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Tag: Fayose

  • APC to Fayose: be consistent with debt figures

    APC to Fayose: be consistent with debt figures

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has criticised Governor Ayo Fayose for  confusing the people with “inconsistent debt figures”.

    The party faulted Fayose’s claim during his media chat, Meet Your Governor, last Friday that the state’s debt profile had risen to N252 billion to be paid off in 2036.

    The APC recalled that Fayose, shortly after his inauguration, claimed that Ekiti was owing N86 billion to be paid off in 2020, only for him to put the figure again at N56 billion.

    The opposition noted that all the figures churned out by Fayose contradicted the N18.5 billion released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) .

    The APC’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement yesterday, said it was time the governor stopped deceiving the people.

    With the latest debt claim, Olatunbosun said Fayose had turned himself into a master juggler in a dishonest public show.

    “During his inauguration, Fayose said former Governor Kayode Fayemi left a debt of N86 billion.

    “Later, he reduced it to N56billion and now he has announced another figure of N252 billion.

    “These are attempts to  deny the people real development while living in private comfort as planned.

    “He has come out again with the debts that will be paid off in 2036 and we wonder if he will remain governor till then.

    Olatunbosun said Fayose’s motive was to deny former political office holders payment of severance allowances.

    “It is regrettable that the Fayose administration has turned Ekiti State to a trading post using reckless propaganda to deceive the people.

    “This is to put them in a permanent state of flux so that they won’t be able to demand their rights.

    “We want to make it clear that Fayemi left a debt of N18.5 billion as he explained during his ministerial screening session and this has not been controverted.

    “It is gratifying that Fayemi did not borrow to pay salaries; he borrowed to implement development projects and the projects are there for the people to see,” he said.

    “The governor must pay severance allowances to former political office holders.

    “We call on workers to insist on the payment of their entitlements and the people should demand performance and should not be deceived by endless lies on the state’s debt profile,” Olatunbosun said.

  • Fayose demolishes Ado market

    Fayose demolishes Ado market

    …pledges to build new one in 24 months

    The Erekesan Market in Ado Ekiti was on Saturday reduced to rubbles by bulldozers on the orders of the state governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

    A new ultra-modern market, the governor assured, would be constructed in 24 months. It would gulp N2 billion.

    Residents, passersby, commercial drivers, armed security agents and journalists watched as the market, otherwise known as Oja Oba (King’s Market), was pulled down by the bulldozers which had been mobilised to the site as early as 6.30 am.

    Earlier, Fayose had ordered the traders to relocate to Awedele Neighbourhood Market at Basiri area and Agric Olope Market off Ajilosun Road as alternatives pending the conclusion of work on the new market.

    The governor had while featuring on this month’s edition of his media chat, ‘Meet Your Governor’ on Friday, warned traders against displaying their wares at the market, saying the full wrath of the law would be visited on anybody who flouts the order.

    The traders had expressed fear that they may not return to the market again when completed as they won’t be able to pay its new rates.

    Thrice, the state government had postponed the deadline given the traders to move out, but the governor said few days ago that there would not be any further extension.

    But contrary to the governor’s earlier position that the reconstruction would take one year, the latest duration of the project is now 24 months.

    Fayose said the construction of the new market to be named after the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, was in fulfillment of the support of the people of the town for him during the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

    The market was burnt down in May by unknown arsonists in the heat of violent clashes between Ado Ekiti youths and Hausa traders.

    Addressing reporters at the site of the demolition on Saturday, Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, said the construction of the new market would gulp over N2 billion.

    He disclosed that preference would be given to former shop owners when the market is completed.

    Speaking on the facilities to be provided at the new market, Oso said there would be over 1000 shops for different categories of traders, a clinic, a car park for over 400 cars, a fire station, among others.

     

  • Stop insulting Buhari, Fayose warned

    Stop insulting Buhari, Fayose warned

    Former Special Adviser on Housing in Abia State, Nwabueze Onwuneme, has called on the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, to maintain some respect not just for his exalted office as a state chief executive but also for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He specifically warned the governor to stop insulting President Muhammadu Buhari and the Judiciary.

