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  • Crackdown on judges not over, says Fayose

    Crackdown on judges not over, says Fayose

    More than two years after he was accused of leading thugs into the State High Court to assault judges, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday described the allegation as a “propaganda orchestrated by the opposition to smear his name and destroy him.”

     ”It would be irresponsible for a governor-elect (as he then was) to invade the temple of justice to raise his hand and slap a judge” saying the opposition would continue to fail in their bid to bring him down”, he said.

    The governor also predicted more crackdown on judges before the end of the year.

     He spoke yesterday during the foundation-laying of a new State High Court at the Judiciary Headquarters, Fajuyi, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

     Fayose said the N1.3 billion new High Court will be named after Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti Oba John Ademola Ajakaye, the state’s first chief judge.

    The governor also promised to construct a new Magistrate’s Court complex after the completion of the High Court within 12 months.

     He also presented an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus to the local chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), a gesture which got a loud ovation by court workers.

     Two judges in the state judiciary, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi and Justice John Adeyeye, were attacked within a week in September 2014 by suspected party thugs allegedly mobilised to the court to stop an eligibility case against Fayose filed by an interest group, the e-Eleven.

    The governor has  condemned the sting operation carried out by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives on the homes of some judges.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Fayose lacked the moral justification to condemn the DSS invasion of the judges’ homes “having personally led thugs to the High Court in Ado Ekiti to beat up judges, destroyed court facilities and tore court records.”

     Fayose fired back yesterday, saying: “It was a propaganda from the opposition that Fayose slapped a judge, it will be immoral and irresponsible for a governor-elect to personally beat a judge.

    “How can you slap an ordinary person let alone a judge? I never slapped or beat up any judge because this is a propaganda by the opposition but they will continue to fail. You may not like my face but today, I am the governor.

    “And I want to say that I will never approach any judge to help me pass any judgment; I am not going to ask for ungodly favors because the oppressors of today may become the oppressed tomorrow.”

    The governor again reiterated his condemnation of the invasion of the homes of the judges arrested by DSS operatives urging Nigerians to expect more judicial officers to be picked up by the security agency in days ahead.

    He said: “I want to say that they are clamping down on those judges because they refused to do their bidding. It is bad to arrest judges and force them to lie on their chests.

    “I am particularly glad with what is happening today because the judicial officers had not done enough to put the executive at checks. I had earlier raised the alarm that something like this will happen. So, the current predicament of these judges will teach a lesson that nobody is safe from harassment  in Nigeria.

    “However, no matter the offence they might have committed, the arrest is regrettable and sad. This should not have happened to judges who built their careers from the scratch. But let me tell you, this government will still do more.

     ”We now have a situation where EFCC and DSS lie against Nigerians, I have cried in the past but nobody listened but the judges are feeling it now because they are the latest victims.

     ”The last time they said they found N1 billion in my account, the allegation was in a desperate bid to destroy me. I am saying it today and go and write it down, they will do more before December.”

  • Fayose condemns DSS invasion of judges’ homes

    Fayose condemns DSS invasion of judges’ homes

    GOVERNOR Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday deplored  the invasion of residences of some judges and their arrests as “a direct assault on the judiciary.”

    The governor, at an emergency press conference in Ado-Ekiti, charged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and other stakeholders in the Judiciary to challenge the crackdown on the judges.

    The governor also asked the international community and all Nigerians to save the rule of law from attack.

    He said there are statutory organs charged with the investigation and discipline of errant judges and not for a security agency to bare its fangs on judicial officers.

    The governor called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put a stop to the actions and activities of those he referred to as “overzealous security agencies” that can endanger democracy.

    Fayose said: “It should now be obvious to all Nigerians and the international community that democracy is under threat in Nigeria and Nigerians must rise to save democracy from being truncated.

    “For all intent and purposes, there is no how the federal government can justify the Gestapo and crude action of the DSS against our judiciary, the last hope of the common man and I believe they just want to hide under anti-corruption fight to blackmail and intimidate the judiciary.

    “If not, have the affected judges been reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body saddled with the responsibilities of investigating and sanctioning erring judges? Were the affected judges ever invited by the DSS and they refused to honour the invitation?

