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Tag: Lere Olayinka

  • Fayose celebrates Lere Olayinka on birthday

    Fayose celebrates Lere Olayinka on birthday

    …hails his loyalty and rise from humble beginnings

    Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has showered encomiums on his long-time associate and political ally, Lere Olayinka, on his birthday.

    He described him as a “man of wisdom, loyalty, and relevance in a heartfelt birthday tribute.

    In a voice note made public in a WhatsApp group on Wednesday, Fayose praised Olayinka’s journey from modest beginnings in Okemesi to becoming a respected public figure and household name in Nigerian politics and media.

    “To a great man, young, diligent, submissive, and determined, whom God has raised from Okemesi. A man of stature and relevance. A man of wisdom who knows his onions,” Fayose said.

    The former governor, known for his outspoken political style, described Olayinka as a loyal aide and dependable defender who has consistently stood tall in the face of challenges.

    READ ALSO: I thought Boko Haram will end under Buhari, says Jonathan

    “From humble beginnings, you have expanded your coast, protected your name, and risen to become a respected figure, all to the glory of God,” he added. “There is no regret in working with you.”

    Fayose also highlighted Olayinka’s role as a shining representative of the Osoko Political Family, acknowledging his service, resilience, and faithfulness.

    “Your name has become a household name in Nigeria, and there is no going back,” he said. “This is only the beginning. The future is indeed bright.”

    He concluded the message with a personal and symbolic endorsement, referring to Olayinka as “my boy, my son, my follower, my brother, my defender,” and extended warm birthday wishes on behalf of the entire Osoko Political Family Worldwide.

    “Happy birthday and many happy returns,” Fayose said.

    Lere Olayinka currently serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He has long been a prominent media figure and is a political strategist, both in Ekiti State and across Nigeria’s political landscape.

  • Wike’s aide Olayinka advocates mandatory NIN, ID for social media accounts

    Wike’s aide Olayinka advocates mandatory NIN, ID for social media accounts

    Lere Olayinka, the senior special assistant on public communications and social media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called for strict regulations on social media usage in Nigeria.

    In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, Olayinka proposed that individuals be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside a valid government-issued identification document, such as an international passport, voter’s card, or driver’s licence, before creating or operating any social media account.

    “NIN, Valid Identity Card (International Passport, Voter’s Card, Driver’s Licence). These two should be made compulsory to open and operate social media accounts,” his post read, stressing that such a measure would curb misinformation and enhance online accountability.

    Read Also: I will back Tinubu’s supporters, says Wike

    Olayinka’s suggestion comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over fake accounts, bots, and the spread of false information online.

    By tying social media registration to the NIN system already mandatory for banking and telecommunications, he argued that Nigeria could build a unified framework for digital accountability.

    The NIN system, which links verified identities to essential services, has been viewed as a potential tool for increasing transparency and trust in digital interactions.

    Extending it to social media platforms, Olayinka suggested, would make it more difficult for anonymous actors to manipulate public discourse.

  • Wike’s aide slams Atiku over exit from PDP

    Wike’s aide slams Atiku over exit from PDP

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, has slammed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the move as “good riddance to bad rubbish.”

    Atiku, in a letter dated July 16, 2025, addressed to the chairman of his Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for his decision to leave the party he co-founded. He described the move as heartbreaking.

    Reacting on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Olayinka said Atiku’s exit presents an opportunity for the PDP to reorganize and heal from within.

    “My first reaction was that Atiku leaving the PDP is good riddance to bad rubbish. One thing I would have loved to see in the headlines was: ‘Atiku Abubakar leaves PDP again,’ because he has done this repeatedly since 2007,” he said.

    Olayinka further accused Atiku of destabilizing the PDP and alleged that his latest alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition was another act of betrayal. He added that Atiku could still return to the PDP if the coalition does not serve his interests.

    He said, “In 2003, PDP’s effort to win Lagos State was frustrated by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar when he was Vice-President, and that was how anti-party started in PDP. In 2018, you can Google it. When he went to Lagos, he apologized for the role he played in frustrating the effort of the PDP to win Lagos State in 2003.

    “In 2007, Atiku Abubakar held the record of the first Nigerian as vice-president, sitting vice-president, who went to another party, while still holding the mandate of the PDP as vice-president. He went and formed Action Congress with the other people, and he contested as the presidential candidate of Action Congress in 2007, even as a sitting vice-president, holding the mandate of the PDP.

