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  • BREAKING: APC suspends Ekiti gov, Fayemi

    BREAKING: APC suspends Ekiti gov, Fayemi

    The State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has suspended Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    According to a statement released by the party on Friday, the governor was suspended due to “his numerous anti-party activities, especially his role in the recently concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.”

    The party claimed that five days before the Edo Election, Gov Fayemi hosted PDP big wig Mr. Femi Fani- Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekiti and planned a coup against Edo APC.

    Another allegation leveled against Governor Fayemi by the party was that he played a role in the gubernatorial election in Oyo State and supported the PDP candidate to defeat the APC candidate.

     

    See Full Statement by the party below…

     

    RE: DR. KAYODE FAYEMI ANTI – PARTY ACTIVITIES.

    After painstakingly reviewing the activities of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, we the authentic members of the Party in the State and Members of State Executive Committee per Section 12.8 of APC Constitution being duly constituted members of the National Convention of the Party, rose from its meeting of the 23rd September 2020 and resolved as follows:

     

    1. We note the continued illegalities in the name of the party, being conducted by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who as Governor is an ordinary member of the SEC and ought to have called meetings of this duly constituted body as a critical party organ, has failed to do so since his assumption of office in 2018.

    2. That the body currently masquerading as the elected members of the SEC or as the State Working Committee or appendages is unknown to us (as due statutory members of SEC) since no Ward Congress has taken place in Ekiti State APC since inception. All the SEC members listed in Section 12.8 of our constitution, (i) to (xxvii) as such are open positions since only duly officiated Ward congresses with INEC observation can fill these positions.

    3. As such, only the duly elected members of the APC in the state serving as Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker & Deputy Speaker as well as Principal Officers of the House and Members of the National Convention which includes all present and past National Assembly members today constitute the State SEC of our great party.

    4. To this end, in the absence of a properly organized body and meeting, and the continued insistence of the Governor to neglect his duty to initiate Ward Congresses or call a meeting of the SEC to deliberate upon pertinent issues, we as loyal members of our party and members of the State Executive Committee met to rescue our party from continued denigration and abuse, and resolved thus:

     

    a.That Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State is hereby suspended from the Party in view of his numerous anti-party activities especially his role in the recent concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.

    For five days prior to the Edo elections, Gov Fayemi hosted PDP big wig Mr. Femi Fani- Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekiti in the run-up to the Edo elections. It was here they perfected the coup against our party in Edo State. This is the same Fani-Kayode who daily abuses President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the APC as a party as well a vital section of our country. We have evidence of that meeting.

    Fani-Kayode specifically said he has gone on his tour as part of an effort between him and Fayemi to build a cross-party alliance and few hours after leaving Ekiti he fired a shot at Asiwaju Tinubu.

     

    1 (a) We also have evidence of celebration by his aides in the Ekiti government house and on social media.

    1(b) We also recall his role in the gubernatorial election in Oyo State where he supported the PDP candidate to defeat the APC candidate. A second tranche of money he sent to Gov Makinde in the election was intercepted by soldiers. The courier Mr Ayo Adegbite, his Chief Protocol Officer was arrested and he immediately disowned and announced his sack. Mr. Adegbite remains his aide till date.

    1(c) We also recall the support he provided a PDP candidate who challenged an APC Senator Prince Dayo Adeyeye in the Tribunal. He moved the judges to Kaduna to deliver judgement when he knew what he planned against his party was unpopular in Ekiti. We have more to tell on this betrayal and traitorous act of his. APC Senator is out of the Senate today and PDP is in. The relationship between Fayemi and Senator Olujimi of PDP, the beneficiary of his treachery is known to all in Ekiti State.

    We also recall his resort to court when the majority of party members nominated late Senator Abiola Ajimobi for Deputy National Chairman of the party. He fought Ajimobi till death.

    1(d) His fraternisation with the PDP in continuation of his bid for Vice Presidential candidate under the party ( if his bid for Presidential candidate in APC fails ) was masked by the commissioning of projects in Rivers State, a smokescreen for his consultation to woo the support of Governor Nyesom Wike last year.

     

    2.That the Paul Omotosho led faction of APC Executive in the State is hereby declared illegal and suspended from the Party for failure to emerge in accordance to the Constitution of the Party.

