasanmi the grief of the passing on of the matriarch and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bare the irreparable loss,” the statement added.

  • I remain committed to peace in Ekiti –Fayemi

    I remain committed to peace in Ekiti –Fayemi

    Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has restated his commitment to the peace and development of the state, both in and out of office.

    The governor reiterated his commitment in Ado Ekiti at a Jumaat service marking the fourth anniversary of his administration, stating that the state has enjoyed relative peace under the present administration.

    Fayemi said,though there might be some setbacks, God has enabled the leadership of the state to remain strong and steady.

    He thanked Ekiti indigenes for the support given to his government since he assumed office in October 2010.

    “Setbacks are bound to happen in life, but whatever happens, God has enabled us to remain strong and steady. The state is still peaceful even though the people may not have got all they desire. But I am here to show gratitude for standing by my administration and for your prayers for us.

    “I want you to know that whether I am in government or not, the peace of Ekiti State and its progress and all that will make cooperation reign among the people are important to me. And I will never at any time relent in pursuing peace for the state,” he said.

    Earlier in his message, the Chief Missioner of the Ansaru-deen Central mosque, Ado Ekiti, Alhaji Hadi Adebayo who was represented by Ustas Mohammed Abdulmutolib stressed the importance of gratitude; saying that everyone who fails to show gratitude for any good done to them should be ready for God’s wrath.

    Adebayo who commended Governor Fayemi for embarking on a Thank You tour of the State urged people to emulate the Governor’s gesture because gratitude breeds generosity.

  • Conduct Bureau directs Fayemi, others to declare assets

    Conduct Bureau directs Fayemi, others to declare assets

    Director, Code of Conduct Bureau in Ekiti State, Mr. Akinfolarin Feyisola,  has directed Governor Kayode Fayemi to declare his “end of tenure assets” unfailingly before the expiration of his tenure.

    Feyisola, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said the directive also affected the outgoing deputy governor and other political office-holders.

    He said all the affected public officers had been duly informed.

    The bureau chief said it was mandatory for every political office-holderto declare their assets when coming and leaving office.

    He added that defaulters would be dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for contravening the law.

    According to him, some of the officers had started collecting the assets declaration forms after receiving the reminder of the constitutional provision.

    The director said the current closure of all courts in the state was a challenge for those who had filled their forms, but have nowhere to swear affidavit or do other court processes.

    Feyisola advised those who are yet to collect or complete their assets forms to do so immediately, while awaiting the re-opening of the courts.

  • Photos of the week

    Photos of the week

  • Hold governor-elect responsible for crisis — Fayemi

    Hold governor-elect responsible for crisis — Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has told Nigerians to hold Mr. Ayo Fayose, the Ekiti State governor-elect, liable for the current crisis in the state.

    He said that the state had been relatively peaceful until Fayose’s attack on judges and disruption of court proceedings during the week.

    The governor raised the alarm while assessing the level of damage done by hoodlums who burnt down the state and Ado Local Government secretariats of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the residence and five vehicles belonging to the former Chairman of the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, Mr Joseph Olambiwonu (Mentilo), and several other vehicles that were attacked in the wake of the killing on Thursday night of  Mr Omolafe Aderiye, former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    Other properties destroyed by the arsonists include Fayemi’s campaign office, five APC  vehicles, no fewer than eight tricycles popularly called Keke Fayemi and some other vehicles on the streets of Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    Dr. Fayemi who lamented that some people did not care about returning the state to its dark old days between 2003 and 2006 in their desperate bid to actualise their ambitions, asserted that the crisis was fuelled by Fayose and should be held responsible for all that happened during the crisis.

    The Governor while advising the governor-elect to toe the path of civility, rather than brigandage in resolving disagreements, said Fayose should have sought redress if there was any court pronouncement he was not satisfied with.

    Fayemi stressed that the same Court Fayose was afraid of had more than twice ruled against the state government under the present administration.

    “Don’t let us forget where this originally came from. It is not accidental that we have.