    “In 2014, it was the same Atiku Abubakar who led the rebellion that pulled down the PDP, that took the PDP out of power. The only thing that interests Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is to be president of Nigeria, and I begin to wonder, is it that a doctor prescribed presidency to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, so that if you don’t become president, something will happen to you? Because that is the way it is.

    Read Also: Atiku: Timeline of serial defector, wanderer

    “The only thing that is important to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is Atiku and Abubakar. The moment he’s in this party, he cannot get a ticket to contest; he moves to another party. And let me also say this. Write this one down. After this experiment in their coalition, which I call a coalition of confusion, he will still leave their coalition and probably come back to the PDP, as he has been doing”.

    Olayinka also faulted Atiku’s release of his resignation letter while the country was still mourning the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said, “The same Atiku has been in Daura; he could not even wait for the seven-day mourning period of Buhari to end before making a political decision. I don’t understand why somebody would be so desperate to this extent.”

    Olayinka advised the PDP to begin putting its house up for the 2027 general election.

    He said, “What I believe is that the PDP should now begin to put its house in order. It might not be necessary to make a good showing next year, I mean 2027, because it is very close now”.

  • EFCC seizes houses, radio station allegedly owned by Fayose

    Ex-gov denies ownership of sealed property

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday stormed Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital and seized some choice properties allegedly owned by former Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Some of the properties allegedly owned by Fayose and sealed by EFCC operatives include a hotel and event centre at Fajuyi area, two houses located at government Reservation Area (GRA) and a radio station People’s 104.1 FM and a two-storey building in Okesa area of the town.

    The EFCC officials decked in their red jackets were seen at about 10.35 am placing a sealing order on the properties at Okesa/Fajuyi area.

    The official seal pasted on the said properties read: “Order from EFCC: This structure is under investigation, keep off”.

    It will be recalled that two houses allegedly belonging to Fayose were sealed about one month ago by the state Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning for not having approved plan.

    Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Society also staged a public protest against Fayose at the weekend accusing him of illegally acquiring a parcel of land belonging to the group to build a filling station for his son.

    Fayose is presently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos where he is facing a charge of money laundering on the alleged receipt of about N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The cash was allegedly received from the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to finance Fayose’s 2014 governorship campaign.

    Read Also: Ekiti: Fayose sacked as PDP leader

    But Fayose has accused the EFCC of sealing houses belonging to innocent people in the State, under the guise that the houses were linked to him.

    Fayose in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, claimed that he is not the owners of the properties seized by the EFCC accusing the agency of “blackmail and media trial.”

    The statement read: “Just been informed that operatives of the EFCC in collaboration with the APC government in Ekiti are going about sealing houses of innocent people in the state, under the guise that the houses are linked to me.

    “This is another wild goose chase and the usual media campaign against my person.

    “It is only in our country that an anti-corruption agency will first go about sealing houses before determining the ownership, which can be done so easily by visiting relevant agencies.

    “I am therefore informing the public ahead of their usual blackmail and media trial.

    “None of the properties in question is owned by me and the records are there for anyone that is interested to see.

    “The EFCC is advised to stop going about looking for ways to malign my person just because of their hatred as a result of my uncompromising stands on national issues.

    “Even if the commission is being pressured from ‘above’ to persecute Fayose at all cost, it should at least, do its job diligently to save itself from persistent embarrassment.”

  • ‘Fayose plans to sell Govt property few days to handover’

    FAYOSE: FAYEMI’S MEN WANT TO SCUTTLE MARKET ALLOCATION

     

    As the change of government beckons in Ekiti State, incoming governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and outgoing governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose have renewed hostilities with accusations from both sides.

    Fayemi said he has uncovered an alleged plan by Fayose to secretly sell off some government property through some shady deals.

    Fayose also accused Fayemi’s agents of making moves to block the allocation of new shops to traders at the new Erekesan Market.

    Fayemi in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Olayinka Oyebode, alleged that Fayose is planning to sell off the Erekesan Market, many parcels of government lands and other utilities.

    He warned that anybody transacting business with Fayose is doing so at his own risk as the incoming administration will not honour such transactions.

    Fayemi said: “The attention of the Governor-Elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been drawn to the clandestine moves by the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose to hurriedly dispose off some valuable properties of Ekiti State Government through shady arrangements.

