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Tag: ekiti

  • N-Power: Police avert bloody clash between Buhari, Fayose’s supporters in Ekiti

    A timely intervention by the Police and other security agencies prevented what would have been a bloody clash between youths groups supporting President Muhammadu Buhari and those rooting for Governor Ayo Fayose on Saturday.

    The Buhari supporters who are beneficiaries of the Npower scheme had gathered at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) for walk to mark one year of the empowerment programme in the state.

    Some youths believed to have been mobilised from the Government House stormed the place singing the praises of Fayose and his ‘anointed’ candidate, Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    As the Npower beneficiaries displayed banners hailing Buhari for empowering them through the scheme, Fayose’s supporters displayed various placards hailing the governor and proclaiming support for Olusola ahead of the governorship poll.

    Tension mounted as youths on both sides exchanged words. The pro-Buhari youths described the action of pro-Fayose youths as “provocative.”

    But policemen and other security agents quickly intervened and dispersed the pro-Fayose youths and protected the pro-Buhari youths to the venue of their celebration at AB Hotel, along Olora Road.

    The scenario is seen as a dress rehearsal towards the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti expected to be a fierce battle between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justifying their action, a pro-Fayose youth, Ajibade Segun, said: “A few months ago, Governor, Fayose invited us to the Government House and promised those of us who are NPower beneficiaries in Ekiti that we would get permanent employment from the state government. This is why we are happy and we are now coming out to campaign for the Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola. We are are here supporting the continuity agenda of his Excellency Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and supporting Olusola Eleka for governor in July 14.

    “To the president we are saying that we don’t want just a temporary relief in the name of Npower from massive unemployment in Nigeria, we want permanent employment. We also want the number of beneficiaries of the Npower in Ekiti to be more than what we have presently. But most importantly, we want a permanent job like the governor has promised to give a good number of us, ” he said.

    A pro-Buhari youth and N-Power beneficiary, Adeosun Peter, said: “I want the people of Nigeria to know that we are not campaigning for Fayose or Olusola. It is Buhari that we know because he is the one who is feeding us. We have the banners bearing the image of Buhari and we are thanking him for this gesture.

    “N30,000 for each of the beneficiaries every month is not a small money. In twelve months , we know what that money amounts to. The beneficiaries of N-power in Ekiti in this first tranche are 3,400, and 8,337 will benefit in the second tranche, those of us here now are more than 3,000 that have come for accreditation today.

    “Buhari is our benefactor. We are standing for Buhari. We are thanking Buhari for what he has done and we also want him to make the job permanent.”

     

  • Lassa fever kills three in Ekiti

    Three persons have been confirmed dead in a fresh case of Lassa fever in Ekiti.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rotimi Ojo, made the disclosure in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

    He said that five out of the eight new suspected cases in the state tested negative while one was uncertain, with the last pending as at press time.

    Ojo added that the patient that tested positive and two others had passed away.

    The commissioner insisted that there was still no cause for alarm in the state as the government was taking proactive steps in its surveillance activities.

    He gave an assurance that the State Disease Control team had been activated while the process of sensitising the people with jingles and other communication media were ongoing.

    Ojo said that similar actions taken during the 2016 outbreak were successful, adding that the epidemic was controlled and the identified patient, who was properly managed, survived.

    He said that the three isolation centres located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital, Ado Ekiti and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, were still operational.

    The commissioner urged all stakeholders, including health practitioners, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as community and opinion leaders, to collaborate with the state government to prevent the spread of the disease.

    Ojo also advised residents of the state to avoid self-medication and keeping sick people at home, adding that any unusual increase in temperature or fever must be promptly reported to the nearest health facility.

    He further urged residents to embrace environmental sanitation practices and general cleanliness.

  • Buhari’s aide, Ojudu joins Ekiti guber race, says ‘bye bye to Fayose’s useless govt’

    Senator Babafemi Ojudu has promised to probe the ‘useless government’ of Ayo Fayose, if he is elected the governor of the state on 14 July 2018.

    Ojudu, who is the Special Adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari on Political Matters, made his intentions known at a rally held at Ado Ekiti, the State Capital, during which he formally declared his interest in the governorship race.

    Senator Ojudu will be contesting under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress, APC, party.

    The colourful occasion, which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd, had juju maestro, Saheed Osupa and Small Doctor on the bandstand dishing out songs to the delight of the crowd.

