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Soldiers take over Ikere as Fayose instals Adu as Ogoga

A detachment of soldiers and riot policemen took over some parts of Ikere-Ekiti yesterday as Governor Ayo Fayose installed Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado as the Ogoga.

The soldiers were in four pick-up vans at Post Office and Odo Oja Roundabout.

There was tension in many parts of the town, following the dramatic announcement of Adu as the monarch.

The soldiers were joined by riot policemen, who stood guard at major junctions to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

The deployment of security forces came barely few hours after Fayose made the announcement on state media.

The governor stunned many when he presented Adu with the certificate of appointment and staff of office.

The practice is to present a new monarch with instrument of appointment initially while the staff of office is presented after traditional rites might have been performed.

At the Holy Trinity Anglican Primary School sports field in Odo Oja, venue of the ceremony, Fayose presented Adu with the certificate and the staff of office at 3.03 pm.

The governor reiterated his stand that he had no candidate among the contestants.

Adu succeeds Oba Samuel Adegoke Adegboye, who died on August 22, last year, after 43 years on the throne.

The governor noted that in every contest, only one person will emerge winner.

Fayose said he re-ordered the election process because he wanted due process and fairness in the selection process.

The governor advised aggrieved parties to take their grievances to court.

He urged the monarch to abide by the court’s directives, if his opponents seek redress.

Fayose urged Adu to learn from his (Fayose’s) experience in which former Governor Kayode Fayemi congratulated him after his electoral victory, even though the All Progressives Congress (APC) later went to court to challenge his victory.

The governor urged the Ogoga to have a large heart, be magnanimous and accommodate his opponents.

Fayose also advised Adu to be humble and reach out to his opponents.

Shortly after the installation, the governor invited the chiefs to pay homage to the monarch.

The double presentation runs contrary to the directive of the head of kingmakers, Chief Michael Shittu.

On Sunday, Shittu met with the ruling houses, aspirants and kingmakers to unfold the “valid processes and procedures to be followed in the nomination and installation of a new Ogoga”.

The presentation also contradicts the decision at a meeting between Fayose and the kingmakers on Saturday, where the governor gave them a 14-day ultimatum to produce a new Ogoga, who will be accepted by the people.

Shittu, who is the Sapetu of Ikere and the second-in-command to the Ogoga, told our reporter on phone that he was surprised and shocked that the ultimatum was yet to expire before the government made the announcement.

The Sapetu explained that the meeting was held to brief the ruling houses, princes and princesses on the outcome of the meeting with Fayose and the valid procedures followed by their forefathers.

Shittu insisted that there was need to follow due process to prevent chaos in the town.

At the end of the meeting, the ruling houses, aspirants and kingmakers unanimously agreed that the rightful guidelines should be followed, until yesterday morning when the government announced Adu as the Ogoga.

July 7, 2015
Fayose to name Ikere monarch in 14 days

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has warned those planning to foment trouble over the vacant Ogoga royal stool in Ikere-Ekiti to shelve their plan or risk arrest.

The governor, who spoke at a meeting with stakeholders, declared that any attempt by anyone to cause trouble will be resisted by security operatives.

The new Ogoga is expected to be unveiled by the state government within the next 14 days with fingers pointing in the direction of Adejimi Adu as the favorite to clinch the throne.

Adu’s main opponent is prominent broadcast journalist Gbenga Aruleba, who hosts a popular current affairs programme on the Africa Independent Television (AIT), Focus Nigeria.

But the princes and princesses in Ikere Kingdom, known as the Omo Owas, are opposed to Adu’s candidacy, claiming that he does not belong to any royal family.

Public protests have been staged in the town in the last two months by some indigenes opposed to the choice of Adu by a section of the kingmakers.

The throne became vacant on August 22, last year, following the demise of Oba Samuel Adegoke Adegboye, who reigned for 43 years.

Fayose said he had no interest in who becomes the monarch, noting that he was in a hurry to lay the controversy surrounding the vacant stool to rest.

