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Tag: Fayose

  • Ado-Ekiti residents tackle Fayose, stop demolition of shrines

    There was pandemonium yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, after angry residents resisted the demolition of some shrines and sacred trees by officials of the state government.

    The ongoing demolition of structures in Ado-Ekiti is part of the urban renewal policy of Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration.

    During the pandemonium, adherents of the deities at the shrines almost attacked men of the demolition squad but the intervention of armed security men deployed to the scene saved the day.

    The residents of neighbourhoods in the Oja Oba area insisted the shrines would never give way for the urban renewal exercise which they said was done in bad faith by the state government.

    They had mobilized themselves on sighting two bulldozers deployed to pull down the two shrines in the vicinity.

    The Ogun shrine and the Ejeye Oka Ere shrine are located in the court of the Arowa of Ado-Ekiti.

    Armed security men were mobilized to the scene and entrance to Ewi’s Palace, to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    The protest led to temporary suspension of work on the shrines and the sacred trees.

    But the locals remained at the scene raining curses and pouring invectives on the government for the action they described as “desecration of tradition which will have dire consequences.”

    The latest demolition operation which started on Thursday saw at least four corpses exhumed from where they were buried which angered the deceased’s family members.

    The bodies had been relocated elsewhere.

    About seven graves were marked for demolition which sparked tension with family members keeping vigil awaiting the demolition squad.

    A relation of one of the deceased who craved anonymity alleged that the compensation reportedly paid by the government did not cover the exhumation of the corpses and dismantling of the shrines.

    Houses, shops and makeshift structures adjacent the palace of the Ewi were brought down by government bulldozers on Thursday.

    A cold war erupted between the governor and the people of Ado-Ekiti over the latest demolition which led to a face-off with the Ewi, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe at his palace, about three weeks ago.

    The state government claimed it had paid a total of N400m as compensation to people whose houses were demolished so far in the ongoing demolition exercise in the state.

    The government, however, was silent on those whose properties were to be demolished in the latest exercise.

    Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Tayelolu Otitoju who disclosed this said the exercise did not affect Ado Ekiti alone,.

    According to him, more than 300 houses had so far been demolished under the exercise in Ado, Ikere, Efon Alaaye, Omuo,  Ise, Emure and Ijero, among other major towns.

    He explained further that government embarked on the project to ease traffic congestion, adhere to urban policy expected of any civilized society especially Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Otitoju added that government would not compensate owners of demolished houses that were built on waterways and setbacks.

  • Ado-Ekiti Dynamic Club slams Fayose

    Ado-Ekiti Dynamic Club has condemned the outburst by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose during his meeting with Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi lll, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and his council of chiefs.

    The monarch had placed before the governor, complaints of the indigenes about rampant demolition of houses under the guise of urban renewal.

    He said his subjects complained that their houses were demolished without any notice of acquisition, payment of compensation, relocation or allocation of alternative land. Spokesman for the club, which is a socio-cultural and non-political association of Ado-Ekiti indigenes worldwide, Solomon Adetuberu, said: “In many cases, residents will go to work and return in the evening only to find that their houses have been demolished along with their belongings.

    “But in his repulsive response, Fayose displayed lack of respect, arrogance and pomposity to Ewi’s simple presentation of complaints from his people.

    “While the government’s so- called urbanisation should have been hailed, the rude and uncouth manner exhibited by Fayose to the Ewi in the palace irked Ado indigenes and all well-meaning people. The governor’s utterance to the Ewi is devoid of respect expected from a governor to a traditional ruler.

    “The club views the governor’s attitude as bestial and a departure from the hallmark of Omoluabi in Yoruba land where respect is accorded traditional rulers, which Fayose has desecrated.

    “The club admires the maturity and calmness displayed by the Ewi throughout Fayose’s unprovoked outburst in the palace.”

  • Ikpeazu is a man of destiny, says Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has described his colleague in Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, as a man of destiny.

    He urged the Abia electorate to vote him for a second term in 2019.

    Fayose spoke yesterday in Abia while inaugurating the  1.2 kilometre Umuatako Street in Osisioma, Aba, commercial capital of the state, built by the Ikpeazu administration.

    Fayose, who was in Abia on a one-day state visit, noted that Ikpeazu has performed well.

    He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had what  it takes to improve the living standard of the people.

    Fayose lauded the quality of the road and standard of its drainage.

    He assured Ikpeazu of the continuity of his administration.

