The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has approved the payment of administrative charges of over N24million to schools principals.
Fayemi approved the funds for 13,390 candidates, who will be writing the April/May 2019 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the Public Secondary Schools in the State.
In furtherance of his free and compulsory education policy, the governor had earlier paid WASSCE fees for all students in the state’s public schools.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ayodeji Ajayi, who disclosed this on Friday, in Ado Ekiti, the state’s capital, added that the government has decided to completely change the face of education.
He disclosed that Vice Principals that have served for over 20 years would henceforth be engaged in supervision of certificate examinations in the state.
He said: “The state government has paid the sum of N1,850 per student for 13,390 candidates, to take care of administrative charges and incidental expenses during the examination.
“Any school involved in examination malpractices would be punished in accordance with the law,” he warned, adding that, the state government has a zero tolerance for examination malpractice.
Ajayi, therefore, advised principals in the state, not to collect money from any candidate seeking to write the examination since government has taken care of all expenses.
The House of Representatives Thursday resolved to mandate all relevant committees in the House to investigate an alleged assault on the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose by men of the Nigerian Police,
The House also condemned the alleged assault and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to request the Police to apologise to Nigerians over the incident.
Additionally, the Lawmakers urged the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the Ekiti election is conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by two members, Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen and Kingsley Chinda.
Tajudeen had in the motion noted that with just a few days to the 2018 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, “some men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies completely barricaded and took over the Ekiti State Government House, Ado Ekiti.
“Also noted that heavily armed Policemen and other security agencies locked up, all entry points, prevented the free movement of people into and out of the Ekiti Government House and shot sporadically with aim to instill fear in the people, ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.”
Aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with its statutory mandate had fixed the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State for Saturday 14th July, 2018.
Also aware that the Nigerian Police is empowered under S.4 of the Police Act, Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among other things, for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due‘ enforcement of all laws and regulations with Which they are directly charged.
Tajudeen said Nigeria is a democratic State and the complete take over and barricade of the Ekiti state Government House and violent assault on armless civilians, including a serving Governor of the State does not fall within the contemplation of the general duties of the Police-under 8.4 of the Police Act “and indeed the tenets of true democracy and the Rule of Law. ”
He expressed concern that what is playing out in Ekiti State “clearly portends great danger for us all, particularly in View of the 2019 general elections and the heightened insecurity in the country.
“The said action of the Police is clearly an illegality and constitutional breach which must not happen or continue in a constitutional democracy,” adding that “democracy would be heading for total failure.”
When the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote in the motion, it was passed and referred to the relevant committees which were given 4 weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election.
The Governor made this known on Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to inform it of his intention.
Recall that Fayose, in July, unofficially displayed his presidential campaign on social media, after boasting that he would wrestle power from President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the declaration, he had said: “I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari’s hand, I will take it. I’m going straight to that villa. I’m the next president.”
Subsequently, during the party’s national convention, he boasted of already being in Aso Rock, urging party members to join him at the nation’s seat of power.
The governor took to his Social media account to post a picture of the letter which he wrote to the party’s leadership in the state concerning his presidential ambition.
Fayose’s Facebook Campaign Page
The letter reads: “It is with deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intentions to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election, considering your support and commitment towards our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.
“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party position, but in the overall interest of the party and our country.
“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory in our quest to return to the presidential villa, Abuja in 2019.
“Accept the assurance of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”
The Special Adviser, Public Communications and New Media at Ekiti State Government of Nigeria, Lere Olayinka on Monday shared about 16 pictures of Governor Ayodele Fayose, playing the ping-pong game, popularly called table tennis, at one of the remote streets in Ado-Ekiti; the state capital.
The Governor was practically showing his skills as ‘Oba Pako’ in the game, as he could not mind playing with a rickety bat made of plank and robber, on a very funny table which has two containers (Gorodom; as popular called in the local yoruba palance) as base.
The Governor was practically sweating it out with kids at Ekute Street and he did his best to show his skills in the game on that Sunday Evening. The Obvious is that Nigerian kids like tennis just like they throng for football and they play it always- if not every evening on week-days or at weekends.
It will not be inappropriate to say that the Governor also played the game on the street while growing up and it appeared it is hard for him to let go, inspite of his age, political and socio-economic status.
Gov. Fayose in action during the table tennis games he played with the kids on Sunday
As much as a lot of people in Ekiti state and on the social media expressed likeness towards the Fayose’s gesture in identify with the street life and sports despite being the number one citizen in the state, the gesture has however some questions and criticisms.
“Is there anything wrong if the governor used his office to initiate a state developmental campaign on grassroots sport and table tenni?”
“I am proud of my Governor,,,, I like his street vibes.,” said another person(Name withheld) in an online post, but he added that “How i wish this Governor can understand that sport is now a big business with many transforming and socio-economic benefits for the state.”
In another comment somebody said, “Feel the pulse of the youths Mr. Gov and don’t use them to while away of your own time,”
Governor Fayose while playing the table tennis game with one of the kids on the street
“Gov. please give youth sport development a priority and you will tame restiveness and checkmate unemployment and attracts renowed sport investors to the state,” said another facebook user.
Denasohin Simeon Sonayon on his own comment said “All works without play make Jack a dull Boy! I belief he(Fayose) did it at his leisure hour.” And Saheed Adeyeni wrote, “I Just love this man…. So down to the earth.”
People’s post on the picture also generated some personal comments from journalists in the newsroom.
“The world would have reckoned more that Nigeria is a hub for sport talents, if only sports in the grassroot could be given the right attention by government and talent hunt stakeholders in Nigeria states,” said a sport journalist who shared view on the picture (Name withheld)
“Are our leaders truly love their grassroots,,, because it is not by going down on the street to while away your time but by realizing that investing in sport is key for community development.’
“The Governor is closer to the people, that is his natural self,” said Akintona Akin “but sincerity is key and knowing the right thing to do.”