  • Oni, Fayemi, Aregbe and politics of character

    Without any fear of inaccuracy, I was the first person in the media industry-both national and foreign-to have an exclusive interview with Engr. Segun Oni after his swearing-in as the governor of Ekiti State in 2007. The interview happened less than a month after he settled down for the serious business of governance. The interview was a no-holds barred and I asked then Governor Oni many questions. Not minding the political tendency on which I may be leaning as he was meeting me for the first time-having been introduced by Dr. Samuel Arowolaju (a senior friend) as a media guy from the United States, he answered my questions candidly and without mincing words.

    Some of the questions revolved around his predecessor, now governor-elect Ayodele Fayose and he said more than a mouthful. Hear him: “On the 29th of September, 2005 we had a meeting that was to become a rally somewhere along Falegan Estate area. We actually had a peaceful meeting but the police came in nonetheless. They said Governor Fayose had prepared an agenda to get some of us. They came to get me and fired some rubber bullets…They kicked me, beat me up and I was dragged on the main road of this (Ado-Ekiti) city and thrown into a vehicle. People were watching from afar. The police thought they’ve thrown my lifeless body inside the vehicle but when they realized that I wasn’t dead they took me to the police station and sprayed teargas on me. They wanted to spray the teargas into my nostrils but I told the guy if he did that I would die and the policemen watching him are the ones who would give evidence against him and he would never get out of it.”

    I asked the then governor if he was contemplating revenge since he then occupied the same office his predecessor allegedly used to attempt to snuff life out of him. The governor said: “The only lesson I took away from that unfortunate incident is that power is very transient. You see, when you have power and you refuse to use it based on your whims you enhance its value.”(Italics mine for emphasis). I never stopped thinking about this last sentence since as reflecting the man’s strength of character.

    A different aura, as if issued from the core of his being, enveloped Ekiti State when John Kayode Fayemi took over the mantle of leadership. The calm that descended on the state, which reflected the persona of Fayemi was palpable. Scrupulous Nigerian entrepreneurs and the international community saw in him his genuineness and started to set up shops in the state so much that billions have been sunk into hospitality and other service businesses by private investors. The governor will probably go down in the 18-years’ history of the state as the only governor that continued with the projects of his predecessor, despite the very painful and tortuous experience to which he was subjected in regaining his mandate. On assumption, he became the first governor in this dispensation to declare his assets and that of his wife. The governor declared an eight-point agenda as a blueprint of his administration that not only touches every socio-economic strata of society, but also implemented virtually all the points and sub-points on the agenda during his tenure. This remarkable feat earned him the sobriquet of “O wi bee, O se bee” which literally translated into “He said it, did it”. As part of rebranding the state along the lines of the values that he holds dear, Ekiti state is now known as “Ile Iyi, Ile Eye,” a phrase that embodies a virtuous state that I hope the new helmsman will keep.

    Osun State was a violent and highly traumatized state on its way to a bottomless perdition when Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over its administration. It was a beleaguered state not because it is socio-culturally disposed to brigandage, but because a class of its own people was attempting to take away its very soul. On his assumption of office, Aregbesola decided -almost from Day One of his administration-to take the road less travelled. This earned him the description of an unusual man running an unusual government. He believes that a people, as that organic structure that makes up society, must coalesce around some core principles which must of necessity become their ethos if they must realize their collective destiny. The state was also rebranded along this line of thought.

    His administration created a crest, a Coat of Arm, a flag and a state anthem that the country’s central authority stuck in its primordial hunter and gatherer political disposition accused him of trying to secede from the republic. The governor did not stop there. A state known as the “State of the Living Spring” became known as a “State of the Virtuous.” He has been described by people from various walks of life to be a “scrupulously honest and humble” chief of state, which probably contributed in no small measure to his victory at the recent poll for a second term. I have given the synopses of this trio in order to identify a common thread that runs through them. And this is the character thread.

    Much has been said by political scientists and pundits that one of the major reasons why the All Progressives Congress(APC) has been unable to gain significant traction so far is because of its inability to anchor its existence on a political ideology or an identity. It should look no further. The opposition political party should make character the lifeblood that gives it sustenance. Character should be seen by the people as what distinguishes it from the ruling party. It should be seen as its main pillar. It should be the first identifier of the party’s candidates for electoral offices from henceforth. This time tested virtue should be its brand.

