The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kolapo Olusola

  • Ekiti: Former PDP aspirant Adeyeye, supporters join APC

    …Says Fayose is a predator feeding on Ekiti wealth

     

    Former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has formally joined the  All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He disclosed that he was joining the APC alongside his political structure, the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) in all the 16 local government areas.

    Adeyeye said he was joining the APC to allign forces with other eminent Ekiti sons and daughters to free the state from the vulture and predator feeding fat on the state’s commonwealth.

    The former Minister of State for Works pledged to work for the victory of the APC governorship flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to give good governance to the people of the state.

    He urged the people of Ekiti to repose confidence and trust in Fayemi and ignore the allegation from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) camp that the APC flag bearer was coming back to power on revenge mission.

    According to him, he was not joining the APC to grab the deputy governorship ticket saying Fayemi would soon unveil the identity of his running mate.

    He pointed out that by his decision to move to the APC alongside his supporters, he was saying no to Fayose’s “continuity of impunity, imposition, poverty and unprecedented looting of the people’s common patrimony.”

    Adeyeye addressed a news conference on Tuesday at his Ado-Ekiti residence was flanked by his wife, Princess Adetomilola, and two former aides of Governor Ayo Fayose, Alhaji Ademola Bello and Mr. Deji Adesua.

    Bello who resigned two weeks ago from Fayose’s cabinet served as Special Adviser on Cultural Matters while Adesua was Commissioner for Public Utilities.

    Adeyeye, who also served as PDP National Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, lost the governorship primary to Fayose’s preferred successor, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola.

    Olusola won the primary with 1,191 votes while Adeyeye polled 771.

    Read Also: Tinubu invites Falana, Ajibade to APC

    Adeyeye alleged that Fayose’s order that delegates should wear “aso ebi” to the shadow poll and the governor’s personal monitoring of votes at the exercise swung the pendulum of victory in Olusola’s favour.

    The ex-minister who hails from Ise-Ekiti in Ekiti South senatorial district served as the National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Egbe Afenifere, and also served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    He left the progressives fold in December 2006 when he contested in the Action Congress (AC) governorship primary won by Fayemi alleging the exercise was marred by irregularities.

    The politician, who was a journalist and lawyer, joined the PDP and was made State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairman by former Governor Segun Oni before he was later appointed Minister of State for Works by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Shortly after the primary that produced Olusola as winner, Adeyeye vowed not to work for Fayose’s continuity agenda which he said was not in the interest of Ekiti people.

    Addressing reporters at Tuesday’s briefing, Adeyeye said he would not allow party loyalty to becloud his patriotic zeal for collective interest and future of Ekiti people.

    Adeyeye said: “Gentlemen of the press, you will recall that I addressed you two days after the PDP Governorship primary in Ekiti State and I stated on that occasion that I was leaving the PDP.

    “Leaving the PDP was not an easy decision to make. That was a party to which I have rendered invaluable service at the most trying period of its history.

    “Expectedly patriotic leaders of the party appealed to me to reconsider my decision in the light of my previous services and loyalty to the party.

    “But the issue was never about me as a person. It was about the interest of the very many people who associate with me and more importantly the collective interest and future of Ekiti people.

    “For me politics has always been an opportunity to serve and make contribution towards the development of my community and the nation.

    “Therefore where I am compelled to make a choice between loyalty to a political party and loyalty to my community, l will readily choose my community or state.

    “Political parties come and go but the community remains. I cannot change my state or hometown but I can always change my party if I feel that it can no longer serve as a vehicle for our collective good as a people.

    “As a thoroughbred Ekiti person with a deep love of this land and the people It is incumbent on me to resist and stop the evil agenda of one man to put our people in perpetual enslavement.”

    He added: “I have said No to Fayose’s continuity of dictatorship, impunity, imposition, poverty, unprecedented looting of our common patrimony and deliberate debasement of the self esteem of our people.

    “For my friends, admirers, patrons and well wishers, I want to reiterate that Fayose is an impossible person to deal with.

    “A pompous martinet with a huge ego, he is deliberately divisive and deceitful. He does not believe in reconciliation and no effort at reconciliation will work with him.

    “Therefore after deep introspection and wide consultation with various stakeholders in this State, my supporters and I have decided to leave Egypt which the Fayose administration represents and join hands with patriotic Ekiti people to board the train of the APC for the onward journey to our promised land.

    “We are joining forces with eminent Ekiti sons and daughters to free our land from the vulture and predator feeding fat on our commonwealth.

