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Tag: Fayose

  • Witness’ evidence contradicts Fayose’s claim on Ekiti debts

    Witness’ evidence contradicts Fayose’s claim on Ekiti debts

    •’Fayemi left N49b liabilities, not N89b’

    A witness, Kehinde Odunayo Victor, has said Ekiti State’s debt was N49 billion when former Governor Kayode Fayemi left office.

    Kehinde testified yesterday before the Judicial Commission of Enquiry probing the handling of the state’s finances between October 2010 and October 2014 when Fayemi was in power.

    The witness’ revelation contradicted the claims of Governor Ayo Fayose that the Fayemi administration left a debt of N89 billion for his administration.

    He told the Justice Silas Oyewole-led panel that of the N49 billion debt, N25 billion was a bond from the Capital Market; N24 billion was taken as loans from 10 commercial banks.

    Kehinde, who works in the Funds Management Department in the Office of Accountant-General, was led in evidence by the counsel to the commission, Sunday Bamise.

    The witness presented a document marked and admitted as Exhibit A13 to the panel.

    He said Fayemi had repaid N42,691,410,210.37 (N42.6 billion) out of the debt before he left office on October 15, 2014.

    Fayemi challenged in court the composition of the panel, describing the members as “cronies of Fayose and sympathisers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who cannot be trusted to do justice”.

    No lawyer represented Fayemi at the proceedings but two lawyers – Ibrahim Olanrewaju and Adeoye Aribasoye – told the panel that they were in court as “observers”.

    Kehinde said: “As at the time Fayemi left office in 2014, the debt incurred from outstanding workers’ emoluments, comprising pensions, subventions to schools, among others, was N13,819,928,727,92.

    “The total deductions from   Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations during the period under review under the last administration was N18,684,785,314,75. It was allegedly deducted in 48 months.”

    He said N163,267,220,480,07 statutory allocations were received by the administration in four years.

    The panel also heard that Fayemi allegedly made N18 billion unremitted deductions from the allocations received within the period under review.

    Another witness, Arogndade Victor Adeyinka, who works at the Ministry of Finance, tendered a document that indicated how the N25 billion bond was expended.

    According to him, the breakdown of the N20 billion  first tranche of the bond indicated that N468 million was to be spent on Ero Dam; Ureje Dam, N500 million; building of the School of Agriculture, N750 million; road construction, N2.6 billion; building of Lagos Liaison office, N500 million; building of modern market in Ado-Ekiti, N2 billion; building of new Government House, N633 million; new Governor’s Office, N400 million; Ikogosi Warm Spring, N1.5 billion; Civic Centre, N1 billion: totalling N19.3 billion.”

    He added: “The N5 billion second tranche of the bond was broken down thus: construction of Ilawe-Igbara Odo-Ibuji road, N894 million; Ikole-Ijesa Isu Road, N1.34 billion; Ewu Bridge, N20 million; State Pavilion, N1.553 billion and Resuscitation of Ire Burnt Brick, N966 million; totalling N4.84 billion.”

    There was a mild drama at the sitting when one of the “observer lawyers”, Olanrewaju, told the commission that it was wrong to refer to its counsel as prosecutor.

    He said: “I am not here to represent anybody but to honour the court. You have been referring to your counsel (Bamise) as a prosecutor. Who is standing trial here? Who is being prosecuted?”

    To this, Justice Oyewole said: “It was a lapse of tongue; he is the counsel to the commission. So, pardon our mistake.”

    The panel’s sitting continues today.

  • Fayose: I won’t leave abandoned projects behind

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has promised not to leave abandoned projects behind when his tenure expires on October 15 next year.

    The governor made the pledge yesterday evening while speaking at this year’s Udiroko Festival, which marks the beginning of the New Year in Ado-Ekiti traditional calendar.

