…as inauguration committee rolls out one week long programme
President Muhammadu Buhari will lead other eminent Nigerians to the inauguration of Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday.
Fayemi will be sworn in alongside the Deputy Governor-elect, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
Buhari, who had promised to attend Fayemi’s inauguration shortly after the latter won the All Progresse Congress (APC) primary, will be the Special Guest of Honour.
The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Inauguration Ceremonies, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference to herald to mark week long activities to usher Fayemi into office.
Oyebode revealed that others expected at the inauguration include governors, ministers, military and paramilitary top brass, traditional rulers, diplomats, clergymen, party leaders, civil society groups, artisans, market women and general public.
Speaking on the significance of Buhari’s personal attendance of Fayemi’s inauguration, Oyebode described the President as a “lover of Ekiti and father of the nation.”
He added that Fayemi served under Buhari as Minister and supervised the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, a sector that was dear to the heart of the President.
The Chairman of the Security Committee, Brig. -Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd), said the military will be part of the security arrangements adding that security operatives will be drafted from neighbouring states.
Events to make the milestone, according to Oyebode, commence on October 15 Inauguration Lecture to be delivered by eminent poet and literary icon, Prof. Niyi Osundare and Book Presentation, Photo Exhibition and presentation of prizes to Essay Competition winners.
Besides the swearing-in ceremony on October 16, reception will take place at the same venue, Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
Fayemi, after being inaugurated, will hold a Town Hall meeting at Ekiti North senatorial district at Odo Udo Primary School, Ido Ekiti in the morning of October 17 while that of Ekiti South will hold at Ereja Park, Ikere Ekiti in the afternoon.
On October 18, an interfaith thanksgiving service holds in Ado Ekiti in the morning to be followed by Ekiti Central town hall meeting at Aramoko Motor Park, Aramoko-Ekiti.
A Thanksgiving Jumat Service holds at Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque on October 19 while on October 20, Ekiti Arts, Culture and Talent Fair at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
Inauguration activities will be rounded off on October 21 with a Thanksgiving service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Old Garage.
On the same day, a reception will hold at Fayemi’s personal residence, Eyiyato Lodge, Isan-Ekiti.
Oyebode added: “It would be a new dawn on October 16 as Dr. Fayemi will be back on track to take the government back to the people again for accountable government that will also make Ekiti people active participants in the way they are governed.
“This knack for institutionalisation of participatory governance by Fayemi has reflected in the stakeholders forum commissioned by him where Ekiti people spoke I’m conference on their expectations from the government.
“Now, the journey for the actualisation of Ekiti dreams starts on October 16, 2018; the date fate has chosen for Ekiti State to recover her destiny and turn around her fortune.
“Suffice to say that this kind of historic and historical occasion held to celebrate the freedom of a people cannot go without pomp and drums with dignitaries in attendance to join the celebration.”
Tag: Fayemi
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Buhari, APC governors, ministers, others storm Ekiti on Tuesday for Fayemi’s inauguration
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Ekiti poll: APC elders ‘beg’ Oni to withdraw suit against Fayemi
The Elders’ Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has called on former Governor Segun Oni to withdraw the suit challenging the eligibility of the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to stand as a candidate in the last governorship election.
The body made the appeal at a meeting held on Wednesday in Igbara Odo, Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area, presided over by its Chairman, Chief George Akosile.
The issue formed the major topic of discussion at the APC Elders’ Forum meeting with members resolving that withdrawal of the case by Oni would be in interest of the party and Ekiti State.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting a copy of which was made available to reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the APC elders said the withdrawal of the case by Oni and his group will facilitate an out-of-court settlement.
In the communiqué signed by Akosile and the Forum’s Secretary, Chief Abiodun Ajayi, the group resolved to send a five-man delegation to Oni with a letter appealing for the withdrawal of the case.
The Ekiti APC Elders’ Forum also resolved to send a memo to Fayemi to reconcile the aggrieved (Oni) group with a view to withdrawing the case from court and their inclusion in the forthcoming administration.
