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Tag: Prof. Kolapo Olusola

  • Dissolution of Ekiti Labour Unions can’t stand, says TUC boss

    Ekiti State Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Mr. Odunayo Adesoye, has said that the dissolution of all labour unions by some labour leaders and their supporters cannot stand.

    He described the dissolution of TUC, Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) as illegal, null and void which contravenes labour law as prescribed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    Read Also:2019: INEC budget stuck as Senate won’t reconvene

    Adesoye also denied allegation that the labour leaders received N14 million from Governor Ayo Fayose to mobilize workers for his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, at the July 14 governorship election.

    He alleged that the ex-labour leaders who dissolved the unions and declared an indefinite strike were only trying to malign their personalities to gain recognition from the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Adesoye said: “I don’t think they have such power to dissolve an organized labour centres as former leaders. Only the national bodies could do such.

    “We have tried our best to ensure that the government paid outstanding salaries. We have not shirked our responsibilities, even the State Executive Council of NLC and TUC just passed vote of confidence in us.

    “It was very unfortunate that these leaders were trying to destroy the house that brought them up. We are trying our best to ensure that salaries are paid.

    “We are expecting government to reduce the outstanding to a reasonable level at the end of this month. So, the protest was in bad taste. The two what they wanted is political relevance.”

    On the allegation that they collected N14 million to mobilize for Fayose, Adesoye said: “It was blatant lie that we collected a sum of N14 million from Fayose, to do what?

    “It was a lie, blatant lie; they won’t succeed in this attempt to malign our personalities. Fayemi didn’t recognize them and they wanted it by force. I believe if they should get recognition, it has to be through a clean way.”

  • ‘Fayose’s alleged arrogance caused Olusola’s defeat’

    Lagos cleric Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, lost the Ekiti State governorship election due to alleged arrogance and over-confidence of his godfather, Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Ayodele, who is the founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church with headquarters in Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, said he warned Fayose about a year ago of an impending defeat but the governor rebuffed his warning.

    The cleric, who hails from Ikere-Ekiti as Olusola revealed that he warned Fayose to change some of his alleged negative attributes which include ingratitude, arrogance and self-deception if he hopes to succeed in installing a successor.

    He spoke during a visit to a branch of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Ikere-Ekiti where a special service and prayer programme was held.

    According to him, it was wrong for Fayose to be claiming to be a prophet by releasing predictions believed to be politically motivated.

    He attributed the loss of Olusola to the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as “nemesis catching up with Fayose.”

    He said: “We foresaw what eventually happened in Ekiti State more than a year ago. Ekiti is also my state. I am from this town, Ikere-Ekiti.

    “God had asked me to warn Governor Fayose that he has a great deal of work to do to endear the hearts of Ekiti people to himself and also take care of certain human traits of his that could bring about his anointed candidate, Olusola’s defeat.

    “Olusola is just a victim of the nemesis that eventually caught up with Fayose because instead of the governor to listen to voice of reason and prophetic utterances we provided for him, he branded us fake prophets but now he has seen it.”

    Recall that Ayodele had predicted that Olusola of the PDP, though deserves to be the next governor of Ekiti State may not have it because of certain things Fayose needed to do which would only warm the hearts of Ekiti people towards him but also make his enemies not to triumph over him.

    The prophet specifically revealed that the choice of Fayemi and some other contenders in the May 12 primary of the APC would enable the party to clinch victory.

    Ayodele had predicted: “On the forthcoming election in Ekiti, PDP will lose. Kayode Fayemi will win if he listens to instructions, one of which is for him to concentrate on winning the hearts of the grassroots, and also watch his utterances that may offend much of Ekiti electorate.

    “For Fayose and his party’s candidate, Olusola, Fayose must humble himself and work very hard to please Ekiti people, otherwise he would make his candidate lose.

    “The forthcoming election in Ekiti State will be tough. It is only God that can make Fayose and his candidate to win that election. So, Fayemi should work hard, especially more with the grassroots and he will win if he does what I told him. But if he’s doing elitist politics, he will not win.”