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmii III received homage from quarter chiefs, traditional chiefs, age grades, indigenes and non-indigenes at the colourful festival, firing of gunshots by local hunters, exchange of traditional and cultural greetings  as well as cultural dances and displays among others Some of prominent Nigerians who graced the occasion included Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; former Niger State Governor,

    Dr.Babangida Aliyu; former Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam; Rivers State, Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo; House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Rural Development; Hon. Ladi Adebutu, among others.

    Fayose said despite the prevailing economic recession and dwindling allocation from the Federation Account, his administration would complete all ongoing projects for the benefit of the people of the state.

    The projects include the flyover, Oba’s Market, new Governor’s Office, new High Court complex and dualisation of roads in all major towns in the state.

    Speaking as the chief host of the Udiroko  Festival as the newly-installed Apesin Apagunpote of Ado-Ekiti, Fayose promised to “do many other things that would distinguish the state capital from other towns before he leaves office.

    He asked for the continued support and cooperation of all residents including traditional rulers towards taking the state to higher pedestal.

    Oba  Adejugbe in an opening address thanked the governor and his administration for always supporting as well ad committing huge sums of money to the Udiroko Festival since coming into office.

  • I won’t leave behind any abandoned project – Fayose

    I won’t leave behind any abandoned project – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, said on Saturday that all ongoing projects embarked upon by his administration would be completed and handed over to his successor in good condition next year.

    Fayose, who spoke at the Grand- Finale of the 2017 edition of the Udiroko Cultural Festival in Ado Ekiti, said no single developmental project embarked upon by his administration would be abandoned.

    The governor was the chief host at the cultural event in his capacity as the newly installed Apesin chieftaincy title holder in Ado Ekiti.

    .He listed his administration’s projects to include the N5.7 billion over-head bridge (fly- over) in Ado Ekiti as well as the N3.8billion ulltra-modern Kings Market in Ado iEkiti.

    Fayose also listed the new High Court Headquarters project in Ado Ekiti and the local government headquarters dual road projects across the state, among others.

    The governor said he would still do several other things that would distinguish the state capital from other towns before the expiration of his term in October 2018.

    NAN

  • Fayose, Dankwambo, Adebutu bag chieftaincy titles in Ado-Ekiti

    Fayose, Dankwambo, Adebutu bag chieftaincy titles in Ado-Ekiti

    THE Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, on Friday conferred chieftaincy titles on Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; his Gombe counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwambo; his wife, Hajia Adama and House of Representatives member representing Ikenne/Shagamu/ Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.

    Fayose was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Apesin Apogun Pote of Ado-Ekiti, Dankwambo bagged the title of Akinmuagun of Ado-Ekiti, his wife, Adama became the Yeye Akinmuagun. Fayose was conferred with the Apesin Apogun Pote of Ado Ekiti, while Dankwambo was bestowed with the title of Akinmuagun of Ado-Ekiti. Dankwambo’s wife was conferred with the title of Yeye Akinmuagun of Ado- Ekiti. Adebutu was honoured with the title of Ajirosola of Ado-Ekiti. The two governors commissioned the new ultramodern palace hall built by the Fayose administration. Oba Adejugbe said the Ado-Ekiti community was honouring them with the titles for the service to humanity.

    The two governors commissioned the new ultramodern palace hall built by the Fayose administration. The event was attended by traditional rulers, political office holders and other prominent citizens of Ekiti and Gombe States. Fayose turned the event to a campaign event by boasting that he would install a successor to continue his legacies in office.

    He declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be roundly defeated in the 2018 governorship election saying he commands goodwill in the state which he said would swing victory in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

  • Fayose: I won’t commit suicide over Buhari’s return

    Fayose: I won’t commit suicide over Buhari’s return

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said he will not commit suicide to protest President Muhammadu Buhari’s return from his 103-day medical vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The governor was reacting to claims by the opposition that he pledged to commit suicide, if Buhari returned alive from his medical leave.

    He said the alleged statement came from those he called “miscreants from the social media”.

    Fayose spoke yesterday at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at an interactive session with political office holders in his administration.

    The governor claimed his alarm that President Buhari was in coma prompted his “quick return” from the UK.