    “Nigerians should be reminded that I raised similar alarm when this regime of impunity started with the invasion of the Akwa-Ibom State Government House and later the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    “I did say then that democracy in Nigeria was becoming unsafe in the hands of this APC government and that those keeping silent because of politics might also end up in the belly of the roaring lion that is threatening to consume our democracy.

    “Then, those who ought to have joined in condemning the DSS impunity at that time kept silent for fear of the unknown. Now we have gotten to the height of it and Nigeria faces full-blown military dictatorship! This is sad!

    “It should be noted that few days ago, the NJC sacked three judges for breaching the Codes of Conduct for Judicial Officers and went further to recommend that one of them, Justice Kabiru M. Auta be handed over to the Inspector General of Police for prosecution for alleged corruption.

    “If NJC could do this less than one week ago, has the same NJC been informed of any allegation of corruption against the judges whose residences were invaded?”

     

  • Labour leader slams Fayose over N50 million donation to teachers

    Labour leader slams Fayose over N50 million donation to teachers

    The court-validated chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ekiti State Kolawole Olaiya has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of playing politics with workers’ welfare.

    He was reacting to the donation of N50 million to teachers during the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day by the governor.

    Olaiya insisted the N50 million donated by Fayose to about 20,000 teachers was a “peanut” compared to the non-payment of their six- month arrears of salaries by his administration, which has left them impoverished.

    The TUC chief, in a chat with our reporter yesterday, maintained that it is criminal not to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners their benefits.

    Olaiya argued that rather than “political donation” of N50 million, such an amount should be channeled to payment of a good number of teachers to clear part of the arrears owed them.

    He said: “The N50 million, if properly invoked, can pay the arrears of some workers rather than the unsolicited donation.

    “What the teachers are saying is that the governor should pay them what the law prescribes and the right salaries they are entitled to.

    “If it is true that Fayose is a teacher-friendly governor, he should pay them the backlog of their salaries and not invoke politics or to rob them of their welfare.

    “Teachers/workers have responsibilities to their children in form of payment of school fees, feeding and clothing etc.”

    He added: “Every reasonable government should accord priority to the welfare of workers/teachers failing to do so will affect the progress of the society particularly the workers themselves and informal sector.

    “Playing politics with workers’ welfare is not the best particularly at this time of economic recession.

    “Fayose should stop playing politics with workers’ welfare because it is their statutory right and first line charge according to the 1999 Constitution.”

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Otunba Yinka Akerele, urged Fayose to pay the teachers their salaries and allowances as at when due.

    He also advocated regular promotions and development of a policy that would create opportunity for teachers to perform optimally.

    The APC stalwart faulted Fayose on his claims that the success achieved by the state candidates in this year’s National Examinations Council (NECO) was due to the policies put in place by his administration.

    Akerele attributed the first position claimed by Ekiti among the 36 states of the federation to the policies of the administration of former  Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, which he said introduced measures that made quality education available in the state.

  • Fayose condemns ‘conspiracy’ against Tinubu in APC

    Fayose condemns ‘conspiracy’ against Tinubu in APC

    From an unlikely quarter came yesterday support for the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over alleged conspiracy of some party chieftains against him.

    Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, warned those hoping to reap political benefits from such moves to have a rethink.

    Fayose, the self-styled Opposition Leader in Nigeria, said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, in Ado Ekiti that “humiliation of Tinubu is as good as humiliation of the Yoruba race.”

    He said he would not keep silent in the face of attack on a revered Yoruba leader like Tinubu and declared: “Yoruba leaders must be protected.”

    Recalling similar attacks in the past on Yoruba leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Onabanjo (all late) and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, among others, Fayose said: “Even though I am not a member of the APC and will never be, I have elected to stand in defence of the Yoruba nation once again by saying no to the continuous dishonourable treatment being meted to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, having paid his dues.

    “If Tinubu is allowed to be embarrassed and disgraced just the way our past leaders were humiliated by these same elements, the Yoruba nation would have been made to suffer for uprightness.”