    Onwuneme, a youth activist, wondered why Fayose would continue to make what he described as “seditious and inciting statements against not only President Muhammadu Buhari but also the Nigerian judiciary.”

    According to him, “Fayose should have realised that the fact that no one joins issues with him is not because there is nothing to say about him. His antics is not coming as a surprise, knowing his antecedents for showmanship, which propels him to always crave to be in the news even for the wrong reasons. This same Mr. Fayose, during his thanksgiving service to celebrate his electoral victory (hope the panel set up by the Nigeria Army to investigate the Ekiti election phone conversation will vindicate his victory at the polls) was seen rolling on the floor, thanking God and saying he would govern with the fear of God only to desecrate the temple of justice and reportedly sending on exile members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Often times he has openly called on the good people of Ekiti State, most especially the youths, to rise up to defend his mandate while his own children will be posting pictures of their posh cars on instagram.

    “Fayose should know that Nigerians are now really bored and no longer look forward to his personal daily attacks on Mr. President who he wished dead, but who God, in His mercies, did not just give life to but went ahead to make a two time President.

    “He should please get serious with his work as Ekiti State governor, acknowledging that governance is not a tea party by delivering on his electoral promises to the people of Ekiti State.”

  • Fayose shuts down abattoirs as butchers protest against cow tax

    Fayose shuts down abattoirs as butchers protest against cow tax

    Butchers in Ekiti State yesterday trooped out in large number to protest against the imposition of new tax and forcible closure of all abattoirs by the Governor Ayo Fayose administration.

    Government had imposed a tax of N1,000 on each cow slaughtered in the state but the butchers refused to pay the new tax which they described as “exorbitant and outrageous.”

    Apart from the new tax of N1,000 jerked up from N300 per cow, the butchers also claimed that they are paying veterinary tax, inspection rate and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) levy.

    The angry butchers said the new tax which, according to them, would see each butcher paying at least N26,000 in a month could kill their businesses

    The state government has however shut down all abattoirs in the state following the refusal of butchers to pay the new tax.

    Tension had mounted since Thursday following a radio announcement by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Kehinde Odebunmi, that all abattoirs would be shut down following the resistance of the butchers to pay the new tax and that any butcher caught operating illegal abattoirs is liable to a fine of N20,000.

    Led by the Chairman of Butchers Association in Ado Ekiti Local Government, Alhaji Mustapha Kareem, the protesters who held leaves and chanted war songs stormed the abattoir as early as 6.30 am but they met a detachment of armed policemen who prevented them from occupying the place.

    The butchers who were denied access to the Ado Ekiti Main Abattoir along Iworoko Road stayed some meters away from the junction of Radio Nigeria Progress 100.5 FM vowed to force the place open tomorrow and slaughter cows if government fails to accede to their demands.

    Kareem disclosed that they had met with Fayose to reconsider the new tax and suggested N500 but the governor rejected. He added that abattoirs in nearby states don’t pay as high as N1,000.

    “It is too much and it will affect what we sell to the public. We suggested N500 to the governor but he refused. Members of the public will bear the brunt, people will suffer and those that want to celebrate occasions will be affected.

    “We urge the governor to accommodate N500 tax instead of the N1,000 because we believe N500 is reasonable and it is the consumers that will suffer most.”

    The effect of the closure of the abattoirs is already being felt as many consumers searched in vain for meat.

    Addressing reporters on the development, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Ayodele Michael, said the new tax was aimed at providing better facilities at all the abattoirs in the state.

    Ayodele said government held meetings with the butchers before the new tax was arrived at to generate more revenue and make the abattoirs more conducive to business.

    Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Lanre Ogunsuyi, said N1,000 tax per cow is not too much, regretting that facilities at public abattoirs had fallen into state of disrepair.

