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Tag: Fayose

  • Audio clip: Soldiers ready to testify in court – Fayemi

    Audio clip: Soldiers ready to testify in court – Fayemi

    Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that some military officers are ready to give evidence in court over the audio clip that caught senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and military chiefs plotting how to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.

    Speaking on a live programme, “APC Change Hour,” on an Akure, Ondo State-based ADABA 88.9 FM monitored in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi said the postponement of the 2015 general elections was not about security but about a high-wired plot to rig the polls.

    The audio clip was aired on the radio station with the alleged voices of Governor Ayo Fayose, former Minister of State (Defence), Musiliu Obanikoro, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan, Osun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore and Gen. Aliyu Momoh haggling about rigging plans ahead of the poll.

    He said the postponement was about a “desperate government and a desperate President that is afraid of a loss and using a military that became a willing tool.”

    The former governor said the PDP-led administration was trying to re-enact the rigging perpetrated in Ekiti with the alleged misuse of the military at the forthcoming general election.

    Fayemi stressed that the upper echelon of the military was guilty of treason against the state with its role in the dramatic postponement of the polls, saying the first duty of the government through the armed forces is security of lives and property.

    He deplored a situation in which the military institution has been desecrated with the army generals being harassed and intimidated by politicians desperate to rig elections for their party.

     

  • Fayose blasts Obasanjo for endorsing Buhari

    Fayose blasts Obasanjo for endorsing Buhari

    Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday came under attacks from Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, for endorsing  the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Obasanjo had on Tuesday while launching his latest book, “My Watch” in Nairobi, Kenya, endorsed Buhari as the right man to lead Nigeria as from May 29 this year.

    But Buhari’s endorsement by Obasanjo did not go down well with Fayose who described the former president’s action as “political somersault.”

    In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose called on Nigerians not to take Obasanjo serious, saying the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost his value as a good leader.

    Fayose said the former president should not be taken serious “because of his antecedent as a man who has penchant for deceiving people for his own political gains.”

    The governor said leaving “President Goodluck Jonathan to vote for Buhari is akin to abandoning the road and entering the bush.”

    Fayose claimed that Obasanjo’s utterances of late including the latest endorsement of a candidate of an opposition party is not meant for the good of Nigerians but intended to plunge the country into another political crisis.

    He alleged that Obasanjo opted for this political abracadbra because of his failure to secure life presidency through his third term agenda.

    “Anything that comes out of the mouth and mind of Obasanjo is laced with senility which is dangerous for anybody to follow,” Fayose stated.

     

  • Ekiti poll audio: How Fayose, Obanikoro threatened General

    Ekiti poll audio: How Fayose, Obanikoro threatened General

    More facts emerged yesterday from the audio recording of the session held in Ado Ekiti by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to perfect the rigging plot for the June 21, last year, election in Ekiti State.

    Besides Governor Ayodele Fayose, who was then the PDP candidate, there were former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Awosiyan, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Hon. Abdulkareem, among others, who met with Brig Gen. Aliyu Momoh.

    Gen. Momoh, according to the audio recording posted by online medium Sahara Reporters, was deployed by the military top brass to aid the rigging plan, using soldiers moved into the state for the purpose.

    The video was made available by Capt Sagir Kojoli, who said he was an intelligence officer deployed for the mission. He is now on AWOL.

    Fayose was declared winner of the election, wining in all the 16 local government areas against Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    From the conversation, the plan had the backing of the Presidency and the Chief of Army Staff.

    The military men to be used for the “operation” were also to wear special stickers. They were to arrest top leaders of the APC and assist in manipulating the ballot.

    The troops were also to provide cover for those taking illegal election materials around, whose vehicles were not to be searched at checking points.

    Fayose in the audio was unhappy that Gen Momoh was not fully carrying out instructions.  He complained that “there is no vehicle that left this place without that sticker. The people you just disarmed had that sticker clear and clean. Today, they went to Efon (Alaye) to carry all the materials.

    “We are supposed to be collating these things INEC gave to us, the soft copies we have printed and everything because they see INEC thing on top of it. Why is my contact man not with them? I said my contact man will be sitting at the check point permanently.”