    While declaring his intention, Ojudu revealed his plans for the state and the residents.

    “Today, I declare my desire to be the next governor of our state. Today, I ask you to join me in bringing sense back to our Government House. Today, I ask you to join me in bringing better jobs to the state. I call on you indigenes and residents to join me aboard our train of progress. If you want a better life for your children, join us and let us make our state a pacesetter state. I know that the journey cannot be easy because we will have to climb mountains but our work will not be in vain”.

    He promised that his administration would give priority to education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, asking, “With the resources that this state is endowed with, why are we so poor? Why are we this broke and have become a laughing stock? Why has our land become a land of grief and pains? Can we continue like this? No, we cannot. This is the reason why I am telling you that the time has come to rescue our state from the oppressors and the time has come for the voices of our people to be heard.”

    Ojudu, who assured the people that the administration of the outgoing governor, Ayodele Fayose would be probed, stated that it is time to vote out corrupt leadership in the state saying, “Say bye bye to Fayose and his useless government”.

    The governorship aspirant promised that during his tenure if elected, he would not demolish houses, but respect the traditional rulers,and pay workers’ salary, as well as pay pensioners’ allowances, and make life better for the people.

    He further cautioned the sitting governor against any act of hooliganism, assuring that he would do anything to protect his supporters.

    Ojudu, born 27 March 1961, is a Nigerian journalist who was elected Senator for the Ekiti Central constituency of Ekiti State, Nigeria, in the April 2011 national elections. He ran on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

    He attended Ado Grammar School in Ado-Ekiti, between 1973 and 1977 after which he proceeded to to the University of Ife, Ile-Ife to study English. He also attended the University of Lagos between 1985 and 1986, where he studied for a Master’s degree in Political Science.

    Before venturing into the murky water of politics, he worked at Guardian Newspaper and Concord Newspapers where he rose from a reporter to the position of assistant editor.

    He later joined his professional friends to establish Independent Communications Network Limited, ICNL, parent body of many reputable titles in Nigeria including: The News Magazine, and PM News.

  • PDP crisis: David Mark reconciles Fayose, other warring parties in Ekiti

    Senator David Mark has reconciled members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State.

    The reconciliation came ahead of the party’s primary election.

    Former President of the Senate, Mark met the warring parties in Abuja on Friday.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Media Assistant to David Mark, in Abuja yesterday.

    The Senator David Mark led-reconciliation committee members included; Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure , Alhaji YusuF Ayitogo, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze and Dr. Eddy Olafeso (Secretary).

    The aspirants who have indicated interest for the governorship position under the PDP are: the current Deputy governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Amb. Dare Dejide and Barr Owoseni Ajayi.

    Reeling out the resolutions of the peace parley, the Secretary of the reconciliation committee, Dr. Eddy Olafeso said “the state governor Ayo Fayose and all the aspirants attended the meeting.”

    He added that “all the parties agreed to a free, fair and credible primary to elect a gubernatorial candidate for the July polls.”

    The statement added, “Olafeso said that governor Fayose pledged to work with any of the contestants who emerges at the primary.”

    He said that “nobody was persuaded or compelled to withdraw from the race.”

    Trouble started in Ekiti state ahead of the election when governor Fayose allegedly adopted his Deputy as his successor.

    Senator Mark had cautioned the gladiators that only peace, justice free and fair primary would guarantee success at the Ekiti state polls.

    The former Senate President appreciated the warring parties for their display of maturity and understanding towards the resolution of the dispute.

  • Murder: Court grants Ekiti monarch N5m bail

    An Ekiti State High Court on Friday granted the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, bail in the sum of N5 million.

    He is also expected to provide two sureties.

    The monarch has been in prison for about two months for alleged murder.

    Justice Abiodun Adesodun while ruling on the bail application filed by the Olukere said the application had merit and subsequently granted the defendant bail.

    Apart from the N5 million bail bonds to be fulfilled by the monarch, Justice Adesodun ruled that the two sureties must swear to affidavits and produce evidence of three years tax payment.

    The judge held that one of the sureties must produce evidence of land ownership within the jurisdiction of the court.

    Olukere’s lead counsel, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, said: “This ruling is symbolic and historic. Symbolic in the sense that it is in favour of justice and historic in the sense that it will enter into the judicial history of Ekiti.

    “We believe that will be done eventually in this case.”

