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Tag: Gboyega Aribisogan

  • 100 Days: Ekiti Assembly passes vote-of-confidence on Fayemi

    The Ekiti House of Assembly has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Gov. Kayode Fayemi, for his laudable achievements as he marks his first 100 days in office.

    The vote of confidence followed a motion by the Majority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan which was seconded by Ojo-Ade Fajana, representing Ekiti East Constituency 1.

    Fayemi, had earlier presented “the State-of-the State” address to the assembly as one of the activities marking his 100 days in office, highlighting the achievements of his administration

    He said that his administration had recorded a remarkable level of development through the people-oriented policies and programmes.

    “I watched how the people of Erijiyan-Ekiti and its environs danced for joy when electricity was restored to the community for the first time in four years.

    “I also saw how civil servants and pensioners were in jubilation for receiving their salaries and allowances as and when due, including arrears.

    “The influx of prayers over the reintroduction of free and compulsory education in Ekiti and the payment of WAEC fees for our students has been overwhelming.

    “This is just to mention a few of how we have touched the lives of our people within the past 100 days,” Fayemi said.

    Read Also: Fayemi removes indicted heads of institutions

    The governor however said the debt profile of Ekiti stood at N156 billion while the capital inflow to the state between October 2014 and October 2018 was N185 billion.

    He promised to always pursue the policies and programmes of his administration in order to bring about the desired development in the state and thanked the people for their support.

    In his address, the Speaker of the House, Mr Adebiran Alagbada, described Fayemi’ 100 days in office as “better than the four years of the immediate past administration in the state.”

    He said, “Pursuant to Section 108 sub-section 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, you have presented the state-of-the-state” address to the assembly today.

    “The house is very proud of your numerous achievements within 100. Morning shows the days,” the speaker said.

    Alagbada called on the people to cooperate with the present administration, vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

  • Ekiti lawmaker dies three days after gun attack

    Three days after he was shot by suspected gunmen, a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adedeji, is dead.

    Adedeji was shot at about 2.00 am on Friday while driving in his car.

    He was rushed to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, for immediate treatment before he was later referred to Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.

    Read Also: Why Buhari deserves second term – Lai Mohammed

    Adedeji was shot in the head and he underwent neurosurgery at the Federal Teaching Hospital before he gave up the ghost.

    House Leader of Business, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, confirmed Adedeji’s death in a telephone chat on Monday.

     

    …Details coming later

  • Ekiti Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip removed over alleged disloyalty to Fayose

    Ekiti State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Olusegun Adewumi and Chief Whip Sunday Akinniyi have been impeached.

    Adewumi and Akinniyi were removed from their positions during the plenary of the Assembly held on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    While Adewumi represents Ekiti West Constituency 1, Akinniyi represents Ikere Constituency 2.

    Although the Assembly hinged their removal on alleged gross misconduct, The Nation gathered that they were sacked over alleged disloyalty to Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Adewumi was replaced as the Deputy Speaker by the lawmaker representing Ekiti West Constituency 2, Adesina Animasaun.

    Akinniyi was replaced by the lawmaker representing Ekiti Southwest Constituency 1, Wale Onigiobi.

    Adewumi was suspended last year by the House over allegedly “associating with the enemies of Fayose and Ekiti State government.”

    He was accused of holding meeting with the Senator representing Ogun East, Prince Buruji Kashamu, alongside the House Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan.

    Read Also: Special adviser quits Fayose’s govt

    But Adewumi who denied the allegation later had his suspension lifted after some party leaders made entreaties to Fayose.

    Akinniyi was accused of being a loyalist of a former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dayo Adeyeye as against his kinsman and Fayose’s preferred successor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Adewumi was accused of “several acts of misconduct, personal conducts likely to bring the House to disrepute and obvious threat to peace of honourable members.”

    He was also accused of obstruction of constitutional functions of the House, dereliction, desertion, abscondment and abandonment of constitutionally vested responsibilities of the Office of the Deputy Speaker.

