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Tag: Fayose

  • Ekiti: Protect your land from external invasion, Fayose, others tell indigenes

    EKITI governor, Ayodele Fayose, has urged indigenes of the state to protect their land from invasion by kidnappers, Fulani Herdsmen, others. The governor made the call in tandem with a general clamour, at a no-holdsbarred session held with civil societies, to discuss the ways out of the multiple cases of kidnappings, destruction of farmlands by Fulani Herdsmen and other security vices plaguing the state. Speaking at the dialogue powered by a Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural Movement, Yoruba KOYA Movement, Fayose, founder, Afe Babalola University, Afe Babalola, Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Kunle Olajide, and the Iyaloja-General of Ekiti State, Waye Oso and several others unanimously declared that ‘Enough is enough.’ Commercial activities around Dave Hotel, Iworoko road, venue of the event in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, shut down for over five hours as representatives of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Hunters, Harmonized Surveillance Guard (HSG), Farmers, Market Men and Women, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Nigerian Artisan Technician Association (NATA) and several others joined the deliberations on security challenges plaguing the state.

    In his speech, Fayose said all Yoruba people irrespective of their political interest and religion should unite together to wage war against the invasion of Yoruba land by external forces. He said that self-defense against criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen, is not illegal, buttressing his position with biblical verses that only the courageous will make heaven. “Let me say very expressly, that, resistance is not easy but only the courageous wins. I was at Ibadan restructuring crusade organized by Afenifere in September 2017, all that I said there, I have no apology for them. “Yoruba people should be allowed to be in right places. If we are not allowed, we will all die.

    These poor people (pointing to the large crowd of participants) don’t have access to press but only people like you can help them. “I want to appeal to our people that this is a collective struggle. If you say you cannot defend yourself, someone wants to cut you, you want to wait and allow people shoot you? Even God does not appreciate cowards,” he said. The governor berated the police for not doing enough to protect the people, stressing that, the real police are the hunters and vigilantes in attendance at the event. Afe Babalola who was represented by a Prof. Deji Olofintila, said he had written several letters to the Directorate of State Services (DSS), the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), on the need to step up surveillance across the state without any meaningful response. “This is our fight in Ekiti, I am shocked that an Ijebu man, Deji Osibogun, will come to Ekiti to mobilise our people. The role I played in the creation of Ekiti State cannot make me watch helplessly without doing anything.

  • Sdp candidate vows to take over from Fayose

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinloye Ayegbusi, has expressed confidence that he would take over from Governor Ayo Fayose on October 16.

    Ayegbusi advised the governor to start preparing his handover notes to be handed over to an SDP government led by him.

    He made the remarks at the SDP mega rally held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti where he was presented with the party’s governorship flag.

    Ayegbusi urged the youths in the state to embrace the SDP which has produced one of them as the candidate so that there can total generational shift of governance to the youths.

    He said: “As for the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) government in Ekiti led by Governor Ayodele Fayose, I am using this medium to tell him to start writing his handover note for the government of SDP which will take over from him in October this year.”

    He urged the people to shun money and vote for their conscience and their future prosperity,  saying that people always deserve what they get.

    In his remarks at the occasion, Chief Olu Falae who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman of SDP, Alhaji Abdul  Ahmed, said that the party would take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    Falae said: “This party has come to stay. The SDP will take over power at the centre and all the 36 states. We are starting that process from Ekiti. Come July 14, our young and dynamic candidate will win the election.

    “From the information at our disposal, we have won the election. I urged the people of Ekiti to come out and vote for SDP. “

    The rally was attended by top notchers of SDP across the Country including, Alhaji Musa Gaban, National Secretary. Rt. Hon. Emeka Atuma, national Organising Secretary, Prof Jerry Gana, Chairman National Steering committee,  Prof Tunde Adeniran.

    SDP governorship aspirants from Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore and his Gombe State counterpart,  Prof Rufai Alkali.

