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Tag: Kayode Fayemi

  • Fayemi signs executive order to stop illegal school fees

    Approves N200 million housing, car loans for teachers 

     

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has taken further steps to revoke collection of illegal levies and fees in public primary and secondary schools.

    The governor on Wednesday signed an Executive Order banning extortion of pupils in the guise of various fees collected by some principals, head teachers and other school officials.

    Fayemi also approved N200 million as car and housing loans for teachers in public schools in the state to boost their morale.

    The governor disclosed that the loans will be disbursed on or before November 15 adding that payment of arrears of salaries owed by the last administration will commence any moment from now.

    Speaking after signing the executive order at a ceremony held at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, Fayemi said it also provides for free and compulsory education in government owned primary and secondary schools.

    The governor was joined at his table by pupils and students of public schools who applauded him as he signed the order into law.

    The executive order, according to him, makes provisions foe stiffer sanctions and penalties for school principals and head teachers extorting pupils and students through illegal fees.

    Fayemi explained that the action was taken because of reports that school heads were still collecting illegal fees after his pronouncement banning same last Wednesday during his senatorial town hall meetings.

    The governor expressed dismay that some principals and head teachers were still extorting students under the pretext of collecting “voluntary donations.”

    Read Also: I am not fighting Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole – Fayemi

    Fayemi stressed that the executive order would prevent any of such illegality in schools, eliminate school dropout and as well encourage children enrollment.

    He urged parents to report any head of schools who asked their children for money to the ministry of education for necessary action against would be culprits.

    Earlier the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Princess Adekunbi Obaisi, noted that the executive order would go a long way at strengthening the education policy in the state.

    Also the State Chairman of Nigeria union of Teachers Mr. Samuel Olugbesan said the government initiative marked the beginning of a new dawn in the education sector.

    One of the students, Ruth Ogunseye, hailed the gesture of the governor which she said will bring back some of her colleagues who had been forced to withdraw from school.

    A teacher, Mr. Segun Adeparusi, said the approval of N200 million as car and housing loans will motivate the teachers to give their best.

  • I am not fighting Buhari, Tinubu, Oshiomhole – Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said he enjoys the best of relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Fayemi described the claim of a political pressure group, Buhari Support Group that he is working against the President as “baseless and unfounded.”

    The Ekiti governor also dismissed the allegations that he is working to remove Oshiomhole and that he is fighting Tinubu.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, Fayemi wondered how the group came about the alleged feud with the three senior party figures.

    Fayemi said he holds Buhari, Oshiomhole and Tinubu in high esteem noting that the trio contributed immensely to his victory in the last governorship election in Ekiti.

    He said: “Governor Fayemi holds President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Comrade Oshimohole in high esteem and he still maintains a good relationship with them which is not hidden.

    “We don’t know where the Buhari Support Group got their story from; Governor Fayemi has the best of respect for these eminent party leaders and he has no reason to be working against them.

    “Let us ask ourselves, on what basis will Dr. Fayemi will be working against the President? This was the man who appointed him Minister and supported him to regain the governorship seat.

    “Why will he fight Comrade Oshiomhole? It was under his chairmanship that APC won back Ekiti and everybody knew the role played by the national chairman.

    Read Also: Fayemi will fulfill all electoral promises – APC

    “Asiwaju Tinubu is a mentor to the governor; both of them had come a long way in a relationship that has lasted over two decades.

    “In fact, Asiwaju attended the governor’s inauguration last week and the roles he played in the APC victory in Ekiti election cannot be forgiven in a hurry.

    “Governor Fayemi has no reason to fight or work against our revered President, our respected national chairman and our revered national leader.

    “The allegation is false, baseless, unfounded and exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”

  • Breaking: Fayemi approves permanent secretary’s retirement

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has approved the immediate retirement of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Training, Olusesan Alabi.
    A statement conveying the governor’s approval of Alabi’s retirement was signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode.
    The governor ordered Alabi to hand over to the most senior officer in the office.
    No reason was given for his retirement in the statement.
    He was among the permanent secretaries appointed by Fayemi in 2013 during his first tenure of office.