    “Some of the properties are:
    i. A large expanse of land between Ondo State Civil Service Commission and Elan Club, in front of Government Printing Press, Alagbaka, Akure.
    ii. Erinfun Livestock Development Center, covering 600 hectares of land along Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado-Ekiti.
    iii. The new Oja Oba Market, among others.

    “We hereby inform and advise the general public, particularly prospective buyers to be circumspect in entering into any transaction with the outgoing Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose in respect of any of the properties mentioned above or any other one whatsoever as the incoming administration may not recognize or give effect to such transactions.

    “A word is enough for the wise!”

    But Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant (Public Communications and New Media), Lere Olayinka, alleged that agents of Fayemi are planning a court action to stop the allocation of shops to market men and women.

    He said: “Desperate APC goons led by Fayemi’s Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi have concluded plans to scuttle allocation of the over 700 lock up shops in the new Oja Oba market to beneficiaries who have already obtained forms.

    “They are set to go to court to stop allocation of the shops.

    “Meanwhile, these same APC people were against the Market Project when it started.

    “But now that the project is nearing completion, they want to allocate the shops to their cronnies not-minding owners of the shops that were demolished to pave way for the new market.

    “Ekiti people should remember how these same APC people shared the Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti Duplexes built by the Segun Oni’s PDP govt.

    “This time around however, the people will prevail. The lock up shops will be allocated just the way the over 200 open shops were openly allocated a few weeks ago.”

  • INEC gets ten days to investigate Fayose, others for electoral offences

    Lagos lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to, within the next ten days, investigate Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State over alleged electoral offences committed during the June 14 governorship election held in the state.

    Others whom Akingbolu asked INEC to also investigate are the Deputy Governor, Professor Kolapo Eleka and the Acting Chairman of the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Lere Olayinka for alleged ‘deliberate breach of several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 before, during and after the said election’.

    “Take notice that if you fail or refuse to commence the investigation of the serious electoral offences disclosed in the petition before the 15th day of August 2018 we shall not hesitate to apply to the Federal High Court for an order of Mandamus to compel you to carry out your statutory duty forthwith. Having regards to your resolve to prosecute all electoral offenders it is hoped that you will not compel us to resort to any litigation over this petition”.

    In a petition to INEC Chairman on Monday, Akingbolu urged the electoral commission to investigate and prosecute Fayose and others in line with section 150 of the Electoral Act, 2010 in view of the gravity of the electoral offences allegedly committed by the suspects.

    He argued that the prosecution of the Ekiti State governor and others would go a long way to curb official impunity during elections conducted by the INEC.

    To facilitate investigation and envisaged prosecution of Fayose and others, Akingbolu promised to make available all the necessary information and documents to support his petition.

    “Since the immunity of two out of the aforementioned suspects i.e. Governor Ayo Fayose and Deputy  Kolapo Eleka will expire in October 2018 the investigation of the serious electoral offences committed by them ought to commence without any delay”, he stated.

    Read Also: Fayose’s deputy files 700-page petition against Fayemi

    The lawyer listed ten electoral offences allegedly committed during the June 14 governorship election by the Governor Fayose and others.

    He alleged that before the official declaration of the results of the governorship election by the Returning Officer, the governor and others allegedly announced an election result which they knew to be false and thereby declared Professor Kolapo Eleka as the Governor Elect of Ekiti State on June 15, 2018 in contravention of section 123 (4) of the Electoral Act.

    He alleged that in the morning of June 14, 2018 the governor and others allegedly assembled a crowd at the Governor’s Lodge where they prayed and persuaded voters to vote for Professor Kolapo Eleka and that they caused the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast news which opposed the candidature of Dr. Kayode Fayemi in contravention of section 101 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010

    Akingbolu alleged that they advanced and paid the sum of N3,000 to every civil servant on Friday June 13, 2018 with intent that such money shall be expended on bribing voters to vote for Professor Kolapo Eleka.

    According to him, Governor Fayose and others campaigned against Dr. Kayode Fayemi and urged voters not to vote for him in contravention of section 129 (c) of the General Act and that their campaign was tainted with abusive language, which injured religious, ethnic and sectional feelings contrary to section 95 (1) of the Electoral Act.