     

  • Fayose orders HOS to issue promotion letters to 45,000 workers in one week

    The Ekiti State Head of Service, (HOS), Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, has been given one week  to distribute promotion letters to the over 45,000 civil servants who recently sat for qualifying interview and passed. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti gave the one-week ultimatum yesterday to Faseluka in Ado Ekiti. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the governor gave the order at a news conference in Ado Ekiti.

    He also said that his administration was set to fulfil an earlier promise of employing over 2,000 new hands into the state public service. He said he would personally supervise and monitor the process of recruiting the new workers, so as to guide against any form of favouritism. Fayose said that those to be employed would cut across all the 16 local government areas of the state without applying political or religious attachment.

    “In my administration, the people of Ekiti know my style. You do not need to know the governor, a big man or any member of his cabinet before you get what is due to you. Once you are tested and deemed to be qualified, you will be taken without the so-called connection that is the norm in most places,” he said. The governor, however, alleged that certain persons and political parties were attempting to buy no less than 200,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected by their legitimate owners.

    He alleged that if they succeed, they would use them to rig next month’s gubernatorial election coming up on July 14. The governor appealed to those who registered but had not collected their PVCs to go for them to prevent any form of rigging. However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Mr Taiwo Gbadegesin, denied the allegation.

     

  • Fayose to Obasanjo: Clear your name

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said on Saturday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be ready to clear his name of any allegation levelled against him.

    The governor also asked the ex-President to stop raising alarm on plot to arrest him by the Federal Government.

    He said: “Nigerians are being humiliated every day by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime which he (Obasanjo) helped to enthrone.”

    “Some of us have gone through trials before and we are not afraid of trials even today.”

    The governor, who insisted that Obasanjo deserves whatever humiliation he was getting from President Buhari, said “the President can go ahead and arrest the ex-President if he desires but should remember that what goes around comes around.”

    “He won’t be President forever too. After all, they have been intimidating and humiliating former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife,” Fayose said.

    The governor referred to Page 96 of Obasanjo’s book, “My Watch,” where he wrote “I prefer him (Buhari) to jail me than Jonathan to return to destroy this nation,” noting that “since the ex-President  himself said he preferred to be jailed by Buhari and worked for his enthronement, the President can hasten his arrest and imprisonment.

    In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “When other Nigerians were at the receiving end of President Buhari’s dictatorship, Obasanjo was going in and out of the Presidential Villa.

    “Where was he when Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) was arrested and detained since 2015 despite court orders for his release? When over 1,000 members of the Nigeria’s Islamic Movement were killed in Zaria and their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, arrested and dumped in detention since 2016 despite of court orders, what did Obasanjo do?

    “Where was Obasanjo when armed men of the DSS invaded the Ekiti State House Assembly and abducted one of its members? Did Obasanjo travel out of Nigeria when judges were being arrested in the night in a Gestapo manner?”

     

  • Adeyeye: Ekiti people poorer under Fayose

    FORMER Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged lack of vision and inflicting hardship and poverty on the people of Ekiti State. Adeyeye said Ekiti people are poorer under Fayose because the governor abandoned human capital development programmes of his immediate predecessor in office, who is now the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Speaking on a special interview programme on Voice 89.9 FM, Ado-Ekiti, Adeyeye urged the electorate to reject Fayose’s anointed candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Adeyeye urged the electorate in Ekiti State to vote Fayemi, whom he said has a genuine vision to make life better for the people and develop the Fountain of Knowledge. He said a vote for Olusola is a vote for continuation of poverty,hardship, misery, hunger, lack of focus and placing Ekiti in Fayose’s grip after he might have left office. Adeyeye, who defected to the APC on May 29, accused Fayose of playing games with the state treasury and lack of accountability.

    The former minister said Fayose has failed to declare the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) despite various forms of taxes imposed on the people of the state. Those reeling under tax burden, according to Adeyeye include owners of small, medium and large scale businesses, artisans, civil servants, tertiary institution workers and pupils in nursery, primary and secondary schools. He criticized alleged plots by the Fayose administration to poison the minds of Ekiti people against the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Adeyeye assured teachers and civil servants of job security and better welfare packing saying Fayemi has no plan to sack them as being alleged by Fayose and Olusola. Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said he was not surprised by Adeyeye’s outburst describing him as a spent force and a man still frustrated by his loss at the PDP primary to Olusola.