     

    3.That Paul Omotoso and his co-travellers’ refusal to respect court proceedings in which they are not only joined but appeared in court through the proceedings but defiantly disrespected the court contrary to the hallowed decision of the Supreme Court in OJUKWU vs GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE

     

    4.That Paul Omotosho faction of the executive should desist from parading themselves as the Executive Members of the Party in the State and that the Nigerian Police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public should take note.

     

    5.That Senator Tony Adeniyi, as a statutory member of the SEC going by our party’s constitution, was elected by all members attending as the Acting Chairman of the State Executive Committee in the absence of direction or directive from the National Body. He is as such the only one thus capable to call the SEC meeting as duly required by the constitution from henceforth.

     

    6.The committee seating also agreed to begin bridge-building across our members, statewide and nationally and set up a special intervention committee, APC Majeobaje Working Group, to be led by Prince Bamgboye Adegoroye, and six other individuals from across our great state. That working group will henceforth do the hard work of rebuilding APC in Ekiti state and prevent the oncoming annihilation of our party if we take no action at the upcoming polls.

     

    We note that the All Progressives Congress is a party of progressives, and must do things only in line with the law. The APC cannot act against its constitution or the law of the land, hence this intervention became urgently necessary and pertinent before marauders destroy the party permanently.

     

    It must be emphasized that with the increasingly discerning capacity and sophistication of our people we cannot afford to take them for granted. We must be able to sustain the relevance of our party in Ekiti State, hold our members and win new members. We are obligated to ensure that the light of our electoral prospect and fortune is not dimmed or extinguished.

     

    Signed:

    For Ekiti State APC State Executive Committee

    1. Senator Tony Adeniyi – Senator, Ekiti South Senatorial District ( 2011 – 2015 )
    1. Senator Babafemi Ojudu – Senator, Ekiti Central Senatorial District ( 2011 – 2015)
    1. Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Senator, Ekiti South Senatorial District ( 2019- ) Former Minister of Works.
    2. Congressman Bimbo Daramola, Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 – 2015 )
    3. Hon Robinson Ajiboye, Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 – 2015)
    4. Hon Oye Ojo, Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 – 2015 )
    5. Hon ( Dr.) Adewale Omirin – Hon Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly ( 2011 – 2015 )
    6. Hon Femi Adeleye, Member, Ekiti State House of Assembly, ( 2007 – 20011 )
  • BREAKING: Ekiti APC suspends Ojudu, 10 others indefinitely

    BREAKING: Ekiti APC suspends Ojudu, 10 others indefinitely

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has suspended the Special Adviser to the President on political matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and ten other big wigs of state chapter over alleged anti-party activities.

    The Nation gathered that the suspension followed the recommendation of a ten-member Disciplinary panel led by Hon. Patrick Ajigbolamu.

    The committee was set up by the state chapter in line with a directive from the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee, following the refusal of Ojudu and other members to comply with the directive to withdraw pending cases against the party from the court.

    The NEC had in its meeting of June 25, 2020 directed that all cases pending in courts should be withdrawn for speedy resolution of internal crises in the party.

    Ojudu and his allies had instituted a case challenging the process that produced the party’s exco members at the state, local government and ward level in the state.

    Ojudu and his people alleged that the names of those occupying party positions from the ward to the State level were not duly constituted through a legal and recognisable congress in the state.

    In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, the party stated that the disciplinary action was taken against Ojudu and others, for defying NEC.

    Others who were suspended alongside Ojudu include: Engr Ayo Ajibade, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, Hon Femi Adeleye, Bunmi Ogunleye, Akin Akomolafe, Bamigboye Adegoroye, Wole Oluyede, Olusoga Owoeye, Dele Afolabi, and Toyin Oluwasola.

    The statement read: “The State Executive Council of the Ekiti State chapter of APC has approved indefinite suspension of the following members with immediate effect from 23rd September, 2020.

    “The suspension is based on the recommendation of the investigative/disciplinary committee inaugurated by SEC to investigate the disobedience of certain members to the directive of NEC of 25th June, 2020, which directed members of the party not to institute any court action and to withdraw existing cases in courts.

    “The decision of SEC has been communicated to the Caretaker/extra ordinary convention planning committee of the party.”

    Reacting to his suspension, Senator Ojudu said the action of the party was a nullity and of no consequences, saying the party’s SWC lacks the power to suspend any member.

    “Let it be said that the only organ of the party that can try and suspend a member is the Ward. What they have done is clearly illegal. I remain a member of APC and a committed one at that. I am not like them traitors who claim to be APC and go work for PDP in Oyo and Edo”.