The communiqué reads: “The Ekiti State APC Elders’ Forum at its meeting held on Wednesday, 29th August, 2018 under its Chairman, Asiwaju George Akosile at Igbara Odo Ekiti, having reviewed the various steps taken by the Forum on the above subject matter including the following:
*Sending of a five (5)-man delegation with a letter to Asiwaju Segun Oni appealing for the withdrawal of the case from the Court
*Invitation and meeting with the representatives of Asiwaju Segun Oni at Igbara Odo, Ekiti
*Sending a memo to the Governor-elect as to reconcile the aggrieved group with a view to withdrawing the case from Court and their inclusion in the scheme of things in the forthcoming administration in Ekiti State, from our findings, the Elders’ Forum is aware that the case is still pending in the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“We hereby wish to appeal to Asiwaju Segun Oni and his group to withdraw the case from the Federal High Court, Abuja as to facilitate an out-of-court settlement in the interest of the APC Family in Ekiti State, in particular and Nigeria in general.”
The former governor is urging the court to nullify Fayemi’s candidacy on grounds that he (Fayemi) did not resign from his position as Minister of Mines and Steel Development 30 days before the APC primary.
Fayemi won the APC governorship primary held on May 12 in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by polling a total of 941 votes beating Oni, who scored 481 votes to the second place and 31 other aspirants
Oni also dragged Fayemi to court on grounds that he was indicted by Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Ayo Fayose and handed a 10-year ban from holding public office.
Oni, as the Claimant/Applicant filed a suit before a Federal High Court, Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba. The suit is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/663/18.
Joined as Defendants/Respondents in the case are Dr. Fayemi, APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court on 20th August issued an ex parte order for substituted service on the defendants.
Justice Dimgba ordered: “Upon the Motion Ex Parte dated and filed on the 9th day of August, 2018 praying for the following reliefs:
*An order of substituted service of the Originating Summons and other processes in this suit on the 1st Defendant by substituted means, to wit; by delivering the processes to the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State, the 2nd Defendant, at the party’s secretariat, No 156, Ajilosun Street, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, or alternatively
*Service on the 1st Defendant by delivering of the said processes to the Administrative Officer of the JKF Centre, the operational office of the 1st Defendant.
Oni’s supporters said the court case was triggered by alleged non-inclusiveness, ostracisation, marginalization and demonstration of open hatred for them by Fayemi’s supporters.
They said the legal action would defend their rights, privileges and interests within the party alleging that they are suffering so much unwarranted abuse and humiliation in the party.
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Ekiti poll: Fayemi, APC hire 35 SANs, lawyers for defence against Eleka, PDP’s petition
The Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday filed his defence to the petition by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and outgoing Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.
The defence team, comprised of 35 lawyers, would be led by eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The SANs are Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Chief Akin Olujimi, Jelili Owonikoko, John Baiyeshea, Segun Ajibola, Mr Hakeem AfoIabi, Mr. Yomi Aliyu and Dr. Kayode Olatoke.
In the 2,558-page defence with over 3,000 documents as exhibits, Fayemi averred that he won the gubernatorial election of July 14, 2018 and urged the tribunal to dismiss Olusola’s petition for lacking in merit.
The team of lawyers armed with 3,500 exhibits and 1,009 witnesses were led to the tribunal by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria:
Addressing the press after filing the petition, Olatoke who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Olusola’s petition was a waste of time as it lacked substance and was sure that the case would be dismissed by the tribunal.
He explained further that Fayemi won fair and square in 12 out of the 16 local government areas of the state, while Olusola won in four.
Olatoke dismissed Olusola’s claim of over voting in some polling units as frivolous and baseless.
He said Eleka’s first ground in his petition was based on Fayose’s phantom indictment, which had been nullified and set aside by a competent court.
“The second ground of Eleka’s (Olusola) petition is alleged over voting, which is another false claim. In any case, the petition in itself is self-defeating.
“The third ground is on deliberate voiding of votes as alleged by Eleka but in actual fact, majority of the voided ballots were votes meant for Fayemi, while the fourth ground is on vote-buying which is baseless as it was, Eleka’s sponsor, Fayose that was guilty of this.
“Fayemi won convincingly based on his popularity,” Olatoke said.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
Recall that the governorship election in the state was held on July 14 2018 and INEC had since declare Fayemi the winner.
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Fayemi knocks Fayose for allegedly recruiting 2,000 new workers two months to handover
Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has condemned alleged massive recruitment of workers by Governor Ayo Fayose less than two months before leaving office.
Fayemi said “the last-minute employment of workers” was a booby trap to make life difficult for the incoming administration.
Fayose is expected to make way for Fayemi on October 16 when the governor-elect will be sworn in.
A statement on Thursday by the Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wole Olujobi, claimed that Fayose had just employed 600 teachers into the Teaching Service Commission, 400 staff into the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and 1,000 into the Ministry of Establishment.
