The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fayose

  • ‘Fayose pre-empted commissioners’ mass resignation’

    ‘Fayose pre-empted commissioners’ mass resignation’

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday sacked all his commissioners, two years after he appointed most of them.

    The governor did not give reasons for his action, which has been attributed to an alleged indicting security report he got on the commissioners.

    In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Fayose ordered the sacked commissioners to hand over to the permanent secretaries in their ministries.

    The governor thanked them for their service to the State and wished them well in their future endeavours. Fayose approved the appointment of the former commissioners on December 03, 2014 and sent their names to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

    Majority of the commissioners were sworn in on July 2, 2015.

    Affected by the sack are: Owoseni Ajayi (Justice), Toyin Ojo (Finance) and Mrs Oso (Works).

    Others are: Bisi Kolawole (Environment), Lanre Ogunsuyi (Information), Kehinde Odebunmi (Agriculture), Kolapo Kolade (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters) and Olurotimi Ojo (Health).

    Those sacked are: Deji Adesua (Public Utilities), Jide Egunjobi (Education), Mrs. Olayinka Ogundayomi (Women Affairs), Tayelolu Otitoju (Lands) and Gbenga Olajide (Budget and Planning).

    The Nation learnt from a government source that the governor got a security report that many Exco members had wanted to resign their appointments.

    The source said: “The governor had no option than to dissolve the Exco when he got wind of plans by many of them (commissioners) to resign because of the hard times they are going through.

    “Many of the commissioners came with high hopes, but what they met on the ground was nothing to write home about. They found themselves in a situation where a they could not approve more than N100,000, could not award contracts and other patronages.”

  • Ekiti lawmaker attacks Fayose over comments on Buhari’s health

    A member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, has lampooned Governor Ayo Fayose for making “disparaging comments” on the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Aribisogan advised Fayose to address the hardship being faced by the people of Ekiti State and stop mocking Buhari and making comments he is not morally and professionally authorised to make.

    The lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1 in the Assembly said

    Fayose has made himself a laughing stock out of the 36 governors of the federation by his action, urging him to desist from making inflammatory statements out of political brinkmanship.

    Aribisogan, who was suspended by fellow lawmakers for 180 legislative days in October last year but stormed the Assembly three weeks ago to resume office, defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) with about 200 followers on Tuesday.

    Fayose at a news conference he addressed on Wednesday at the

    Government House in Ado-Ekiti alleged that Buhari has been placed on a life support machine since June 6 in a London hospital where he has been receiving treatment calling on the president to resign from office.

  • Only Buhari’s doctors can decide on his return – Oyegun

    Only Buhari’s doctors can decide on his return – Oyegun

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, said on Friday that only President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical team can decide when he would return to the country.

    The APC chairman, however, said the President is recovering very fast.

    Oyegun, who disclosed these to journalists at the end of a meeting between the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and governors, also said the party would not be respond to claims by Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, that the President was on life support in a London hospital.

    He said: “We are glad to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari is recovering in a very robust manner. We hope he takes it easy and when he comes back, I have no doubt at all that we will have a new and active period of activities.’’

    On Fayose’s comment, he said “if I respond, I will be dignifying him. At the appropriate time, people will answer him; at the appropriate level and at the appropriate time. He is in a different world altogether.’’

    He said the party’s leadership has confidence in President Buhari.

    The meeting with the governors, he said x-rayed the state of the nation, ongoing agitation for its restructuring and inciting statements emanating from different parts of the country.

    He said inciting statements capable of causing crises are not good “for the nation`s health, insisting that such statements have to be stopped.”

     

  • Fayose urges President to resign

    Fayose urges President to resign

    •Kashamu says call misplaced

    EKITI State Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign on account of ill-health.

    According to the governor, the resignation would avail the president enough time to attend to his health and also allow the country to move forward.

    Fayose, who addressed a news conference yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, said Buhari has been away for 53 days, carpeting presidential aides for shielding the president’s whereabouts from Nigerians.