  • Ekiti: on the march again

    With the swearing in of Dr Kayode Fayemi as governor of Ekiti State on Tuesday, it can only be hoped that all the stakeholders in the state project have learnt their lessons. Without doubt, the events of the last four years must have come with one lesson or the other for all of them. They can only relapse into that inglorious path if they want to be like Nigerian politicians who are usually taught nothing and consequently learnt nothing. Even in the days when coup d’état was fashionable, the soldiers themselves had not much to teach by way of morality or good governance, and so could not inculcate such attributes in the politicians. Fayemi, who was voted out of office in 2014 after a do-or-die election in which policemen, soldiers, and even hooded State Security Service (SSS) personnel played significant roles to facilitate victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, Ayo Fayose, now has a second chance, with his return to the government house in Ekiti.

    The question of lessons being taught and learnt might not have arisen but for the circumstances that led to the emergence of Fayose as Fayemi’s successor. Ordinarily, Fayose should not have been in the picture, so, the question of taking over from Fayemi would not have arisen. But it is not only the law that is an ass; democracy too sometimes can be. That explained why Fayose could use ‘stomach infrastructure’ to sway the otherwise erudite Ekiti people to his side.

    In spite of whatever criticism one may have against this year’s governorship election in Ekiti State, it was still by far more credible than that of 2014. So, we can say it fairly represented the wish of Ekiti people. Fayemi won the election with 197,459 votes against the 178, 121 votes polled by second-placed Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka of the PDP. This means Fayemi had 19,338 more votes than his opponent. Therefore, to the extent that the election result was not a landslide as we used to say in the Second Republic, this calls for reconciliation of the aggrieved parties and running an all-inclusive government. It does not call for dancing oneself lame so the temptation to forget the larger picture and relapse into irrelevance does not arise.

    By now, the governor must have realised the importance of collective effort or a united front. Imagine what the scenario would have been like without the cooperation of some of the people that were alienated in the party before. That might have meant an outright defeat for the APC or presented the Osun State kind of scenario whereby the party would have to be begging for support from the same people that it had earlier despised if there was need for a rerun.

    There is no doubt that Fayemi owes his allegiance mostly to the Ekiti people that voted him into office. One of the things going for his administration before his exit in 2014 was his rehabilitation of Ekiti roads such that one did not have to spend more than a reasonable time from one part of the state to another. There was also the rehabilitation of the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort in Ikogosi that has returned to its derelict state in the four years of the Fayose administration. No one should be surprised that Fayose allowed this to happen. If it takes the deep to communicate with the deep, then it can only take someone with the right cosmopolitan approach to appreciate the value of such a facility. It was definitely beyond Fayose’s ken. A governor- to- be who sacked a sitting court and tore court records, among several infractions, cannot be taken seriously where serious matters of state are concerned.

    But, how did Ekiti State Government House beget the dictatorship of such a person? We cannot begin to cry over that spilt milk once again. This is why I talked about soul-searching on the part of all the stakeholders in the Ekiti project. Everyone, including the governor, must introspect and find out where he or she missed it before. Governors and political leaders generally need people who can look them in the face and tell them that they are going wrong whenever they are. I have said it often that many of their aides cannot do this. As far as they are concerned, once the political leaders say ‘do this’, it is not only done, it is performed (apologies to Shakespeare). Ekiti State government can do with credible town hall meetings where occasionally, some of the participants, including the governor, will come out frowning. When it’s all smiles, it means those gathered there have merely deceived themselves. It is at election time that the actual result comes out and people would now start to wonder ‘how come’, when it is either late or almost late.