    The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kolapo Kolade, left the court before Justice Adesodun finished delivering the ruling.

    Although the judge noted that the offences for which the Olukere was charged were grievous in nature, he held that the monarch was entitled to bail and resolved the request for bail in his favour.

  • Herdsman arraigned for killing pregnant woman in Ekiti

    The Department of States Service, (DSS) has arraigned two suspected herdsmen, Namajo Mohammadu, 32 and Abubakar Abase, 18 before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder and armed robbery.

    DAILY POST reported that a Tiv pregnant woman was hacked to death by suspected herdsmen at Orin community in Ekiti State.

    The Prosecution from the DSS, Mr Olaoluwa Olatunbosun told the court on Wednesday that the defendants committed the offense on Jan. 18 in Ido-Ekiti.

    Olatunbosun alleged that the defendants on the said date, while armed with guns and other offensive weapons, unlawfully murdered one pregnant Tiv woman, Mrs Muwaga Felix in her farm.

    He said the duo committed the offense of armed robbery against the people of the community.

    The offense is punishable under Section 516, 402 and 319 of the Criminal Code.

    The defendants were not represented by any counsel and their pleas were not taken as well.

    The prosecution urged the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody pending the conclusion of the investigations.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ropo Adegboye ordered that the defendants be kept in custody of the DSS till the end of the investigation.

  • Ekiti 2018: Olusola did not indicate interest; God directed me to pick him – Fayose

    Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, at a PDP rally on Monday in Ado Ekiti, declared that God directed him to support his Deputy, Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, to succeed him.

    “Olusola never said he wanted to be deputy governor, but God instructed me to pick him. I said we will go together after our tenure, but God said I should allow him to stay; that what I said was my own opinion,” Fayoe told the huge crowd.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former minister of state for works, Dayo Adeyeye, a serving senator, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, and Nigeria’s former envoy in Canada, Dare Bejide, had indicated interest in the PDP’s ticket for the July 14 governorship poll.

    The trio, along with a former Fayose aide and justice commissioner, Owoseeni Ajayi, had jointly rejected the adoption of Olusola as the PDP’s sole candidate and described the step as “pedestrian and undemocratic”.

    But Fayose, who spoke at the rally held at Okesa area, said that he was not rattled by the negative utterances hurled at him by the anti-Olusola aspirants.

    “The PDP has taken a position which we think is in the best interest of the state; we shall not be distracted by those opposed to this step,” he said.

    He expressed confidence that the PDP would win the July 14 election “by God’s grace”.

    Fayose said that the large turn out of people for the rally was a testimony of PDP’s popularity in Ekiti, and warned those thinking of rigging the election to perish that thought as the people would resist that.

    He said that his administration had achieved a lot in the areas of infrastructure.

    “We have improved on infrastructural development. We built a flyover at Oja Oba market and also built a new governor’s office. We have executed many projects,” he said.

    He dismissed allegations that his government had borrowed N56 billion, and declared that he had not borrowed “even a dime” since he came into office.

    “Let my opponents know that the elections are not won by propaganda. If they are sure of what they are saying, let them tell us the bank that gave the loan and also produce the papers leading to the transactions,” he said.

     

    NAN

  • That PDP showcase of Delta, Ekiti council polls, By Ehichioya Ezomon

    That PDP showcase of Delta, Ekiti council polls, By Ehichioya Ezomon

    By Ehichioya Ezomon

    Recent conduct of council polls in several states, particularly that of Delta on January 6, has evoked memories of the war-like zone the 2015 general elections, and re-runs thereafter assumed in some states. It appears the governors are using the elections as “combat rehearsals” for the main contests in 2019.

    But as legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti would say, “trouble sleep, yanga go wake am…,” the spokesman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, praised the Delta and Ekiti elections as reflecting the loss of goodwill by the All Progressives Congress since 2015, and challenged the party to “conduct free and fair council polls, in states it controls, in order to test its popularity.” So, Delta and Ekiti polls were “free and fair?” Wonders!

    Before Mr. Ologbondiyan’s labeling of the APC as “mortally afraid of going into any election, particularly at the grassroots” sinks, let’s remind him that winning council elections in Nigeria has nothing to do with “the goodwill of the people” or popularity; it’s all about who controls the levers of power, who appoints the election umpire, and how far the incumbent authority wants to deploy that power to its advantage.