  • Fayose to Buhari: declare Abiola as president

    EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to go a step further by officially declaring winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as the president-elect.

    The governor, at a press briefing in Government House in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, argued that it is after this has been done that the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR) honour conferred on Abiola will have constitutional backing.

    Fayose said: “The honour done to late Moshood Olawale  Abiola  (MKO) by President Muhammadu Buhari is a welcome development. We thank the

    President, even though we know it is for political reasons, we see it as a step in the right direction.

    “We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to go to the next level and declare MKO the President of Nigeria because MKO won the election, but the then dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, denied Nigerians that victory and the opportunity to have Abiola as our President.

    “Having realised that they goofed, they have come out to right the wrong. Besides, you can’t keep such title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR) without being the President of Nigeria. Therefore, the President should be courageous enough by declaring the results of the election and declare Abiola the winner of the June 12 poll. This is a lesson that what you do today will be reference point for others tomorrow.

    “We condemn the annulment of the June12 presidential poll results, brutality of Nigerians who protested against it, election rigging, brute force and manipulations during elections.”

     

     

     

     

  • Akeredolu to Fayose: you can’t stop me from election campaign in Ekiti

    The Ondo State government yesterday faulted the statement credited to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, castigating Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Fayose had accused Akeredolu of bringing 150 policemen to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, last Friday, to instigate the gun attack in which four persons, including an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Opeyemi Bamidele, were injured.

    He repeated the accusation that Akeredolu planned to use Ondo State’s two months’ allocation to fund the electioneering of the APC governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    A statement by Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, said: “Ordinarily, we would have ignored all the deliberate lies and falsehood, but we felt that we would not be the public, if such lies were not debunked.

    “For the information of the doubters, Governor Akeredolu, even if provoked, cannot debase his personality to a level that he will sacrifice the interests of his people for pecuniary gains.

    “Instead of engaging in hypocritical activities, like eating at motor parks and cutting ponmo (cow hide delicacy) at the market square, Akeredolu is currently applying the public resources for the betterment of the lives of the people of the state.

    “So, it is interesting to state that Ondo is witnessing massive infrastructural development in all sectors of the state. On Monday, at the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting, a number of projects were approved for execution. That’s how development is moving in Ondo State.

    “Governor Fayose and his boy should be reminded that the Akeredolu-led administration has performed creditably well in the last one year and few months.

    “On last Friday’s gun attack in Ekiti, we would like to refer Fayose to a statement by the Ekiti State police spokesperson Caleb Okechukwu, who cleared the air on the issue. Investigation by the police had revealed that the shooter was a police officer brought from Lagos by an Ekiti politician.

    “For this revelation, we believe that the Ekiti governor and his cohorts will now bury their heads in shame.

    “We, therefore, call the security agencies in the country to take note of the false accusation levelled against Akeredolu by Fayose and his town crier, who, only a few years ago, wrote a detailed report about the devious activities of his master.

    “It is also important for Lere and his boss to know one very important fact that unlike his boss, we are committed to the progress and peaceful co-existence between the state and Ekiti. I mean, weren’t we one before October, 1996? The seed of discord Fayose is trying to plant between the two states will not germinate, no matter how cunning he is.

    “We will love to state here categorically that Governor Akeredolu reserves every right to show support for the candidate of his party in Ekiti State, just as Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the rest are showing support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    “There is no law that prohibits Fayose and the PDP from making issues out of this because of the smell of defeat that has overwhelmed them.

    “Fayose also tried to rewrite the sad incident that occurred last Friday, claiming that the tear gas canisters that hit a taxi driver was fired by the policemen that accompanied the thugs from Akure.

    “Residents of Ekiti and those who were present during the incident knew that the pandemonium that greeted the shooting at the APC secretariat necessitated the tear gas canisters fired by the policemen.