    Fayemi has to dig deep into why people would prefer to wear their caps on their navels instead of their heads. Because that was what happened in Ekiti in 2014. Even if we agree that the election was rigged in favour of Fayose, as alleged by some people, the fact is; something must be amiss for people to simply accept such cheating in Ekiti or any other part of the southwest for that matter. When we talk of the ‘wild, wild west’, or ‘wet e’ (wet it!) what we are saying is that the people of the then Western Nigeria would not tolerate election rigging. This they amply demonstrated in the 1960s when they smashed their rediffusion sets that they regarded as the purveyors of fake election results. This was also reinforced after the massive rigging of the 1983 elections by the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN). There was massive revolt in the region. For instance, Akin Omoboriowo, who was declared winner in the election could not take over in the old Ondo State, despite the massive federal might that he enjoyed. The Court of Appeal eventually nullified his purported victory. So, something must be wrong for people with such antecedents to keep quiet when the sacredness of their electoral choice is being violated. Unless and until the progressives find answer to this question, they will continue to grope in the dark, looking for something that is not lost.

    Since the advent of this democratic dispensation, no political party has won governorship reelection in Ekiti State. The Alliance for Democracy (AD) that won in 1999 was ousted in 2003 by the PDP whose reelection in 2007 was overturned in favour of Fayemi that contested under the platform of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in 2010. Eng. Segun Oni who was declared winner before the victory was overturned had been in office for about three years before he was sent packing. Fayemi might have broken the jinx, given his superlative performance in government then, but since the best candidate does not always win in any election, he lost the 2014 election to Fayose that he has now  defeated at the polls. Although Fayose could not have contested again, having governed the state twice, his wish was to have his deputy succeed him. But, since wishes are not horses, then Fayose could not ride.

    Fayose has had the opportunity that Fayemi now has, but he did not take full advantage of it. If he did, it would not have been difficult for him to have his deputy take over from him. But we saw how desperately he wanted his deputy to succeed him; to no avail. The ball is now in Fayemi’s court. How he plays it in the next 42 months (yes, 42, not 48 months because we will be talking about the next election by then) or thereabout would determine whether he will be able to break the jinx in the state and ensure he is succeeded by the candidate of the ruling APC. He has aptly described the Fayose administration as ‘an error’; but the only way he can prove this is by ‘dazing’ the Ekiti people with even more superlative performance and getting his politics right, to avert a recurrence of such error.

     

    Markaz Road in a mess

    HELLO! Is there anyone in charge here? That is the question that any road user would ask when passing through Markaz Road in Agege, Lagos. Although many roads in Lagos had before now been ‘infested’ by potholes, in many cases craters, there is evidence that palliative works are now being done on many of the roads. But not Markaz Road, particularly the Old Ipaja Road end. The pain on the road is getting worse. Will those responsible please mobilise to site and help end or at least reduce motorists’ agony on this road?

  • Ekiti: Fayemi’s inbox

    Immediate past Minister for Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, was on Tuesday re-sworn-in as governor of the southwestern state following his resounding victory at the July 14 gubernatorial election in the state, but he won’t have much time to celebrate, writes Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan.

    FROM a backlog of unpaid salaries running into a couple of months to angry pensioners dying over unpaid arrears; from a lackluster statewide economy to a rising wave in crime, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the returnee governor of Ekiti State, who took the oath of office for the second time last Tuesday at a well-attended swearing in ceremony, inherits a messy to-do list as he succeeds his successor, former Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Fayemi, who ran on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated the then Deputy Governor of the state and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Kolapo Olusola, and other candidates to emerge the winner of the election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that Fayemi polled 197,459 votes, while, his closest rival, Olusola, got 178,121 votes. The 53-year-old returning governor is a native of Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State.

    This is his second term as the governor of the state. He had lost a previous re-election bid to Fayose in 2014. The state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, administered the Oath of Office on him in Ado-Ekiti. President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. Also present were the governors of Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufa’i; Oyo, Abiola Ajumobi; Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, and Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Upon his emergence as governor-elect last July, Fayemi had told the people of the state that he will pay the backlog of salaries owed civil servants in the state within the first six months of his return to office. In addition, the former Minister of Solid Mineral Development promised to re-introduce free education in the state, saying Ekiti State lost many of its values under Fayose.

