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Tag: Fayose

  • Presidency hits Obasanjo over Fayose, Ladoja, Obi

    Ex-president accused of undemocratic actions

    The Presidency yesterday attacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration, especially under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for “toppling” elected state governments, using the police and the secret service.

    In an article to commemorate the third anniversary of the Buhari Presidency last night, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhamadu Buhari on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu recalled how former Governors  Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo) and Peter Obi (Anambra)  were removed for reasons not noble.

    The statement added that under that dispensation, “it took an insider collaboration to thwart the unseating of Governor (Chris) Ngige (of Anambra State) by a powerful thug sponsored by the PDP administration.”

    Shehu added: “The parliament at the centre seized the law-making powers of the Rivers State House of Assembly as a way to save Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the then chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, from impeachment by the PDP presidency.”

    Recalling the way the governors were removed  without going through the due process, the statement said:  “A five-man legislature met at 6:00 am and ‘impeached’ Governor Dariye in Plateau; 18 members out of 32 removed Governor Ladoja of Oyo from office; in Anambra, APGA’s Governor Obi was equally impeached at 5:00 a.m. by members who did not meet the two-thirds required by the constitution. His offence was that he refused to inflate the state’s budget. The lawmakers had reportedly met with representatives of the President in Asaba, Delta State and then accompanied to Awka by heavy security provided by the police Mobile Unit.

    “The PDP President at that time had reportedly told Obi to forget re-election in 2007 if he did not join the PDP because he (the President) would not support a non-PDP member.

    In Ekiti, Governor Fayose in his first term faced allegations of financial corruption and murder. Following the failure to heed the instruction of the Presidency to impeach only Fayose and spare the deputy, Madam Olujimi, now a senator, the PDP President declared that there was a breakdown of law and order in the state and declared a state of emergency.

    “He appointed Brig-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) as the sole administrator of the state on October 19, 2006. In an earlier incident in Anambra, it took an insider collaboration to thwart the unseating of Governor Ngige by a powerful thug sponsored by the PDP administration.”

    The Presidency said: “Thank God for Buhari, none of these absurdities has happened under his watch but the PDP is indicating their boredom with his meticulous observance of the constitution by calling for a return to the old order.

    “If not for “dry eyes,” as said in our common parlance, what is it that would push this party to write a letter to the United Nations, laying false claims to constitutionality and alleging that democracy is presently under threat?

    “But then, we all understand that by its tone, this is an angry opposition unhappy about the loss of privileges they desperately want to hang on to, privileges now abolished by the prudent, austere Buhari Administration. “The former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, shocked the world by the revelation in her new book, titled, Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines, that they paid N17 billion bribe to the National Assembly to get them pass the 2015 budget.

    “President Buhari’s first budget in 2016 was the first year of passing the budget without the bribery of legislators. He came to power to clean up the mess and has so far managed a cleaner government than all of the past administrations.”

    The article said “the beneficiaries of the old order have since been complaining that they are being starved. Four more years of Buhari?”

    “If by chance or accident you have a USD 16 billion question hanging on your neck, money large enough to construct the Lagos-Port Harcourt standard gauge railway and the massive Mambila power plant put together without borrowing a kobo, then you see a capacity in the change administration to end the shenanigans and get to the root of what happened with the money in that exercise, what do you do? Most people will say start running, scream it: that this change we voted for has gone too far. Foxy generals don’t wait to be caught.”

    “It is the same thing with the narrative of suffering and hunger in the land, the blame which is unfairly being heaped on this administration. Understood in its proper meaning, it is just a way of saying that the country’s ghastly and complicated corruption industry, which provides inestimable amounts of disposable incomes to public servants and elected officials is being shut down. What government has done in the trade and investment sector, and in other processes of government are illustrative of this. Government has been streamlining systems as a result of which there is transparency and fewer rules.”

  • ADC candidate to Fayose: Pay workers’ salaries

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate Chief Ayodele David-Adesua has urged Governor Ayo Fayose to concentrate on solving domestic problems rather than attacking prominent Nigerians who disagree with him.

    In a statement by his media aide, Gbenga Ogedengbe, Adesua advised Fayose to use his remaining days in office to pay workers’ salaries and stop chasing shadows.

    He said Ekiti people are not happy with their high rate of poverty, which has spiralled out of Fayose’s control over alleged wastage on white elephant projects.

    The ADC flag bearer was reacting to Fayose’s outburst against the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Muhammadu Buhari over the $16 billion spent on power supply during the former’s administration.

    Adesua described Fayose’s comments on Obasanjo and Buhari’s public spat as “senseless and unpatriotic.”