    “We want to set our land free and never again shall we entrust our land unto the hands of unknown person with unverifiable pedigree to ride roughshod on our people.

    “We have assurances of Dr. Kayode Fayemi the APC candidate that he has come to right the wrong of the past and not on a vengeance mission as being touted by Fayose and his cohorts.

    “He is now better equipped, well focused and better prepared to move Ekiti forward. Let’s join hands with him in the collective mission to rescue our dear State from the greedy predator in this hour of our greatest need. This is a call to duty for all patriotic Ekiti sons and daughters.

    “My supporters, associates, PAAM and I have finally resolved to join APC with effect from today 29th May in the celebration of democracy day that some of us fought gallantly to achieve from the military.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Lawmakers hold sitting on highway

    …… Endorse Olusola for governor

     

    Members of Ekiti State House of Assembly on Monday held a special sitting on the major highway in Ado-Ekiti to declare their support for the candidature of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The lawmakers, who held their plenary at the foot of the Ado-Ekiti Flyover commissioned by former President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday, declared Ekiti “a no-go area for rigging” by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    At the sitting which commenced at 12.13 pm,they all resolved to work for Olusola’s victory at the poll to ensure the realization of the continuity agenda of the Fayose administration.

    Led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole, the lawmakers vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government and its allied agencies “to scuttle the wishes of the people through their votes at the July 14 governorship election.”

    In the lead debate by the House Leader of Business, Mr. Olatunji Akinyele, under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, the legislators affirmed their loyalty to Governor Ayo Fayose for using his mandate for the benefit of Ekiti people

    Akinyele commended Fayose for “changing the face of Ekiti” with people-oriented projects including dualization of roads in Ado-Ekiti and other major towns which culminated in inauguration of the flyover last Saturday by Jonathan.

    He added: “We support the candidature of Prof Kola Olusola for the governorship of Ekiti State and we urge the people of the state to vote for the continuity of Fayose’s legacies.

    “We also warn that the Federal Government should steer clear of the forthcoming governorship election because rigging will not be allowed in Ekiti State.”

    The lawmaker representing Ijero Constituency, Mr. Dayo Akinleye, said Ekiti people would not be intimidated by federal might at the election.

    He said: “The federal might cannot intimidate us because the PDP is on ground in Ekiti. We call on INEC to declare the real votes of the people and the Police should not allow themselves to be used for dirty jobs.”

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Battle for governor’s seat heats up

    The lawmaker representing Oye Constituency 1, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, claimed that the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was not popular at home.

    Omotoso said: “Fayemi is from my constituency, he is not popular at all. For several elections, Fayemi has only been able to win his one ward out of six wards in all the previous elections.

    “I have not seen how such candidate can be helped, this is a message to INEC and FG, that the candidate of Fayemi is like a patient that the doctor would say have poor prognosis.

    “The coming election is like that for APC, they cannot win and can never win, we are united in continuity under Fayose and we have great confidence in Eleka who have is a professor of Building Technology, unlike a doctorate degree holder in war studies who would only destroy.”

    Speaker Oluwawole said: “This is plenary is a special one in the sense that the government of the day has performed excellently well and we are elated and we have decided to come to the open to commend the immeasurable and outstanding performance of Fayose in executing various project in the state.

    “I want to correct an impression, have only one member in suspension the six others not here have obtained permission.

    “This is to correct an impression that some people are boasting that 10 of us are decamping, that is a fallacy. Fayemi is a serial loser who has never won any election, the last one was through judicial abracadabra.  He will lose in July 14.

    “I say this for record, that we are a united house, dogged, cannot be intimidated, nor harassed or kidnapped. We have unalloyed and unshakable commitment to Fayose who has demonstrated to the whole that he is committed to the service of humanity in Ekiti.

    “The kind of mammoth crowd that witnessed the flyover commissioning was tsunamic, and astonishing. We declare our total loyalty to the administration of Governor Fayose, we call on the people of Ekiti to show support as a payback for Fayose by voting Eleka and Ogunsakin on July 14.

    “It is a divine mandate that will b executed not only by the masses but also the host or heaven.”

    Other lawmakers who spoke at the “special sitting” are new Deputy Speaker, Mr. Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West Constituency 2) Mrs. Cecilia Dada (Ilejemeje Constituency) and Mr Tope Fasanmi (Ado Constituency 2).