    “Ekiti people should expect the eight-point agenda redoubled. They should expect the backlog of salaries cleared within the first six months of my coming to the office. They should expect re-introduction of free education, including payment of fees for the West Africa Examination Council, National Examination Council, National Business and Technical Examinations Board and the national entrance examination into tertiary institutions which they lost out on.

    “We will re-introduce social security scheme for the elderly in an enhanced manner. They should expect the return of our youth volunteer programme. Luckily, the Federal Government has started a programme similar to what we used to have in Ekiti State, called N-Power. We will add our own initiative to that programme. The outgoing government is not interested in what happens to the young in our society beyond using them as thugs and forcing them to eat crumbs from the table of the master. They should expect a return to decency, decorum, integrity, values in Ekiti State. It is about reclaiming our land and restoring our values which we have lost in the past four years,” Fayemi pledged.

     

    Salary and pension

    This is Fayemi’s number one issue. Outgoing Governor Fayose’s government did very little to clear the worrisome backlog of unpaid wages in spite of several promises and endless threats of industrial unrest. Fayemi had severally condemned what he called the ‘non-charlance’ of the previous administration to the plight of workers in the state. It is expected that he will move swiftly to tackle the problem.

    To further underscore the importance of the task for the new governor, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, recently called on Governor Fayemi, not to renege on his campaign promises to the workers in the state, especially the prompt settlement of their unpaid salary arrears and pension, as soon as he is sworn-in in October.

    Wabba observed that one of the major factors that worked against the outgoing government in Ekiti State during the Saturday, July 14th, 2018 governorship election was its failure to offset the more than six months’ salary arrears and pensions owed workers. The NLC president noted that workers everywhere would always support any government that took their welfare as a priority, adding that they (workers) created the wealth.

    “I can see that one issue that played out is that the workers and pensioners in the state have not been paid salaries for the past six to eight months. What happened in Ekiti is that workers will no longer be maltreated.  I think that will help our politics in the future. Fayemi should address the workers’ plight by fulfilling his promises and offsetting the salary arrears of workers and pension,” Wabba urged.

    Ekiti workers under the aegies of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), are backing Wabba’s request with a loud ovation. They want Fayemi to speedily honor an agreement signed recently at the Joint Account Allocation Committee. The workers said doing this will further endear the new governor to the workers who had supported his re-election at the July poll.

    The workers accused Fayose of not honouring the September 4 agreement, despite the enormous support his administration enjoyed from Ekiti workers. The state’s NULGE President, Olubunmi Ajimoko, lamented what he called the outright abandonment of workers’ welfare by the Fayose administration, especially in the payment of arrears.

    According to him, all through the years of the previous administration in office, months of salary arrears remained unpaid while workers were daily being retired from service with their entitlements unpaid. He added that the incoming administration will be expected to do more in the area of workers’ welfare. “We want the arrears to be cleared and salaries should henceforth be paid as at when due,” he appealed.

    Speaking on what his colleagues would want the new governor to look into urgently, Secretary of the association of pensioners in the state, Comrade Agboola Abiodun, said it is sad that many of their colleagues died of minor ailments due to their inability to seek medical help when ill. “We are now a group of vulnerable persons who cannot seek medical help as our pensions are no longer paid.

    “Fayose’s government neglected pensioners. This impoverished our members all these years and they started dying of minor ailments. We want this to change as the new government come into office. We are tired of how our members are suffering and dying due to unpaid pension arrears. So, we appealed to Governor Fayemi, to take payment of pension very serious,” he said.

     

    Debt burden

    Another headache Fayemi will have to immediately grapple with on assumption of office is the huge debt burden he will be inheriting from the outgoing administration. Many analysts have been wondering how he intends to fulfill his election promises with such unpalatable debt profile. “The new governor will have to put on his thinking cap as he may not enjoy much support from lenders given the current debt profile of his state,” Mark Ighalo of Voters’ Right Agenda (VoRA) said.