    Efforts to speak with Adewumi for his reaction proved abortive as calls placed to his mobile phones remained unanswered.

    He was yet to reply to text messages sent to his phone at the time of filing this report.

    House Committee Chairman on Information, Samuel Omotoso said Adewumi was removed at plenary with a division list signed by two thirds majority members and unanimously passed by the House as required by law.

    Omotoso, who represents Oye Constituency 1, explained that the lawmakers in their resolution also mandated the Clerk to ensure that Adewumi hands over all properties of the House with immediate effect.

    He added that further that the House considered the unopposed Nomination of  Animasaun, who was unanimously elected by the House as the New Deputy Speaker.

    Animasaun, a native of Okemesi Ekiti is a 1991 Graduate of Biochemistry from the Ekiti State University.

    He is a Chartered Advert Practitioner and a Public Relations Consultant with several years of Experience in Public and Political Administration.

  • APC vows to defend Ekiti lawmaker against attack

    APC vows to defend Ekiti lawmaker against attack

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has vowed to do everything possible to defend the Minority Leader of the House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, from attacks by the agents of the state government.

    The party also declared its full support for Aribisogan to perform his legislative functions in his new capacity as the only APC legislator in the 26-member Assembly.

    Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti in the wake of an alleged plot to assassinate Aribisogan, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, expressed confidence in ability of the security agencies to allow the lawmaker access into the parliamentary chamber.

    Aribisogan had claimed at a press conference on Tuesday that a killer squad has been raised to eliminate him in a bid to stall his planned resumption at the Assembly. But the authorities of the Assembly denied the allegation.

    He said the party will support the entire people of Ikole Constituency1, which Aribisogan represents, to ensure that their voice is heard in the Ekiti parliament.

    The party spokesman also accused Governor Ayo Fayose of committing a “serious breach” of the Constitution by reappointing six out of the sacked commissioners and ordering them to resume office without screening and ratification of the Assembly.

    Olatunbosun said: “We are going to do everything within the purview of the provision of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria to ensure that Hon. Aribisogan, who is an APC representative in the 26-member Assembly is allowed to perform his functions.

    “Ekiti State House of Assembly is nobody’s private business that such person will be allowed or disallowed at his whims and caprices. Those who make peaceful coexistence impossible will make serious resistance or recourse to violence inevitable.”

    On the alleged constitutional breach, Olatunbosun said: “Fayose, having dissolved the State Executive Council and coming up with a directive that the dissolved commissioners should hand over to the Permanent Secretaries has no power under the law to reappoint them and
    order them to resume at their former offices.

    “We, as a party, see this as high level of executive recklessness and rascality. Such will not be acceptable to the APC and of course to Ekiti people.

    “As a party, we feel highly embarrassed that an agent of democracy as represented by the office of governor will continue in a manner that is disregarding democratic rules, violation of the constitution, rubbishing the principle of separation of power.”

  • Fayose instigated my suspension because I didn’t prostrate for him – Lawmaker

    Fayose instigated my suspension because I didn’t prostrate for him – Lawmaker

    A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, has accused the state governor, Ayo Fayose, of instigating his suspension because he refused to prostrate and beg him for the offence he did not commit.

    He said some party leaders and political appointees urged him to prostrate for the governor at a reconciliation parley brokered by the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Aribisogan, who was suspended by his fellow lawmakers in October last year, said the governor wanted him to admit meeting with the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, in Lagos sometime last year.

    The lawmaker, who claimed he has resumed his legislative duties apologized to Ekiti people for being part of those who brought Fayose back to power, said he would continue to fight for his rights and the people of Ikole Constituency 1 whom he said had been denied representation for about eight months.

    Speaking during an interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM monitored by our correspondent, Aribisogan faulted the investigation panel set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Fayose, claiming that the panelists have been ordered to do a hatchet job against him.

    Aribisogan alleged that some party members in his ward were bribed with N200,000 and compelled to write a frivolous petition to nail him at all cost.

    He revealed that the panel submitted its report to Fayose on Monday while he was asked to appear on Thursday.