  • Jonathan to Buhari: Don’t rig Ekiti poll for APC

    Says Hersdmen menace has brought global ridicule to Nigeria

     

    Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against rigging the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonathan said based on the experience he had during his time in the Presidency, there would be pressures from certain quarters for an incumbent President to rig election for his party.

    To the Bayelsa State-born statesman, if a free and fair election is conducted in Ekiti State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joint ticket of Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin, would coast home to victory.

    He said their victory would be made possible by the performance of Governor Ayo Fayose whom he described as an “exemplary leader and a loyal party man.”

    The ex-President spoke Friday night shortly he inaugurated the 1.3 kilometer Ado-Ekiti Flyover where an all-night party was held with fireworks lighting up the skyline. He had earlier in the day witnessed the inauguration of the new Governor’s Office.

    Jonathan also lamented that the Fulani herdsmen crisis and the depreciating value of the Naira have turned Nigeria to a butt of joke and ridicule in the international community.

    He urged Buhari to protect his good name by allowing the conduct of free, fair and transparent governorship poll in Ekiti and resist the temptation to use the state machinery to rig in favour of the APC.

    Read Also: Jonathan to leaders: Make sacrifices for Nigeria’s democracy

    Jonathan said: “I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held. I want to advise President Buhari not to deploy power to truncate Ekiti election.

    “I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before. When you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use your power to subjugate democracy.

    “Don’t do that because when you are going; the only thing you leave behind is your good name. If you use it wrongly, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy.

    “Though as a president, you have the power but don’t do that because of posterity. History will record whatever you do and the power of a leader is determined after leaving office and not when he is in the office.

    “The will of the people must be allowed to stand at all times, because power belongs to them and we must respect their verdict through the ballots.”

    On the alleged negative image of Nigeria, Jonathan said he was ashamed that Nigeria is now being used as a negative example in the international community.

    He cited recent instances when the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, mocked the poor state of security in Nigeria and the naira’s weakening status.

    Jonathan added: “He (Akufo-Addo) said Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. At another occasion in the United Kingdom, he made scathing remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

    “I feel ashamed as a former President that the president of a neighbouring country used Nigeria as negative examples.

    “If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.”

    The former President, therefore, urged Nigerian leaders to show serious concern, noting that many things had gone wrong in the country.

    Jonathan also defended Nigerian youths, saying they were one of the best in the world and should not be branded lazy as recently remarked by Buhari.

    “We must encourage young people to work hard. I don’t think Nigerian youths are lazy, I have worked with some of them in my cabinet as governor and president. Nigerian youths are great people with intelligence,” he said.

    Fayose said the 77-member election committee raised by the APC for the Ekiti governorship election showed the desperation of the party to win at all costs.

    “I will defeat them by the grace of God,” he said.

    Fayose declared that he would land in Abuja Presidential Villa at the end of his tenure while Olusola will continue with his legacies in Ekiti as governor.

  • Ekiti 2018: I have not joined APC – Adeyeye

    Accuses Fayose’s aide of spreading falsehood

    Former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has denied news on the social media that he has  joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Adeyeye, former Minister of State for Works, quit the PDP two weeks ago on the heels of the governorship primary won by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The former PDP chieftain promised to reveal his next political dispensation within forty eight hours but he was said to be consulting with his associates and supporters.

    He accused Governor Ayo Fayose of intimidating delegates at the primary which he said swayed majority of the votes to his protégé.

    Adeyeye contended that Fayose’s order that the delegates wear same uniform compromised the integrity of the primary.

    Olusola scored 1, 191 votes at the PDP governorship primary while Adeyeye garnered 771 votes.

    The social media has been awash with reports suggesting that Adeyeye has moved to the APC with an alleged visit to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta.

    It was alleged on the social media posts that Amosun has promised to give Adeyeye N200 million if he joins the broom party, an allegation he has dismissed.

    Read Also: Rainstorm destroys Palace, properties in Ekiti

    Adeyeye who stressed that he enjoys freedom of association courtesy of the Constitution promised to reveal the party he would join without recourse to “yellow”.

    In a statement on Monday by Director of Media, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Niyi Ojo, Adeyeye described the claims that he has joined the APC as deliberate falsehood urging members of the public to disregard same.

    He said: “There is deliberate falsehood and blackmail trending on social media that Prince Adeyeye and his supporters have defected to APC with a promise of #200million to be sourced by Governor Amosun of Ogun State.