    “Abia people, I have come here again today to tell you that my brother, Governor Ikpeazu is a man of destiny. Anybody fighting him will fail. Those who fought him in 2015 failed, even when they went to courts, they also failed. I am urging you to vote him again in 2019 so that he will continue and conclude the work he is doing for you.

    “I have seen the kind of roads he is building for you, they are of high standard with quality drainage both sides, that is how to build a road and that is what Governor Ikpeazu is doing. Keep supporting him and our party the PDP. Don’t allow blackmailers and corruption people to come and hijack your state. Only PDP will bring development and change as Governor Ikpeazu is already doing.”

    Ikpeazu said his promise to inaugurate Umuatako road with streetlights was fulfilled as the lights are now functional.

    He explained that his government would provide residents with good projects, which is the only vehicle that drives good leadership.

    Also, ex-governor and senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji, noted that he is proud to identify with the laudable projects of Ikpeazu.

  • Ikpeazu is a man of destiny – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose has described the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as a man of destiny, and urged Abia electorate to vote him for second term in 2019.

    Governor Fayose spoke on Monday in Abia while Commissioning the  1.2kilometer Umuatako street in Osisioma area of Aba, the commercial capital of the state, constructed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Governor Fayose who was in Abia on a one day state visit, said that Governor Ikpeazu has performed, with tangible evidence of his achievements including the road he commissioned.

    He said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the only party that has all it takes to improve the living standard of the people.

    Governor Fayose also lauded the quality of the Road and standard of its drainage assured Governor Ikpeazu of the continuity of his administration while urging Abians not to allow blackmailers to hijack the state.

    “Abia people, I have come here again today to tell you that my brother, Governor Ikpeazu is a man of destiny. Anybody fighting him will fail. Those who fought him in 2015 failed, even when they went to courts, they also failed. I am urging you to vote him again in 2019 so that he will continue and conclude the work he is doing for you.

    “I have seen the kind of roads he is building for you, they are of high standard with quality drainage both sides, that is how to build a road and that is what Governor Ikpeazu is doing. Keep supporting him and our party the PDP. Don’t allow blackmailers and corruption people to come and hijack your state. Only PDP will bring development and change as Governor Ikpeazu is already doing.”

    Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who expressed satisfaction for delivering Abians legacies that have direct impact both in human and Infrastructural sectors, said that his promise to commission Umuatako road with Streetlights was fulfilled as  the Streetlights are now functional.

    Governor Ikpeazu however explained that his governance will not relent in providing the citizens with good projects which is the only vehicle that drives good leadership.

    Also, the immediate past Governor of the state and senator representing Abia central senatorial zone in the Senate, Senator Theodore Orji said he is proud to identify with the laudable projects of Governor Ikpeazu which were the reasons for his quest to ensure equity in 2015, noting that 2019 is a time of presenting the score cards of achievements by the leaders which only PDP can give.

  • Osinbajo, wife, Tinubu, Aregbesola, Fayose, Akande, Daniel, others bid Alake’s father-in-law farewell

    High profile dignitaries including the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo; National Leader All Progressives Congress (APC),  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State Governor,  Rauf Aregbesola;  his Ekiti counterpart, Ayo Fayose; former governor of Osun State and former interim national chairman of APC Bisi Akande;  yesterday witnessed the funeral  ceremony of the father-in –law to a former Commissioner of Information and Startegy in Lagos State, Mr Dele Alake, Pa Emmanuel Elegbede.

    A former governor of Ogun State, Otuba Gbenga Daniel and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro attended the funeral service held at Araromi Baptist Church on Moloney Street, Lagos Island yesterday.

    The list also include the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, his wife Fatima; Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, Victor Ifijeh; the Daily Editor of the newspaper, Gbenga Omotoso;  Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspaper, Gbenga Adefaye; Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Bayo Onanuga; ex- Commissioner for Finance,Lagos State, Wale Edun; popular lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN); a former senator representing Lagos West, Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Ferry Services, Paul Kalejaiye and Hon Daniel Kalejaiye, among others.

    In his sermon, Rev Shola Idowu  urged the children to follow the footsteps of their father.

    He described Elegbede as a man that lived for the service of God, nothing that his life his worthy of emulation.

    “Baba has died and has gone to rest in the bosom of the Lord. We all will die someday. We must live for God.”

    Pa Elegbede was buried at Vaults and Gardens in Ikoyi. He was 89. Guests were later entertained at  Harbour Point on Victoria Island.