    The lawmaker said he reported the alleged illegality Fayose was using the Assembly to perpetrate to Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin.

    Aribisogan said: “I cannot confess the sin I did not commit; they (party leaders) asked him to prostrate and beg Fayose but I refused and in the process they brought out a camera with the intent of taking my photographs. Fayose flared up when I refused to prostrate and beg him and vowed that he would not allow me to return to the House.

    “For somebody to say he would not allow an elected representative of the people to go back to the Assembly shows the type of character Fayose is. He got 14,000 votes from my constituency and he has done nothing for the people.

    “I have petitioned the Inspector General of Police and all of us will go there and explain ourselves. On June 8 when I went to resume, I had an information that they will storm the House with thugs but I went there to see whether they would kill me.

    “If they want to shoot me dead, I am ready. I am not an appointee of Fayose, I was elected the same way he was elected. I apologize to all Ekiti people for joining hands to bring him back to power and that is why he is misbehaving now.

    “The Inspector General of Police had given an order that nothing should happen to me; the House of Assembly belongs to Ekiti people and not to Ayo Fayose. Fayose has brought odium and shame to Ekiti State.

    “He is owing the Assembly six months salaries, Ekiti lawmakers are crying underneath because many of them are heavily indebted. Fayose threatened that he would recall me, let him go ahead but I will never prostrate for Fayose.”

     

     

  • EKHA committe chair removed over meeting with Kashamu, Falana

    …fake audio scandal rocks Ekiti assembly

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has been hit by crisis following the removal of member representing Ikole Constituency 1, Gboyega Aribisogan, as Information Committee Chairman.

    Aribisogan’s sack as House Information Committee chair and his subsequent replacement with member representing Oye Constituency 1, Samuel Omotoso, is believed to be a prelude to his recall from the Assembly.

    The embattled lawmaker was accused of holding secret meetings with Senator Buruji Kashamu, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana and other personalities perceived to be enemies of Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Aribisogan appeared before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by member representing Ido/Osi Constituency 2, Samuel Jeje where a purported audio file capturing his (Aribisogan’s) voice was played.

    But Aribisogan described the audio tape which was played at the panel sitting to indict him as “a superimposed voice-over to tarnish his reputation.” According to him, his predicament was orchestrated by mischief makers in the Assembly.

    Speaking with reporters via a telephone chat on Wednesday shortly after appearing before the panel, Aribisogan disclosed that he was quizzed whether he met Kashamu and Falana before the controversial audio was played to him.

    While affirming his loyalty to Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Aribisogan said he has no confidence in the panel because he had already been found him guilty before its report is released.

    Aribisogan said: “The so-called audio was a superimposed voiceover to tarnish my reputation. At the panel’s sitting, there was a presentation of inaudible voiceover claiming that they recognized my voice and I discarded it as a cheap blackmail.

    “They asked me in the course of investigation whether I have met Buruji and I told them that the last time I met with Buruji was when I followed Mr. Governor and Hon. Omotoso was there too but it is unfortunate that he (Omotoso) wanted to make a political gain out of this saga.

    “Since then, I have not met Buruji as a person either secretly or openly. I have no confidence in the panel but because of the constitutional provision, I have to attend the panel to clear my name.

    “I appeared before the panel to tell them that I never met with Buruji and I never met with Falana as alleged. I am part and parcel of this government from inception and I remain a loyal part member.

    “Changing committee chairmen is a routine exercise but I suspect a foul play that the outcome of the panel is already predetermined.”

    When asked whether he has been invited by the governor on the crisis, Aribisogan said: “This is clearly an Assembly matter the governor has not invited me but I am expecting the members of the panel to go and investigate where the shenanigans are coming from.

    “The whole saga is an immolation to destroy me and put me in a political quagmire. Look at my pedigree where I am coming from before passing judgment on me.

    “Having served the government, is it possible for me to be holding meeting with Buruji and Falana and work against a government of which I am part?

    “I want to challenge the person who claimed to have recorded my voice to be bold enough to face me. The plot was executed by one man in the House to bring me down.”

