Tag: Fayemi

Debates as to which day represents Nigeria’s Democracy Day took a clearer dimension on Wednesday as Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi explained why Ekiti and some other states recognise June 12, rather than May 29, as the nation’s Democracy Day.

Speaking with reporters during the monthly “Meet Your Governor” programme in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Fayemi said aside the fact that some governors did not assume office on May 29, June 12 marked the “remarkable day” Nigerians trooped out to elect a civilian president after a decade of military rule.

He said although the election, which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, was annulled, the event remained a watershed in the country’s history.

Fayemi said May 29 was a mere symbolic transition from military to democratic rule, stressing that the struggle for the revalidation of the June 12 election was what gave birth to the democracy enjoyed in Nigeria today.

He said June 12, given its significance, should be the nation’s Democracy Day, adding that there would not have been May 29, 1999, but for the event of June 12, 1993.

Fayemi said: “Many lives were sacrificed on that day and thereafter while fighting for the democratic experience the nation is witnessing now. It is important to note that without June 12, 1993, there would be no May 29, 1999.”

On infrastructural development in the state, the governor said no violator of town planning rules would be spared in the ongoing demolition of structures obstructing the waterways and those too close to the road.

He said the demolition was delayed because some property owners went to court to challenge it.

Fayemi said landlords with authentic Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and approved building plans would be compensated.

Details of how the election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) was won and lost emerged yesterday.

Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was the Returning Officer, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said.

Uduaghan is one of the governors who met 24 hours after the election to insist that Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang is chairman. He denied being the Returning Officer last night.

Dr. Fayemi described Jang’s “so-called” endorsement by some governors as “not only childish but petty”.

The Ekiti governor, in a statement, said: “The attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has been drawn to the distortion of the events leading to the election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman of the Forum at its election held in Abuja on Friday.

“We are particularly worried about the deliberate misrepresentation of events at the election in the media by some members of the Forum in the bid to justify the setting up of a parallel group, following the defeat of Governor Jonah Jang in the keenly contested chairmanship election.

“While we are not interested in joining issues with the pro-Jang group in their smear campaign in the media, we feel compelled to correct some of the negative impressions being created in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public through a pot pourri of fabricated stories and outright lies.

“It is on record that all the 35 governors present voted and there is an electronic evidence of this, and Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, served as the Returning Officer in the Friday election that produced Governor Amaechi as chairman of NGF.

“Whereas the pro-Jang group had reportedly premised their position on earlier endorsement of Governor Jang’s candidature by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and the Northern Governors Forum, it suffices to state without any fear of contradiction that endorsement of a candidate does not translate to actual votes in any election.

“And even if they want to claim it as the result of the election, how come it was originally dated April and contained the names of Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and Governor Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State who were absent ?

“A candidate can have countless endorsements ahead of an election, but electoral victory is determined mainly by the number of votes he is able to garner at the election.

“Having won the election, Governor Amaechi had demonstrated statesmanship by making his acceptance speech, which dwelled on his readiness to work with his opponent, Governor Jang and the need for the governors to work with the President of the country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in moving the country forward.

“Contrary to the rather bizarre position being canvassed by the pro-Jang group, we do not see any reason for us to demonstrate that we won the election.

“ The results of the election, as announced by the electoral officer, is clear on the victory of Governor Amaechi. Rushing to Abuja to create the impression of being the so-called authentic Governors’ Forum is not only childish but petty.

“At an appropriate time, a meeting of the Forum will be convened. For now, we are busy concentrating on our developmental work in our individual states rather than indulging in smear campaigns and distortions.

“We implore members of the public not to be hoodwinked by these deliberate distortions in the media. We also urge the media to help enlighten the public on the issues at stake in a bid to build a more enduring democracy.”

But the Delta State governor denied that he was the Returning Officer.

According to him, the Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asissama Okauru, was the Returning Officer.

He said Amaechi requested him to be his agent and he replied that he would like to be the agent for both the Rivers State governor and his opponent which generated laughter.

He added, however, that the votes were counted openly by the NGF DG and so, there was no need for an agent for either candidate.

TWO governors have shed light on the election of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said the re-election of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of the NGF as “victory for democracy and not over the presidency”.