    The governor said: “Today, it makes 53 days since our President, Muhammadu Buhari, left Nigeria to attend to his health challenges abroad. No official information as to his whereabouts and his state of health.

    “Like every other Nigerian, I do not wish the president dead. I have, therefore, maintained dignified silence since we were told that thePresident embarked on his second medical trip abroad this year.

    “However, the recorded audio message which was released by thePresidency as the President’s Ramadan message to Nigerians necessitated my setting the records straight today. No doubt, the audio message was only a damage-control strategy aimed at further deceiving Nigerians.”

    Fayose alleged that attempts were being made on his life for speaking out on issues of national importance.

    He said: “In closing, let me state that I am not unaware of the various attempts on my life; I am undaunted as I remain committed to truth and fearlessness because a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

    “Dear Nigerians, even though President Buhari needs our prayers and we should keep praying that God takes total control of his situation, it is equally imperative that our leaders must tell us the truth at all times.

    “It is time that the President takes the interests of Nigerians above his own and resign from office so that our country can move forward.”

    But, Senator Buruji Kashamu (Ogun  East) faulted Fayose’s call.

    In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the senator stated: “Nigerians overwhelmingly elected President Buhari and if today he is having challenges, it is despicable for any reasonable person to play politics with it because nobody is above health challenges.

    ‘It is unfair and condemnable for Fayose to continue playing God over the President’s health condition; his ridiculous comments are invariably heating up the polity and fanning the embers of disaffection amongst Nigerians.”

     

    Buhari support group to governor: shut up

    The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) yesterday criticised Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for dishing out “cacophony of lies on the health of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    In a statement by its chairmen, Austin Braimoh, and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group said it was not surprised by the governor’s coments because of “his penchant for exhibiting the characteristics of a serial liar and a born agent of confusion over the years, who thrives in hate speeches and campaigns of calumny.”

    It added: “BMSG believes that most Nigerians are already familiar with the infantile character of the Ekiti State accidental governor; Nigerians are already familiar with his antics.

    “Fayose operates based on his figment of imagination as he will never disclose his source of information or show proof of his utterances.

    “Today, the same character is telling us that the President is now on life support in London. If his assertions are right, then he needs to be told that it is an improvement to move from being dead to a life support.

    “BMSG, therefore, appeals to the loquacious governor to allow the President recuperate peacefully and return to his duties.”

  • Be security conscious, Fayose tells Corps members

    Ekiti State  Governor  Ayo Fayose, has called on corps members serving in the state to be security conscious

    He made the call at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for Batch ‘A’ Stream 1 corps members held at NYSC Orientation Camp in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by his deputy Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Fayose advised Corps members to avoid unauthorised journey. He admonished them to respect the norms and cultures of the host communities where they are posted.

    Fayose  charged them to make the best use of opportunities to contribute to the development of Ekiti which he described as one of the most secured states in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Nwanne Ukagha, explained that 2,084 corps members participated in the orientation course.

    She appealed to Corps members to give their best in serving their host community regardless of whether they are well remunerated or not, urging them to see their service as more to Nigeria than their host community.

  • Fayose after me because I refused to prostrate to him – lawmaker

    Fayose after me because I refused to prostrate to him – lawmaker

    AN Ekiti State House of Assembly member Gboyega Aribisogan has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of instigating his suspension because he refused to prostrate and beg for the offence he did not commit.

    He said some party leaders and appointees urged him to prostrate for the governor at a reconciliation parley brokered by eminent lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Aribisogan, who was suspended by his fellow lawmakers in October last year said the governor wanted him to admit meeting with the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, in Lagos sometime last year, an allegation he denied.

    Speaking during an interview programme on Adaba 88.9 FM monitored by our correspondent, Aribisogan faulted an investigation panel set up by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to

    Fayose claiming that the panelists had been ordered to do a hatchet job against him.