The governor recalled that a community leader, Chief Olusola Bayode and the Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, who represents Ikere 2, Sunday Akinniyi, had advised him to reverse Adu’s selection.

The duo’s advice was premised on the claim that all the kingmakers had moved to Aruleba’s camp, following massive protests against Adu with the protesters accusing the kingmakers of being bribed.

There was drama at the meeting when Fayose, in a bid to find out the truth, called for another round of election in his presence with 10 of the 13 kingmakers voting in Adu’s favour; the remaining three voted in favour of the opposing camp.

While seeming to have smelt complicity on the side of the opposing camp, he asked Bayode to produce the kingmakers who he said had withdrawn their support for the oba-elect.

But Bayode accused Chief Bobade Shittu of allegedly misleading him.

After the drama, Fayose declared that he would announce the next Ogoga in 14 days after due consultation based on the information at his disposal.

He said: “l will announce the next Ogoga within the next 14 days and any attempt to cause trouble by anyone will be resisted by security operatives in the state.”

One of the supporters of the camp opposed to the Ogoga-elect, Ezekiel Ayoola, urged Adejimi to bring warring factions together, if he is announced as the new oba.

Ayoola said he was opposed to the Ogoga-elect because his mother was from Okekere.

July 6, 2015
Fayose swears in 10 commissioners

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said local government elections will be conducted in December.

The governor spoke yesterday when he swore in 10 commissioners.

He promised to ensure that all court cases hindering the conduct of the polls are disposed of early.

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

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

They joined Owoseni Ajayi (Justice), Toyin Ojo (Finance) and Kayode Ojo (Works) who assumed office in November after being cleared in controversial circumstances by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the last Assembly.

Fayose warned the commissioners against disloyalty, saying he would not hesitate to fire them for “treachery and betrayal”.

He advised those lobbying for political offices to stop begging for appointments.

Fayose said pressure was being put on him by people at the grassroots, which he attributed to the absence of local government officials.

“Between now and December, there must be local government election. We will ensure that those matters in court are disposed of to pave way for the local government election.

“The pressure is too much on me and when local government election is conducted, you can hold on to your chairman and your councillor because they will be the nearest to our people in the grassroots,” Fayose said.

July 2, 2015
Fayose abandoning legacy projects, says APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has criticised Governor Ayodele Fayose for abandoning his predecessor’s “legacy projects”.

A statement by the APC Publicity Secretary , Taiwo Olatunbosun, yesterday described the abandonment of the projects executed by the Kayode Fayemi administration as a “disservice to the people because Fayose wants to rubbish the achievements of his predecessor”.

Olatubosun wondered why a development-oriented governor would abandon an edifice, such as the Oba Adejugbe Hospital, which was completed by the Fayemi administration, such that weeds now adorn the once beautiful edifice.

He said: “Oba Adejugbe Hospital was completed and inaugurated by the Fayemi administration while contract for equipping the hospital was already awarded but Fayose on assumption of office cancelled the contract and has abandoned the hospital to be overgrown with weeds.

‘It will be unfortunate and sheer waste of resources if Oba Adejugbe Hospital is left to rot away because of this thought by Fayose that the project belonged to Fayemi instead of Ekiti people.”

Olatubosun regretted that Fayose had also abandoned the Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre, which was 70 percent completed before Fayemi left office.

The Civic Centre, according to him, comprises an event centre, e-library, art gallery, cinema, archives and research centre.

He noted that the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion which ought to have been generating income into the purse of the state government as another project Fayose deliberately abandoned.

“We wonder why the governor cannot complete this project instead of starting another building in the nearby Heroes Park where the late Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka was buried thus disfiguring the park.

“This is sheer pettiness and unwarranted insult to the memory of the dead,” Olatunbosun stated.

He also chided the governor for allegedly leaving Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in ruins.