    And especially in the run-up to the 2019 general elections, there’s desperation by state governors, across the political divide, to capture the grassroots, in hope of using same to fight their re-election (as is the case in Delta, Enugu and Akwa Ibom in 2019) or the election of their successors (in Ekiti (2018) and Kwara (2019)).

    An article, “As PDP overruns APC at Delta LG polls,” in the Delta State-owned The Pointer of Tuesday, January 13, summed up the above assumption thus: “The winning streak showed itself in Lagos, Kano and Cross River states and it would have been an aberration for Delta State to concede any councilorship seat to the opposing parties. It is a dog eat dog scenario. It has nothing to do with being a gentleman. You either crush or get crushed in the political battlefield.”

    Perhaps, fearing such a mindset, former Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei of the APC, challenged the PDP-led administration to “use the election as a test, and see how they are on the ground in Delta, by allowing materials for the election get to the field, elections held, results counted and let’s see how many seats PDP would clinch come Saturday.”

    And his word for the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC): “If they know they want to write results, they shouldn’t waste tax payers’ money in organizing an election.” This admonition came two days to the election. But what did we see on Election Day, as gleaned from “live updates” by the media? Unimaginable mayhem that culminated in bloodshed, and destruction of electoral materials and property. Check the headings below:

    * Delta Council poll: PDP boasts, vows to sweep all LGAs * Delta: Early violence, irregularities mar council polls (8.57 am) * Breaking News: Gunmen attack Ughelli DSIEC secretariat, set building ablaze, fire shots sporadically (9.09 am) * Returning officer for Delta LG election missing in Ayakoromo community (1.00 pm) * Delta LG Election latest: Hoodlums batter presiding officer in Burutu (2.02 pm) * Delta LG Election update: Election materials yet to arrive Riverine areas (2.45 pm) * Delta LG polls: Tragedy as DSIEC ad hoc staff killed (4.16 pm).

    However, a major complaint was alleged absence of “genuine,” but availability of “fake” result sheets. In a situation like this, what did Mr. Ologbondiyan expect from the election? It’s what the DSIEC announced: “Moon-slide victory” for the PDP. As results were trickling in, the APC slammed the election as a “sham” and called for its cancellation, and a re-run.

    The sore point in Delta was the failure to take Mr. Ochei’s bait and allow free, fair, and credible election. Prior to voting, the PDP had a head start of 57 unopposed councilorship seats. And with its incumbency factor, the party could still have got a “landslide” triumph without the violent bravado that characterized the poll.

    In Ekiti, given Governor Ayodele Fayose’s electoral theory of “100% of 100” (PDP must win all seats), the APC tactically avoided being rubbished by boycotting the EKSIEC-organized exercise. And the final result was a PDP roller coaster (100% of 100) over other parties.

    The council elections in Enugu and Akwa Ibom States did not fair better except in minimized violence. In Enugu, after the ENSIEC, exercising “illegal powers,” initially disqualified 73 APC candidates, but reinstated them on the eve of the election, the PDP scored “100% of 100,” with the APC crying foul. And in Akwa Ibom, the APC had to “withdraw” midway into the balloting “due to its flawed process.” Unprecedentedly, the AKISIEC announced the results through a three-paragraph statement, with the PDP clearing all seats.

    The shenanigans in council polls are not limited to the PDP, as the ruling APC in Kwara State secured 100 per cent chairmanship seats in the contest the KWASIEC organized, even as the PDP denounced the conclusion.

    As for the APC “deluding itself that it can still win elections in the country, as it did in 2015,” according to Mr. Ologbondiyan, how many of the elections conducted by the INEC did PDP, which has “gained Nigerians’ goodwill,” win in Edo, Ondo and Anambra States? He needs his memory refreshed: that the APC won Edo and Ondo, and came second to the APGA in Anambra. That’s the actual test of popularity!

    * Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • Herdsmen menace: Fayose talks tough, says visitors not wanted in Ekiti from 8pm

    Sequel to the recent killings in some part of the country especial in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, Governor Ayodele of Ekiti State on Wednesday hosted local hunters at the State House charging them not to entertain strangers after 8pm.

    Sounding the battle cry, the governor said intelligence report available to him revealed that “Bororo” herdsmen had surreptitiously entered the state.

    Fayose, who wore a camouflage shirt, a pair of trousers and a fez cap to match “to reflect the mood of the nation”, urged the hunters to go back home and defend the people.