    Ojudu and affected other members had on Tuesday through their lawyer, A. A. Adeniyi, asked the court to restrain the party from probing, setting machinery in motion for their suspension or expulsion pending the determination of the substantive case.

    They argued that the decision of the Ekiti APC to set up a disciplinary committee to begin suspension or expulsion process was contemptuous of the existing case pending in court.

    Ojudu and others in a statement entitled: ‘Before our impending expulsion from APC’, by the group’s spokesperson, Prince Bamgboye Adegoroye, on Wednesday, said the party would crumble in Ekiti, if they are expelled as being allegedly hatched by Fayemi.

    “We are therefore calling our national leadership to stop Dr Kayode Fayemi from killing our party in Ekiti. Things are bad enough now for the party in the state. Allowing him to carry out our expulsion will only spell doom for our beloved APC.

    “Those to be tried and possibly expelled are former Senators ,former members of House of Representatives, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, a number of aspirants who contested against him and notable leaders of the party in the state.”

    Adegoroye alleged that Fayemi decided to clip their wings because they exhibited bravery and stood up against poor governance and government of exclusion being experienced in Ekiti.

    “We demanded of him the dissolution of the State Working Committee and product of illegality and institution of a legitimate executive in compliance with our party’s constitution. We intimated our party leaders of these concerns; the same problem which was present in his first term that led to our losing the state to PDP with ignominy in year 2014.

    “Earlier, he had done same thing to Chief Segun Oni. Oni served our party as Deputy National Chairman without blemish. Thinking that Oni may offer himself to be governor come 2022, he instigated his suspension and stampeded him out of the party.

    “We however insist we shall under no circumstance leave the party to join another. We were members of the party from foundation and also members of ACN, a legacy party that joined with others to form APC. We were in the other progressive parties, AD, AC that existed before and transformed to the present party.”

  • BREAKING: Kidnapped ex-US soldier regains freedom in Ekiti

    BREAKING: Kidnapped ex-US soldier regains freedom in Ekiti

    The abductors of a retired United States of America Army officer, Major Jide Ijadare, have set him free after four days in captivity.

    The gunmen, who invaded Ijadare’s palm oil factory along Ijan Ekiti-Ise Ekiti Road at Ijan in the Gbonyin Council area of Ekiti State, had shot a person dead at the factory before taking away the retired army officer and one other person on Tuesday.

    A family source, who made the disclosure in a telephone conversation, said, “My brother was released this afternoon around 4.15 pm and he has reunited with the family.”

    Although the family source did not clarify the amount paid to the kidnappers as ransom, he said, “the man regained his freedom after paying a ransom to the kidnappers after a series of negotiations.”

    He had on Wednesday disclosed that the abductors called a few hours after the kidnapping and demanded N20 million ransom.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Mr Sunday Abutu, who confirmed that the abductee had been freed, however, said the police were not aware of the payment of any ransom before Ijadare’s release.

    Abutu said, “We are not aware of any ransom paid. We believe he was released after the pressure the security agencies and local hunters piled up on the kidnappers by combing the surrounding bushes.”

  • JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap ex-US soldier, shoot another dead in Ekiti

    JUST IN: Gunmen kidnap ex-US soldier, shoot another dead in Ekiti

    A retired United States of America army officer, Major Jide Ijadare and one other have been kidnapped at his palm producing factory in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Council area of Ekiti State.

    It was gathered that the seven-gang arm-wielding attackers invaded the factory on Tuesday at about 2 pm during which a staff was shot dead.

    Eye witnesses said that the gunmen numbering seven, had invaded the factory, where they shot a staff in the course of making spirited efforts to kidnap the Ijan-born retired army officer and other victim.

    “They came into the factory with guns and started shooting sporadically. They shot one of the staff of the factory and killed him.

    “They thereafter dragged Major Ijadare and the other staff into the car and zoomed off to unknown destination”.

    The sources stated that the arm-wielding attackers escaped through Ise Ekiti road.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the development, said one person was killed during the abduction.

    “We can confirm to you that a retired US soldier was kidnapped around 2:00 pm Tuesday and one other.

    “One person was also killed during the attack at a factory in Ijan Ekiti where the two persons were kidnapped.

    “The police commissioner has drafted policemen to the place and we are combing the bushes where they escaped into.