    Aribisogan alleged that some party members in his ward were bribed with a sum of N200, 000 and compelled to write a frivolous petition to the panel to nail him at all cost.

    He revealed that the panel had already submitted its report to Fayose on Monday while he was asked to appear on Thursday.

    The embattled lawmaker disclosed that he reported the alleged illegality Fayose was using the Assembly to perpetrate to the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    Aribisogan said: “I cannot confess the sin I did not commit; they (party leaders) asked me to prostrate and beg Fayose but I refused and in the process they brought out a camera with the intent of taking my photographs. Fayose flared when I refused to prostrate and beg and vowed that he would not allow me to return to the Assembly again.

    “For somebody to say he would not allow an elected representative of the people to go back to the Assembly shows the type of character Fayose is. He got 14,000 votes from my constituency and he has done nothing for the people.

    “If they want to shoot me dead, I am ready. I am not an appointee of Fayose, I was elected the same way hea was elected. I apologize to all Ekiti for joining hands to bring him back to power and that is why he is misbehaving now.

    “The Inspector General of Police had given an order that nothing should happen to me; the House of Assembly belongs to Ekiti people and not to Ayo Fayose. Fayose has brought odium and shame to Ekiti State.

    “He is owing the Assembly six months salaries, Ekiti lawmakers are crying underneath because many of them are heavily indebted. Fayose threatened that he would recall me, let him go ahead but I will never prostrate for Fayose.”

    Responding, Commissioner for Information, Lanre Ogunsuyi, said Hon. Aribisogan, was suffering from political hallucination.

    Ogunsuyi said the Assembly suspended the lawmaker according to its rules and does not need Fayose to carry out is constitutional and statutory functions. The commissioner said Aribisogan was merely cooking up stories to cover up his infractions on the House rules.

    He advised Aribisogan to avail himself of the opportunity given by the party to present his case before a disciplinary panel set up to investigate the allegations of anti-party activities and disloyalty levelled against him.

    Ogunsuyi said: “I will say it is a political hallucination for the honourable member to accuse the governor of masterminding his suspension from the Assembly.

    “It is an internal affair of the House and the governor is not a member of the Assembly.

    “He was duly suspended by the Assembly; the governor has no hand in it and all what he is saying are stories without corroboration.”

     

  • Fayose instigated my suspension because I didn’t prostrate for him – Lawmaker

    Fayose instigated my suspension because I didn’t prostrate for him – Lawmaker

    A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, has accused the state governor, Ayo Fayose, of instigating his suspension because he refused to prostrate and beg him for the offence he did not commit.

    He said some party leaders and political appointees urged him to prostrate for the governor at a reconciliation parley brokered by the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Aribisogan, who was suspended by his fellow lawmakers in October last year, said the governor wanted him to admit meeting with the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, in Lagos sometime last year.

    The lawmaker, who claimed he has resumed his legislative duties apologized to Ekiti people for being part of those who brought Fayose back to power, said he would continue to fight for his rights and the people of Ikole Constituency 1 whom he said had been denied representation for about eight months.

    Speaking during an interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM monitored by our correspondent, Aribisogan faulted the investigation panel set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Fayose, claiming that the panelists have been ordered to do a hatchet job against him.

    Aribisogan alleged that some party members in his ward were bribed with N200,000 and compelled to write a frivolous petition to nail him at all cost.

    He revealed that the panel submitted its report to Fayose on Monday while he was asked to appear on Thursday.

    The lawmaker said he reported the alleged illegality Fayose was using the Assembly to perpetrate to Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin.

    Aribisogan said: “I cannot confess the sin I did not commit; they (party leaders) asked him to prostrate and beg Fayose but I refused and in the process they brought out a camera with the intent of taking my photographs. Fayose flared up when I refused to prostrate and beg him and vowed that he would not allow me to return to the House.

    “For somebody to say he would not allow an elected representative of the people to go back to the Assembly shows the type of character Fayose is. He got 14,000 votes from my constituency and he has done nothing for the people.