    As much as Nigeria has been touted as having the largest and the most promising economy in the continent, much of the rest of the world still will not touch her even with a long pole because the country’s government and its people are deemed as hopelessly corrupt and lacking in character. Therefore, injecting character into the body politic will most definitely reverse the self-destructive trajectory of a pathetic country such as Nigeria. Other social pillars of justice, fairness and equity that must be present to lend support to the growth and sustenance of any society can only thrive with the presence of character. A nation without character is a living dead.  They say that character is really what you do when no one is looking. I will add that it is also when one is willing to go against the grain because the values that one represents will be seriously compromised or impaired, as exemplified by the people of the State of Osun when they overwhelmingly voted for the presidential candidate of the party they identified with in 2011 even when they knew that his chances of winning was hopelessly low.

     

     

    •  Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.
  • Fayemi’s fourth anniversary begins

    Fayemi’s fourth anniversary begins

    •Govt rates self high on performance

    The fourth anniversary of the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi began at the weekend with the government rating itself high on many performance indicators.

    Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, at a media briefing at the  Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, said the administration had out-performed preceding governments in welfare and incentives for civil and public servants as well as teachers in public primary and secondary schools.

    Adaramodu, who countered the allegation that Fayemi had been running anti-workers’ policies and programmes, noted: “As part of our efforts to encourage teachers, we distributed about 18,000 sets of computers to them to boost their knowledge of ICT, aside the 30,000 distributed to students. So, Fayemi is not an enemy to teachers.”

    The governor’s aide clarified that about 50 completed projects in the 35 councils of the state bore additional indication of the governor’s performance.

    Adaramodu, who is also the chairman, Media and Publicity of the anniversary which starts today with “a thank you tour of 35 councils in the state,” said: “Fayemi gave core subjects and rural allowances to teachers and this had never happened in the state’s history.”

    He debunked the allegation that the Fayemi-led government was unserious towards creating jobs for youths, adding that the governor had done “exceedingly well in the area of empowerment and job creation for youths.”

    His words: “Apart from that we employ many of our youths into the civil service and teaching service commission, the governor also created other valves like the Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency, the Youth in Commercial Agriculture initiative and the youth volunteer corps to create other avenues of employments for our youths.”

    Adaramodu stated that the government had been transparent and accountable, noting that the government also “embraced an open-door policy in instilling the values of honour, prudence, selfless service and integrity into governance in Ekiti in terms of financial dealings.

    “All that this administration has done in the last four years had been envisioned. They are all contained in the inaugural speech of Governor Fayemi during his inauguration on October 16, 2010. Within four years, our administration has been able, through self-denial, perseverance and prudent management of scarce resources, turned around a seemingly hopeless situation for better.

    “Ekiti today is now an investment haven, a tourist destination of choice, the toast of development partners and a reference-point in good and responsive governance because we have confronted headlong the critical questions of development and stagnation.

    “We therefore salute our people for their cooperation. It is also gratifying to note that the sacrifice of the early years has paid off as we all can boast of a better state where we have peace, progress and prosperity”.

    On completion of ongoing projects, Adaramodu noted that the administration had put in place structures to assure their sustainability when the new administration of Mr. Ayodele Fayose comes on board.

  • Fayemi: his death sad, devastating

    Fayemi: his death sad, devastating

    Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has expressed condolence on the death of a celebrated journalist, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.

    He described the death of Igwe, 58, in an accident as sad and devastating.

    Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said losing a media icon with a deep understanding of public affairs like Igwe at this time was devastating.

    He said Igwe was one of the pioneers of human angle genre in the print media, which brought freshness and excitement to journalism.

    The governor said he practised the profession with zeal, candour and integrity, adding that Igwe’s place in journalism was secure, as he gave much to the job as an editor, a columnist, a manager and an administrator.

    Fayemi recalled Igwe’s trailblazing roles at the defunct Weekend Concord and the Sun, which recorded successes in the print media.

    He said his column in the Sun was a must-read for Nigerians, who looked forward to his incisive analyses on burning issues.