The governor-elect berated Fayose for embarking on a last minute mass recruitment to deceive the unsuspecting victims and set a booby-trap for the incoming administration.
Noting that Fayose was deliberately creating obstacles for the new administration having not employed one person in nearly four years, the statement wondered why the governor embarked on mass recruitment in the last few days to the end of his term.
According to him, Fayose was playing on the intelligence of the people to paint a picture of a man of the masses in clear infraction on the law.
He said: “It is a grand deception and sheer wickedness for a governor that has refused to pay workers and pensioners for between six and 10 months to now turn around to recruit about 2,000 workers in a selective manner to favour his supporters only.”
Olujobi described Fayose’s recruitment as an act of desperation by a governor who never cared for the people but would always take advantage of them in a most dehumanising manner.
“Once again, we call on Ekiti people as we did in our recent press release to be wary of Fayose’s last minute illegal deals, transactions and mass recruitment which do not follow due process.
“Any transaction so done shall be reviewed by the incoming administration.”
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Governorship poll: Ekiti people in pains since INEC declared Fayemi winner – Fayose
Governor Ayo Fayose has claimed that the people of Ekiti State are in pain over the victory achieved by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 14 governorship election.
Fayose alleged that the APC stole the mandate belonging to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that the opposition cannot celebrate the victory.
He assured that the Election Petition Tribunal will give the mandate to the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, urging party faithful to remain calm as it launches a legal battle to claim the governorship seat from the APC.
Recall that the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was declared the governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Fayose who spoke on Sunday while hosting PDP aspirants for House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti urged party supporters to keep hope alive until the mandate is won in the court.
He also assured aspirants for state and federal legislative seats of level playing field ahead of primaries saying their destinies are tied to his own
Fayose said: “We will reclaim our mandate. Let me assure you that my destiny is tied to yours and I will continue to be committed to this cause until you retrieve you mandate.
“The journey of life is beyond today, we have seen today but no one has seen tomorrow. I believe God will return this mandate.
“I appreciate your courage. Life is full of challenges and gives opportunities. Certain things happen for you to know who your real friends are. It gives you the stamina to carry on also.
“Ekiti people and even your distractors will celebrate you. For me I have done in my best for the election, we won and I have no doubt that we will win the battle again.
“Keep hope alive for beyond you, Ekiti people out there are in pain. Go to town you will see that the people who stole the mandate cannot celebrate it as the common man there are more pained.
“Keep body soul and spirit alive because I am sure we will be victorious. It doesn’t matter how close anybody is with me, if he comes to tell you that Fayose has picked me, tell him that he is a fool. I expect everyone to sell himself to the people.
“They who had witnessed my second tenure in spite of all odds and doubts, will also live to witness Olusola’s return as governor of Ekiti. Contest this poll in your own honour. There is a level playing for everybody to contest. I assure you.
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Fayemi urges police to bring killers of APC chieftain to justice
The Media Office of Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has challenged security agencies to fish out the killers of Bunmi Ojo and prosecute them.
Ojo, a former Personal Assistant to ex-governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, was shot dead by unknown assailants at a football viewing centre around Ajitadidun area in Ado Ekiti on Friday night.
A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Wole Olujobi, expressed shock and sadness over Ojo’s murder, describing it as a sad commentary that shattered the relative peace the state had been enjoying after the July 14 governorship poll.
While commiserating with the family of the late politician, Fayemi charged security agencies to live up to their responsibility to get to the root of the killing and bring perpetrators to justice.
He said, “This is a sad development that should not be allowed to go away without getting to the root of this killing, but then the public must give security agencies a chance to do their job to get to the root of this sad development.
“Security agencies are enjoined to swing into action to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime to check the activities of criminals in Ekiti State.”
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Ekiti poll: Fayemi reacts to Eleka’s petition against his victory
The Ekiti Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has hailed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the July 14 governorship election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, for going to the tribunal in the resolution of the dispute arising from the Ekiti election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election.
But on Friday, the PDP’s candidate filed his petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, seeking to upturn the victory.
Olusola claimed he scored the majority lawful votes cast in the election, as according to him, the poll was marred by results falsification, ballot stuffing and ballot snatching.
A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, said filing the action was the right of the petitioner as it would strengthen democracy.