     

  • NBC closure of radio station saved Ekiti from chaos, says CNPP

    …. Says Fayose’s action ‘treasonable’

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Ekiti State Chapter, has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged breach of Electoral Act during the collation of results of Saturday’s governorship poll.

    The group condemned Fayose for using the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) to declare the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola as ‘winner’ of the election while the coalition was ongoing.

    In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olu Akomolafe, the CNPP praised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for saving Ekiti from being thrown into chaos and anarchy.

    Read Also:APC elders to Fayemi: give Ekiti people good governance

    Rising from a meeting on Friday where the governorship election was reviewed, the CNPP also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing the conduct of free, fair and credible poll.

    “The NBC saved Ekiti State from being thrown into chaos and anarchy by shutting down the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State where the governor had gone on air to illegally declare the PDP candidate as winner of the poll.

    “This noble act of NBC stopped the incitement of the members of the public by the governor. Only God knows what would have happened thereafter but the NBC intervention saved the day,” Akomolafe said.

    The CNPP congratulated the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory in the July 14 governorship election.

    Describing Fayemi’s victory as well deserved, the body commended him for extending a hand of fellowship to other candidates with whom he contested the governorship seat.

    The, CNPP appealed to candidates who lost to Fayemi to give peace a chance and allow peace to reign in Ekiti.

    The group appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the incoming government to defray the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ benefits.

    It said the appeal became necessary owing to what it called “the huge debt of N117 million” incurred by the outgoing administration as recently released by the Debt Management office (DMO).

    The CNPP hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for prompt deployment of personnel and electoral materials to all the 2,195 polling units.

    The CNPP said INEC’s impartiality was largely responsible for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    In a related development, an interest group, the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has described Fayose’s action of pronouncing his deputy winner on air while collation was going on as “treasonable.”

    The CPPM Coordinator, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi, expressed dismay that “Fayose has repeatedly denigrated and brought public opprobrium upon the exalted office of the governor by his conduct and utterances.”

    Ekujumi said Fayose’s outburst on the radio on the night of the Election Day was full of malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against all institutions of state with the intent to provoke election violence.

    He said: “According to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the only body charged with the responsibility for the conduct and announcement of the results of elections in Nigeria is the electoral umpire, INEC or the states independent electoral commissions.

    “In tandem with his character of utter disdain and disrespect for the responsibility, decorum of office of the governor and violations of his oath of allegiance to the constitution of Nigeria, Mr. Ayodele Fayose usurped the constitutional powers of INEC by declaring the results of the 2018 Ekiti state gubernatorial election on the Ekiti state television and radio stations and has thus committed an act of treason by attempting to overthrow a legitimately elected government
    at the polls by his action.

    “We must however commend the National Broadcasting Commission (NBS) for acting swiftly and responsibly in shutting down the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti state (BSES) and its sister radio station which has become an instrument for disseminating malicious allegations and
    incitement to violence by outgoing governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state.

    “Thus, we are demanding the prosecution for treason of Fayose at the expiration of his tenure in office for attempting to unconstitutionally overthrow a legitimately elected government derived
    from the polls on Saturday 14th July, 2018, through his announcement of election result on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES).”

  • Olusola to challenge Fayemi’s victory in court

    …says Fayemi’s victory ‘most audacious robbery’

    Defeated People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Professor Kolapo Olusola, has vowed to challenge the victory of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

    Olusola described Fayemi’s victory as “the most audacious electoral robbery of our recent history.”

    Addressing a news conference in his office on Sunday, Olusola claimed that he won the election with more than 70 per cent of valid votes cast in the 16 council areas and vowed to reclaim his ‘mandate’ by judicial means.

    He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leveraged on federal might to pervert the electoral process, subvert the will of Ekiti people and viciously steal the ‘mandate’ freely given to him.