    Ogunsuyi said government would not succumb to blackmail and intimidation adding that the new tax and other levies recently imposed in the state were done in public interest and not intended to make life difficult for the citizens.

  • Ekiti shuts down abattoir, butchers protest cow tax

    Butchers in Ekiti State on Friday trooped out in their hundreds to protest the imposition of new tax and closure of all abattoirs by Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration.

    Government had imposed a tax of N1, 000 on each cow slaughtered in the state, but the butchers refused to pay the new tax which they described as “exorbitant and outrageous.”

    Apart from the new tax, which is up from the previous N300 per cow, the butchers also claimed that they are paying veterinary tax, inspection rate and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) levy.

    The angry butchers said the new tax, which according to them, would see each butcher paying at least N26,000 in a month could kill their businesses

    Ekiti State government has shut down all abattoirs following the refusal of butchers to pay the new tax.

    Tension had mounted since Thursday following a radio announcement by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Kehinde Odebunmi, that all abattoirs would be shut down following the resistance of the butchers to pay the new tax and any butcher caught operating illegal abattoirs is liable to a fine of N20,000.

    Led by the Chairman of Butchers Association in Ado Ekiti Local Government, Alhaji Mustapha Kareem, the protesters who held leaves and chanted war songs, stormed the abattoir as early as 6:30am on Friday, but they met a detachment of armed policemen who prevented them from occupying the place.

     

  • Fayose to drivers’ union: Nobody is above the law

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on Thursday warned drivers’ unions against breaking the law, stressing that “nobody is above the law in the state.”

    The governor handed down the warning at a meeting with members of the Ekiti State Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the union’s secretariat along Poly Road in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    To demonstrate his seriousness towards ensuring peace among drivers’ unions, Fayose promised to donate a brand new bus each to NURTW and Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) if no violence is recorded among members of the unions in the next one year.

    He urged drivers to be law abiding so as to avoid having problems with law enforcement officers.

    The governor also approved a N5 million revolving loan for the drivers’ wives as requested by the members through the chairman to the admiration of all.

    Fayose, who said the country, will only progress if the leaders will humble themselves and come down to the level of the people they govern, described driving as a noble profession.

    He said: “I am in your hands, my own governance is about you, whether they call me driver, senior driver or former driver, that is their own cup of tea.

    “Driving is a noble profession. If you don’t need a driver, you can use your legs, if you don’t like drivers, you can climb okada.”

    In his welcome speech, the state NURTW Chairman, Clement Adekola, thanked Fayose for always standing by them, assuring the governor of the union’s loyalty.

     

  • Fayose apologises to teachers

    Fayose apologises to teachers

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has apologised to primary school teachers for the mix-up in the payment of their September salary.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said: “Even though the mix-up was from the Accountant General’s office but as the governor, I take responsibility.

    “I want to apologise for the inconsistency and problems encountered in crediting the accounts of some primary school teachers. It was after my broadcast few days back that I got a lot of text messages from some teachers who were affected.

    “I sincerely want to apologise, I have gotten to the root of the matter, I have found out that there were mix-ups here and there, the accounts were credited and later withdrawn for carelessness in the accountant general’s office, for whatever it is I take responsibility.

    I apologise and want to assure you all the lapses will be corrected.

    “My teachers at the primary school level, this money will be credited to your accounts today unfailingly. My apologies.”

     

  • Ex-Speaker to Fayose: Ekiti people not interested in excuses

    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, has said the people of the state are not interested in excuses from Governor Ayo Fayose on why he could not fulfill his electoral promises to them.

    Bamisile, who spoke on Monday during a meeting with leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Emure local government area of the state, said Fayose can no longer cajole the people with excuses of poor financial situation which he was aware of before assumption of office.

    Rather than “shedding crocodile tears” over economic downturn, Bamisile counselled the governor to organize an economic summit because “he (Fayose) appears to be bereft of ideas on how to take rescue the state from the woods.”