‘It is unfortunate that while Fayose laments daily over paucity of funds, he has deliberately left many projects that could fetch the state money to rot away simply because they were projects of his predecessor,” he said,

He added that it was double-standard and hypocritical for the governor to distance himself from Ire Burnt Bricks Industry because it was revived by Fayemi, “but he is now proud to associate with the success because the company has started production”.

“We hope he will allow the company to run professionally. Fayose should take a cue from his predecessor, Fayemi who completed projects he inherited from his predecessor, Segun Oni.”

July 1, 2015
Fayose distorts masterplan for ex- deputy governor’s graveside

Work is going on in earnest on the building of a Women Development Centre at the graveside of the late former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka.

Governor Ayo Fayose had late last year promised to carry out the project in memory of the late Mrs. Olayinka in appreciation of her contribution to the development of the state and commitment to the cause of women in her lifetime.

The late Mrs. Olayinka, who died of cancer on April 6, 2013, was buried at a site designated as Heroes Park by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration on April 26, 2013.

The site, which was located at Fajuyi area in the heart of Ado Ekiti, was marked out by the Fayemi administration for burial of distinguished Ekiti sons and daughters who had made their marks and performed heroic feats while alive.

At the site of the uncompleted Civic Centre across the road stands a statue of the late Mrs. Olayinka which was erected by the Fayemi administration.

No work has been carried out on the Civic Centre by the Fayose administration since it came to power on October 16 last year.

A visit to the site on Monday by our reporter revealed a busy day for workmen and women who were working on the decking of the structure which had already been overlaid with iron rods.

Contract for the project was awarded to a company known as GRIDS ASSOCIATES which started work on the site on April 1 but had a break before moving back to the site on May 1.

Project engineer, Segun Balogun, who spoke with Southwest Report revealed that the speed of work was being accelerated to meet up with Fayose’s first anniversary in office.

Balogun explained that Fayose, whom he said, was very passionate about the project, hopes to open it for public use in October to celebrate the first year in office.

The engineer stated that funding would not be a problem to the work as funds that would see the project to its completion have been provided.

According to him, Fayose should be praised for the project for rising above partisan consideration since he (Fayose) and the late Mrs. Olayinka belong to different political parties.

Balogun said: “The governor has been giving us tremendous support on this Women Development Centre under construction and he wants to immortalise the late deputy governor who was buried here.

“When we finish work on the structure, the roadwork that will lead to the tomb is a good design.

“The governor has no sentiment about the project, the late Mrs. Olayinka belonged to a different party but the governor who is from another party is using the project to immortalise her.

“And he is carrying out this project and financing it at a time when there is paucity of funds, I think he should be commended”.

July 1, 2015
Depose our monarch, community tells Fayose

•Angry monarch threatens to slap reporters

The people of Iyemero in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have called on Governor Ayo Fayose to remove their traditional ruler, the Olu of Iyemero, Oba Ebenezer Agboola Ogungbemi, for what they called “acts unbecoming of his revered position”.

They staged a protest before and after a peace meeting chaired by the Attah of Ayede, Oba Mumuni Adebayo Orisagbemi, who came to reconcile the monarch with his subjects.

They accused Oba Ogungbemi of embezzlement of allowances due to his chiefs, illegal arrest and detention of his subjects as well as illegal sale of the community’s ancestral land.

The subjects also accused him of illegal felling and sale of the community’s economic trees, use of divide and rule tactics, highhandedness, dictatorial tendencies and lack of interest in the town’s development.

The protesters, who marched round the community, called on Fayose to depose Oba Ogungbemi before the already tense situation goes out of hand.

Some of their placards read: “Gov. Fayose, We don’t want Ebenezer Agboola as Olu of Iyemero again”; “We are tired of our oba, he must go”; “Iyemero youths reject Ebenezer Agboola as king”; “EFCC, come and probe Olu of Iyemero”; “We reject to die in prison, Agboola must leave”; “Agboola is not fit to be our oba again”, among others.

Traditional chiefs, town union leaders, women leaders, youths, students some of whom were arrested and detained for challenging Oba Ogungbemi’s alleged excesses said they could no longer guarantee peace in the community, if he still remains king.