    “I have petitioned the Inspector General of Police and all of us will go there and explain ourselves. On June 8 when I went to resume, I had an information that they will storm the House with thugs but I went there to see whether they would kill me.

    “If they want to shoot me dead, I am ready. I am not an appointee of Fayose, I was elected the same way he was elected. I apologize to all Ekiti people for joining hands to bring him back to power and that is why he is misbehaving now.

    “The Inspector General of Police had given an order that nothing should happen to me; the House of Assembly belongs to Ekiti people and not to Ayo Fayose. Fayose has brought odium and shame to Ekiti State.

    “He is owing the Assembly six months salaries, Ekiti lawmakers are crying underneath because many of them are heavily indebted. Fayose threatened that he would recall me, let him go ahead but I will never prostrate for Fayose.”

     

     

  • Ekiti pensioners urge Fayose to pay N20b benefits

    Ekiti pensioners urge Fayose to pay N20b benefits

    Ekiti State pensions have decried their neglect by the state government.

    They said this had caused untold post-retirement hardship and led to untimely deaths among their members.

    The retirees urged Governor Ayo Fayose to pay their salary arrears as well as gratuities and monthly pensions totalling about N20 billion.

    They called for the review of their pensions in conformity with Section 210, sub-section 3 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Addressing a monthly meeting of pensioners yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the state’s Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Elder Ayo Kumapayi, urged the governor to focus on the welfare of civil servants and pensioners and stop giving priority to capital projects.

    He also urged the government to set up an Advisory Committee on the disbursement of Paris Club refund, as done in other states.

    Giving a breakdown of the amount owed pensioners as at September 2015, Kumapayi said local government pensioners were owed N10.8 billion while the state’s civil service pensioners were owed N8.9 billion, totalling N19.7 billion in pensions and benefits.

    He said: “We want our government to focus more attention on suffering workers and pensioners rather than focus on capital projects. No matter how many roads, bridges or flyovers you build, history will tell you that you are doing it on the blood of senior citizens.

    “If you pave the streets with gold and if I am sick, will I be able walk on that road? If you want to make a name – through projects – it should not be during a recession like this. If you have nothing to eat, will your wife tell you to buy clothes?

    “Therefore, we wish to suggest that Ekiti State government should, between now and October 2018, focus attention on workers’ emoluments to enable them perform their statutory duties effectively.

    “Similarly, the state government should pay pensioners their pensions and gratuities regularly in order to make them enjoy the fruits of their labour.

    “Our pride as senior citizens who have faithfully, laboriously and dutifully served this nation is being rubbished daily. We are crying and justifiably so in view of our agonies; our suffering is an unprecedented assault on the psyches of our members in Ekiti State.”

  • Ekiti ready to return mission schools, says Fayose

    Ekiti ready to return mission schools, says Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said his administration is ready to hand over mission schools to their original owners as long as they can prove that they have the capacity to provide qualitative education in such institutions.

    The governor spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during a meeting with the leadership of the Anglican Church and members of the Alumni Association of Christ’s School in Ado-Ekiti on moves to return the school and Christ’s Girls School to their original owners.

    Fayose said the provision of quality education to Ekiti children and improving standards the state had set were important to his administration.

  • I will defeat Buhari in 2019 – Fayose

    I will defeat Buhari in 2019 – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said on Friday he would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

    The governor, who spoke at a meeting with political office holders at the Government’s House, Ado Ekiti, claimed he has the attributes to unseat Buhari in two years time.

    Fayose boasted he would become Nigeria’s next president in 2019.

    He said: “I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari’s hand. I would take it. I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president.

    “I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won’t be this change that has brought nothing. We are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth.”

    Fayose insisted that two former governors of Ekiti – Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi – would fail if they contest the 2018 governorship election in the state.

    He added: “Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now. But I want to tell them that it is not possible. I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti.

    “If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting various parts of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018.”