    “The rumours emanated from Prime Reporters, a blog owned and managed by Governor Fayose’s Media aide, Lere Olayinka, whose life achievement as a journalist is to libel, blackmail and malign the integrity of any person apart from who is presently feeding him.

    “We call on the general public to disregard the write up as the figment of the imagination of the author.

    “Prince Adeyeye has the right to any political association of his choice and he knows how to unveil his new platform without recourse to yellow journalism as evidenced from the publication of falsehood to the general public.

    “We assured all lovers and admirers of Prince Adeyeye that in a matter of days a broad based platform for the realization of him ambition shall be made known after extensive consultations and deliberations.”

  • Ekiti gubernatorial election: I am ready for challenge – Olusola

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the July 14  election Ekiti state, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has expressed readiness to take up the challenge in ensuring his victory.

    Olusola, who is also the Deputy Governor of the state, said this when he received the party Certificate of return at PDP National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said he was privileged to be the first gubernatorial candidate to be issued certificate of return, saying “this means that we have won the July 14 election.”

    The governorship candidate said the people of the state would resist all forms of violence and money politics during the election in the state.

    “I want to assure our national leaders that, Ekiti state is for PDP. All the other parties are just shouting. Let them bring money, let them bring violence, Ekiti people will resist them.

    “We are no more interested in accommodating unnecessary interlopers. People want to take us through another round of economic slavery. We are no more ready for that.

    “I am ready and prepared to take up this challenge as the incoming governor of Ekiti state on the platform of the PDP.

    “There is a big difference between PDP and the other parties. We are a party that has totally eliminated imposition and impunity, ’’he said.

    Olusola commended the peaceful primaries on Monday in Ado-Ekiti and described PDP as a party with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

    He commended Gov. Ayodele Fayose for his support, describing him as a fearless leader who stood on the side of the truth.

    The governorship candidate also expressed his readiness to work with the party stakeholders and leaders, including the former national spokesman of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    The PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), who presented the certificate of return to Olusola, described the primary as the most transparent in the party in recent history.

    He said that PDP National Working Committee, led by Prince Uche Secondus, had shown impunity and imposition of candidates red card.

    Akobundu urged the two aspirants in the primary and other stakeholders to work together for the success of the party.

    The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, said PDP had shown, through the outcome of its governorship primary in Ekiti, that it was the only democratic party in the country. (NAN)

  • Ojudu vows to recover assets “illegally” acquired by Fayose

    Ojudu vows to recover assets “illegally” acquired by Fayose

    Says he is on a mission to rebuild Ekiti

    There was a massive lock down in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday as the Special Adviser to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, formally declared interest to run for the governorship seat.

    Ojudu, who hopes to run on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowed to defeat Governor Ayo Fayose and his preferred candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, if he wins the ticket of the party.

    The journalist-turned politician declared that the governor should prepare for hard times outside power as he (Fayose) would be made to face justice for alleged constitutional breaches and corruption.

    Ojudu vowed that the APC administration would recover all assets, including choice houses, allegedly acquired by Fayose with Ekiti funds since his return to power in 2014.

    The presidential aide held a three-in-one event which started with the inauguration of his campaign office along Textile Road before holding a massive rally at Okeyinmi Roundabout.

    Popular Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa, was on band stand at the rally which where Ojudu addressed a massive crowd before the campaign train moved to the APC secretariat located in Ajilosun area of the city.

    The governorship hopeful, who was accompanied by his wife, Tola, officials of his campaign organization, friends, associates and other admirers.

    They were received by party executive led the state Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemisola Olaleye, where a big razzmatazz was on display. There was a huge traffic snarl on Ado-Ikere Highway throughout the period of the ceremony.

    Mrs. Olaleye promised that the party would conduct a transparent, credible, free and fair primary election among all its aspirants. She said the party is poised to regain power at the July 14 poll to give Ekiti people good governance and better standards of living.

    Speaking at the party secretariat, Ojudu urged APC leaders and members to unite and chase Fayose and his proxy out of power and save Ekiti State from total collapse.

    He explained that he was prepared for a big fight ahead to rescue the state from Fayose’s grip urging all party leaders and members unite and work APC victory at the poll.

    Ojudu emphasized that he has concrete evidence to proof that Fayose has allegedly been using funds belonging to Ekiti State to acquire property including not less than twenty houses and parcels of land in
    choice areas of the state capital.

    He said: “I have counted not less than twenty houses illegally acquired with money belonging to Ekiti State by Fayose in many parts of Ado-Ekiti alone.