    He referred to a ‘sponsored’ protest against the APC leader at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja earlier in the week, saying: “It is unfortunate that Tinubu is now being vilified in a party he invested heavily in and his fellow kinsmen that he brought up politically are part of this conspiracy.

    “In their desperation, they have even tried to set him against the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, by insinuating that he tried to prevent his (Osinbajo) emergence as President Mohammadu Buhari’s running mate. This is sad!”

    He lamented that “when other tribes protect their own, it is becoming historically common among the Yoruba to allow themselves to be used against their leaders just for momentary political gains at the expense of the collective interests of the Yoruba nation.

    “It should be noted that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sent to jail by the conspiracy and collaboration of some Yoruba with external aggressors.”

    Continuing, Fayose said: “Tinubu is a prominent stakeholder. We should not sit back and watch while those he used his own sweat to make conspire with others to humiliate him.

    “Most importantly, it is my position that irrespective of political affiliation, no leader of the Yoruba nation must be vilified unduly, especially by the same people who humiliated our past leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Adekunle Ajasin, Bola Ige, Bisi Onabanjo, Lateef Jakande and others.

    “To me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should not be seen just as an APC leader but acknowledged as a major stakeholder in the Yoruba nation that we must all protect beyond politics.

    “It should be recalled that these were among the issues that I raised when I visited Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State a few months ago on the need to work together beyond party affiliations.

    “Here in Yorubaland, it is said that if a household is at peace, it is because the bastard in the family is yet to attain the age of maturity, and those people that Asiwaju Tinubu made but are now being used against him should watch it.

    “I therefore condemn this conspiracy against Asiwaju Tinubu and I admonish those that are hoping to make political benefits from it to have a rethink.”

  • Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on PDP’s peace move

    Fayose, Ikpeazu differ on PDP’s peace move

    Two governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disagreed on the peace move announced by the two feuding factions of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

    The two factions of the party had on Tuesday announced their decision to bury the hatchet and work together in order to enable the party perform its role as a viable opposition platform.

    Both factions disclosed their intention to embark on extensive consultations with their respective loyalists to fashion out a way to cement the new unity after about four months of bitter rivalry.

    Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, who spoke separately on the issue with State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, differed on the necessity of the reconciliation move.

    While Fayose rejected it and stressed that it is only the Court of Appeal that can resolve the party’s leadership crisis, Ikpeazu described it as a step in the right direction.

    According to Fayose, the PDP state governors have not been briefed on the reconciliation move while the cases in court have not been withdrawn.

    He said: “That move, you see, I’m not against anything called resolution within the party but everybody must wait for Court of Appeal to resolve this matter.

    “Matters are in court, nobody has withdrawn any matter and they are resolving. What are you resolving?

    “When matters are in court you, allow court to lay them to rest. The moment this thing doesn’t go with one side, they will tell you were are still in court.

    “But allow the court to take a stand and reconciliation would be made easy. I’m not against anybody reconciling with each other but when you see that meeting, ask the coverners if governors were briefed.

    “I was not briefed. I am not the only person in the party but I then I have a stake.”

    On whether the cases in court cannot be withdrawn during reconciliation, he replied: “Let’s wait till then. But my opinion is the Court of Appeal must resolve this matter.

    “When you resolve the matter, you know that I am wrong and I you are right and reconciliation will be made easy.” He said

    Abia governor said that the new reconciliation move will be a victory for the party and Nigeria at the end of the day.

    Noting that the long period of the crisis had taken a toll on the party, he said that it had also provided it with new opportunities to become stronger.

    Ikpeazu said: “In every crisis there are downsides because nobody will wish and pray for crisis. I think also that moment of crisis are also opportunities for strength, renewed vigor and to reinvent our vision.

    “So, ultimately, I think the PDP has the resilience and what it takes to bounce back as a party.”

    On how to secure the support of its founding fathers and others who may have left the party, he said the party will work to bring everybody back on board.

    He went on: “There is no doubt that party politics everywhere involves everybody whether you are a founding father or a new member. Political party is built around people and everybody has equal stake.

    “Our interest is Nigeria. Therefore, all strata of people, opinion I think will be put into consideration because they are equally important.