    “Please, note that the policemen who fired the tear gas canisters were duly drafted to the secretariat by the Ekiti State Police Command to forestall the breakdown of law and order…”

     

     

     

  • Fayose alleges plot by APC to implicate him

    Fayemi’s aide: Governor’s allegation baseless

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday alleged that plans are underway to instigate violence and killings and attribute the killings to him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said a meeting had been held in Isan-Ekiti country home of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, where it was decided that a certain chieftain should organize some killings and throw the state into confusion ahead of the polls.

    Fayose urged the Inspector-General of Police to beam the searchlight on the activities of the APC in the state, adding that the party’s primary and its first campaign in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, were marred with violence and shootings.

    The governor told reporters in Lagos that Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has started mobilising thugs, policemen and driver’s union members to invade Ekiti during the elections to cause mayhem and put the blame at his doorsteps.

    But, Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s media aide, Yinka Oyebode, said Fayose’s allegations were baseless and unwarranted, stressing that he was busy chasing shadows. He said the governor was already jittery ahead of the poll, advising him to face the reality of the end of an era.

    Fayose, who sympathised with the victims of the accidental discharge at the APC secretariat, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigns have been suspended for 72 hours in solidarity with their families and relations at this trying period.i

    He advised that one of the victims, former House of Representatives member Opeyemi Bamidele, who he said, is in a critical condition, should be evacuated and taken abroad for treatment, adding that “his life should not be used for politics.”

    Fayose said Ekiti was peaceful before the commencement of the APC campaigns, alleging that the opposition party came with violence because it is desperate for power.  He added: “Dr. Fayemi and the APC are no threat to the level of achievements and love the people of Ekiti have for me.”

    He lamented that the shootings was interpreted as an assassination attempt on Dr. Fayemi by the party chairman, Chief Jide Awe, and the secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, who rushed to the press without to score cheap points without proper investigation.

    The governor condemned the shootings, saying they were sad and avoidable.

    Fayose said: “There has been no political violence and intimidation of the opposition and Ekiti has enjoyed peace. The police said Ekiti was the most peaceful state in Nigeria. But, in the last two weeks, violence has returned to Ekiti because of elections and activities of the APC. Its primarty was marred by violence and during Fayemi’s first outing, nine people were injured in shootings. The press must differentiate it from propaganda and address the security situation.

    “In the PDP, our primary was free and fair; no rancour. There was a meeting at Isan where a person, Agbara, who is being financed and empowred, was asked to kill people and put their bodies around Fajuyi Park, Government House  or home of any PDP chieftain and link us with the violence.

    “Our victory is not worth the blood of any Ekiti person. We dissociate ourselves from any violence that can claim the lives of our people. I would have visited the victims, but I did not because they can turn it into violence.”

    Fayose appealed to Akeredolu to support Fayemi in accordance with the dictates of the law.

    He said: “We appeal to Governor Akeredolu of Ondo State not to sponsor, aid and try to avoid things that will cause problem in Ekiti. Moving thugs, policemen and drivers from Ondo to Ekiti is not in the spirit of brotherhood and neighbourliness. Most of the plans are being done in Ondo.

    “He has the right to support Fayemi, but not to sponsor people to come and cause problem in Ekiti. Let the IG of Police call all stakeholders to order. Bloodletting should not be part of election.”

    Fayose also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be a neutral umpire, adding that there will be more election monitors during the exercise.

    He said: “APC is not campaigning. They want to rig me out. We monitor their plans. INEC integrity is on line. APC wants to bring N7 billion to Ekiti. Ekiti will collect their money and reject them. They should remember that the problem of 1983 started from Ondo/Ekiti.

     

  • Apc accuses Fayose of complicity in Bamidele’s shooting

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of complicity in the shooting incident that nearly claimed the life of a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele.

    The party alleged that “Fayose exhibited callous conduct in his celebration of the unfortunate shooting incident” at the flag off and homecoming of its flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the weekend.