    Accusing Gen. Momoh of not being very effective, Fayose said at the meeting that “if the Gen. wants to spoil it (their plan), let him tie his head because we are going to wage a war against him. The war is imminent.”

    Recounting how the General was introduced to him, Fayose said: “I was in my house when the chief of army staff called me and told me he has briefed him and gave me his number because I never met him before. He told me ‘you are in safe hands; he would perform and if you have any issues, call me’… I never met him in my life. He only called me with the instruction from the Villa. Each time we explain this to this man, he is … everything is porous.”

    At another point during the conversation, Fayose also said: “We have to call the president and let him know. These people are doing something. They will not even serve the policemen that want to help us. We can’t continue like this.”

    In response to a statement by Hon. Abdulkareem, Gen Momoh said: “I’m a stakeholder. It is more in my heart than you.”

    Assuring the meeting of support, Gen Momoh said: “There are about six special teams … I have one strike force. I have almost 40 soldiers after deployment.”

    To extract full commitment from Gen. Momoh Obanikoro said: “Don’t talk too much. I want you to go and work and deliver for us. Look here, you can’t get promotion without me sitting on top of your military council. If I’m a happy man tomorrow night, the sky is your limit… I’m not here for tea party. I’m on a special assignment by the president.”

    Adesiyan added: “So that when next we have someone to send on a special assignment, it will be you”

    Among the issues discussed was the arrest of leaders of the APC prior to or on the election. Among those on the list is the Director General of the Fayemi campaign, Bimbo Daramola, a member of the House of Representatives and the Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole

    Gen. Momoh also briefed the session that “we have done a lot of arrests, me and Oga Chris.”

  • Fayose pledges funds

    The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has promised funding support to the Ekiti State University (EKSU) towards achieving full accreditation for programmes in its new medical college.

    Fayose made the promise while receiving the accreditation panel of the National Universities Commission (NUC), which visited the college to assess its readiness for accreditation.

    The Governor, who extolled the leadership values of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Aina and the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Mathew Araoye, described the medical school as a worthy initiative.

    He said his administration would leave no stone unturned to ensure adequate funding of the college.

  • Why I’m supporting Jonathan – Fayose

    Why I’m supporting Jonathan – Fayose

    The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose on Monday said his support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan was in appreciation for the opportunity given him to serve the people of Ekiti state.

    Fayose, who made this known during his campaign tour to Ikole in Ekiti, said it would be wrong on his part if he did not support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Fayose said: “I was removed as Ekiti state governor in 2006 by one President but re-elected as governor in 2014 under another President and I will forever be grateful to the latter.

    “The overwhelming support I have been receiving from the people of Ekiti since my assumption of office has clearly shown that I was wrongly removed in 2006.

    “You should show the support during the February elections by voting for the re-election of President Jonathan and other candidates under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    The governor reiterated his commitment to the welfare of Ekiti people and pledged to always do what would alleviate poverty and improve their living standards.

    Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of PDP flags to the party candidates for House of Assembly, House of Representative and the Senate seats from the area.

    The candidates are Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan- Ikole State Constituency 1, Mrs. Titilayo Owolabi-Ikole 11, Pastor Kehinde Agboola- Ikole Federal Constituency 1 and Chief Duro Faseyi- Ekiti North Senatorial District.

  • PDP members protest alleged imposition of candidate by Fayose

    PDP members protest alleged imposition of candidate by Fayose

    Aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State are protesting the alleged imposition of a candidate on them by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    They have sued the party.

    The members, who are House of Representatives aspirants, are Cyril Fasuyi, Dotun Onipede, Victor Bamidele and Banji Oyinloye.

    They said in a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja that Fayose was working with the party to “impose Chief Thaddeus Aina on us” as the House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court to declare that no valid primary election known to the party’s constitution, its guidelines for primary elections and the Electoral Act, took place as scheduled on December 6 last year to select a candidate for Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    They seek an order compelling the PDP to organise and announce a new date for the primary election for the selection of a candidate for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency.

    The plaintiffs named the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a defendant.

    Onipede, who deposed to the supporting affidavit, said they were cleared for the primaries, having obtained the nomination forms.