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed called for reconciliation of the factions.

Fayemi spoke with reporters at his Ishan-Ekiti country home at the weekend.

He said the decision of the Forum to opt for election instead of consensus was as “a result of democratic growth in the country”.

Fayemi said: “It is a contest among governors for the chairmanship position and it would be wrong for anyone to consider it a contest between President Goodluck Jonathan and Amaechi as the President was not a contestant.

“This country belongs to all of us and we are committed to working closely with the President of Nigeria. He is our leader. We have respect for him and his office. So let no one think it is a defeat to the president. It was a race between Governors Jang and Amaechi”.

Fayemi described as “sad” comments by the anti-Amaechi governors that the election was rigged. He added that the election, which was recorded on tape, was one of the most credible he had witnessed.

He said: “Governors routinely decide who becomes their chairman and they have done so consistently since 1999. The only difference is that as democracy grows, competition also grows with it. What was usually done on the basis of consensus before now went in the direction of outright election and a winner emerged.

“There should not be any reason for hidden agenda among the governors since the NGF is a voluntary body which lacks recognition by the constitution.”

Speaking with airport correspondents at the weekend in Ilorin on his return from Abuja where the election was held, Ahmed urged his colleague governors to shun divisive political tendencies.

He said: “If there are issues as regards the election of the Forum’s chairman, we should use the same platform to resolve them rather than fanning the embers of discord in the media. Our choking security challenges should not be compounded with political conundrum.”

Ahmed urged the leadership of Southsouth Governor’s Forum, the Northern State Governors’ Forum, the Southeast Governors’ Forum and their colleagues from the Southwest to strengthen the Forum and complement the leadership at the federal level.

Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Cross River State, Bishop Emmah Isong, described the claim and counterclaim over the election as unfortunate.

He said it “is a sign the group has lost sight of the vision for which it was formed”.

Speaking with reporters in Calabar, Isong, who is also the founder and President of the Christian Central Chapel International (CCCI), said the Forum is supposed to be a meeting of like minds for the development of the people and not a platform for politicking.

He said: “The Forum is not one of the provisions of the elements of this democracy. It is a Forum of like-minded people contemporary colleagues meeting to run their welfare. I am thinking they went beyond their terms of reference, that is why you see in-fighting and washing their dirty linen in public.

“To pick chairman of the first NGF was not difficult. To pick second one was not difficult. The elections started to be tough as their terms of reference began to deviate from harmonising and synchronising their political fellowship to the welfare of members to the progress of Nigerians.

“They should not go beyond working together for the benefits of their people. I advise them to go back to the drawing board. It is not their place to form themselves to a pressure group to support or fight the president. It shouldn’t be. Governors should not be stooges in the hands of anybody to achieve their political goals.

“They are heating up the system unnecessarily and they should not be the ones to heat up the system. They should retire and go back to their states. You have no roads in your state and you are struggling to be NGF chairman. You were elected in your state. They should mind their lane. Drive according to your lane.”

National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Malam Muhammad Garba said the controversy surrounding the election was capable of derailing democracy.

In a statement, Garba said the confusion which polarised the Forum indicated that it has been penetrated in “a desperate attempt to actualise the 2015 ambition of some desperate politicians”.

Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police Alhaji Abubakar Tsav urged the president to be careful with his ‘involvement’ in the NGF.

Tsav said it was wrong of Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio to say Jang was the duly elected chairman of the Forum when the election was won by Amaechi.

He urged the president to call Akpabio to order before he caused more damage to his administration.

The Ekiti State Government has approved N300 million for developmental projects in 60 rural communities.

The Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Empowerment, Chief Folorunso Olabode, announced this at the weekend at a forum in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He said the money will be released to the communities within two weeks for projects, such as markets and town halls, among others.

Olabode said the ministry’s projects and programmes were designed to alleviate poverty, adding that the government will partner Community Development Associations (CDAs) to develop rural areas.

He urged the CDAs to initiate meaningful projects.

To curb rural/urban migration, Olabode said the government has organised health intervention programmes, renovated schools, executed rural electrification projects, opened up rural areas and initiated the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development Programme (YCAD).