    Adesua said: ”The maturity displayed by the Yoruba ethnic group when MKO Abiola died would not repeat itself if anything whatsoever happens to Chief Obasanjo this time around.”

    “We are worried about the growing desperation of Mr president.

    “President Buhari should try and contain his growing desperation to stay beyond 2019 while he is also warned not to consider doing anything evil to Obasanjo as an option.”

    “Because the consequences, no Fulani herdsmen can withstand, even the United Nations Joint Military Task force may not”.

    He said Fayose should try and pay a backlog of unpaid workers’ salary rather than prying into such matter which is not part of his duties as governor.

    Adesua said the people are not happy about the high degree of impoverishment which Fayose had plunged them into by his reckless and lavish spending of their Commonwealth on frivolities.

    “Unlike Fayose, neither Obasanjo nor Buhari owed workers’ salary during their own administrations in Nigeria”, Adesua affirmed.

    “For Fayose not to have realised that the two conflicting leaders are even better than him is an evidence that he (Fayose) doesn’t think.”, Adesua concluded with good breath of assurance.

     

  • Special adviser quits Fayose’s govt

    Another Fayose’s aide resigns

     

    Special Adviser to Governor Ayo Fayose on Cultural Matters, Alhaji Ademola Bello, on Monday tendered his resignation from office.

    Bello in his resignation letter dated 21st May, 2018 said he was quitting Fayose’s government “on personal grounds.”

    Our reporter sighted a copy of Bello’s resignation letter which was acknowledged by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dupe Alade

    He joined the increasing list of officials quitting the Fayose administration for various reasons.

    Read Also: I will succeed Fayose, says SDP candidate

    They include former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ekiti State University, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi;  former Director General/Special Adviser Bureau of Public Procurement, Chief Segun Akinwumi; former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Deji Adesua; former Board Member representing Ekiti at Odua Investment, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, just to mention a few.

    Bello was Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters where he wielded enormous influence and was at a time the highest ranking Muslim in the administration.

    He was later moved to Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Bello was among the Muslims in government considered as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate but the lot fell on fellow Ado indigene, Mr. Deji Ogunsakin.

    His resignation letter reads: “I hereby wish to inform Your Excellency of my desire to resign my appointment as a Special Adviser under your administration forthwith on personal grounds.

    “Permit me to express my profound appreciation for the opportunity given to me to serve in various capacities in the course of this administration.

    “It is my fervent prayer that Allah in His infinite mercies shall continue to direct our noble course.”

  • Fayose planning attack on Segun Oni’s supporters, says Fayemi

    …. Ojudu pledges support

    The Kayode Fayemi Campaign Office said it has uncovered a clandestine plan by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to carry out coordinated attacks on supporters and associates of former Governor Segun Oni, using thugs who would pretend to be working for Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to the campaign office, the plan, which had reached advanced stage, was designed by Fayose as part of the efforts to cause disharmony between the two former governors as well as their supporters. According to information, the assailants would carry out the dastardly act, wearing JKF branded materials and making insinuations that would establish a possible link to the Fayemi political camp.

    Security agencies in the state are hereby alerted to this clandestine move by the PDP goons aimed at introducing violent dimension to the politics of the state ahead of the July 14 governorship election. We urge all supporters and members of APC to remain vigilant, shun any form of violence  during this electioneering period and report any act of intimidation to the law enforcement agencies,” the  release said.

    Meanwhile, Senator Babafemi Ojudu has promised support for Fayemi  to win the governorship election in the state on July 14. Ojudu, Senior Special Adviser on Politics to the President had withdrawn from the race for the APC ticket after it was marred by violence. In a statement by his campaign team, ERO 2018, he was quoted as saying “We wish to extend good wishes to the nominee of our party Dr. Kayode Fayemi and restate our support for the policies of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption anywhere it may be found”

    He expressed appreciation to all for the support given to him during his quest to be the candidate of the party in Ekiti State reiterating that it “was never about an ambition, but about our people.” He added that the withdrawal by his group was an act of patriotism – to reinforce the importance of the sanctity of the process and ensure the sanity of our political system while being focused on the big picture.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose, FUOYE VC trade words over alleged ‘rigging’ plot

    EKITI State governor, Ayo Fayose, and the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, on Friday, traded words over alleged plot to rig the July 14 governorship election.

    Fayose alleged that Soremekun has lent himself to be used by the ruling party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by recruiting students of his institution to serve as ad hoc staff at the poll rather than youth corps members.

    The governor alleged that Soremekun is a card-carrying member of the APC and a close ally of the party’s governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Kayode Fayemi.

    He alleged that the VC had rigged elections for the APC in the past. Fayose who spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, alleged that over 2,000 FUOYE students had been registered as ad hoc staff under Soremekun’s watch.