    “The police is working with local hunters to work with us and ensure that these kidnappers are arrested and prosecuted.”

  • Gunmen murder Council Director in Ekiti

    Gunmen murder Council Director in Ekiti

    There was pandemonium on Monday at the Odo Ado Area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital following the killing of a Director in the Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Mr David Jejelowo by some unknown gunmen in the area.

    According to reports, the incident occurred at the wee hours of Monday at his residence located at Umesi street, Igirigiri Area of Ado-Ekiti metropolis.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Mr. Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident. He said the corpse has been evacuated to the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

    Abutu said the arm-wielding attackers had stormed the deceased’s residence around 1:00 am on Monday and shot him dead in his room.

    He said the police have not been able to ascertain the intention of the assailants, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo, had ordered an investigation.

    “I can confirm to you that the man named David Jejelowo was killed at his residence at Umesi street, Odo Ado area of Ado Ekiti early this morning (Monday) by assailants.

    “He was killed in his room by assailants whose intention we have not been able to establish as of now.

    “We are investigating and I believe our investigation will reveal whether it was a case of assassination or robbery.

    “We are assuring the public that the perpetrators shall be arrested and punished for their sins,” he said.

  • ‘Fayose remains PDP’s voice in South-West’

    ‘Fayose remains PDP’s voice in South-West’

    Mr Eddy Olafeso, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in South-West on Sunday said ex-Gov Ayodele Fayose remained a critical voice in the party’s affair in the region.

    Olafeso made the clarification in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with the party’s delegates over his Vice Chairmanship aspiration in the coming zonal Congress of the party.

    He was specifically addressing the Bisi Kolawole-led faction of the party, predominantly Fayose’s loyalists.

    It would be recalled that the party’s State congress held on Aug. 22, had produced two factional chairmen.

    Kolawole emerged from former Gov. Ayodele Fayose’s faction while Kehinde Odebunmi was elected from a parallel group loyal to Sen. Abiodun Olujimi.

    Fayose was also alleged to have declared Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State persona-non-grata in the state having being endorsed as the PDP leader in the South-West by Olujimi’s faction.

    Olafeso said Fayose should be respected for saving the party from total ruin when the ruling party allegedly plotted internal crisis to destroy it.

    According to him, Fayose towers above other leaders in the zone judging from his antecedents and contributions to the PDP’s electoral fortunes.

    Olafeso described the leadership tussle between Fayose and Gov Makinde of Oyo state as uncalled for and unwarranted, saying ex-Gov Fayose was a pathfinder and leading light of the PDP in the South-West.

    “He remains the voice of the PDP in the Southwest.

    “You can see that all the immediate past zonal executive members are represented here.

    “We are here to thank our leader, Ayodele Fayose for his support.

    “He (Fayose) is our leader. We believed in him. While others were panicking and fearful to criticize President Muhammadu Buhari, he was with us.

    “He remained the only voice in the wilderness.

    “Fayose rescued the PDP from those who wanted to ruin the party when the late Sen. Buruji Kashamu took the party to court.

    “It was Fayose as a governor that saved the party from total ruin.

    “We are very sure that we will reposition the PDP in this zone. We have visited other five states. No individual can appropriate the PDP in the Southwest .

    “Let us continue to support Fayose. We are very sure of victory and unity in the end,” Olafeso, a former Commissioner in Ondo State added.

    The Zonal Vice Chairmanship aspirant promised to initiate a peace process that would bring all the contending forces together in line with the dream of the PDP’s founding fathers.

    “We don’t have a major crisis, what we have is disagreement. Some leaders had even begun underground fence mending mission, but peace is a process.

    “We will lead with fairness and justice in partnership with other leaders to ensure that we take our rightful position at the national level,” he said.

    Bisi Kolawole, the PDP factional Chairman in Ekiti, in his response, promised that the state chapter of the party would support the return of Olafeso as zonal Vice Chairman.

  • Ekiti PDP adopts Makinde as party leader despite Fayose’s threat

    Ekiti PDP adopts Makinde as party leader despite Fayose’s threat

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), faction, loyal to Sen. Biodun Olujimi has restated its adoption of Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as the party’s Southwest zonal leader.

    The faction stated this in Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti-East Local Government Area on Thursday at the distribution of working tools to some constituents sponsored by Olujimi.