    He said on December 7 when the primary election was to hold, everyone was at the venue, only for the organisers to produce election materials in the evening.

    Onipede said the election was later postponed when visibility became difficult about 7:30pm.

    He said while postponing the primaries, the Youth Leader, Taiwo Olatunji, promised that a new date would be communicated to members.

    Onipede said when they did not hear from the party in relation to the new date, they appealed against the non-holding of the primary to the Election Appeal Committee and later the National Working Committee, but got no response.

    On Friday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, G. Uche, urged the court to hear the case in view of the fact that time was of the essence.

    He said the elections were fast approaching and the issue about primary ought to be concluded.

    Uche said the defendants were served on December 23 last year but chose not to file any response.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu acceded to the defendants’ request and adjourned till Wednesday for hearing.

  • Fayose arrests Fayemi’s cabinet members over official cars

    Four senior aides of the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, were yesterday arrested by the task force of the government of Governor Ayo Fayose in a bid to retrieve the monetized official vehicles in their custody.

    Their homes were raided by the government task force officials who were followed by armed policemen who succeeded in arresting four of them. They were taken to the state police headquarters.

    Those arrested are former Commissioner for Labour and Human Capital Development, Chief Oluwole Ariyo; former Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; former Special Adviser (Governor’s Office), Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae and former Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Adebayo Orire.

    They were at the state police headquarters for about three hours before they were allowed to go back home.

    The Nation learnt that the homes of former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, former Special Adviser on MDGs and Multilateral Relations, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami and former Special Adviser on Parliamentary and Allied Matters, Mr. Dapo Karonwi were also raided.

    Incidentally, Ajayi, Dipo-Salami were not met at home but there was confrontation between Karonwi and the government agents who could not effect his arrest.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr  Taiwo Lakanu said in a telephone conversation with our reproter that the command did not arrest the former political office holders.

    Lakanu said: “We did not arrest them, I only addressed them on the issues at hand. I did not arrest anybody”.

    The Nation gathered that the cost of the car was being deducted from the salaries of the officials until the time of their exit from government after which the administration came up with an arrangement about how the balance would be deducted from their severance package.

    But the Fayose administration in a letter dated 24 November 2014 signed by Mr. Tajudeen Adejumo on behalf of the Secretary to the state government, Mrs. Modupe Alade, stressed that no allowance (including severance and furniture allowance) should be used to pay for the outstanding.

  • Fayose mopping up PVCs in exchange for money – APC

    Fayose mopping up PVCs in exchange for money – APC

    …  Governor’s aide: It’s a lie

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayo Fayose of mopping up Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in exchange for cash.

    The party claimed that the governor is targeting students of higher institutions and artisans with the intent to collect their voter cards in exchange for money, warning them not to surrender their cards to the governor and his agents.

    But the Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Youth and Sports, Lanre Ogunsuyi, who denied the APC allegation, said Fayose does not need to buy voter cards before winning election for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Ogunsuyi said the governor enjoys enormous goodwill and love of the people of the state which he enjoyed in the June 21 governorship election and would not descend so low and start buying voter cards.

    The APC in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, identified Fayose and his henchmen as the brain behind the massive mop-up of students’ and artisans’ PVCs in exchange for cash, describing the act as “callous mortgaging of the future of Ekiti youths.”
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    “News reaching us now is that Governor Ayodele Fayose has started visiting all the artisans and students in the higher institutions in Ekiti-State, demanding for their PVCs in exchange for cash.
    “Recently, the governor visited the School of Health Technology, Ijero; College of Education, Ikere; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and some other institutions where he deceived students to surrender their PVCs for cash.,” he stated.

    Olatunbosun reminded the students that the challenge before them goes beyond immediate pecuniary advantage.

     

  • Fayose: It Is Silly To Mock The Dead, Have Death Wish For Buhari

    Controversial governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, is currently in the news for what people described as offensive and inciting advert in national newspapers, where he paraded past northerners, who were former heads of state that died in office, with the picture of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammodu Buhari.