    Olusola said: “I therefore reject the falsified results being bandied by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which purportedly gave the election to the All Progressives Congress and its Candidate; Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

    “This is the most audacious electoral robbery of our recent history. It shall not stand. By the grace of Almighty God and your support, I will pursue and regain my mandate.

    “To rig this election, the APC leveraged on its well-advertised but patently obnoxious and anti-democratic “Federal might” to intimidate, harass, victimize, oppress, and brutalize PDP leaders, members, and the voting public all over Ekiti.

    “This brutal and barbaric process, which started well before the election, did not spare Gov. Ayo Fayose and me; as the whole world had seen and had condemned. It is quite unfortunate that the harassment has continued even after the election.

    “On Saturday, July 14th, the security agencies and INEC upped the ante, threw all caution to the wind, went back on their promises to be impartial and to conduct credible elections; they sided with APC and Fayemi to the chagrin of our party, myself, and the good people of Ekiti State.”

    Some of the alleged infractions, Olusola promised to challenge in court include the alleged indiscriminate arrest of our party leaders and agents and the harassment and brutalization of voters on a massive scale, especially in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere and the suburbs.

    Olusola also complained on alleged giving cover, tacit, as well as active support to thugs imported into Ekiti by APC to snatch ballot boxes, create confusion, cause mayhem, and drive away voters in PDP strongholds.

    He also promised to provide evidence on the alleged giving of cover to APC agents as they financially and openly induced voters and bought votes at polling stations.

    Olusola deplored alleged driving away our polling agents from collation centres and illegal seizure of documents and materials in their possession, among many other infractions.

    He added: “INEC on its own part reneged on its promise to have results counted, declared, and pasted on the wall of each polling station.

    “There was nowhere INEC transmitted results from the polling centres as earlier promised.

    “Ballot boxes were illegally moved to INEC offices while our agents were disallowed from following the process. INEC also allowed late voting by APC in hideouts when it was obvious the figures still would not add up after all the infractions mentioned above.

    Read also: Ekiti 2018: Ambode congratulates Fayemi

    “Still, when all of these shenanigans still failed to give them the figures they needed, they stopped the announcement of results ward-by-ward, caused a deliberate power outage at the collation centre, with no alternative source of power provided for a long time, and then wrote results in favour of APC and its candidate.

    “Without doubt, what has played out in Ekiti is the APC template for the 2019 General Election, where they have mapped out Rivers and Akwa Ibom as States they must capture at all costs, like they are now trying to do Ekiti.

    “It is now left for the opposition and opposition figures, most especially presidential hopefuls in 2019, to stand up to be counted in the struggle to roll back President Muhammadu Buhari’s creeping fascism, or throw in the towel without a fight.

    “This is not just a sad day for Ekiti but also for democracy in Nigeria. Nothing demonstrates this better than the gloom that has enveloped our dear State since they announced their convoluted result.”

     

  • Adeyeye: Ekiti people poorer under Fayose

    …Says Fayemi will give them succour

    Former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has berated Governor Ayo Fayose for alleged lack of vision and inflicting hardship and poverty on the people of Ekiti State.

    Adeyeye said Ekiti people are poorer under Fayose because the governor abandoned human capital development programmes of his immediate predecessor in office who is now the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Speaking on a special interview programme on Voice 89.9 FM, Ado-Ekiti, Adeyeye urged the electorate to reject Fayose’s anointed candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Adeyeye urged the electorate in Ekiti State to vote Fayemi, whom he said has a genuine vision to make life better for the people and develop the Fountain of Knowledge.

    He said a vote for Olusola is a vote for continuation of poverty, hardship, misery, hunger, lack of focus and placing Ekiti in Fayose’s grip after he might have left office.

    Adeyeye, who defected to the APC on May 29, accused Fayose of playing games with the state treasury and lack of accountability.

    The former minister said Fayose has failed to declare the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) despite various forms of taxes imposed on the people of the state.