    Akingbolu alleged that the Ekiti State governor and others threatened to make use of force and violence in contravention of section 131 (a) of the Electoral Act and that they prevented all government aspirants, apart from Professor Kolapo Eleka the free use of the Ekiti State Radio and Television station in contravention of section 131 (d) of the Electoral Act.

    Other allegations were that they campaigned for Professor Kolapo Eleka in the Governor’s lodge on June 14, 2018 within 24 hours prior to the polling day in contravention of section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 and that they prevented the Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation from allotting equal coverage and conspicuity to all political parties in contravention of Section 100 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010.

  • Ekiti 2018: FG spending Abacha loot to win poll for Fayemi, says Olusola

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has alleged that the Federal Government has set aside part of the $321 million loot of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha for Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

    He claimed that about $50m of the recovered loot was ferried from Abuja in a chartered flight through Akure Airport and conveyed to Ekiti State in two bullion vans to be spent in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The Director, Media and Publicity of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation, Lere Olayinka, also alleged in a statement on Thursday that “preliminary findings” indicated that N2.5bn cash was transferred by the Kebbi State Government to an account in UBA, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

    He said, “We called you here to intimate the public through your various media organisations of the movement of huge cash by the federal government to Ekiti State for the Saturday election.

    “Last week Saturday, two bullion vehicles were moved to the Akure Airport to evacuate cash brought from Abuja by a chartered flight.

    “The flight landed when it was raining and all staff of the airport were barred from going near the aircraft while the cash was evacuated into the two bullion vehicles.

    “After offloading the huge cash, the bullion van first moved to the Ondo State Government House in Akure from where they left for Isan Ekiti, the hometown of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.”

    On the alleged cash from Kebbi State, he said: “It was withdrawn immediately and moved with a private jet to Akure.

    Read Also: Okada riders get free fuel from Fayemi

    “Also, apart from the N2.5 billion, another $50m (about N18bn) was taking from the $321m recovered from the late Abacha family.

    “Our question is, how can a government that claimed to be fighting corruption released billions of naira from the public coffers for the governorship election of a single State? Where is their fight against corruption?”

    Olusola called on Nigerians to note this wanton looting of public fund by the APC government to fund election of its members.

    “We must tell Fayemi and his APC that the conscience of the people of Ekiti cannot be purchased and we call on the people of Ekiti to resist the planned use of stolen fund to buy their votes of Saturday,” he added.

    Olusola also called the attention of the public to alleged intimidation and harassment of PDP members by men of the Department of State Services and policemen.

    “Already, Akin Fakorede, an officer of the Federal SARS has been posted to Ekiti State, ostensibly to play the same ignoble role that he played during the Rivers State election.

    “Let me say it clearly that no amount of intimidation will scare our people away from the polling units where they will vote for the PDP on Saturday.

    “We have the people behind us and they are more than ready to give our candidate their votes on Saturday.”

  • Akeredolu to Fayose: You can’t stop us from coming to Ekiti

    Ondo State government on Tuesday criticised the statement credited to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose through his Media aide, Lere Olayinka, castigating Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Fayose had alleged that Akeredolu brought no fewer than 150 policemen to Ado-Ekiti last Friday to instigate the gun attack in which about four persons, including an APC chieftain, Opeyemi Bamidele, were injured.

    He equally repeated the accusation that Akeredolu had planned to use Ondo State’s two months’ allocation to fund the electioneering of the APC governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    A statement by the Ondo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi said” Ordinarily, we would have ignored all the deliberate lies and falsehood, but we felt that we would not be fair to the unsuspecting larger members of the public if such lies were not debunked.

    “For the information of the doubters, Governor Akeredolu, even if provoked, cannot debase his personality to a level that he will sacrifice the interests of his people for pecuniary gains.

    Read Also:Adeyeye’s defection to APC won’t affect PDP’s fortune – Fayose

    “Instead of engaging in hypocritical activities like eating at motor parks and cutting ponmo at the market square, Akeredolu is currently applying the public resources for the betterment of the lives of the people of the state.

    “So, it is interesting to state that Ondo is witnessing massive infrastructural development in all sectors of the state. On Monday at the state executive council meeting, a number of projects were approved for execution. That’s how development is moving in Ondo State.

    “Governor Fayose and his boy should be reminded that the Akeredolu led administration has performed creditably well in the last one year and few months.