    “The important thing is Nigeria and the important thing is democracy. Whether you are a BoT member or a party person, it doesn’t really matter. PDP Governors Forum is not political party.” He added

  • APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    •’Ekiti funds must be recovered’

    EKITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for probing Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering and purchase of assets after assumption of office.

    The party leaders and members in Ado Ekiti Local Government, who rose from their monthly meeting at Ward 5 in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged the anti-graft agency to ensure that all Ekiti funds and assets purchased with state funds are recovered.

    Fifteen people were empowered with cash in aid of their businesses by a chieftain of the party, Faleye Rotimi.

    He said the gesture was to assist the less-privileged in line with the party’s manifesto.

    Party leaders, who attended the meeting, include ex-Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker Femi Bamisile; ex-House of Assembly member Tope Olanipekun; ex-Commissioner for Culture Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; ward and local government executives.

    Addressing the gathering, Ayodele said the people were happy with the EFCC probe, maintaining that illicit funds traced to the governor must be recovered.

    Ayodele said: “We are happy with EFCC for investigating Fayose and what is happening to our treasury. Fayose must face the music for the way he has been handling our funds and the arms funds diverted to his campaign.”

    Former Chairman of the State Sports Council Ade Adetola called for the understanding of Nigerians.

    He said the 16 years of “destruction of the economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration” could not be rectified within two years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ward Chairman Olumide Ajibade said the recession was not caused by Buhari, but by “unprecedented corruption wreaked on Nigerians by the PDP government”.

    He urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in the President.

     

     

  • APC members hail EFCC’s probe of Fayose

    EKITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for probing Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged money laundering and purchase of assets after assumption of office.

    The party leaders and members in Ado Ekiti Local Government, who rose from their monthly meeting at Ward 5 in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, urged the anti-graft agency to ensure that all Ekiti funds and assets purchased with state funds are recovered.

    Fifteen people were empowered with cash in aid of their businesses by a chieftain of the party, Faleye Rotimi.

    He said the gesture was to assist the less-privileged in line with the party’s manifesto.

    Party leaders, who attended the meeting, include ex-Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker Femi Bamisile; ex-House of Assembly member Tope Olanipekun; ex-Commissioner for Culture Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; ward and local government executives.

    Addressing the gathering, Ayodele said the people were happy with the EFCC probe, maintaining that illicit funds traced to the governor must be recovered.

    Ayodele said: “We are happy with EFCC for investigating Fayose and what is happening to our treasury. Fayose must face the music for the way he has been handling our funds and the arms funds diverted to his campaign.”

    Former Chairman of the State Sports Council Ade Adetola called for the understanding of Nigerians.

    He said the 16 years of “destruction of the economy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration” could not be rectified within two years by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ward Chairman Olumide Ajibade said the recession was not caused by Buhari, but by “unprecedented corruption wreaked on Nigerians by the PDP government”.

    He urged Nigerians to repose their confidence in the President.

  • Ekiti Assembly member-elect demands swearing-in

    Ekiti Assembly member-elect demands swearing-in

    •Lawmaker demands to be sworn in
    EKITI State House of Assembly member-elect Toyin Obayemi (Ado Ekiti 1) has called on Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, to obey court order and swear him.

    Obayemi, in a letter to the governor made available to reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday, regretted that members of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been obstructinghis inauguration.

    The Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on July 4, removed Musa Arogundade, who represents the constituency, and ordered Obayemi sworn in, having found Obayemi to be the valid candidate for the April 11, 2015, House of Assembly election.

    Obayemi, in the letter copied to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, and eminent lawyer Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), said the refusal of the PDP-dominated Assembly to admit him as a member after a court order, “is portraying the party in bad light”.

    According to him, he remained a committed financial member of the party after contesting the seat in 2011, and losing to an opposition candidate.

    Obayemi said: “… it is an irony of fate that my party (PDP) today constitutes a stumbling block to my progress since the judgment was delivered to the Speaker through the Clerk.

    “Permit me with every sense of respect to say that the Speaker should know that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

    “I was taken aback when the only reason given by the Speaker for his refusal to obey the court judgment and admit me into the House officially was that the case is still in the appeal level. I want to say that till date, I am yet to receive a letter informing me of such position.