    Those reeling under tax burden, according to Adeyeye include owners of small, medium and large scale businesses, artisans, civil servants, tertiary institution workers and pupils in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

    Read Also:Akeredolu to Fayose: you can’t stop me from election campaign in Ekiti

    According to Ise-Ekiti born politician, Fayose’s alleged draconian laws have driven investors away while many businesses are folding up on daily basis.

    He criticized alleged plots by the Fayose administration to poison the minds of Ekiti people against the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    Adeyeye assured teachers and civil servants of job security and better welfare packing saying Fayemi has no plan to sack them as being alleged by Fayose and Olusola.

    According to him, it was hypocritical for Fayose who claims to be a friend of workers and teachers to be owing them several arrears of salaries with a good number of them dying because of lack of money to take care of themselves.

    He said: “Fayose is a liar and a noise maker, Fayemi will never sack any civil servants in Ekiti, teacher, local government worker, he will even employ more workers into the civil service.

    “Fayose, who called himself a friend of workers, presently owes workers between six and nine months’ salary.

    “Fayemi paid workers regularly and he did not owe any workers salary during his first term. Fayose is a liar, he always lied against Fayemi.”

    Adeyeye disclosed that an APC government, when elected, have plans to revive the income generating business ventures allegedly abandoned by Fayose which he said would provide more jobs.

    Attesting to the competence of Fayemi to turn around the fortunes of Ekiti if elected, Adeyeye said his (Fayemi’s) second tenure would usher in peace, prosperity and banishing poverty from the state.

    Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said he was not surprised by Adeyeye’s outburst describing him as a spent force and a man still frustrated by his loss at the PDP primary to Olusola.

    Fayose boasted that Adeyeye and Fayemi will meet their waterloo at the July 14 governorship election describing the two APC men as “birds of the same father who cannot win election anywhere.”

    “The duo are birds of same feather, flocking together. They never won any credible election in their lives. So, they cannot appreciate credible election.

    “Has Fayemi ever won any election in Ekiti State? No. Even the primary election of the then Action Congress that preceded the 2007 general elections was manipulated to favour him.

    “By joining the APC, Adeyeye has taken a wrong step he would regret later. Adeyeye too has no history of winning election.

    “In 1999, as Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, he lost to PDP’s Gbenga Aluko. It was only Adeyeye that lost his senatorial election to a People’s Democratic Party candidate in the South West. In the primary of the Action Congress in 2006, he lost and in protest he defected to
    the PDP.

    “His profile has only been boosted with political appointments rather than election.

    “He was appointed the Chairman of Ekiti SUBEB under a PDP- led government. By God’s grace, I was instrumental to his appointment as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I later appointed him the Chairman of the Governing Council of Ekiti State University. I also got him the position of the National Publicity Secretary of our party, now he is claiming to be what he is not.”

  • Ekiti 2018: 40 candidates to battle for governorship seat

    …Two women among candidates published by INEC

    A total number of 40 candidates on the platforms of various political parties are to contest for the governorship seat of Ekiti State on July 14.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday published the names of candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by their parties.

    Their names were forwarded to the electoral umpire to beat the May 15 deadline for the receipt of candidates’ names.

    The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding the incumbent Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola while Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is running on the platform of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Two women are among the candidates jostling for the Ekiti governorship seat. They are: Mrs. Margaret Ilesanmi of Accord (A) and Olajumoke Saheed Democratic Alternative (DA).

    Read Also:Ekiti 2018: INEC promises not to compromise standard

    Published on the list are: Comrade Shola Omolola of Action Alliance (AA), Mr. Lawrence Ogundipe of Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Dr. Jide Ayenibiowo of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mr. Olaniyi Agboola of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Ayodele David Adesua of African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Also on the list are Otunba Segun Adewale of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mr. Lucas Arubuloye of AGA, Mr. Stephen Oribamise of All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Rev. Tunde Afe of Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Malam Saheed Jimoh of African People’s Alliance (APA), Mr. Tope Adebayo of Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) and Evangelist Gbenga Adekunle of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Prince Adegboye Ajayi is representing Better Nigeria People’s Party (BNPP), Mr. Olalekan Olanrewaju of Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Pastor Stephen Oladejo of Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Mr. Adewale Akinyele of GPN, Mr. Tosin Ajibare of Independent Democrats (ID) and Temitope Amuda of Kowa Party (KP).