    Apart from the local hunters, other residents who showed up at the forum were the revered farmers, popularly called the Agbekoya, vigilance groups and other residents from the Tiv, Idoma and Igede ethnic groups in Benue State.

    The event was highlighted by intermittent firing of gunshots, whistling and songs by the hunters.

    Fayose, who sympathised with the people of Benue State, where scores have been killed by suspected herdsmen, promised not to allow his people to be slain, as done in the Northcentral state.

    The governor claimed that the alleged plan to invade Ekiti was to make the state ungovernable for him ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    He said the situation in Benue and Taraba states showed that “President Buhari lacks the capacity to protect Nigerians”.

    Fayose said: “I have received letters that the Bororos have entered our reserves; they want to violate our laws. I want to call the attention of the Federal Government that they have come and wanted to kill men, women and kids in Ekiti. We will not allow that to happen here in Ekiti.

    “I want you all, our hunters, to go back today to protect your people. Be vigilant, open your eyes and make sure that everybody entering the state is screened.

    “No one in the guise of grazing should enter our land after 8 p.m. For our brothers who harbour criminals, tell them Ekiti is a no-go area. If your plan is to make this state ungovernable, you are wasting your time.

    “I have called this meeting for everyone to be vigilant. I will begin to support you now to secure Ekiti. Don’t let them take you by surprise; don’t allow them to take Ekiti by storm.

    “Go to the farms and keep vigil; don’t just entertain visitors who come in the night. Screen them. We don’t want visitors in our reserves at 8 p.m.”

    He added: “This (camouflage) dressing is done to charge our hunters to secure the state. I saw pictures of the killings (in Benue) and I wonder if those were human beings. I asked the question if people could be that wicked to kill human beings that way. They will find no peace. It is no tribal killings, but that of mindless people.

    “The blood of the departed will find those people and they won’t know peace. It is the duty of the Federal Government to protect its people. We are not protected.

    “We have never had it so bad. People must come to leadership with conscience. The Federal Government should have sent the Army and not the police.

    “Governor (Samuel) Ortom should fasten his belt and protect his people. Those seeking help in Abuja would not find it because Abuja also needs help. I sympathise with you (Benue) people; nobody will kill you. You are all safe here.”

    Fayose gave out telephone hot lines through which people who notice strange movements can call for urgent attention.

  • I won’t leave uncompleted projects behind – Fayose assures Ekiti residents

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has vowed not to leave any uncompleted projects behind by the time his tenure expires on October 15.

    Addressing the people of the state in a broadcast to mark the New Year on Monday, Fayose said he is working assiduously to complete the projects and inaugurate them for public use.

    Thanking the people of the state for their support since the commencement of his second tenure in office, the governor promised to embark on a thank-you tour to all parts of the state later in the year before he leaves office.

    He also promised to clear all the arrears of salaries and allowances owed civil servants before the expiry of his tenure.

    Fayose promised to ensure the continuity of the Urban Renewal progamme of his administration to give the state a face of modernity.

    He said: “I have opened up the horizon of Ekiti State from a rustic countryside to an emerging urban centre in the provisions of infrastructure notably in road construction, public buildings and socio -economic transformation generally.

    “During my first tenure in office, I started the dualization of the Ado-Ekiti major motor ways. My government, during this second term, has been able to extend the dualization of roads to most of our local government headquarters.

    “The icing on the cake is the construction of the multibillion Naira 1.3km Ado-Ekiti overhead carriage which now links Fajuyi park, flying over the Okesa market to the Ojumose road axial.

    “I am also happy to remark that the public building projects which we started during my first tenure in places like the Government House, the State Secretariat and the Trade Fair Arena, to mention but a few, have continued with a new Governor’s office, a befitting complex for the judiciary and a new residential apartment for the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    “My Government will complete these projects including the ultra-modern market in Ado-Ekiti.”

    On workers’ entitlements, he said: “In the New Year, we shall continue in that same style and redouble our efforts as I do not want to leave Ekiti Government House as debtor of salaries.

    “I am not also unmindful of the yearnings and aspirations of our people in other areas of government responsibilities but we can only do one thing at a time.

    “The insufficiency of today will turn out to be abundance of tomorrow if we can improve on our efforts and dedication.

    “Let us keep hope alive and continue to support government in all its endeavours.”

    Fayose also expressed gratitude to the opposition for putting government on its toes, saying the constitution guarantees freedom of expression.