Tag: Fayose

The leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, yesterday raised the alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in the state and the Nigeria Police were set to “put notable members of our party out of circulation”.
According to a release signed by Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party’s spokesperson in the state, the clampdown on the APC leadership was another plan to cow the opposition into submission since their plan to muscle the House of Assembly had failed.
The statement read: “The PDP is known for orchestrating violence, as they planned to do on the House of Assembly today, but for the quick intervention of the police who put the PDP hoodlums in check.
“On the list of leaders and members to be arrested, according to reports, are the party chairman, Chief Jide Awe and top members of the party who served under the Fayemi administration.
“The intention is to put the leaders out of circulation so that the Fayose administration will have a field day in dishing out lies to the public without response from the opposition.
“Part of the plan is also to clamp down on some APC legislators in the House of Assembly who will be arrested on trumped-up charges which they have already prepared. We wonder why the PDP-led government under Mr. Fayose is suddenly interested in charging people to court on fake charges when it has desecrated the judiciary.
“We also like to remind them that they should be more interested in the speedy trial of the eligibility matter against the governor rather than clamping innocent people into detention.
“The APC is a law-abiding party that can never be silenced through any form of intimidation by the ruling PDP. We believe we have a duty to as a viable opposition expose the lies and chicanery of the Fayose led administration.
“We urge our members to be steadfast and go about their lawful duties without any fear of molestation as the security agents have been adequately informed about the evil machinations of the PDP government.
“We equally appeal to the security agencies not to yield to the anti-people machinations of the government by refusing to be a tool for suppressing the voice of opposition which the constitution of Nigeria guarantees.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, yesterday appealed to members of the State House of Assembly to sheath their sword and join him in the task of building a better state.
Fayose spoke yesterday at the inauguration of Mr Dele Omotosho as a Justice of the High Court in the state.
He urged the lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, to work with his administration to ensure a smooth running of government and for the progress of the state.
According to him, the interest of Ekiti should be paramount in the estimation of all indigenes, irrespective of political or religious affiliation, noting that the corporate interest of the State far outweigh personal or individual interest or ambition.
“I am not in office to punish perceived enemies or opposition party members. I have not come to retaliate any bad thing done to me in the past by anyone. I am for the progress of this state and to care for the people who voted me”.
Speaking further, he said, “I am ready to work with the Assembly. I am a man of uncommon history, coming back to office after eight years is divine. I have a stern warning from God, ‘do not avenge’.
“I plead with the other two arms of government that Ekiti should come first. You may not like my face and I may not like yours, but Ekiti should be number one. Vengeance belongs to God and everything works together for the good of all,” he said.

The  All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Fayose to settle down to business.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said it was time the governor stopped his “stunts” and start telling the people what programmes he has for them.

“The business of governance is a serious one and not of theatrics, which Fayose wants to reduce it to.

“We are not surprised about the  circus show of our governor, who has been busy reeling out imaginary and mind-boggling figures to discredit his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

“It is in his character to do so; we would, as a matter of fact, have ignored him, but we felt the need to set the records straight for the public which may be misled by this overblown cost of the Governor’s Lodge.

“Fayemi had never hidden any of the projects executed with bond money from Ekiti people and this included the new Governor’s Lodge. Nothing could be farther from the truth that N50 million was spent on procuring a bed. Nowhere in the world is any bed sold for N50million and none in the lodge is up to N2million. We challenge Fayose or anyone with contrary facts to prove it.

“The new Governor’s Lodge has befitting furniture and fittings commensurable with the edifice, which is one of the legacy projects of the Fayemi administration.

 “The fittings of the lodge were done after Fayemi lost the election and he didn’t leave with any of them, which means they are for the use of his successors because it is state property.

“It makes more economic sense to put fittings which are durable and good. If the governor’s hypocrisy would not allow him to use the lodge in order to portray Fayemi as extravagant, that is his own cup of tea.

 “The governor might have been angered by the fact that his predecessor spent Ekiti money on projects that are beneficial to the people.

“Fayose is deceiving Ekiti people with a 1965 Mercedes Benz as official car, whereas he, as governor-elect, has purchased a N43million customised Range Rover and passed the bill to the government to pay. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose got cracking yesterday-after days of castigating his predecessor.

His first major assignment was successful, but controversial.

He shut down a filling station owned by Speaker Adewale Omirin, alleging environmental reasons.

Four filling stations were sealed in Ado-Ekiti, including Omirin’s T. Five Integrated Service Filling Station.

A statement by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi said the step was taken to prevent a fire.

“The owners of the petrol stations are to report to the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development with letters of approval,” the statement said.

The Speaker alleged that the governor ordered the closure to intimidate him.

In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Wole Olujobi, Omirin vowed not to “buckle under undue political pressure to abandon his party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for selfish and pecuniary motives.”

He claimed that he fulfilled all necessary environmental laws in the location of the filling station and got  approval.

Omirin has said intimidation and coercion by the PDP-led government would not force him to abandon the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said no level of harassment, financial inducement or persecution would make him betray the people and the APC.

The Speaker said the governor has started victimising perceived political opponents.

He said: “I got all necessary approvals for the project. A lawmaker, Joseph Dele Olugbemi, told me two days after the governor’s inauguration that he (the governor) had made up his mind to close my filling station over my refusal to join the PDP.

“I had told the governor that in the interest of Ekiti people, the House of Assembly would work with him to serve the people.