    He claimed they have been ordered to supply bank details of their close relations, so that payments would not be directly linked to them.

    Fayose said: “The idea behind this plot is to recruit APC members from neighbouring States, arm them with FUOYE student identity cards and use them as INEC Presiding and Returning Officers to perfect the planned rigging of the election.

    This will fail.” “Today, we are beginning to receive signals to the effect that clandestine moves are being made to subvert the will of Ekiti people. With the failure of their “Ondo Option”, other evil means are now being devised.

    “Despite that we have over 9,000 Youth Corps members in Ekiti State and it has been the general practice to engage the NYSC members in elections across the country, the APC in collusion with INEC have asked that students of FUOYE be recruited as INEC ad-hoc staff for the election, instead of youth corps members.

    “We are in possession of an Internal Memorandum from the office of the Dean of Students Affairs, FUOYE seeking registration of students of the University as INEC Presiding and Returning Officers for the Election.

    But Soremekun who denied the governor’s allegation, described it as “blatant falsehood” stressing that INEC is the agency in charge of recruiting ad hoc staff for the elections.

    The Ogun State born university administrator who also denied being an APC card-carrying member said this would not be the first time that Fayose had attempted to blackmail him.

    Soremekun said the Ekiti governor had attacked him over his refusal to assist his (Fayose’s) party (PDP) at the September 2016 Edo State governorship election, where he (Soremekun) served as the chief returning officer.

  • Us demands credible poll as envoy visits Fayose

    The government of the United States of America has demanded the  conduct of a credible, transparent, free and fair governorship election in Ekiti State on July 14.

    The Political/Economic Chief, US Consulate in Lagos, Mr. Osman Tat, disclosed this during a visit to Governor Ayo Fayose at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

    The diplomat said America was interested in the Ekiti governorship poll, hence it will closely monitor events before, during and after the exercise.

    He explained that the US government’s interest in the governorship election was hinged on the fact that Ekiti is controlled by an opposition party, rather than the party that controls the centre in Nigeria.

    The envoy said the US is monitoring the situation in Ekiti to ensure that there is no form of violence and intimidation of voters at the election.

    He stressed that the conduct of the election should set a higher standard in the organisation of elections in the country.

    Tat said: “We are here for the monitoring of events leading to the conduct of the governorship election in the state.

    “We are here to see the governor, to assess the situation of things and to dialogue with him on preparations for the election. America is interested in the election.

    “We are to monitor purposely to ensure free, fair, transparent election. We are to ensure that there is no violence or intimidation of voters during the election.

    “We are monitoring the situation to ensure that the election is credible. Ekiti is controlled by the opposition party and that is why the US is interested in the election.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fayose, Fayemi cannot stop me from winning Ekiti poll-Ayegbusi, SDP candidate

    The Social Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr. Akin Ayegbusi, says he remains confident that he would emerge victorious in the July election.

    Ayegbusi, who spoke in Abuja on Thursday, said projections from his interactions with the grassroots shows he has a better chance of winning in spite of the presumed popularity of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kplawole Eleka and that of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The 44-year-old Investment Banker explained that his forays into politics was informed by the contradictions in the management of the state’s human resource capital, especially the youth who have been rendered idle by government’s unsustainable policies.

    He said, if elected, he would add vigour to governance and engage the youths and all other citizens meaningfully in vocations that would develop the state in sectors such as agriculture and industrial development, health, tourism, welfare and poverty alleviation.

    Describing himself as the David that is poised to defeat the political Goliaths in Ekiti, Ayegbusi said he would tap into his experience in the banking sector to bring sustainable programmes and funds to the state.

    “When you speak of the political influence of Fayose and Fayemi, I think they are both dead on arrival. The people of Ekiti are tired of seeing the same set of leaders. The general feeling is that they have seen PDP and APC for many years and they want a fresh face. We have been have intra and inter party affiliations and I remain the best alternative in the present situation. For every Goliath, there is a David that will bring him down.

    “Ekiti people are tired of politics of gangsters and stomach infrastructure. Even playing the religious card would not help Fayose because Ekiti State is homogenous. I have been getting a lot of support as the youth are keying into my campaign to re-orientate them to take their destinies into their hands instead of being as political thugs,” he said.

    Ayegbusi, while vowing to change the narrative of Ekiti State as a Fountain of Knowledge, but without any notable industrial zones apart from producing teachers and professors, said he has developed a model that would bring high-end investor to the state for sustainable development.

    Highlighting his vision and mission, he said it would include, among others, the need to “lead a people-oriented and goal-getting government that will restore Ekiti’s dignity, rich socio-cultural and political values and hopes by ensuring, engender equitable distribution of the hard-earned dividends of Nigeria’s nascent democracy; Rejuvenate and strengthen the state’s emaciating economic potentialities and lift Ekiti state to an enviable platform in the comity of the states in the country.”