    The House at its plenary on Tuesday set up the panel to probe Aribisogan over allegations of disloyalty with Speaker Kola Oluwawole likening him to the biblical Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ.

    Oluwawole said: “It touches the fundamental existence of this House. I still believe that this House is indivisible. We are ever united and strong. Every member of this house has the spirit of oneness in discharging his/her duties.

    “When I got this embarrassing news, I was highly disappointed.

    “I have absolute confidence in every member of this House. Despite the fact that Judas in the Bible betrayed Jesus, His ministry on earth was achieved.”

  • 2019 Election ambition tears Ekiti lawmakers apart

     

    …assembly member denies ‘secret’ meeting with Kashamu

     

     

    Although the 2019 general election is less than three years away, ambition to contest the next poll has turned some members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly against one another in a bid to reposition themselves for higher offices.

     

    Chairman, House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan, has accused a colleague of blackmail with the intent to turn him against Governor Ayo Fayose ahead of the 2019 polls.

     

    Addressing a news conference in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Friday, Aribisogan who represents Ikole Constituency 1 denies holding secret meeting with Senator Buruji Kashamu and other politicians perceived to be enemies of Fayose in a bid to bring down his administration.

     

    He claimed that the particular lawmaker is stoking the fire of crisis of confidence between him and Fayose to gain advantage to win the House of Representatives seat for Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency.

     

    Aribisogan said he had no reason to gang up against Fayose having been part of those who worked hard to ensure his victory at the 2014 governorship poll accusing those peddling the rumour of alleged disloyalty are working to divide the Assembly.

     

    The Deputy Speaker, Olusegun Adewumi  narrowly escaped impeachment while Aribisogan also escaped suspension from the Assembly earlier in the week by their colleagues for allegedly hobnobbing with Kashamu and some personalities perceived as enemies of Fayose within and outside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

     

    Others that  were alleged to be holding meetings with include former PDP Secretary in Ekiti, Dr. Tope Aluko; presidential aide, Babafemi Ojudu and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana.

     

    Aribisogan said: “Let me put on record here that except the time I accompanied Governor Fayose to Buruji in 2014 and recently when I met him in company of the governor, I never had any personal dealing with him.

     

    “For Falana and Ojudu, I  have been a major critic of their roles in Ekiti project and they can never in their wildest imaginations invite me to any clandestine  meeting and they are all alive to corroborate or deny the claims.

     

    “I am a steadfast and major critical stakeholder in Fayose’s emergence as Governor of Ekiti right from the primaries to the governmental level.

     

    “I have repeatedly spoken about my absolute belief and commitment in the government of Fayose and its policies, even at most difficult times and I can’t be a sellout at this time when the battle is presumed to have been won.

     

    “On the other side, a particular lawmaker in the house was plotting to undermine Ikole constituency in the 2019 elections and he was behind the gossip, blackmail and intrigues in the House to cause a serious rift between me and Mr Governor.

     

    “I hereby want to reiterate and reaffirm my commitment and loyalty to His Excellency, Governor Fayose and the government of Ekiti State.”

     

  • NGO denies Fayose’s bribe allegation

    NGO denies Fayose’s bribe allegation

    A Civil society organisation, Democracy Vanguard (DV) has said there is no truth in the allegation leveled against it by Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation .

    In statement made available to our correspondent in Lagos by its National Coordinator, Adeola Soetan, Democracy Vanguard denied recruiting volunteers to bribe voters ahead of next month’s elections in Ekiti.

    The group said statements credited to Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan, the Director of Information of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Group that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is using  it to train 200 volunteers  to bribe voters during the election is false. It described it as cheap blackmail.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Democracy Vanguard, as a non-partisan, non political organization, has no organic or political relationship with the All Peoples Congress (APC), or any other political parties and candidates in Nigeria,” it said.

    The group said it was founded to promote and mobilise mass participation in the democratic process, saying it’s main campaign towards the  gubernatorial elections in Osun and  Ekiti states have been to mobilise mass participation in the election.