The peace meeting, which was also witnessed by the Olu of Itapaji, Oba Abdulkareem Adebanjo, collapsed as the Attah was making his closing remarks when youths who had sat quietly throughout the proceeding brought out placards.

Oba Ogungbemi’s subjects insisted they were tired of his “oppressive” reign and heckled their monarch as he was seeing off Oba Orisagbemi.

At the end of the meeting, Oba Ogungbemi threatened to slap reporters, who sought to hear his side of the story since he did not speak at the meeting.

Oba Ogungbemi retorted: “What do you want to interview me for? You better go away or I will slap you.”

The Attah said Iyemero remained his second home since it was from there the people of Ayede moved to their present domain.

Oba Orisagbemi urged his brother-monarch to listen to his subjects, reconcile with them and pay the chiefs.

President of Iyemero Progressive Union (IPU) Lawrence Fatoyinbo said the people no longer want Oba Ogungbemi.

Fatoyinbo said: “The Olu of Iyemero is running a one-man show; he doesn’t take advice and he is not ready to work with IPU. Even though he was not the rightful person to occupy the throne, we accepted him and gave him the benefit of doubt but he has failed to justify our trust.

“He has not paid the chiefs their allowances in the last 10 years, despite collecting the money from the government.

“We want him to know that we can report him to anti-graft agencies and it is unfortunate that many of the chiefs had died without collecting what is due to them.

“He sold Iyemero landed property without the consent of the community, claiming that the land belongs to his family.

“We don’t want him any longer; we have petitioned Fayose because the governor is the only answer to this issue.

“We have asked him to set up a panel to look into the matter.

“We have also taken the matter to the Elekole of Ikole before the latest intervention of the Attah of Ayede.”

June 29, 2015
Conditions worse under Fayose, say workers

Workers’ standard of living has gone worse under the administration of Governor Ayo Fayose, some public servants in Ekiti State have cried out.

Acting under the aegis of the Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), the workers slammed labour unions for looking the other way when they are supposed to “fight” for workers.

A statement yesterday by the EWF Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) to “wake up from their slumber” and stop being government‘s puppets.

The group claimed that about 60 per cent of workers received April salaries from that month’s allocation.

“What happened to the balance of April allocation and the allocation for May because Ekiti workers are expecting a detailed explanation on these?

“This is how the plight of Ekiti workers continues to assume a rapid slide from bad to worse, with no one championing their cause.

“It even became more worrisome when a couple of days ago, the governor said he only owed May salaries.

“Labour did not see any need to contradict him but what becomes of last September salary, the arrears of pensions and the leave bonus?

“The Forum believes there had been enough controversies over this matter and it is time the governor realised that the onus of payment rests squarely on his shoulders because there is no way he could inherit assets alone while he continues to shun the liabilities.”

June 29, 2015
Don’t destroy Awo’s legacy, APC tells Fayose

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has condemned the intent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in commercialising basic education, which it described as a “disservice to the memory of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo”.

The party condemned a circular by the government that primary school pupils should pay N550 examination fee while junior secondary and senior secondary school pupils are to pay N1,000 each.

In a statement yesterday by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC described the latest government decision as “another rape of the constitution, which guarantees free universal basic education from primary school to junior secondary school”.

The opposition party wondered what informed the “insensitive policy”, saying by the decision, Fayose had marked himself out as the last bastion of conservative partisans insensitive to the universal quest to basic education.

It regretted that “the governor had reduced all government engagements and governance itself as a concept that must be denominated in naira and kobo”.

The APC said: ‘This is another hardship foisted on parents who are impoverished by the poverty-friendly administration of Fayose.

“Governor Fayose’s lame excuse during his recent media chat that pupils of free education are not always brilliant is ignorance taken too far.

“It reveals the lack of understanding and deep-seated contempt the governor has for education.

“Many successful professionals in the Southwest today are products of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy of the then Western Region. Therefore, we are at a loss how Fayose arrived at his conclusion.’