Olabode assured communities of even distribution of projects.

Also at the weekend, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, said the government will distribute 263,442 cocoa seedlings to farmers.

He spoke during a meeting with cocoa farmers in Ado-Ekiti.

Arowosafe said the government is determined to revive cocoa production in Ekiti and assured farmers that the number of nursery points will be increased to ensure accessibility.

He said the government would facilitate a virile marketing strategy that will enable farmers market their produce at reasonable prices.

Arowosafe said agro-chemicals have been subsidised by the federal and state governments under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES).

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi spoke yesterday on the people’s expectations.

They are interested in performance and not mere promises, he told senior government officials.

He said gone were the days when government would earmark funds for projects without implementing them.

Fayemi said people are tired of hearing what amount was earmarked for projects, adding that they want to see the projects and enjoy them.

He said this informed his administration’s insistence on speedy and excellent delivery of projects and services.

The governor spoke at the opening of the second Executive-Parliamentary Retreat at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ikogosi-Ekiti.

The programme is an annual event, where the government’s policies and strategies are evaluated. It is for House of Assembly members, the state’s representatives in the National Assembly and members of the state executive council.

The theme of the four-day retreat is: “Collaboration: looking back, looking forward”.

Fayemi said the retreat was to evaluate his administration’s performance and the way forward.

He said many of the projects implemented last year were products of the first parley, which was held in Iloko-Ijesa.

Fayemi said his administration has delivered 70 per cent of its promises to the people in two-and-a-half years and would do more before its tenure ends.

He said: “This parley is expected to give us a sense of where we are and where we are headed. We want to know the things we have done, where the gaps are, how to strengthen the bond between the executive and the legislature and achieve our objective of eradicating poverty and making life abundant.

“This is the time to focus on our people. The time for politics will come, when we will tell them what we have done and allow them to judge us. Our people are only interested in eye-marking; enough of earmarking in Ekiti. What we used to hear in the past was that government had earmarked this and that for water, education and so on. Not anymore! It is only what can be eye-marked that will determine how our people judge us.”

Former Governor Niyi Adebayo urged the people to support the governor’s efforts to rebuild Ekiti.

Adebayo, who spoke on “Banana peels and Executive-Legislature relations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic”, said his administration managed the state with a meagre monthly allocation of below N400 million.

He said he executed many road, rural electrification and community projects and paid salary promptly.

Adebayo said his administration built the Ekiti House in Abuja and Lagos, as well as the present Governor’s Office, which was originally designed to be a five-star hotel.

He said projects executed by his administration are still generating income for the state.

Adebayo said the introduction of the biometric payroll system, the e-payment system and the signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into Law showed that the Fayemi administration had zero tolerance for corruption.

He said people should not see the collaboration between the executive and legislative as sycophancy, but a proper agreement that would benefit the masses, adding that the legislature should not be seen as hardworking when it is at logger-heads with the executive.

House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin said the legislature is an intermediary institution between the executive and the electorate and is the hope of residents against “unpopular government policies”.

Omirin said for government to continue to run smoothly, both arms of government must shun confrontation, needless friction and tension.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday inaugurated the 128-stall Awedele Neighbouhood Market in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Fayemi said the stalls were built to accommodate displaced traders from Bisi Market, which was partly demolished during the expansion of the Atikankan-First Baptist road, now Funmi Olayinka Drive.

He said it would be improper and unsafe for traders to display their wares by the road side.

Fayemi said five more neighbourhood markets would be built in Ado-Ekiti and the remaining 15 local government headquarters by October.

He said the government plans to give loans to traders, adding that women empowerment is not limited to the female gender, but extends to the family and the society, which are the indirect beneficiaries.

The governor said his wife, Erelu Bisi, will soon tour local governments to assist women financially and offer free health services to traders through her foundation, the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF).

The State President of Market Women, Chief Waye Oso, thanked the governor for his “timely intervention” and empowerment programmes. She said although the traders requested umbrellas to erect mini-stands, the government gave them befitting stalls.

The market women sang various songs in appreciation and pledged their support for the governor’s re-election next year.