  • Muslims hail Fayose on choice of Olusola’s running mate

    Muslims in Ekiti State have commended Governor Ayo Fayose, for picking a Muslim, Kazeem Ayodeji Ogunsakin, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate.

    The Grand Imam of Ekiti State and Chief Imam of Ado-Ekiti, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, said Fayose has fulfilled the desires of the Muslims on the choice of Ogunsakin as the running mate to the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The cleric spoke at a rally organised for Olusola and Ogunsakin yesterday by the Muslim Community to endorse the duo for the July 14 governorship poll. The rally took place at Fajuyi Park in Ado-Ekiti.

    Kewulere, who is also the President of the League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta States said Fayose has granted three out of the four requests put to him by the Muslims in the state.

    Ogunsakin promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by the governor and the Muslim community and boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be defeated at the governorship poll.

    Olusola said Kewulere was happy because one of his heart desires has been fulfilled. He also hailed Fayose for “allowing God’s will to prevail”.

    The cleric said: “We asked for four things from the governor and he has done three things now; this third is so surprising. We had told him that since he already has supported a Christian governorship candidate, we want a deputy  and we have been expecting.

    “We have said any party that fails to choose one of us as deputy governor, we will not support. But Governor Fayose has chosen one of us, Kazeem.

    “Any other party that calls us, we will answer them, we are their fathers but we are not politicians. Governor Fayose, we salute and appreciate you. This project of yours shall be successful.”

    Fayose replied: “I thank you for acknowledging  that Fayose is a promise keeper. Fayose, a promise keeper, has kept this promise and if truly you want a Muslim as deputy governor, you must ensure that your people vote for Ogunsakin.

    “Pray to God to make this project successful; we have done our part. We have placed Ogunsakin at a position you all Muslims can help him.

    “I prayed to God about it and asked from God. And he confirmed Ogunsakin just as he gave me Prof Eleka (Olusola).”

  • Oyegun: Fayose lacks decorum

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief  John Odigie-Oyegun said yesterday that the party was working hard to redeem Ekiti State from what he described as a very abusive government.

    Oyegun, who spoke when he received the report of the state Primary Election Committee from the committee chairman, Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, described Governor Ayodele Fayose as very abusive and lacking  in decorum.

    He hailed the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the disrupted primary gave the party an opportunity to organise a perfect one.

    The chairman added that the committee, aspirants and the delegates deserved a gold medal.

    He said the party leadership had started work to consolidate on the victory recorded at the primary.

    Oyegun said: “We are working to ensure that the victory you have started is carried through , come July 14, this year at the governorship election.”

    Presenting the report, Al-Makura attributed the success of last Saturday’s primary to the maturity exhibited by aspirants, delegates and party members.

    He said the exercise was successful because of the cooperation, passion and commitment of party members, delegates and the aspirants.

    The governor added: “More than anything else, it’s the conduct of the delegates at the primary; they were very matured and orderly.”

    He added that in spite of the rains, the delegates carried themselves in a matured way and even embraced after the results were announced.

    He said the party’s leadership should use the platform of solidarity exhibited at the primary to ensure coercion among its member in the state.

    Al-Makura, however, blamed the disrupted May 5 primary to the activities of hoodlums, whom he said took advantage of security lapses to cause crisis.

  • Fayose asked us to pick N1.2b in Akure Airport – Bank staff

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard how Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, allegedly instructed officials of Zenith Bank to receive the N1.2billion sourced from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) preparatory to the 2014 governorship election in the state.

    A senior official of Zenith Bank, Lawrence Akande, made this disclosure while testifying as the second prosecution witness in the trial of Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele.

    Agbele is arraigned alongside others on 11-count charge of laundering about N1.2 billion.

    The prosecution said the money formed part of the N4.7billion allegedly transferred from an account belonging to ONSA, to the account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by son of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliyu Obanikoro.

    Lead in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Wahab Shittu, Akande said he received a telephone call on June 17, 2014 from Fayose, directing him to liaise with Agbele to pick up some money in Akure.

    Akande, who said he serves in Ibadan as Zenith Bank’s Zonal Head, added: “On June 17, 2014, Mr. Ayodele Fayose called me and said that I should liaise with Mr. Abiodun Agbele about a deposit to be made in the bank.

    “He (Fayose) said the deposit will be coming through Akure. And I called Biodun Oshode, who is in Akure to liaise with Mr. Abiodun Agbele. And that is all I know about this issue.”

    He said Fayose, Agbele and the governor’s wife are customers of Zenith Bank.