“We urge the governor to stop promoting policies that have the potential to breed more thugs and criminals that are his favourites for political advantage, saying free education is not responsible for the falling standard of education in Ekiti State.

“The problem in the education sector is brought about by the lack of will as being demonstrated by Fayose, with a long period of systemic rot, especially in motivation of teachers and lack of in”The Kayode Fayemi administration tried to bring back the lost glory of education by encouraging teachers through training and incentives by paying rural posting and core subjects allowance, Christmas bonus and regular payment of salaries and allowances.”

June 29, 2015
‘Fayose must begin to deliver on his promises’

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi represented Ekiti North in the Senate between June 2011 and June 2015. He was Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior. In this interview with Odunayo Ogunmola, Adetunmbi xrays the political climate in Ekiti State and the country in general. Among other things, he expresses optimism that the All Progressives Congress (Apc) will bounce back to power at the next governorship election.

How true is the accusation by Governor Ayodele Fayose that former Governor Kayode Fayemi diverted N4 billion into funding ACN?

It would appear that since Governor Fayose came into office, he has strangely pitched himself and his government as an opposition to a governor and government that is no longer in office. This is a sterile and fruitless pursuit. You don’t keep flogging a dead horse and Fayemi bashing cannot compensate, nor be a cover up for non performance by his government. He will be one year old in office in October and the time clicks so fast that before you know it, the term would be over. I think the time has come for the Governor Fayose to face governance and service delivery; electioneering and elections are over and elections petitions have been concluded. Governor Fayose should begin to make efforts to deliver his electoral obligations to the people and spend less time on the pages of newspapers. If he has evidence of financial infractions by the past government, he should take the matter up with appropriate authorities and stop the hysteria.

People are worried about the impact of Fayose’s controversies on the image of the state. What do you think of the person of Governor Fayose.

What do I think of Governor Fayose? You see, a man can only speak out of the abundance of his heart and as man thinks so is he. You don’t need to ask me what I think of Fayose. Quite frankly and truly speaking I don’t think anything of him. Take his words and those spoken on his behalf, evaluate them against ethical, moral, social and cultural standards. That is the man. We all are defined by our actions and the words that we speak.

Do you think that Ekiti people are getting what they bargained for?

I hold the view very strongly that a people deserve the leaders that they get. I believe the political class should allow Ekiti people to enjoy the consequence or benefit of the choice which they made on June 21, 2014 with their eyes wide open. The people made a free choice, in spite of the fact that they will not have another chance till four years time. I am yet to find a substitute for choice and learning, it doesn’t matter how many times you do it, you keep at it until you have come to the point of knowledge and conviction about what is good and what is right for you. I think it is democratic to allow Ekiti people to get to this point of knowledge and conviction of what is good and right for them. It’s a free world.

What are the chances of your party in future elections in Ekiti?

I am sure you have heard the popular saying before, ‘no condition is permanent’; when a person is down the only way he can go is up. That is the benefit of setback; it becomes the springboard for our new elevation and testimonies. A planted seed must first die before it can bring harvest in multiples of self. The defeat of the APC in recent elections in the state is a proverbial seed that must of necessity decompose before it can bring forth a new harvest. In our electoral democracy, that period of our party’s rebirth in the state is four years.

But, your party is going through a serious crisis at the moment. How would the crisis help in the rebirth of the party?

Yes, there are misunderstandings, but we are not at war. It is also not correct to say that some people want to get rid of former governor Fayemi or anyone for that matter. We remain a big family of children from different mothers. There are those who had issues with the style of the last government and the roles of some notable persons within that government. Mind you, it’s the style and not its essence; Fayemi’s public conduct and performance are exemplary. The government also rebranded the state and put it strongly in positive ways on the national map. We all should confess and commend that. There are those who feel they have to get what they want now and are unwilling to wait for another round of opportunities. You also have this category that feel they deserve better recognition and attention; better patronage and privileges. All these feelings of entitlement are legitimate and co-equal. This is especially so given the exceptional circumstances that brought that government into office. We had an all inclusive peoples struggle that delivered the state from electoral heist of April 2007 and the people feel a strong need for personal and private reward for their roles in the struggle. These are my readings of the issues at the underbelly of the conflicts that you described. It’s a combination of logic and emotions and clearly of perceptions, delayed rapprochement and lack of consensual resolution.