    Former Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal of Labour Party (LP), Mr.Olabode Jegede of Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Mr. Sunday Balogun of Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP), Comrade Sunday Ogundana of National Conscience Party (NCP), Former Senator, Dr. Bode Olowoporoku Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (NDCP) and another ex-Deputy Governor, Chief Adebisi Omoyeni of PANDEF are on the ballot.

    The list also include Mr. Ayoyinka Dada of PDC, Mr. Goke Animasaun of Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), Mr. Stephen Obasanmi of Providence People’s Congress (PPC), Mr. Ebenezer Ogunsakin of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Mr. Akinloye Ayegbusi of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    The names of Dr. Olusegun Adeleye of United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr. Femi Bade-Gboyega of Unity Partyof Nigeria (UPN), Mr. Ayodeji Faokorede of Young Democratic Party  (YDP) and Mr. Temitope Omotayo of Young Progressive Party (YPP) were also listed as candidates.

  • Adeyeye dumps PDP, says he’s being wooed by five parties

    Barely 72 hours after losing the governorship ticket to Prof. Kolapo Olusola, former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has quit the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Adeyeye said he was moving to another party to stop the continuity agenda of Fayose which he said was not in the best interest of Ekiti people but to keep the state in perpetual slavery.

    He disclosed that since he lost the PDP primary to Fayose’s anointed candidate (Olusola), not less than five parties have approached him to come over and contest on their platform.

    The former PDP national spokesman promised to reveal the platform he would use to contest for the governorship “in the next forty hours.”

    Adeyeye spoke on Thursday shortly after holding a meeting with members of his campaign team, the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) at its headquarters along Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    He disclosed that he has been receiving solidarity messages from all parts of the world from people who were impressed with his performance at the PDP primary.

    The Ise-Ekiti prince said Fayose’s agenda was to do a third term in office by installing Olusola in a bid to perpetually corner Ekiti’s commonwealth.

    According to him, he would have won the PDP governorship primary “if not for the way Fayose intimidated delegates by forcing them to wear aso ebi to the venue.”

    Adeyeye condemned Fayose for standing up at a stage during the primary to monitor how delegates voted adding that he complained on the matter to the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Okowa, according to him, said there was nothing he could do about Fayose’s alleged intimidation of delegates inside the hall when he (Fayose) discovered that he (Adeyeye) was receiving more votes than earlier envisaged.

    He revealed that Fayose allegedly coerced the delegates to same on local government basis to monitor how they voted which intimidated many of them.

    Despite allegedly monitoring delegates, Adeyeye said many of the delegates voted against Olusola which enabled him (Adeyeye) to garner 771 votes.

    He claimed that the governor who had boasted that he (Adeyeye) would not get up to 50 votes was shocked that he got 771 votes which allegedly made him (Fayose) to embark on an investigation of those who voted against Olusola.

    Adeyeye accused Fayose of stealing Ekiti funds and using same to acquire property while majority of the people are wallowing in poverty.

    The former Minister claimed that Fayose has wasted N8 billion Ekiti funds on chartered flights in the last three and half years while the flyover project was jerked up from N5 billion to N17 billion.

    He said: “I am leaving the party because party can change but your state cannot change, party can change, your hometown cannot change.

    “I can’t be part of enslavement, I can’t be part of corruption, I can’t be part of those keeping our people in poverty but spend billions of Naira on chartered flights to Abuja every year but will be riding okada at home.

    “By seeking another platform, I want to tell him that he can’t be riding roughshod over Ekiti people people and he cannot turn Ekiti to one-man rule.

    “Our party leaders in Abuja were surprised at my performance at the primary despite the intimidation but I told them that I can change party, party may go into extinction but Ekiti will remain.