    Until his retirement, he was on the board of directors of both Vono Plc  and Nipol Plc. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, children,  grandchildren and great grandchildren.

    Osinbajo described Elegbede as a good man whose life is worthy of emulation.

    He urged his children to emulate the good life their father lived, saying he has gone to rest in the Lord.

    “The last time I saw him he was still strong and I never knew he would be leaving us so soon.”

    Bamigbetan said Elegbede showed love to all those around him

    “He encouraged his children to show kindness to everyone and many of them are doing so up till today. He was committed Christian that lived a good Christian life. He was compassionate.”

    Alake said his father in law was a detailed and organised man, adding that he lived a good and outstanding life.”

    “He wrote with his hand writing his biography and the order of his obituary.  He organised his passage and we are doing today what he wrote down. He wrote down the names and phone numbers of those he want us to contact when he takes his last breath. He wrote down names of individuals, institutions, organisation and clubs.

    “He had the details of all his children and grandchildren. He has details of me more than I do of myself.”

    He added that his father- in- law left with them the legacy to be meticulous, accountable,  transparent, serious and jovial.

    Elegbede’s first daughter, Abosede Adebiyi said her father was a loving and caring husband and father.  “He was disciplined, God fearing and he brought us up in the way of the Lord. He taught us how to be well organized and that in whatever we want to achieve in life, we have to dream about it, write it down in a paper and follow what we have written down.”

    She added that he was a jovial father, he was disciplined and he made sure all his children were well educated.  “He took good care of us all and the extended family. He is a powerful man and always encouraged us to know God is on our side. He was a man of many parts.

    “He taught us honestly and made sure all his children are organised.  He has records of all his children. I pity my mother more because she will miss him much more. They have been together for 66 years. His legacies of honesty and organisation will live on for life in us”.

  • Olujimi slams Fayose over Ado-Ekiti demolition

    The senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, has condemned the demolition of houses in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Mrs Olujimi, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, said physical development is a welcome development but should be done with a human face.

    The Deputy Senate Minority Whip expressed misgivings yesterday in a statement by the Director General of her campaign organisation, Chief Bunmi Olugbade.

    Although the senator hailed Fayose for initiating urban renewal, Mrs Olujimi said: “Any development that will cause the citizens tears and hardship will usually backfire and provoke negative reactions.”

    The senator noted that the current demolition was ill-timed since it was happening when workers and pensioners were owed arrears of salaries and benefits, “Ekiti being a civil service state”.

    Mrs. Olujimi said: “In advanced democracies, government will do enumeration and valuation of compensation to be paid to those who will be affected by such demolition, provide temporary accommodation for them and give them enough time to relocate before demolition.

    “I want to appeal to those who are affected and I want to promise that the PDP government under my leadership will put smiles on the faces of the people rather than tears.

    “Finally, I want to appeal to the people of Ekiti State to embrace PDP’s continuity agenda of ensuring that a PDP government is installed rather than a third-term agenda of an individual.”

    On Wednesday, Fayose visited some families affected by the demolition in Ijoka area of Ado-Ekiti.

    It was learnt that the governor said a compensation package was being worked out, but the affected house owners maintained that they wanted full compensation and not peanuts.

    Many residents of the town, who have been displaced by the demolition, said they were forced to relocate to other places.

    The beleaguered residents are relocating to places like Odo, Fagbohun, Ajebamidele, Oke Ureje, Emirin, Afao Road and Ilokun.

    One of them, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have valid land documents, like building plan and survey plan, and we will need full compensation to build our houses elsewhere.

     

  • APC berates Fayose for ‘uncouth language’ on Ewi

    The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Ayodele Fayose for allegedly humiliating the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi.

    The monarch, in a video clip, urged the governor to carry residents along in the demolition of buildings.

    Fayose fired back in rage, saying nobody could stop him from the demolition.

    The demolition has rendered hundreds of residents homeless and forced many to relocate elsewhere.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, APC criticised Fayose using “uncouth language” on the frontline monarch.

    The party listed instances where the governor allegedly treated monarchs with disrespect.

    It noted that the incident is not the first in which Fayose scoffed at the office of traditional rulers.

    The statement said: “Fayose, during his first term, assaulted this same Ewi of Ado-Ekiti publicly when he asked the monarch to hang his crown to mount the soapbox to campaign for Ekiti governorship election, simply because the monarch did not support his anti-people policies and his reckless attacks on eminent Ekiti indigenes.”