    Denying promising to commit suicide, Fayose said: “How can I commit suicide because of an old man? Such was from miscreants on the social media. Let me tell you expressly: why would I commit suicide? I cannot even commit suicide because of my mother.

    “Even if they are burying my mother, I will cleverly stay away from the grave so that I won’t fall into it. I can’t commit suicide because of President Buhari. I never said that and will never make such a statement. I never said I would commit suicide if President Buhari returned (alive).”

    He added: “If not for our efforts, President Buhari wouldn’t have returned now. Buhari is sick and tired; even his physical appearance betrays this. He needs to go home and rest.

    “Today (yesterday), they cancelled the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. You cannot hide the truth forever; it will reveal itself someday. You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians.

    “Every word that has come out of my mouth, I have no apology for it. President Buhari was indeed in coma and one of those who visited him said his recovery is a miracle. That shows he was indeed very sick.

    “Let President Buhari go back to Daura (in Katsina State home) and rest. Don’t send him to an early grave. President Buhari is not old enough to be my father; my mother is older than Buhari. He cannot be my father; he can only be my uncle. I am close to 60. I stand by all I have said about the President. We are glad he is back, but don’t over-flog him.”

     

  • I won’t commit suicide over Buhari’s return – Fayose

    I won’t commit suicide over Buhari’s return – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, said on Wednesday he would not commit suicide following the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

    The governor was reacting to claims by the opposition elements that he boasted that he would commit suicide if Buhari returns alive from his medical vacation.

    Fayose said the alleged statement came from “miscreants on social media.”

    The governor spoke during an interactive session with political office holders at the Government House in Ado Ekiti.

    He said his statement that Buhari was on coma prompted “a quick return” from the UK.

    Fayose insisted that the President is sick and advised him to go back to his country home in Daura and rest.

    He contended that the Office of President needs somebody who is healthy and fit to meet up with the demands of the position.

    He warned Buhari’s minders “not to send him to his early grave,” saying the President’s physical appearance after his arrival showed that he can’t withstand the pressure of the presidential office.

    Fayose said: “How can I can I commit suicide because of an old man? Such are from miscreants on the social media. Let me tell you expressly, why would I commit suicide, I cannot even commit suicide because of my mother.

    “Even if they are burying my mother now, I will cleverly stay away from the grave so that I won’t fall into it. I can’t commit suicide because of Buhari. I never said that and would never make such statement. I never said I would commit suicide if Buhari returns.”

    The governor said he would not honour any invitation to go and greet the President saying “such action would be misinterpreted to be something else. So, it is good for me to wish him well from a distant and be able to tell Nigerians the truth.”

    He added: “If not for our efforts Buhari wouldn’t have returned now. Buhari is sick and tired and even his physical appearance betrayed this and he needs to go home and rest.

    “Today they have cancelled the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. You cannot hide the truth forever, it will reveal itself someday. You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians.

    “Every word that has come out of my mouth, I have no apology for them.

    “President Buhari was indeed in coma and one of those who visited him said his recovery is a miracle and that showed that he was indeed very sick.

    “Let Buhari go back to Daura and rest. Don’t send him to early grave. Buhari is not old enough to be my father, my mother is older than Buhari. He cannot be my father, he can only be my uncle. I am close to 60. I stand by all I have said about the President. We are glad he is back, but don’t overflog him.

    “I am not a sycophant and I stand to speak for Nigeria. Somebody must be able to speak on behalf of the poor masses. This was how they deceived us during the time of Yar’Adua.

    “I am not a hypocrite and I will never be one. This country deserves a very healthy person. Office of the President is not for a sick man.

    The President is tired and should be allowed to resign and go and rest. “

  • Ishaku, Fayose, others pay last respects to ex-Governor Suntai

    Ishaku, Fayose, others pay last respects to ex-Governor Suntai

    Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), and Simon Lalong (Plateau) joined Darius Ishaku (Taraba) to pay their last respects to former Taraba Governor, Danbaba Suntai, who was buried yesterday.