    Speaking while taking his oath of office, Fayemi said his government would work hard to bring succour to the populace, by removing the cankerworm of corruption that has eaten deep into the state’s fabrics under the PDP-led government of Fayose. He revealed that all the finances of the last administration shall be reviewed, saying this became imperative to ensure that the culture of prudence and financial propriety are brought to bear in the governance of the state.

    Fayemi lamented that the state is indebted to the tune of N170 billion, being loans taken to undertake some projects during the last administration, assuring however that the challenge won’t impede his government from delivering dividends of democracy to the citizens. The former minister stated that Ekiti under him won’t slide and degenerate to the level of allowing school children to pay various taxes in their quests to receive formal education.

    He promised that his government shall reinstate the N5,000 social security to the elderly and make tremendous positive impacts in the areas of agriculture, social investment and economy. “In the last four years, Ekiti was governed by a rudderless, inept and egregiously corrupt government, which was led by those who deceived our people through the instrument of stomach infrastructure,” he said.

    A document reported to have been forwarded to the Debt Management Office by the outgoing government, allegedly put the current debt profile of the state at N120 billion as at June 31, 2018. These include: Commercial Bank Loans of N2,087,788,065.28 received from Wema Bank in 2016; balance of N18,226,699,707.18 received from the FGN bond by his government in 2015; Budget Support Facility of N16,869,000,000.00 received in 2016 and 2017; Salary Bailout of N9,083,761,215.40 received in 2015.

    Others are Commercial Bank Loan against funds due to Ekiti State in the FGN Excess Crude Account of N9,545,173,472.78 received by the current government in 2016; Contractors Arrears of N2,087,788,065.8; Pension and Gratuity Arrears of N22,162,602,017.49; Salaries arrears and other staff claims of N8,373651,226.50; and Judgment Debt of N95,048,963.35. Also included are commercial agriculture loan of N163,450,000.00 and N3,484,469,345.51 outstanding balance of the Bond taken by the Fayemi administration.

    But countering the committee’s position, Fayose stated that the state government owes N59.5 billion in debt and not N120 billion. He maintained that his administration did not commit the state to any financial institution in form of bonds and commercial loans. He challenged the DMO and the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish details of any loan taken by the Fayose administration, including the banks that granted such loans.

    Speaking on the situation, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, who chaired a committee set up by Fayemi to look into the state’s debt profile, said his committee established that Ekiti is heavily indebted as the Fayose administration closes shop. “The committee met with 76 interest groups, including labour unions, interest groups, civil society bodies, development partners who assisted with information of what is going on in the outgoing administration,” he said.

    Urging Fayemi to take the bull by the horn in handling the precarious debt profile of the state, an indigenous socio-political group, Ajoro Ekiti, has also called for independent audits of the state’s financial books in the last 10 years. The group, while promising to support the new administration, said it is only a responsive government devoid of “vindictiveness and petty politics,” that can rescue the state from the current debt burden.

    “The opaque debt profile of the state is worrisome and unacceptable, and consequently, we are demanding for an immediate comprehensive review and independent auditing of the state’s finances and debts profile in the last 10 years. It is our considered opinion that the scope of this investigation and its independent nature by a reputable auditing firm will help to lay to rest, the bickering over the true position of the state’s indebtedness and its financial viability.

    “We therefore urge the new administration to immediately kick start this process to open up the state to scrutiny in its first 100 days, so that Ekiti people can be more aware of the running of their government. We also wish to task the new administration to apply knowledge and ingenuity in creating wealth without plunging the state into debts and unbearable tax burden which could worsen the plight of the people,” the group said.

     

    Ekiti economy

    For Babatunde Ayodedeji Ajisola, the Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, the urgent revamping of the now moribund economy of the state is one task Governor Fayemi must commit energy and resources to. The U.K based Ekiti son lamented what he called the economic failures of the previous administration.