    “On the Friday’s gun attack in Ekiti, we would like to refer Fayose to a statement by the Ekiti State police spokesperson, Caleb Okechukwu, cleared the air on the issue. Investigation by the police had revealed that the shooter was a police officer brought from Lagos by an Ekiti politician.

    ‘For this revelation, we believe that the Ekiti governor and his cohorts will now bury their heads in shame.

    “We, therefore, call the security agencies in the country to take note of the false accusation leveled against Akeredolu by Fayose and his town crier, who only a few years ago wrote a detailed report about the devious activities of his master.

    “It is also important for Lere and his boss to know one very important fact, that unlike his boss, we are committed to the progress and peaceful co-existence between the state and Ekiti. I mean, aren’t we one before October, 1996? The seed of discord Fayose is trying to plant between the
    two states will not germinate no matter how much cunning he is.

    “We will love to state here categorically without mincing words that Governor Akeredolu reserves every right to show support for the candidate of his party in Ekiti state, just as Governor Nysom Wike and the rest are showing support for the PDP in the state.

    “There is no law that prohibits that Fayose and the PDP are making issues out of this because of the smell of defeat that has overwhelmed them.

    “Fayose also tried to rewrite the sad incident that occurred on Friday, claiming that the tear gas canisters that hit a taxi driver were fired by the policemen that accompanied the thugs from Akure.

    Residents of Ekiti and those who were present during the incident knew that the pandemonium that greeted the shooting at the APC secretariat necessitated the tear gas canisters fired by the policemen.

    “Please note that the Policemen who fired the tear gas canisters were duly drafted to the secretariat by the Ekiti state police command to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
    On several occasions, we have come out straight to debunk the lies of Lere and his boss over an alleged statement made by Governor Akeredolu that he was ready to use two months allocations from his state for Fayemi’s election.

    “But again, such lies can only be told by people of low esteem. As we speak, the workers’ friendly governor in Ondo state has paid the May salary of workers. We are not owning a dime.

    “And unlike Governor Fayose who is owing the state workers between seven and eight months’ salary arrears, Akeredolu has paid up to date and also cleared four out of seven months backlog of salary inherited from the immediate past administration in the state”.

    The statement pointed out that Ekiti election is July 14, and Akeredolu has paid May salary with the allocation for May,but Ekiti state government is still pushing the story of the governor planning to use two months allocation to pursue Ekiti election.

    It added; “For the records, Akeredolu has recorded landmark achievements in the last 15 months of his administration in Ondo state. Fayose and Lere should take a ride to Akure and see what Akeredolu has done at Iwalewa and Abusoro. Or better still, Fayose should take a trip to the whole of Ondo State and see projects.

    Projects like construction of Iwalewa Road, Akure, Construction of Sabomi Road, Ese Odo, Construction of Abusoro, Ijoka Road, Akure, Construction of Opasorun road, Bajare/Okemayo, Construction of St. Joseph Road in Idanre, Construction of 3 box culverts at Oyinmomo  Ishakunmi and Megida Rental Road , Ikare.

    Others are Construction of Jubilee – Ugbe Road, Ikare, Construction of Oke Alafia Road, Supare,  Construction of Ogbomo Ifedara, Ajegunle Streets and Howlet Road, Ifon,  Construction of Ilara Mokin /Ikota, otherwise known as Gulf C road, Ilara, Construction of Police Road, Ore,  Construction of Virgin road network within GRA to Prison, Owo, Construction of internal and access roads within the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) Okitipupa, Rehabilitation of the deadly Iwaro Oka hill and the
    ongoing work at the notorious Oke Alabujoto in Ikare Akoko are there to mention  a few.

    “Fayose and his boy also attempted to drag Governor Akeredolu into the attack by the herdsmen on Chief Olu Falae’s farm. What we don’t understand is whether Fayose understood what he was saying and the import of his statement.

    “Akeredolu sympathized with Chief Falae over the attack and also issued a strong warning to Herdsmen to vacate the state. No single incident has been heard since them. We are aware that same herdsmen kidnapped Chief Falae under the PDP administration in the state.

    “He, who comes to equity, must come with clean hands. We want to urge Nigerians to disregard the blatant lies being spread around by Fayose and his attack dog, Lere.

    “Today in Ekiti, politics has been turned into a do or die affair by Fayose. His only strategy is lying and concocted stories. We are therefore, advising him and his cronies to go and prepare for the election”.

    The statement emphasised that thousands of Fayose cannot stop Akeredolu and other APC governors from coming to campaign in Ekiti state.