    The governors offered their heartfelt condolences during the funeral service at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo.

    Suntai’s body was later conveyed to his home in Suntai village, Bali local government area for entombment.

    Suntai died on June 28, two days to his 56th birthday in Orlando, Florida, USA exactly four years and seven months after surviving an air crash in which he was the pilot.

    Fayose said the late Suntai was a good man.

    He asked Taraba people to learn from the good legacies Suntai left for the state.

    “Suntai, continue to sleep peacefully. The good gifts of a man make the way for him,” he said.

    Dankwambo described Suntai as a “true democrat.”

    “I know he (Suntai) meant well for the State and people of Taraba,” he stated.

    Lalong and Adamawa Governor Bindo Jibrilla, who was represented by his deputy, also paid glowing tributes to the late former governor.

    “He (Suntai) used tell me to be always upright with God whenever we met,” the deputy governor said.

    Ishaku said his predecessor was an “amiable leader and an icon par excellence.”

    “He was very well known for his frankness, boldness and large heart given to sincere forgiveness.

    “Late Governor Suntai’s public life, ranging from politics to public service, left no one in doubt that he was born a natural leader.

    “God has called him home,” he said.

    Ishaku broke down in tears on Friday when he arrived with Suntai’s corpse at the Jalingo Airport, which he has proposed before the Assembly to rename after Suntai to immortalise him.

    “When Suntai had that plane crash, Taraba State literally crashed with him.

    “The future and wellbeing of his family, the sanctity of his administration, and indeed, the wellbeing of the people of Taraba State also crashed with him.

    “This is because the very fabric of the socio-economic being of the people of Taraba State was intricately interwoven within the stature of this great man and leader of our time.

    “The news of Danbaba Suntai’s demise came to me as a rude shock, because from my human perspective, I looked forward with very high expectation to the day that he would be fully restored and returned home to us.

    “But sadly, that was not to be. Words cannot describe the intensity and depth of my grief and the trauma that the immediate and extended family members of Suntai are going through, as well as the gloom that has settled on the government and good people of Taraba State,” Ishaku said.

    Other dignitaries at Suntai’s funeral include former Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam, former Plateau Governor, Jonah David Jang, pioneer military administrator of Taraba State Rear Admiral (retired) Adeyemi Afolayan and first civilian Governor of Taraba State Jolly Nyame.

  • ‘Fayose’s presidential ambition a ruse’

    ‘Fayose’s presidential ambition a ruse’

    Factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ekiti State Chief Williams Ajayi has chided Governor Ayo Fayose for announcing his presidential ambition at the non-elective National Convention held on August 12 in Abuja.

    Ajayi said Fayose’s declaration of a presidential ambition was at variance with the party’s position that the presidential ticket has been zoned to the North while the vice presidential ticket has been zoned to Southeast and Southsouth.

    The Ekiti governor’s ambition was proclaimed through banners, posters and t-shirts worn by members of Ekiti State House of Assembly and local government chairmen.

    He blamed Fayose for the free-for-all violence which erupted at the Ekiti stand at the convention, which he said, was sparked by the governor’s order that party leaders who did not wear the lemon green colour “Fayose-for-President” t-shirt. Ajayi  wondered why the governor allegedly left the VIP stand to order his security personnel and House of Assembly members to force party leaders who are not members of his caucus out of the convention venue.

    He described himself as the authentic party chairman on grounds that “the July 12 Supreme Court judgment which affirmed Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the National Caretaker Chairman did not affect his (Ajayi’s) position as Ekiti PDP boss.”

    Ajayi disclosed that the Gboyega Oguntuase-led faction is before the Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti challenging the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti which affirmed him (Ajayi) as the valid chairman with the appeal coming up for hearing on 4th October.

    Giving account of what happened at the Abuja convention, Ajayi said:  When we got there on Saturday, it was a non-elective convention and it was all about unity and reconciliation and we in Ekiti stand were exchanging banters and hailing one other until Governor Fayose came from the VIP stand.