    “The total development of Ekiti is what concerns all of us and we must all rise to support a visionary leader and I am confident that Fayemi has what it takes to make the state greater. Fayose, and his party, PDP, did nothing in the last three-and-half years. The projects being enjoyed by the people were the ones he (Fayemi) executed in his first tenure.

    “His projects like civic centres, health centres, five kilometer community roads, school and hospital renovations are flagship projects that swung votes in APC’s favour. He has also promised that all the human capital development policies like payment of monthly stipends to the aged, free health services, free education, payment of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and JAMB fees for pupils in public schools will return the moment an APC government takes over.

    “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) assisted projects, employment through Peace Corps, Ekiti Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA), return of Core Subject Allowances and Rural Teachers’ Allowances, regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ benefits and the special health intervention programme for Obas and Chiefs tagged “Ilera Laafin,” Local Council Development Areas, Volunteer Corps scheme, among others.

    “These policies, projects and ideas alongside many others, were what he used to galvanized Ekiti back then in his first term. I strongly believe Ekiti people desire all these because that was why they voted APC. All these will re-invigorate the economy because it is the same Ekiti people and Ekiti businesses that will be involved in carrying out these policies and programs,” he said..

    Good enough, Fayemi, while seeking the people’s mandate, had said his administration would create a conducive atmosphere for private businesses to thrive in the state. “I will start by resuscitating the State Traffic Management Agency, Fire Service, Peace Corps and the Youths in Commercial Agriculture Development scheme. My government will create a conducive atmosphere for private businesses to thrive, thereby boosting job creation for the teeming youths of the state,” he promised.

    To many observers of the happenings in Ekiti state, this is the time for Fayemi to make good his promises. “Ekit needs both Fayemi and the promises he made to them now more than ever. The state is in serious need of overhauling if it is to avoid becoming a failed state in a matter of years. The Fayose administration was more populist than progressive and this is telling on the state’s economy,” Ighalo lamented.

    Fayemi, it seems, is prepared for the task ahead. On Tuesday, while taking office formally, he said, “in our quests for economic rejuvenation, our government shall invest heavily in Youth in commercial Agriculture, because Ekiti is basically agrarian, reactivate community based projects, tap into our tourist potential and ensure security of local and foreign investors.

    “In this context, never again will Ekiti slip into the hands of those who knew nothing about governance, never again shall we allow our school children to pay taxes, never again shall we abandon the burgeoning resources at Ikogosi Warm Spring to waste, never again shall we allow our judiciary to be debased by draconian government and never again shall the most educated State like Ekiti be apostle of stomach infrastructure that has made us laughing stock.”

  • Fayemi dissolves boards of agencies, parastatals

    Monarch, APC elders drum support for Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has ordered immediate dissolution of the boards of government agencies, parastatals and corporations in the state.

    Chairmen of the boards of these agencies are directed to hand over to the most senior officer in their respective agencies.

    A statement on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, said the dissolution however does not affect the statutory boards.

    He said: “Government appreciates members of these boards for the services they have rendered to the state.

    “Composition of new boards will be announced at a later date.”

    Meanwhile, a first class traditional ruler in Ekiti State, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, has expressed confidence in the ability of Governor Fayemi to make positive impact in governance during his second tenure.

    The Alawe who described Fayemi’s victory at the July 14 election as “historic and divine” said the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development has the pedigree, exposure and experience to turn around the fortunes of Ekiti.

    Oba Alabi made the remark in his palace when he hosted two Ilawe indigenes, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu and Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, who recently emerged victorious in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    While Adaramodu won the APC House of Representatives ticket for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1, Ayokunle won the APC House of Assembly ticket for Ekiti Southwest Constituency 1.

    Read Also: Cleric to Fayemi: Learn from Fayose’s mistakes

    The traditional ruler described the duo as capable and competent to represent their constituencies at the federal and state legislatures and canvassed support for them.

    The royal father pointed out that Fayemi’s pedigree and competence are never in doubt judging by the giant strides witnessed during his first term between October 2010 and October 2014.