    Fayose, who was not ready to apologize for the advert, maintained that Buhari is too old and might also die in office like General Murtala Mohammed, Sanni Abacha and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    The advert generated knocks and criticisms from politicians, professionals in media profession and civil societies, who decried the level at which Fayose was going about politics and campaigns for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

    The Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization in the State of Osun has cautioned Fayose against what it described as ‘campaign of calumny, irresponsibility and uncultured language contained in his advertorial published in some of the national newspapers.

    According to the campaign organization, the content of the advertorial was capable of undermining the unity of Nigeria and truncating the peace of the country.

    The group condemned in totality the advert in which Fayose paraded former northern heads of state that died in office with a question mark on Buhari’s picture, apparently doubting the longevity of Buhari, if he emerges as the President of the country.

    Chairman of the campaign group in the state, Senator Mudasiru Husein, said that the advert portrayed Fayose as not only a silly politician, but also a governor lacking in morality and common sense.

    Husein in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday stated that it was irresponsible, barbaric and ungodly for Fayose to be mocking the dead, who were military presidents from the northern part of the country, in the name of politics.

    He added that it was sinful and foolhardy for Fayose to wish Buhari an untimely death because of politics, just as he condemned President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for supporting such provocative advert messages.

    “The advert is a big slap on the northerners, the Muslims and Nigerians in general. I believe that a sane person would not be mocking the dead and wishing his fellow human being untimely death because of politics. Fayose needs to apologize to Nigerians and specifically, the families of the former heads of state he paraded in the offensive adverts.

    “Fayose and the PDP are poking the northerners in the eye deliberately with the advert. Has he forgotten that Aguyi Ironsi, a southerner and a Christian, died as the Head of State. I must say that the advert is capable of generating both religious and ethnical crisis across the country. It is only a fool that will play politics with the sensitivity of religions and ethnicity at the present time in Nigeria.

    “It is necessary to conduct a psychiatric examination for Fayose because of his misbehaviour and unguided statements. PDP is a sinking ship and its passengers should not sink Nigeria with it.”

     

  • APC to Fayose: explain how you spent N2b ecological fund

    APC to Fayose: explain how you spent N2b ecological fund

    •I won’t reply deaf people, says governor

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has urged Governor Ayo Fayose to explain how he spent the N2 billion paid into the state’s coffers on December 30 by the Federal Government.

    The party, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, claimed that N10 billion was released to five states, including Ekiti.

    The APC said the governor collected the money, including that refunded for  federal projects embarked upon by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Olatunbosun said: “We want to challenge Fayose to tell Ekiti people how he spent the N2billion Ekiti Ecological Fund he collected on December 30, last year.

    “On that day, N10 billion was released to five states, among which are Bauchi and Ekiti states, which collected N2 billion each.

    “Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has told the people the projects to be executed with the money. Instead of our governor to do the same, he jetted off to Dubai for days without any indication that he went  there officially on behalf of Ekiti people.

    “It was later Ekiti people learnt about his lavish lifestyle in the bustling economic hub of the Middle East.

    “Governor Fayose denied ever collecting refund of the money ex-Governor Fayemi spent on federal projects in the state.

    “Four days after Fayose made this denial on state television, the Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, said publicly at President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti that the Federal Government had refunded money spent on the federal projects executed by the state, including Ado-Ifaki and Ado-Akure roads.”

    Olatubosun said the APC later learnt that Adeyeye was scolded for making that public disclosure.

    “Why are they crucifying Adeyeye for saying the truth? Even though we don’t want to believe that our governor was part of ‘January rush’ acquisition of prime property in Dubai, his unofficial journey to Dubai after collecting the money raises our fears that Ekiti State might have run into trouble again.”

    Olatubosun said it was wicked and insensitive to continue to owe workers their salary after collecting September allocation and other refunds running into billions.

    “The governor cannot tell the workers that he won’t pay September salary because he was not governor in September. Why did he not reject September allocation because he was not governor in September?”

    Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media Lere  Olayinka said it was not true that N2billion was paid by the Federal Government to Ekiti State in December.

    He added: “In this ICT age, all that is needed to be done on issues like this is to search the Internet because the Federal Government won’t release ecological to five states without the media reporting it.

    “The truth is Ekiti State government has not received any special fund from the Federal Government and it is important that the APC lying machine should begin to manufacture another lie.”