    “I will not, because of party affiliation, allow Ekiti to be destroyed. That is why we will take decision today on where we are going.

    “Since Tuesday, civil servants, teachers, local government workers have become sad. Ekiti has been enveloped in mourning.

    “What is paramount in my mind is to liberate Ekiti. Today, we will not reveal where we are going yet but where are no longer where we were (PDP).”

  • Imposition: Former Ekiti deputy governor Lawal quits PDP

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal, has joined the ever-increasing list of prominent politicians dumping the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The Nation learnt on Wednesday that Lawal’s exit was triggered by the decision of Governor Ayo Fayose to impose his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola as “the sole candidate” for the July 14 governorship poll.

    Lawal said the decision to quit the PDP was hinged on “the available fact that the list of delegates to vote at the primary has been doctored in favour of Olusola.”

    However, the ex-deputy governor did not reveal the political party he would join with his supporters ahead of the governorship poll.

    He has also resigned as non-Executive Director representing Ekiti State on the board of Odu’a Investment Limited, a business conglomerate owned by the six Southwest states.

    Lawal served as Deputy Governor between May 29, 2007 and October 15, 2010 under former Governor Segun Oni.

    The Ado-Ekiti born politician is the third deputy governor to leave PDP in the last one year over alleged autocracy, subversion of party constitution and imposition of candidates by Fayose.

    Former deputy governors who had left PDP are Chief Abiodun Aluko and Chief Adebisi Omoyeni, who had joined Mega Party of Nigeria and Social Democratic Party (SDP) to pursue their governorship ambition.

    In a letter dated April 3, 2018 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in Ward 9, Ado Ekiti, Mr. Tope Makanjuola , Lawal said his resignation took effect from the date he communicated same to the party.

    The letter entitled: ‘Withdrawal of Membership’ reads: “Reference to above, I wish to inform you that I, Sikiru Tae Lawal with membership number 2620001 registered at Ward 9, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State wish to withdraw my membership of your party, PDP effective from today, Tuesday, 3rd April 2018.”

    In the letter to the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Limited, a copy of which was sent to Governor Fayose, Lawal said: “I wish to notify you of my intention to resign my appointment as a non-executive Director representing Ekiti State on the board of Odu’a investment Company Limited with effect from 1st May, 2018.

    “I wish to thank the Ekiti State governor and the good people of Ekiti State for the opportunity given me to serve on the board. I also appreciate the cooperation of my colleagues and staff of Odu’a during my stay”, he stated.

    Lawal said he decided to take such a far reaching decision to afford him the opportunity to be able to defend his political interest and that of his people in another party.

    He added: “Whatever you do in politics, you do it for yourself and your people. It seems PDP no longer needs us, because the processes leading to our primary have been badly manipulated in favour of an aspirant.

    “The message was clear that there is no level playing ground again in our party and there is no point wasting time in a party that has lost its bearing, because the PDP is no longer the people’s choice, it has lost its goodwill due to pervasive impunity in the system.

    “The PDP supposed to be a democratic party, but this is not the case. I am not over ambitious but I have no choice than to leave when someone has said your services are no longer needed.”

    When asked the party he would adopt to contest for the election, Lawal said: “I am consulting with my people. I consulted them before taking this action and I believe we must come together to agree on the platform to be adopted.”

    Read Also: Fayose’s excesses will spell doom for PDP in Ekiti – Oni

  • Fayose: my deputy will succeed me

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said that his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola, will win  the July 14 governorship poll.

    He said his strong political ties with voters and his performance in office will pave the way for the victory of the democratic Party (PDP).

    The governor said his government has achieved so much in the area of education, Assuring that Olusola will not deviate from his policies.

    Fayose has anointed Olusola as his preferred candidate, which had pitched him against the former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Senator Biodun Olujimi and other contenders.

    The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital,  during an interaction with stakeholders in education sector, including members of the  Parents Teachers’ Association(PTA), teachers and officials of the Ministry of Education.