    The APC Elders’ Forum also congratulated the governor and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, on their assumption of office.

    The Forum in a statement by its Chairman, Chief George Akosile and Secretary, Chief Abiodun Ajayi, said the inauguration of new government will bring new lease of life to the people of the state.

    “We are very much aware of your ability and capability to govern the state effectively. The elders are assuring both of you of our total support, commitment and loyalty to your administration in Ekiti State,” the body said.

    The APC elders prayed for the success of the new administration for positive transformation of Ekiti State with the hope of realizing the dreams of its founding fathers.

    They hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; governors, ministers and party leaders for their presence at the inauguration and their interest in Ekiti State.

     

  • Ekiti Muslims reject Fayemi’s appointments

    The Muslim community in Ekiti state on Thursday rejected what was called lopsidedness in the three appointments made so far by Governor Kayode Fayemi, since he was sworn in on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that state Coordinator of the state chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, (NACOMYO), Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, made the displeasure of the group known at a media briefing, after a protest staged at the Ado Ekiti Central mosque.

    He described the appointments made so far by the new governor as not only lopsided, but also a grand plan to totally marginalise the Muslim community in the state.”

    The Muslims faithful said the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff and the Chief Press Secretary was against balance and fairness against the Muslim community which Fayemi promised.

    ” The exclusion of Muslims from the principal officers of this administration is worrisome, unjust, condemnable and unacceptable.”

    ” The Ekiti Muslim community saw the appointments as a calculated attempt to exclude Muslims from the fundamental aspect of decision making process in Ekiti State.”

    ” Excluding Muslims from the first three important appointments announced by the governor is shocking and highly disturbing to all Muslims in the state”, he said.

    Read Also: FG says Boko Haram insurgency to end soon

    The group said Muslims in the state constituted about 40 per cent of the Ekiti State population, and added that the governor was given their total support during the governorship polls.

    According to him, the exclusion of the Muslims in this regard is a violation of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

    “The exclusion of Muslims from the core principal appointments of Dr. John Kayode Fayemi is a derogation of the motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as provided in Section 15 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended)

    ” Rather than projecting “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”; the recent appointments made by the Government will breed “disunity, commotion and backwardness.”, he said.

    He called on Fayemi to breathe life into Section 14(4) of the constitution which provided that ‘the composition of the government of a state, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people.

    The muslim community called on the Governor to urgently review appointments and accommodate Muslims.

    “We also call on the governor to ensure inclusion of Muslims in all future appointments to be made at both state and local government levels. This will certainly pave way for the reign of justice, equity and peace in our dear state.”

    NAN recalls that Fayemi on Tuesday night, after his swearing-in, appointed the trio of Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government; Mr. Biodun Omoleye as Chief of Staff and Mr. Yinka Oyebode as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

  • Learn from Fayose’s downfall, Cleric tells Fayemi

    Egbeyemi: Our govt will take care of everybody

    An Islamic cleric, Alhaji Raheem Arikewuyo Olowoyo, has advised Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to learn from the downfall of his predecessor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, in exercising power given to him by the electorate.

    Olowoyo said those who wield the position of power will leave office one day and should always ponder on life after office.

    According to him, people in position of power must learn from the fact that Fayose, who still wielded power of life and death just a week ago, is now cooling his heel in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Olowoyo, who is the Awiye Adinni of Ekiti land, said transience of power should motivate those holding positions of leadership to do well and be accountable to people because of the impending day of reckoning.

    The cleric spoke on Thursday at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti as part of activities to mark the coming to power of the Fayemi administration.

    The service was attended by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; wife of the deputy governor, Mrs. Margaret Egbeyemi; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada; traditional rulers, religious leaders and senior civil servants.

    The Awiye Adinni spoke while leading Muslim prayer for the success of the new Fayemi administration.

    Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Omotunde, prayed that God will not allow Ahithophels to get into government and mislead the governor.