    “We are going to recover all these buildings when we get to power. Properties including the land acquired at Ojumose, the land near Mr. Biggs where he has been building a hall and a house near the Ado-Ekiti High Court.

    “I have the pictures of those houses, I know the contractor and we are going to retrieve all these assets illegally and unlawfully acquired with our funds.

    “All of us must rise to fight for the recovery of our state and I can’t wait for the day I will lead the party to victory. With your support, we can restore our state to the path of prosperity.”

    According to him, everything humanly possible would be done to prevent Fayose from installing his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, which he said would spell doom for Ekiti.

    He added: “But our party needs to tread cautiously to be able to defeat this cunning man. We must be able to hold secret because he had succeeded in infiltrating our ranks. He has planted people in our ranks to leak vital information to him, so we must be cautious.

    “I know that the challenges of the recent years have galvanized our people to be resolute to fight the battle ahead. The next election is a must-win for APC.

    “Fayose is planning to rule the state by proxy by attempting to put his surrogate on the governorship seat. Let me assure you, we are going to foil such attempt.

    “Let me say this, I have all it takes to liberate Ekiti from the slavery they were put into by Fayose. I had once defeated him in a senatorial contest and I will do same again if given the opportunity.”

  • Court frees seven accused persons in NURTW chief’s murder

    Court frees seven accused persons in NURTW chief’s murder

    An Ekiti State High Court on Monday discharged and acquitted all the seven persons accused of complicity in the murder of the former National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ) Chairman Omolafe Aderiye.

    The judgment of the court in the case which lasted for over three years sparked emotions and wild jubilation by families, associates and supporters of the defendants who had massed outside the court premises.

    Aderiye, an ally of Governor Ayo Fayose, was killed on 25th September, 2014 at his private motor park, Lafe Ade Transport Services, located in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The accused persons who breathed the air of freedom are Adebayo Aderiye a.ka. Ojuigo, Adeniyi Adedipe a.ka. Apase, Sola Durodola, Kayode Ajayi, Oso Farotimi a.k.a. Oso Polo, Sola Adenijo a.ka. Solar and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu a.k.a. Mentilo.

    The case commenced in November 2014 shortly after Fayose came to power and they had been in prison custody since then.

    Trial judge, Justice Adekanye Lekan Ogunmoye, held that the prosecution failed to prove the complicity of the accused persons in the murder of Aderiye.

    In arriving at the judgment, Ogunmoye held that the police failed to investigate the alibi of the accused which proved fatal to the case of the prosecution.

    He ruled that the accused persons succeeded in convincing the court that they were not at the scene of the crime which the prosecution failed to rebut.

    According to him, the prosecution failed to prove the count of conspiracy to kill the late Aderiye and the count of murder against all the seven defendants.

    Ogunmoye held that the case of the prosecution was not helped by contradictory evidence led its witnesses which he said the court won’t believe.

    For instance the judge faulted the evidence of PW 1, Wale Ibidapo, that one Adesokan Adedeji Israel emerged from a Golf car and shot sporadically into the air before firing the shot that killed the late transporter.

    Ogunmoye held that “it is inconceivable that amidst sporadic gunshots, the witness would observe the purported killer(s) as what would be in the mind of the witness was how to escape from the scene hence the court won’t believe Ibidapo’s evidence.

    Another witness whose evidence was discountenanced was PW3, Gbolahan Okeowo, who, according to the judge, gave “mutually contradictory” evidence.

    The judge held: “Inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses has created a doubt. Where two or more witnesses give contradictory evidence, it will be illogical to believe their testimony.”

    Ogunmoye held that in the charge of murder, the case must be proved beyond reasonable doubt which the prosecution has failed to do in the case at hand.

    The judge ruled: “None of the alibi raised by the defedants was investigated by the police. The evidence of the prosecution failed to bring down the evidence of the defendants.

    “The plea of evidence succeeds that the accused were not at the scene of the crime. The prosecution failed to rebut the evidence of the defendants.

     “The prosecution has been unable to prove that the death of Chief Omolafe Aderiye was caused by any of the defendants.

    “There was nowhere conspiracy can be inferred against any of the defendants. The first to seventh defendants are hereby discharged and acquitted.”

    There was drama within and outside the premises of the State Judiciary Complex shortly after the court rose as some family members of the defendants rolled on the ground while others wept.

    Armed policemen had a hectic time controlling the massive crowd of supporters outside the court who sang and carried some of the defendants shoulder-high.