    The APC claimed that a suspected assassin fired bullets suspiciously meant for Dr Fayemi but missed the target to hit Bamidele and five others.

    In his immediate reaction, Fayose allegedly put up a show indicating that he was happy at the incident.

    A statement on Sunday by the State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, accused Fayose of being responsible for the unfortunate incident. Olatunbosun alleged that “Fayose put up a show indicating that he was happy at the incident”.

    But the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, warned the APC to leave Fayose “out of its self-inflicted woes”.

    Oguntuase who maintained that Fayose knew nothing about the shooting incident said the APC cannot succeed in blackmailing the governor in an attempt to score cheap political points.

    The PDP boss said it was ridiculous for the APC to blame Fayose for the incident when the Police have said the mobile policeman who pulled the trigger came from Lagos on an illegal duty.

    Oguntuase said: “The APC’s propensity for violence backfired on it last Friday, the party is notorious for habouring thugs and killers.

    “Let the APC search its ranks to ascertain what caused the shooting, the governor has nothing to do with it.”

    But Olatunbosun said: “We have it on good authority that Fayose and the Chaplain of the Government House rejoiced on learning about the unfortunate incident of attempt on Fayemi’s life.

    “The immediate comment by Fayose and his conduct by going on radio to warn people to avoid Ajilosun area, while accusing Fayemi and the APC of the incident confirmed loud whispers in town that he knew about the attack.

    “We are also aware of Fayose’s usual style of creating an alibi when he ordered okada and bus operators on the same day to converge on Fajuyi area of the state capital as Fayemi was being received by his party.

    “By conducting himself in this manner, Fayose deliberately wanted to truncate the reception by causing a showdown with the APC crowds in Fajuyi end of the town and used that to carry out his planned coordinated attacks by his thugs he had already assembled in the area.”

    Olatunbosun recalled the party’s last reminder to the police in a petition signed by 15 political parties informing the security agency about alleged Fayose’s plan to start attacking and possibly assassinate members of the opposition as the July 14 election draws near.

    He added: “In that petition, we listed names of Fayose’s hit squad and also our party members already marked for elimination. The attempt on Dr. Fayemi’ life on Saturday is therefore a confirmation of the plot.

    “This latest video is Fayose’s familiar style of accusing others of what he intends to do; which is called reversed psychology.

    “Anytime Fayose wants to attack the opposition members, he will accuse them of planning to attack the people, only to carry out the attack and later blame the opposition for it.

    “We now have a strong suspicion that Fayose is behind the failed assassination bid on Dr  Fayemi and will stop at nothing to eliminate him as he did to his opponents in the past.”

    Olatunbosun called on security agencies to deploy special security forces to Ekiti State “in view of the recent threat to the lives of Fayemi and other APC leaders”.

    He said that as it was customary with Fayose, rushing to the media immediately after the shooting happened to make wild allegations. This, he added, indicated that Fayose knew about the unfortunate incident and that his action was a cover-up to hide the facts of the attempted murder.

    “Fayose and PDP must tell the whole world what they knew about this failed assassination bid. “The governor is supposed to be the chief security officer of the state who should be concerned about attack on the life of a prominent citisen, but he has instead been making unguarded statements which make him a suspect,” Olatunbosun concluded.

  • Olukere drags Fayose, Ekiti obas to court over recognition

    The Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, has sued the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the state Council of Obas over the non- implementation of a chieftaincy committee’s report which recommended that he be accorded official recognition as a monarch.

    Other defendants in the suit filed at the Ikere-Ekiti High Court are the Ekiti State government, the state Attorney General, the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and 15 members of the state Council of Obas.

    One of the reliefs sought by Obasoyin is an order directing the 5th-20th defendants to release, publish and make public their findings on the matter.

    The monarch also wants the court to direct the state government, Fayose and Attorney General to accept the findings and recommendations of the chieftaincy committee.

    At the court’s sitting on Monday, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi warned parties in the suit to the maintain status quo until the end of the case.

    He said the integrity of the Bench and the Bar should be maintained, adding that nobody is above the law.