    Olujimi represents Ekiti South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

    Materials distributed were: 480 deep freezers, 250 sewing machines, 220 motorcycles, carrier machines, solar panels, 250 drying machines, 220 laptops, six carry-go tricycles, and cash.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the state PDP factional chairman, Mr Kehinde Odebunmi, was among the dignitaries at the event.

    The PDP faction described as an “empty threat” an alleged declaration by a former governor of Ekiti State that Makinde should not visit Ekiti, urging the Oyo state governor to ignore such threat.

    Sen. Olujimi in her remarks, at the presentation of the working tools, said the empowerment gesture was part of the efforts toward entrenching the dividend of democracy in the district.

    She maintained that Makinde remained the indisputable leader of the party in the Southwest zone and free to visit Ekiti at will.

    “I thank all of you for adopting Gov. Makinde as the leader of the party in the Southwest.

    “That was what we did when Ayodele Fayose was the only governor in the zone.

    “Former Gov. Fayose is a leader of the PDP and one of the many of the PDP leaders that we have in the Southwest.

    “He is not the only leader and former governor, there are many.

    “So, Gov. Makinde was adopted, because he is a decent, understanding and knowledgeable person.

    “The Southwest NASS caucus had adopted him.

    “What has Makinde done? He said we should wait and resolve this crisis before conducting the congresses because no individual can run Ekiti and deliver,” she said.

  • Ekiti cabinet shake-up: Fayemi drops two commissioners, demotes five others

    Ekiti cabinet shake-up: Fayemi drops two commissioners, demotes five others

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has relieved the Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade and its counterpart in Environment, Gbenga Agbeyo of their appointments.

    Fayemi appointed eight new members screened by the Funminiyi Afuye led-House of Assembly in a major cabinet reshuffle on Monday.

    The eight new commissioners were Barr. Akin Omole (Information); Dr Oyebanji Filani (Health); Mr Akin Oyebode (Finance and Economic Development); Prince Olabode Adetoyi (Agriculture and Food Security); Otunba Oladiran Adesua (Housing and Urban Development).

    Others included; Dr Olabimpe Aderiye (Education,); Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade (Women Affairs and Social Development); and Mrs. Iyabode Fakunle-Okhiemen (Environment and Natural Resources).

    Fayemi also approved the demotion of four commissioners and reassigned them new portfolios as Special Advisers.

    They are ex-commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Moji Fafure, (SA Gender Empowerment), former commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Olabode Folorunsho (SA Community Development), and ex-commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Olusoga Davies (SA Political Matters).

    Others include ex-commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayoola Owolabi (Investment and Trade) and ex-commissioner for Education, Folusho Daramola (SA Governor’s Office).

    The Governor also upgraded the Special Adviser on Trade and Investment, Mr Akintunde Oyebode to Commissioner for Finance and a former commissioner for information, Muyiwa Olumilua was moved to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industries.

    While swearing-in the eight newly appointed commissioners and seven Special Advisers at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, the governor said cabinet shakeup is to create a new energy for continued efficient and effective service delivery.

    He admonished them to avoid any form of distraction in the discharge of their duties, urging the new appointees to see their new public service roles as avenue to serve and not opportunity to enrich themselves.

    “We must continue to strengthen our government institutions, processes to ensure we are on course with our collective vision for a greater Ekiti. This vision was imparted into our hearts and minds by our forebears and we have done well to document it into the Ekiti Development Strategy which provide for short, medium and long term plans to develop our state.

    “We have recently carried out a midterm assessment of this administration and made a few changes in line with our performance and emerging reality towards refining our government agenda and strengthen our team. This account for the appointment of new people into various positions of authority in the state. It also account for the re-designation of some ministries and the creation of new bureaus.

    “To those coming on board, I encourage you to imbibe our ethos which sees public office as a privilege and an opportunity for service and not an occasion for self-aggrandizement or pecuniary gain, I trust you will ensure that your conduct and performance justify the confidence we have placed in you and you will be good ambassadors of the administration in your various constituencies.

    “These are very tough time indeed, our limited resources compared to our aspirations has been further complicated by the socio-economic challenged following the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

  • Covid-19: Two killed as Ekiti monarch moves to enforce ban on festival

    Covid-19: Two killed as Ekiti monarch moves to enforce ban on festival

    An attempt by the Onire of Ire-Ekiti in Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade, to enforce a government ban on traditional festivals due to the rampaging COVID-19 has led to violence in the community, resulting in the killing of two people.