  • Ekiti May Day boycott: Fayose’s aide threatens The Nation reporter’s life

    Apparently rattled by the report of the poor attendance of workers at the May Day rally held in Ekiti State on Tuesday, an aide to Governor Ayo Fayose, Lere Olayinka, has been threatening the life of THE NATION reporter in the state, Odunayo Ogunmola.

    Olayinka, in posts on his Facebook wall and WhatsApp portal branded the report “an enemy of Ekiti State government” and accused him of being “politically biased.”

    The governor’s aide was reacting to the story of the massive boycott of the May Day rally held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium on Tuesday by majority of workers.

    The story’s online version was headlined: “Ekiti Workers Shun May Day Rally.” The story has the following riders: “Labour Leader: Workers Are Hungry” and Fayose Promotes 40,000 Workers.”

    Ogunmola reported in the story that: “Out of the two covered terraces in the stadium, only one was filled by union leaders and officials mobilized to participate in the march past while the other one was sparsely filled.

    He also added in the report that all the uncovered terraces, otherwise known as popular side, were empty throughout the ceremony.

    The Chairman of the state council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ade Adesanmi, said in his address that “the workers are hungry” urging Fayose to pay the arrears owed them.

    Olayinka in his posts reproduced a picture taken by Ogunmola with the state Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Sola Adigun, in which he (Olayinka) pointed a red arrow at The NATION reporter.

    The action, Ogunmola said, was aimed at exposing his life to danger and possible elimination, considering the tense political situation of the state.

    Olayinka, also in the Facebook posts released Ogunmola’s number to the public in which he urged members of the public to occupy the reporter’s telephone line.

    Earlier in the day at about 11.25 hours, Ogunmola received phone calls from anonymous persons threatening his life on the May Day story with the following numbers: 07037352506, 08032110982.

    Fayose’s media aide had in January called Ogunmola through his phone and issued threats on the story about the state debt profile as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abuja.

    Olayinka was fond of threatening reporters both in the print and electronic media on stories the state government find offensive.

    Ogunmola later on Wednesday petitioned to the State Director, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command.

    The reporter also petitioned the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Attached to the petition are print-outs of the Facebook and WhatsApp posts of Olayinka against the reporter.

  • Fayose congratulates parents of released Dapchi Girls

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has congratulated parents of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls that were released today and sympathized with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died.

    He described the abduction of the girls as an indictment on the federal government and their release as “drama scripted by the government and its agents to swindle Nigerians.”

    Fayose, while reacting to the release of the abducted school girls, said; “This appears like an arranged abduction and an arranged release, but we thank God that the innocent girls have returned home and we condole with parents of those that died.”

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said it was strange that the girls could be brought back to Dapchi by their abductors without the security agents knowing when they were returned and who returned them.

    He said; “Curiously, the same spirit who made sure that all military checkpoints in Dapchi and other surrounding towns were removed to pave way for abduction of the girls also made sure that the girls were returned without any security agent seeing them.

    Read Also: Fayose, Ewi row over demolition in Ado-Ekiti

    “One can only be hopeful that the real script writers behind this drama will be exposed one day.

    “Nigerians should recall that the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam said that military checkpoints were withdrawn from Dapchi and other communities a few days before the abduction of the 110 girls.

    This was also corroborated by the Amnesty International in its report that was published in the newspapers on Wednesday.

    “Specifically, Amnesty International said that security forces failed to act on advance warnings that a convoy of Boko Haram fighters was heading to Dapchi town and that between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm on February 19, 2018, calls were made to tell the security services that the Boko Haram insurgents were in the Dapchi area.

    “No doubt, withdrawal of military check-points from Dapchi and other communities, few days before the 110 students were abducted and failure of the security forces to act on advance warnings exposed the conspiracy of the federal government and its agents in the abduction of the school girls and other dastardly acts of the insurgents.

    “Interestingly, no one was questioned up till now despite conflicting claims by the army and police as well as the damning report by the Amnesty International hat between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm on February 19, 2018, calls were made to tell the security services that the Boko Haram insurgents were in the Dapchi area.”

    The governor, who reiterated his allegation that Boko Haram insurgency had become source of treasury looting; said; “Those benefitting from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scams, payment of ransom (in dollars) to free those abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents, among others will never wish to see the end of the insurgency.”