    Olowoyo said: “By this time last week, it was whoever Fayose wanted that will be allowed to enter this Government House and whoever he did not want will not be allowed in.

    “But where is Fayose today? Where is Fayose today? Fayose is now a former governor, the governor that is there today will be a former governor tomorrow.

    “Three days have gone out of four years and that is how the four years will be reducing gradually. People are talking about good things and bad things Fayose did in power.

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    “Fayemi is a good man and God has given him a wonderful woman as wife and they don’t underrate people. My prayer is that God will not allow evil people to be part of this government.”

    Delivering the Muslim sermon, the state Missioner of Ansar-ud-Deen Society, Alhaji Baba Abdul Salam, described position of power as “trial from God.”

    Abdul Salam urged leaders in the country to rule with justice and fair play adding that Fayemi has begun well and must be supported with prayers to succeed.

    He said: “This is a good beginning, Fayemi is exposed, he has interacted with Presidents and world leaders and he has come to do well in this second term.”

    Delivering the Christian sermon, Ekiti Provincial Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Goke Kuti, assured that the state will take its pride of place in Nigeria under Fayemi.

    Speaking on the topic: “Possess Your Possession,” Buti said God the Fayemi administration should not see any impossibility but must go forth and do exploits for the people

    Buti said: “In this administration, we should not see impossibility, it is time for God to make Ekiti great. We can overcome poverty, unemployment and other problems confronting this state.”

    Speaking on behalf of the governor who was attending the Governors’ Forum meeting in Abuja, Egbeyemi assured that the new government will not discriminate in making people feel impact of governance.

    Egbeyemi said: “Whether you are a member of APC, PDP or any other party, if your children are in public schools, they will enjoy free education because this government is a friend to everybody.

    “We will do more than what we did during the first tenure. I moved round with the governor during the campaign and there are projects to show in all towns and villages.

    “We have said we are not probing anybody but we want to look into the books because workers want us to pay them, pensioners want us to pay them and we are going to work out how we will pay them.

    “An emaciated child cannot be fed to become robust in one day; we will be doing it gradually. We want our spiritual fathers to keep on praying for us to succeed in this task.”

  • Fayemi attends NEC meeting

    The new Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was among state governors that attended the National Economic Council ( NEC ) meeting.

    The meeting was chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

    Fayemi was sworn in as Executive Governor of Ekiti State on Tuesday.

    He arrived the Council Chamber venue of the meeting around 10.54a.m

    Fayemi was the centre of attractions as he stepped into the hall being the first time he was attending the NEC meeting under the current dispensation.

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    He went round the hall to have hand shake with his colleagues.

    Cameramen and photographers had a field day taking his shots at he moved from one point to the other.

    The meeting started around 11.05a.m when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called for rendition of the National anthem.

    The opening Muslims prayer was offered by the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello.

  • Fayose still in our custody, says EFCC

    Former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who on Tuesday reported at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja in accordance with his promise is still being interrogated by the commission.

    Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Asked why Fayose was still detained for over 24 hours, Uwujaren said “we are still within range. We are not keeping him but interrogating him.”

    Fayose’s tenure as governor ended on Monday, and he had on Saturday, presented “Hand-over Note’’ to his successor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was inaugurated on Tuesday.

    On arrival at EFCC office, the former governor had said “I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the 16th of October.

    “And, like I said to EFCC, they should await my arrival. They had been to my house; they cordoned off my street which I feel personally was unnecessary. It is unwarranted.

    Read Also: Fayose reports at EFCC

    “I had led Ekiti, and the best I could give, I have given. Therefore, every question, whatever they need to ask, I will be able to respond appropriately.”

    He had in a letter to the EFCC sometime ago, said his term of office “to which I enjoy immunity against investigation and prosecution shall lapse by Monday, Oct. 15, 2018.

    “As a responsible citizen of our great country, who believes in the rule of law, I wish to inform you of my decision to make myself available in your office on Tuesday, 16th October, 2018 at 1pm.

    “It is to clarify issues or answer questions within my knowledge.’’