    He said the latest tax regime imposed on the people is killing the economy in the grassroots and sending many small scale businessmen and women out of jobs.

    Bamisile argued that Fayose was not getting the policy direction for the state rightly because “he politicizes every actions of government, just to score unnecessary cheap political points.”

    The APC chieftain expressed fear that “if care is not taken, the state economy will collapse within the next six months” with the way it is being run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said:  “Every government is liable to inherit both the liabilities and assets of its predecessors and also leave same for her successor, even the Ayodele Fayose led government is already leaving a debt profile of N58b (and still counting) with the Central Bank Bailout loan, despite the fact that he is yet to pay the full allowances of past political appointees captured in the bail out.”

    “Ekiti people are not interested in excuses for your failures. They are only interested in your capacity to develop the state using your intellectual property, most especially in the areas of economic prosperity and job creation.

  • Fayose: some lecturers harass female students

    Fayose: some lecturers harass female students

    Some lecturers came under attack from Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, who accused them of “smoking Indian hemp and harassing female students”.

    Fayose made the allegation yesterday during the 22nd Convocation of the College of Education, Ikere- Ekiti where 2,348 students graduated and two distinguished Nigerians received honorary fellowships.

    Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Ifeanyi Ubah and Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Abiodun Olujimi were bestowed with honorary fellowships.

    Fayose congratulated the graduating students and advised them to be of good behaviour anywhere they find themselves.

    But he lambasted some lecturers for not showing good examples to students by intimidating and harassing female students, victimising male students and smoking Indian hemp.

    Fayose: “A lecturer should not be found intimidating and harassing female students. Remember that those female students being harassed and victimised, it may be the turn of your children tomorrow.

    “Some lecturers smoke Indian hemp, they teach students how to manipulate books, converting “15” to “51”.

    Fayose also condemned abuse of power by political leaders who he accused of intimidating fellow Nigerians noting that some of those who wielded power in the past now need “rehabilitation.”

    He said: “Most leaders need rehabilitation after office because they have over enjoyed while in office. By now, they should have banned siren in Nigeria. One of the most irritating thing to me is siren.”

    The governor urged the college authorities to look inward to raise money expressing regrets that people find it difficult to pay tax in Ekiti.

    The governor urged the people to support his administration by paying their taxes to give government the opportunity to provide amenities and infrastructures.

  • Ex-Ekiti Speaker faults Fayose’s criticism of Buhari on new INEC chief

    Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, has faulted Governor Ayo Fayose’s criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of Prof. Mahmud Yakubu as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain urged Ekiti people and all Nigerians to ignore Fayose whom he accused of “unsavory comments against the person, actions and policies of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Fayose had last week accused Buhari of appointing another Northerner to replace the former INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, describing the President as a “sectional leader who sees himself as mainly leader of Hausa/Fulani and not that of entire Nigerian people.”

    Bamisile in a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Babs Daramola, said Fayose’s outburst represents “a further display of the governor’s proneness to political tantrums which are not and can never be a true representation of the genuine opinion of the good people of Ekiti state.

    He said: “For Governor Fayose to label President Buhari as a sectional president is a reflection of a state of mind possessed by a pathological penchant for mischief.

    “Mr. Governor should stop seeking unnecessary negative media attention and focus on governance. Here is a governor that barely one year into his misrule, already has so much problems on his hands.

    “Ekiti has regressed into the days of social and economic enslavement. I wonder how a governor who has suddenly turned himself to public enemy number one among his people can claim any moral justification to constitute himself a judge on President Buhari’s policies.

    “It is unfortunate that the governor who is preaching  principle of equity and fairness failed to realise that of the 12 national electoral body chairmen that have been appointed between 1960 and 2015, only Prof. Attahir Jega (who took over in 2010) has come from the Northern extraction.

    “It therefore amounts to either a characteristic deliberate miscarriage of fact or unimaginable ignorance of history on the part of Governor Fayose to claim that the South-South, South-East and South-West, who have had at least two shots each at the position are being marginalized.”