    The party noted that the governor’s disrespect for Ekiti monarchs contributed to the fall of his administration in 2006.

    Faulting Fayose for demolishing homes of Ado-Ekiti residents without prior notice while paying pittance to victims, APC said the governor was insincere in his assertion that the demolition was imperative to make Ado-Ekiti a befitting capital.

    It said: “All the grandstanding and rhetoric that the demolition is necessary to give Ado-Ekiti a facelift as the state capital is a fluke.

    “The truth is that house demolition is a viable business opportunity for the governor, after facts have emerged that those Fayose has so far paid for losing their homes got a small fraction of the figures the governor quoted for compensation from the Federal Government as refund for the flyover project.

    “For instance, reports have indicated that Fayose allegedly put the compensation responsibility on the contractors (of the flyover project), who are his friends from Ibadan, to pay the victims for losing their homes, whereas the money received by victims is just a small fraction of what was allegedly computed by the contractors to the Federal Government for reimbursement.

    “Ekiti people need to ask themselves whether or not it is politically wise for a politician like Fayose to be demolishing the homes of voters in an election year without prior notice and satisfactory compensation plan.

    “Like Fayose threatened while harassing the monarch in his palace, he will continue to demolish more houses because that is a good business for him to make money as he prepares to serve out his term on October 16, 2018.”

    APC urged the governor to stop desecrating the palace, adding that royal fathers represent the spiritual authority of the people for peace and development.

     

  • Fayose okays N253m for bursary, scholarship

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has approved N253.6 million for bursary and scholarship to students of Ekiti State origin.

    The governor was said to have made the move to stop the planned mass protest by Federation of Ekiti State Students (FESSU).

    The students’ body had threatened to shut down Ado-Ekiti, the capital, if the governor failed to pay their bursary and scholarship at the expiration of its seven-day ultimatum.

    The students were angry that Fayose had not paid bursary and scholarship since assuming office in 2014.

    FESSU also asked the government to give the body a secretariat and a bus, as well as resolve strikes at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and College of Education in Ikere-Ekiti.

    The governor acceded to their request to pay bursary and scholarship for the 2017/2018 session.

    While 2,645 students will benefit from bursary, which ranges from N10,000 to N150,000, 871 others will benefit from scholarship, which ranges from N60,000 to N1.5 million.

    Thirty overseas PhD students will get N1,500,000 each, totalling N45 million; 184 Law students will receive N150,000 each as bursary, amounting to N27.6 million and 450 undergraduate students will get N60,000 each as scholarship, amounting to N27 million.

    The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Jide Egunjobi said in a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that 15 physically-challenged students will get N60,000 as scholarship, while 198 students offering Master’s in Nigeria will receive N250,000.

    Seventeen overseas Master’s students will also get NN500,000 each, while 160 PhD students (in Nigeria) will receive N750,000.

    The commissioner added that Fayose approved the scholarship and bursary to the qualified students after verification.

  • Fayose congratulates parents

    EKITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has congratulated parents of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls, who were released yesterday.

    The governor also sympathised with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died.

    He described the abduction of the girls as an indictment on the Federal Government and their release as “drama scripted by the government and its agents to swindle Nigerians”.

    Fayose, while reacting to the release of the abducted school girls, said: “This appears like an arranged abduction and an arranged release, but we thank God that the innocent girls have returned home and we condole with parents of those that died.”

    In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said it was strange that the girls could be brought back to Dapchi by their abductors without the knowledge of security agents.

    He said: “Curiously, the same spirit who made sure that all military checkpoints in Dapchi and other surrounding towns were removed to pave way for abduction of the girls also made sure that the girls were returned without any security agent seeing them.

    “One can only be hopeful that the real script writers behind this drama will be exposed one day.

    “Nigerians should recall that the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, said that military checkpoints were withdrawn from Dapchi and other communities a few days before the abduction of the 110 girls.”

  • Fayose, Ewi row over demolition in Ado-Ekiti

    Residents of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, led by their monarch, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, are angry with Governor Ayodele Fayose for demolishing houses in the city.

    The residents have been trooping to the palace of the monarch to register their displeasure about how their properties were demolished without any prior notice.

    Home owners claimed that the recent demolition was not done with a human face.

    They said many of the houses were brought down with their belongings inside.

    The Ewi invited Fayose to his palace at the weekend and expressed the disapproval of his subjects with the latest demolition.