    The state government had banned the celebration of traditional festivals across the state and directed traditional rulers to ensure strict compliance.

    The violence over the celebration of Ogun Onire festival, which had divided residents of the community into two factions, started on Sunday and continued on Monday during which the two persons were killed.

    Sources said that the victims were hit by stray bullets while making attempts to quell the raging crisis that paralysed business activities for most part of Monday.

    A vehicle belonging to the town’s monarch was also said to have been set ablaze by some irate youths who were not happy with stoppage of the festival.

    It was learnt that the crisis began when the monarch, in an attempt to enforce the order, was said to have told the Ogun adherents to shelve this year’s celebration, a directive which was reportedly rejected.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the violence, adding that two persons were killed.

    ” There has been crisis there since Sunday. We have been trying to quell it.

    ” Some groups of youths came to the palace and attacked the palace, destroyed things and burnt some vehicles that belonged to the king.

    “We got a distress call and had to mobilise policemen there and we were able to rescue the chiefs from the palace. We are still monitoring the situation.

    “The people were protesting and probably, disagreement from factions that were there led to the death of those persons. But investigations are on.

    ” Those who were involved in the act will be arrested and brought to book.

    “I can confirm that from my desk here, I have two dead and their bodies have been deposited in the morgue.

    ” We have been able to arrest one of the gang leaders and he is in our custody right now,” he said.

  • Fayemi orders random COVID-19 test for teachers, students

    Fayemi orders random COVID-19 test for teachers, students

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has directed a random sampling test for COVID-19 infection of students and teachers to assess their risk level ahead of resumption.

    The Governor expressed optimism that COVID-19 protocols would be strictly adhered to as SS3 class preparing for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will resume August 10, while resumption date for JSS 3 students and Primary 6 pupils would be announced later.

    Fayemi, in a state wide broadcast on Wednesday, disclosed that parents of the resuming students are to provide their wards with at least two face masks each as a prerequisite for admittance into their school premises.

    The governor who expressed concern over an increase in the rate of infection in the last one month in the state with 109 fresh cases, advised the people of the state to learn from his COVID-19 infection and accept the reality of the pandemic.

    The Governor recalled that Ekiti State had 43 positive cases with 28 treated and discharged while only 13 were active cases at the beginning of July but the state now has a total number of 152 cases at last count, an increase of 109 cases in one month.

    Fayemi attributed increase in cases to the random community testing exercise which was made possible with facilities at the state-owned laboratory and the proximity to States with high incidences of confirmed infections; noting that lessons have been learnt from his experience with his own infection and isolation for ten days.

    He said: “The fact that I could contract the virus in spite of the conscious effort to protect myself and people around me underscores my consistent warnings that we should never take things for granted. It also proves that indeed the virus is real and here, and that it is a respecter of no persons.

    “That is why I have always maintained that we cannot be vigilant enough until we have collectively come to the end of this pandemic. I therefore implore you, dear compatriots, to take extra measures to ensure that you keep yourself safe.

    “The second lesson to learn from my experience is that the virus is not a death sentence. The key weapons is early detection (through testing), isolation and treatment. From our experience, we have successfully treated and discharged 67 cases in Ekiti today while we still have about 83 active cases.”

    On reopening of worship centres, Fayemi said: “The Task Force leadership have told me that many religious worship centres are now ready and should be able to reopen for service according to the established protocols from August 14, 2020.

    “I want to appeal to religious centres as moral agents and institutions reputed for discipline. They must ensure the jointly agreed protocols are adhered to, to protect lives of worshipers as they go about their activities from August 14, 2020.

    “Key aspects of the protocols include but are not limited to the following: fumigation of the worship centres and their surroundings, maintenance of social distancing of six-feet apart during worship, provision of infrared thermometer, provision of hand sanitizers and ensuring the windows and doors are wide open.

    “The protocols also implicate that there should be no multiple services, and services must be concluded within two hours while children below 12 years of age and elderly people above 65 are not allowed to attend services or Salat until further notice. An attendance register must be provided by each worship centre to record attendance.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, only Friday Jumat for Muslims, Saturday Sabbath for Adventists and Sunday Services for other Christian denominations are allowed. Weekly and vigil services are not to hold in the meanwhile. Similarly all traditional worships of festivals that demand large gathering of devotees are suspended until further notice.”