  • Fayose okays Fed Govt’s school feeding scheme

    Fayose okays Fed Govt’s school feeding scheme

    After initial opposition to the scheme, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has approved the take-off of the Federal Government’s School Feeding Programme for public schools.

    Fayose said his administration took its time to study the scheme and found it worthy of implementation because “it is in tandem with its stomach infrastructure policy”.

    The governor noted that Ekiti State keyed into the programme following a feedback from government agencies, which studied it.

    He said the programme would be benefit pupils as well as other residents.

    Fayose spoke yesterday at the launch of the feeding programme and stakeholders’ workshop in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The event was attended by officials of the National Home-Grown School Feeding (NHGSF) from the Presidency.

    Fayose, who was represented by Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, said the study conducted by his administration showed the scheme would improve the nutrition of pupils and boost school enrolment.

    The governor had vowed that the state will not participate in the scheme because it is allegedly being politicised.

    According to him, it was a campaign promise by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during its presidential campaign and it is up to the party to fulfil it.

    But the governor changed his position yesterday.

    He said: “The study showed the potential of the programme to improve the nutrition status of pupils, increase school enrolment and attendance, energise the local economy and empower certain segments of the population. Above all, we also noted that it is in tandem with our stomach infrastructure policy.

    “We have decided to set political differences aside and partner the Federal Government for the benefit of our pupils. Our participation will be a boost to our efforts to restore the glory of education in our state.”

    NHGSF’s Team Leader Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi said the programme had been introduced in 21 states.

    She said it would improve the health and nutrition of children as well as boost local production of agricultural produce.

    Mrs Adesanmi said the scheme had a multiplier effect as it would help pupils, cooks, farmers and create jobs.

  • I didn’t meet Fayose, Makarfi, says Oni

    I didn’t meet Fayose, Makarfi, says Oni

    •APC chief decries hate campaign on social media

    Former Ekiti State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olusegun Oni, has decried what he called “attacks from within” by those allegedly uncomfortable with his ambition in next year’s governorship race.

    He accused some people of attempting to pull him down.

    The former governor said the alleged attacks on him were only making him more popular.

    Oni, who said he was not desperate to become governor again, stressed that his fate and that of other aspirants jostling for APC’s ticket would be decided by delegates at the party’s primary in the first quarter of 2018.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Oni denied holding “secret” meetings with Governor Ayo Fayose at a hotel in Lagos on the possibility of defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to realise his ambition, as alleged on various posts in the social media.

    The former governor also denied holding a meeting with PDP’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, at his (Oni’s) home in Ifaki-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area.

    He urged his supporters and other people in Ekiti State not to believe the rumour and hate campaign against him by those he described as “faceless individuals” on the social media.

    Oni said he would not be distracted from selling his ideas on a better Ekiti to the electorate.

    The former governor said some people petitioned the party’s national secretariat to compel him to step down immediately as Deputy National Chairman (South), adding that APC’s constitution allows him to remain in that post one month before the primary.

    He said: “The attacks are from within the party, and most of them are coming from the social media. But I am not bothered at all because whatever that will be good will be rough initially. Some people have been given the assignment to pull me down.

    “The good will triumph over the evil. I want to say categorically that I will not be discouraged. Anybody who does not want Oni will either contest against him or support an aspirant. I am not desperate to be governor. I will leave (my post) when the (party’s) constitution says I should leave.

    “By saying I met Fayose at a hotel in Lagos and Makarfi in my house in Ifaki, these people are overpricing me. = I feel honoured if they continue to say that. The last one-on-one I had with Fayose was a day after Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo was buried, when I brought the invitation from the Borisade family. I congratulated him for the honour done Baba Adebayo.

    “I have never had one-on-one with Makarfi. But if they are saying he was in my home, I feel honoured. Those saying this have nothing to sell. But I have told my people not to abuse or attack anybody. If they have the product that is sellable, they should continue to sell it.”