    The security was tight as the Fayose government had scheduled a rally same day to drum support for the candidature of Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola at Fajuyi Park near the court premises.

  • Ekiti promises continual on-the-job training for teachers

    Ekiti promises continual on-the-job training for teachers

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti promised on Friday to sustain the current on-the-job training for teachers in the state, to enhance the teaching of science subjects.

    Fayose, represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, made the promise while addressing participants at the Capacity Building Training Workshop for Science Teachers at Egbeoba High School, Ikole-Ekiti.

    The theme of the training workshop was: “Pragmatic Approach To Teaching Science Subjects.”

    The governor promised to continue to put in place policies that would enhance teaching and learning in public schools in the state.

    “Every profession needs continuous training, especially on-the-job training. We will continue to sustain whatever policy that will ensure improvement of our educational sector,” the governor said.

    He urged the participants to transfer the knowledge acquired at the training to other teachers..

    The governor said that teachers must continually ensure that they acquainted themselves with new teaching techniques and technologies at all times.

    He commended them for their contributions to the feat recorded by the state in external examinations.

    “Very soon, Operation Visit All Schools will commence in order for us to identify some of the challenges the teachers are facing, so as to proffer solutions to them,” he added.

    Two of the participants, Mr Bola Ojo and Mrs Bibire Olumuyiwa, thanked government for the training and promised to impact the knowledge gained to their students.

    No fewer than 1,000 science teachers in the state have so far benefited from the training programme.

    NAN

  • Septuagenarian wins best farmer in Ekiti, gets N1m

    Septuagenarian wins best farmer in Ekiti, gets N1m

    A 73-year old farmer, Alhaji Olayinka Adeyemi, has emerged the Overall Best Farmer of the year in Ekiti state, winning N1 million prize.

    Alhaji Olayinka has been in farming since 1965.

    Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the organiser of Afe Babalola Agricultural Exhibition code named “ABA-EX 2017” gave the prize to the winner on Sunday at the closing of the exhibition at the Afe Babalola University ( ABUAD ), Ado Ekiti.

    The agric exhibition, where Adeyemi won the prize was organised by Gov. Ayo Fayose.

    The Septuagenarian was among about 300 other farmers shortlisted for the government exhibition from among leading farmers in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Two farmers each from the 16 council areas got N150, 000 and N100, 000 for wining first and second positions at the local level.

    Babalola offered to start buying farm produce from farmers in the state.

    This, the legal luminary said would save farmers in the state the agony of produce wastage and loss of profit on their produce due to lack of storage facilities and ready market.

    Babalola, who is also a big-time farmer,said he decided on buying the farm produce to improve the well being of farmers and make farming attractive again like it used to be before the discovery of oil.

    He noted that most Nigerian farmers were usually compelled to sell their produce at ridiculous prices because of lack of facilities to preserve them.

    The (SAN) also identified lack of working capital, storage facilities and modern farm implements as reasons why many had abandoned farming for odd jobs in the city.

    He also said lack of access to ready market for their produce contributed to farmers abandoning the occupation, thereby making them poorer.

    “As from now, I wish to announce to all farmers in Ekiti State that they are free to bring their farm produce in bulk to us here. We are ready to by them and pay you appropriate prices.

    “We have all the facilities in ABUAD farms to accommodate as well as process whatever volume of both cash and food crops that we have with us.

    “We do not only prepare them for local consumption, we also prepare them for export.

    “I am always moved to pity when I see hard-working farmers not making commensurable profits on their farms despite toiling day and night to ensure they have good harvest.

    “I do not want this ugly situation to continue,” he said.

    Fayose, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola thanked Babalola for his intervention in agriculture and education sectors in the state.

    He described Babalola as the best, most critical partner and a stakeholder in the running of government.

    NAN

  • Maintain positive attitude, says Ekiti deputy governor

    The Ekiti State government has urged its workforce to maintain a positive attitude and be more diligent in the new year.

    It assured that it would improve the workers’ condition of service in the year.

    Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola gave the assurance at a special prayer session with his office staff to mark the beginning of work in the new year.

    Olusola urged civil servants to brace up for the challenges of restoring the lost glory of the state.

    He advised the people to put their trust in God, adding that prayers and hard work are the only ingredients that can change the state and transform it.

    The deputy governor said the various negative predictions of hard time and dwindled economic situation being experienced in the country are surmountable, if the people put their trust in God.

    Olusola said government would reward hard work and accord due recognition to deserving public servants.