    “… we must not forget that this is a case of PDP versus PDP and the opposition will not stop laughing at us as a result of the stand of the Speaker refusing to obey court judgment.

    “… Sir, I remain a committed and a financial member of the party, and as the leader of the party here in Ekiti, I want to urge you to look at this case from the point of view that all members of the party are one and equal before you, and I appeal to you to use your good offices to let the world know that PDP is not a lawless party.

    “Finally Sir, I appeal to you, therefore, to please advise the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, to do the needful in accordance with the court judgment of July 4, 2016, and perform my swearing-in ceremony.”

     

     

     

  • Ekiti at 20: Fayose hails Abacha, predecessors

    Ekiti at 20: Fayose hails Abacha, predecessors

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has showered encomiums on the late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, for yielding to the cries of Ekiti people for a state of their own on October 1, 1996.

    The state was created alongside Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Zamfara by the late military strongman.

    The governor, who spoke at an interactive session with interest groups at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado Ekiti yesterday as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the creation of Ekiti State and 56th independence anniversary, vowed not to leave any abandoned project behind by the time he completes his tenure on October 15, 2018.

    Fayose also hailed all his predecessors-Col. Inua Bawa, Capt. Atanda Yusuff, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi-for their sacrifices and contributions to the development of the state.

    He said the former governors tried their best within the limited resources available to them, saying their contributions have given him something to build upon to take Ekiti to greater heights.

    Fayose appealed to politicians across various divides to always place the interest of the state above personal interests and work for its development.

    He said: “Let me commend Gen. Abacha for creating the state and I also thank our founding fathers for their vision.

    “Though, I didn’t participate in the struggle but I am a beneficiary and many children and governors yet unborn will also benefit.

    “Politics aside, let me commend all the military and duly elected governors of the past for their contributions because they have contributed their own quota within the available resources to lay a foundation. For without foundation there could be nothing to build upon.

    “Ekiti has scored many firsts within the two years I came on board. Ekiti recorded in transparency in budget provision.

    “It came first in 2016 NECO and these came at the most auspicious time when Ekiti is 20.”

    He added: “Our desire now is to buckle up and work harder for more service delivery for the good of you and I.

    “Whatever our political, religious and interests are, we must put our eyes on the ball called Ekiti for our tomorrow to be better than this.

    “I want to tell you that I won’t abandon any project. All the projects I have started will be completed before my departure.”

  • Ekiti deputy speaker, panel chair incur Fayose’s wrath

    Ekiti State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Olusegun Adewumi and Information Committee Chairman Gboyega Aribisogan may have run into trouble for allegedly meeting with those perceived as an enemies of Governor Ayo Fayose, it was learnt yesterday.

    They were accused of meeting with Senator Buruji Kashamu,  former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary Temitope Aluko,  Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, activist, lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and a new entrant into Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Yinka Akerele last Saturday in Lagos.

    Adewumi, who represents Ekiti West Constituency I, was said to have been impeached on Fayose’s alleged order at plenary and replaced with Ekundayo Akinleye representing Ijero Constituency

    Aribisogan, who represents Ikole Constituency I, was said to have been suspended at the session.

    The plenary was yet to hold by noon  when reporters visited the assembly, but the lawmakers led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole, were said to be meeting with Fayose at press time.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti is polarised. The faction loyal to Fayose has Gboyega Oguntuase as chairman; the other faction loyal to Kashamu is led by Williams Ajayi.

    Fayose and Kashamu, who used to be allies are now battling for PDP soul in the Southwest.

    Adewumi could not be reached for comment but Aribisogan denied being suspended.

    Aribisogan, who spoke on phone, claimed that he was in Abuja. He said he had not committed any offence to warrant suspension.

    Speaker Oluwawole debunked insinuations of a leadership crisis in the Assembly, saying whatever might have happened at plenary was a “family affair.”

    Oluwawole said: “Nothing of such happened. I am not aware of any impeachment or suspension plot. The Deputy Speaker is still there as my deputy.