The situation was not helped by a rebellious silence and breakdown of communication within and between critical segments of the party and the government.

Is there any hope of reconciliation in the APC?

The disappointing expectations of all interest groups from the Supreme Court judgment on the judicial challenge of the elections to the closed window of impeachment with the expiration of term of office of G19 in June has created a level playing field within the party. I think it’s crunch time for all of us to return to the family table. I believe the atmosphere is ripe for reconciliation. Everyone is a loser and no one is standing on higher ground. You see, failure is a leveler and a good teacher for the wise.

Our collective failure as a party and political class is a unique opportunity for introspection and rebirth. I don’t see any individual or group that is saying ‘no’ to reconciliation by a credible and trusted third party to rescue the party from its self-inflicted rift.

Is the APC ready for the role of the opposition?

The APC and its predecessor political parties are reputed to be the most experienced, most skillful and longest standing opposition parties in Nigeria since independence. Once we close ranks, embrace a new path of remorse and reconciliation then we will be able to halt the drift to anomy in the state and put a stop to the circus that is going on.

Now that you are out of the Senate, what next for you?

I came out of professional practice into politics and I have since returned to my work. I have a strong second address that will keep me occupied and fulfilled. I am grateful to God, my party and the good people of Ekiti North for the privilege of serving them in the Senate these past four year. It’s an experience I will forever cherish.

June 29, 2015
Fayose: 809 ghost workers uncovered in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has revealed that a total number of 809 ghost workers have been uncovered in the verification exercise recently conducted by his administration.

The governor also declared his intent to unveil the list of his commissioners-designate within 48 hours.

The gorvernor who spoke Thursday evening during his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor,” said he waited so long in appointing more commissioners because the state had no money to pay their salaries and allowances.

The governor had been working with three commissioners who were ratified by seven former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers who did not form a quorum in a 26-member House of Assembly.

The three commissioners are Owoseni Ajayi (Justice), Toyin Ojo (Finance and Economic Development) and Kayode Oso (Works and Infrastructure).

Fayose pledged not to appoint more than fourteen commissioners meaning that only eleven commissionership positions are available for intending hundreds of party men and loyalists.

He promised to forward the list of the nominees to the Assembly for screening and ratification to speed up the wheel of governance

Giving an update on the recent staff verification exercise, the governor disclosed that a total of 49,066 had so far been screened out of who 48,257 were verified leaving a total of 809 ghost workers.

Expressing regrets with the inferno which gutted the Erekesan Market (Oja Oba) in Ado Ekiti, Fayose said occupants of the market said had up till August to leave their shops for Fayemi Market along Moferere-Agric Road and Awedele Market along Basiri Road.

He lamented that the fire incident which consumed the market recently could have been prevented if there was a way men of the state fire services could get inside the market to put out the fire.

Fayose assured that the new market to be constructed would have facilities such as police station, functional fire station as well as parking space, befitting of a state capital.

The governor revealed that a number of measures had been designed by his government towards ensuring that the current economic crisis in the country did not bite too much on the people of the state.

He explained that his administration would explore all available means towards improving internally-generated revenue in the state.

Fayose advised those who bought plots of land as well as homes from the state government since 2003, but who were yet to pay up to do the needful within a reasonable period of time to avoid such facilities from being reclaimed from them.

Speaking on security, Fayose threatened that any resident who allowed his house or building to be used either as accommodation or warehouse by armed robbers would have such property demolished immediately.

He also threatened to seize farmlands where cultivation of Indian hemp is discovered in any part of the state.

June 26, 2015