    The governor reportedly got angry at the meeting and vowed to continue demolishing houses as part of his administration’s urban renewal policy.

    Oba Adejugbe was quoted to have said that Ado-Ekiti residents were not happy that the government did not inform them about the demolition before their homes were brought down for a market extension and a road project.

    Areas affected include Okeyinmi, Oke Ila, Ijoka and residential areas within the market vicinity.

    The Hausa in the Sabo area had been displaced.

    But the Ewi, his chiefs and subjects got more than what they bargained for when Fayose said nobody could stop him from the demolition.

    The governor said it would be continuous.

    Fayose reportedly promised to demolish the shops in the front of the palace and more houses in the city to pave way for his urban renewal project.

    The governor vowed not to honour any royal summons on the demolition saga.

    The footage of the encounter has since gone viral on various social media platforms and has been generating interest within and outside the state.

    In the video, Fayose does not hide his anger towards Oba Adejugbe’s remarks on public outrage on the demolition.

    The Ewi says: “The issue of urban renewal is sensitive. We had anticipated that this will happen and that was why we wrote a letter. You were at the glass shop over there when we said it was likely that houses would be demolished. But we said we should all sit down and be carried along before such houses would be demolished.

    “We know that you are doing your work and we cannot say you should not do your work. But my subjects have been coming to the palace to complain that their structures were being demolished without prior notice. One of them complained that he went to work and the house was demolished with all his belongings inside before he returned. That is the issue.

    “People have been coming here and they have not allowed us to rest. That of Ijoka was the most serious. That is why I said it is compulsory I see you (Fayose), that we should discuss together. We cannot say you should not do your work because we will understand the matter on the ground better in another 20 years.

    “I don’t want you to say that ‘when I wanted to do my job, the Ado-Ekiti people said I should not do my work’. What we are saying is that all of us will sit down together – whatever work you want to do – those to be affected will know ahead of time. Imagine a situation in which somebody goes to work and his house is demolished before he returns.”

    But an irate Fayose, who looks agitated while the Ewi is making his remark, fires back: “Kabiyesi, your position that we should not demolish houses, don’t say that at all; don’t say that again. Please, don’t bring that matter out again! Excuse me, sir! Let us ask for the truth from ourselves. Go out there. We have houses that have been there since 19-something.

    “Those houses are there, but the owners are no longer there. Many of them are living in the GRA, others are residing in America. What they do is that they will create shops out of those dilapidated buildings and they will be collecting rents on them at the end of the month.

    “I want you to know today that I will continue to demolish houses. Let me make it clear to you today. I wanted to extend the demolition to Atikankan; you were the one that prevented me. I wanted it demolished up to Atikankan.

    “At the spot where the demolition stopped, that one is a comma. Invite those house owners and tell them that those houses that serve as hideouts for phone snatchers and bag snatchers will be demolished.

    “We need relative peace. Can we remain in this condition forever? If this palace had remained the same condition you inherited it from your forefathers, who had reigned before you, are we going to have the opportunity of staying in this place? I just came here to honour you today. That is why I am here.

    “That dual carriageway is going through Oke Ila, across like this. Anybody who has structures along that way will have to endure. That is the Panadol everybody will have to take in a time like this. It is God Who stands by somebody; nobody should use the forthcoming election to intimidate me.

    “That Baba said the market is not part of it. Who told you that it is inside the market that demolition takes place? Those structures in front of the palace, I will demolish them. This palace should not be here and all that rubbish is allowed to be there. I want to complete that market in the first week of July, by God’s grace.

    “Everybody who is holed up in those structures should go inside the market so that I can tidy up the frontage of the palace. That will be in honour of my name forever.

    “There is no time we will not fight, but wherever somebody has to go, he will go there. Those who are yet to be compensated will be compensated. I am already processing their compensation. We have done the enumeration and whatever those affected are supposed to get an amount of money, they will get it.

    “That I will not demolish houses, I cannot guarantee that. I also want to tell Kabiyesi that I will not answer this kind of invitation again because I am busy working. I don’t want to be treated any less than the office of the governor that I represent. I don’t want to be so treated.

    “Excuse me, sir. You may not like what I want to tell you: till the morning of the day that I will leave office in this Ado, when you will be saying Fayose ‘bye bye’, I will work till that day. It is not because of you but because of me and my life. Kabiyesi, this is not a matter to be angry about it.”