    Fayose, who presented Olusola to the stakeholders, said: “Deputy Governor Olusola’s victory will be easiest in the country’s political history, because I have not deviated from the ideals that people considered to bring me back in 2014.”

    He said Ekiti was ranked 35th when he came in the NECO examinations in 2014, adding that he has brought the state to the first position in 206 and 2017 through series of motivation  for teachers.

    He urged Olusola to cultivate the people and show that he can be another man of the people like him.

    He said Ekiti will not embrace fake politicians who cannot relay with them.

    Fayose added: “Let me say this. Your victory is not in the hands of politicians. I have even told those around me. It is in the hands of Ekiti people,  I mean the electorate. Ekiti people are very resolute people.

    If they say they don’t want you that is the end. If they like you, you will see it. If they hate you, they won’t hide it, so you can see that they like me with the way they have been relating with this government.

  • Ekiti: Four PDP guber aspirants rise against Fayose

    Ekiti: Four PDP guber aspirants rise against Fayose

    Four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Ekiti State have called on the national leadership of the party to disqualify Governor Ayo Fayose from playing any role in the primary election scheduled for April.

    They said the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus should disqualify Fayose having adopted his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, which they said amounted to the imposition on party leaders and members.

    The concerned aspirants at a news conference they addressed on Tuesday claimed that there was no time Olusola showed interest in ruling the state adding that “Fayose saw him as a weakling that can be manipulated against the interest of Ekiti people.”

    The four governorship hopefuls accused Fayose of unilateral imposition of Olusola, using state apparatus to promote him, intimidation and harassment of party members loyal to other aspirants, arbitrariness and one-man dictatorship.

    The alleged imposition of Olusola by Fayose, they said, has led to indifference and exodus of leaders and members expressing fear that the action may kill the party.

    The four aspirants who addressed reporters are former Minister of State for Works and immediate past PDP national spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; Senate Minority Whip and former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi; former Secretary to the State Government and former High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Dare Bejide and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi.

    They also called for the dissolution of the state PDP executive committee led by Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase for allegedly betraying its expected neutrality calling for the constitution of a caretaker committee in its stead.

    The aspirants called for a strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution in the process leading to the conduct of the primary and emergence of flag bearer for the July 14 governorship election.

    Adeyeye lampooned Fayose for allegedly carrying out persecution of other aspirants to “a ridiculous level” by ordering party members in all parts of the state to reject Christmas gifts they sent to them.

    Adeyeye said: “The candidate he (Fayose) has chosen for himself is not a person that can win the election in this state. When you display billboards and you are writing “Meet Your Next Governor” on them, you are putting yourself in the position of God and that is very annoying.

    “We will not leave the party for him because he sees himself as all-in-all but we know he is not all-in-all. The governor being an interested party must be put in his place and no advantage should be accorded (Olusola) Eleka.”

    Mrs. Olujimi said: “We have not come here to tear our party apart, all we are demanding for is a free and fair process that will lead to the emergence of a candidate.

    “Can anybody who wants to win the election for PDP wish us away? If anybody wants to wish us away in the party, the consequences will be grave.

    “The primary will ne held in few months and nothing has changed. This (Fayose) was the same man who opposed the use of consensus when he was contesting the last time.”

    Bejide said: “Section 50 (i), 50 (2) and 50 (2b) of the PDP constitution spells out how our candidate will emerge.

    “Imposition, impunity and arbitrary action of a sitting governor is definitely ruled out and we will surely enforce the provision of the law.

    “The governor and the State Working Committee has no role to play except they are co-opted by the national leadership.”

    Ajayi said: “The governor may claim that he has the right to support any aspirant of his choice but the deputy governor has not come out to say he wants to be governor.

    “What the deputy governor has said was that he wants to back to the university to continue lecturing. The govenor is forcing the Deputy Governor on us.

    “The so-called was a fraudulent act, an illegal action; I want to tell you that eighty percent of those working with him are with us. They are only working for the money they are earning.”