“I called the governor to confirm what I was told. He denied it, swearing that he would not pursue any victimisation agenda against his opponents.

“But only yesterday the governor ordered the closure of the filling station, citing environmental factor.”

Omirin said he had a background of political fidelity anchored on progressive democratic practices and he would not abandon these principles in pursuit of a selfish agenda.

He said the political atmosphere in the state did not call for high-handedness and persecution against perceived opponents, but a collective pursuit of common goals to deliver good governance.

The Speaker said such attacks on opponents, particularly lawmakers, would create only such conditions inimical to cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature.

Adelusi said the Speaker was not truthful.

He said: “The essence of the closure was to ensure sanity within the state capital and Ekiti at large.

“When a filling station is sited within a residential area, everybody knows the dangers.

“Four filling stations were sealed but it is an ongoing thing. This will take place throughout the state. It is to sanitise the state and prevent a fire.

“He (Omirin) should behave as a good politician. As the speaker, he should cooperate with the new government..”

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose got cracking yesterday-after days of castigating his predecessor.

His first major assignment was successful, but controversial.

He shut down a filling station owned by Speaker Adewale Omirin, alleging environmental reasons.

Four filling stations were sealed in Ado-Ekiti, including Omirin’s T. Five Integrated Service Filling Station.

A statement by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi said the step was taken to prevent a fire.

“The owners of the petrol stations are to report to the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development with letters of approval,” the statement said.

The Speaker alleged that the governor ordered the closure to intimidate him.

In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Wole Olujobi, Omirin vowed not to “buckle under undue political pressure to abandon his party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for selfish and pecuniary motives.”

He claimed that he fulfilled all necessary environmental laws in the location of the filling station and got  approval.

Omirin has said intimidation and coercion by the PDP-led government would not force him to abandon the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said no level of harassment, financial inducement or persecution would make him betray the people and the APC.

The Speaker said the governor has started victimising perceived political opponents.

He said: “I got all necessary approvals for the project. A lawmaker, Joseph Dele Olugbemi, told me two days after the governor’s inauguration that he (the governor) had made up his mind to close my filling station over my refusal to join the PDP.

“I had told the governor that in the interest of Ekiti people, the House of Assembly would work with him to serve the people.

“I called the governor to confirm what I was told. He denied it, swearing that he would not pursue any victimisation agenda against his opponents.

“But only yesterday the governor ordered the closure of the filling station, citing environmental factor.”

Omirin said he had a background of political fidelity anchored on progressive democratic practices and he would not abandon these principles in pursuit of a selfish agenda.

He said the political atmosphere in the state did not call for high-handedness and persecution against perceived opponents, but a collective pursuit of common goals to deliver good governance.

The Speaker said such attacks on opponents, particularly lawmakers, would create only such conditions inimical to cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislature.

Adelusi said the Speaker was not truthful.

He said: “The essence of the closure was to ensure sanity within the state capital and Ekiti at large.

“When a filling station is sited within a residential area, everybody knows the dangers.

“Four filling stations were sealed but it is an ongoing thing. This will take place throughout the state. It is to sanitise the state and prevent a fire.

“He (Omirin) should behave as a good politician. As the speaker, he should cooperate with the new government..”

Governor swears in judge

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose will today swear in Justice Emmanuel Bamidele Omotoso.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the ceremony would take place at the Lady Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti at 10am.

The governor has appointed Samuel Adeyemi ( Shakila) as the chairman, State Petroleum Products Consumer Protection Agency (PPCPA). The appointment takes immediate effect.

•Says Ekiti can’t afford to keep 39 perm secs
•’Women deserve more appointments’•’It’s a non-issue’

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has criticised ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi for spending N3.3 billion on a “luxury governor’s lodge”.

Speaking yesterday at the swearing-in of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Modupe Alade and  special assistants in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, he said the money should have been used to improve the lives of the people.

His words: “My heart nearly failed me when I got to the new Government Lodge on Thursday. The mansion cost N3.3 billion. It was initially awarded for N2.3 billion and later increased to N2.7 billion. N640 million was used to procure fittings and furniture.

“And N150million will be used for  maintenance annually. Ekiti cannot sustain this and we have to do something about it.

“How can a governor  live in such a house when the masses are living in poverty?”

He pledged to honour the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in respect of political appointments in his administration.

“Let me tell the men here that some of them will be asked to step down for women in next year’s elections.

“I want to assure you that those who will step down have nothing to lose, we are going to reward you accordingly.

“But if you disobey us, we will still go ahead and do it so far what we are doing is in the interest of Ekiti people.”

The governor said Mrs. Alade’s appointment was a proof of the regard he accords women.

Fayose said his administration would reward loyalty and hard work to promote what he called the “culture of brotherliness and fellow feeling”.

Hinting at the desirability of fewer appointments, he said he would compress his government to a sizeable form, particularly the civil service, to reduce cost.

Fayose said: “There is no point having 39 permanent secretaries whose running grants we won’t be able to pay. I want to maintain a sizeable number of appointments. But whatever we are going to do will be done in a fair manner.

“I urge those seeking appointments to show restraint. Some have started disturbing me with text messages telling me to appoint them. You have to stop this. When the time comes, your appointment will come.

“You don’t need to tell me the kind of appointment I will give you. I may even give you something better than what you are requesting for or you may not get appointment at all.”

Fayemi’s aide  said: “That is a non-issue and does not deserve a reaction. He is entitled to his opinion.”