“Even though it is the petitioner’s right to seek legal redress in his complaint, it is a fact that the July 14 governorship election that returned Dr Kayode Fayemi is one of the best elections conducted by INEC in this country in which the will of the people was freely expressed.
“For this reason, Fayemi won one of the best, freest and fairest elections in Nigeria as attested to by the elite election monitoring group, Transition Monitoring Group, which rattled Governor Ayodele Fayose, who thereafter assembled fake observers’ group populated by PDP members who tried to discredit the exercise.
“We won the election in a very free and fair manner and we have no doubt that the tribunal will find this to be the case too in their final judgement.
“Judgement on the petition will be in accordance with the law and not to the terms of the petitioner, and so Eleka cannot be a judge in this case as he sought to do in his petition.
“Now that he has filed his petition, he should leave the tribunal to decide if he won or not and not to prejudge, as the petitioner tried to do in his complaint to the tribunal.”
The statement, however, faulted claim by the petitioner that APC members and Ekiti people, in general, did not celebrate Fayemi’s victory.
“Immediately results started trickling in, almost all towns and communities erupted in jubilation.
“In Ikere-Ekiti country home of the PDP candidate, there was blaring of horns and trumpets while all relaxation points were jam-packed by a deluge of revellers celebrating their freedom from a callous and greedy administration of PDP that reversed all the fortunes recorded by Fayemi’s administration between 2010 and 2014.”
Fayemi also faulted Olusola for complaining that the closure of Ekiti radio was part of measures to rig the election.
“It is baffling that Eleka, who conspired with Fayose to commit treason by illegally seizing a radio station to criminally announce a fake result, still had the temerity to complain that the closure of the station is part of measures to rig the election,” the statement added.
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JUST IN: PDP files petition against Fayemi’s victory
The Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 governorship election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, is presently at the election petition tribunal in Ado Ekiti to file his petition.
He is challenging the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Details later…
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October is too far, start probing me now, Fayose tells Fayemi
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Thursday challenged the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to begin probe of his government now instead of waiting till October 16 that he will be sworn in.
The governor advised the governor-elect to seek legitimacy for his election first rather than embarking on a vendetta mission that would consume him.
Fayose through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said this in his reaction to Fayemi’s threat.
“It is obvious that he will be consumed in his vendetta mission and rather than grandstanding, Fayemi should first seek legitimacy for his stolen mandate,” he said.
“He (Fayemi) should stop living in the world where threat of probe scares people because we in the government of Fayose are not afraid of victimisation and vendetta that Fayemi is obviously coming with.”
Fayose described Fayemi as a beneficiary of a stolen mandate who is afraid to even come to the open to celebrate his false victory.
“Even yesterday (Wednesday) when he went to collect the certificate of the mandate that was snatched and handed to him by the powers that be in Abuja, he had to be protected by police helicopter and hundreds of armed policemen. One wonders how he is going to rule the people they forced him on.”
“If Fayemi is on vendetta mission, which is obvious that he is, he will first destroy himself because like Ekiti and its people survived him during his first tenure, the people will outlive him this time too.”
Recall that the governor elect had on Thursday during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari hinted during his interview with state house correspondents that he will probe what transpired in the Fayose administration when he is sworn in as governor on October 16.
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Why I’ll probe Fayose, Eleka’s administration – Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi has declared that he will probe the administration of the outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after he was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, Fayemi who stated that there was need to remove this election from personalities, noted that the election that we fought on issues.
“ It will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years, what was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period”
He said his administration will want to know “ why we were we not able to pay salaries in the state, adding that “ these issues should be examined in the interest of good governance.
“It is not about probing Fayose, probing Eleka etc, it is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good government and how to do so will also involve looking at what transpired in the last four years.” he said
Fayemi who disclosed that he has started the process of putting the government together, said transition committee has already began “to look into the record of the state, its assets and liabilities adding that he expect the outgoing government to extend its hands of cooperation to the committee
“ We will engage also all of our professionals to ensure that we deliver good governance to Ekiti people. That is what they voted for and that is what we intend to give. So, basically, this three months will be used for this purpose”
“What sold us to the people is really the track records of our commitments to social investment, good government, transparency in government, extensive infrastructure and community involvement. These were the things.
“Everywhere we went during the campaign, we were able to show what we did for each community. All of our 132 communities were are projecting all of them and they knew that our government was regular in payment of salaries, support to a range of the weak and vulnerable in the society and that was really what sold us.
Fayemi denied allegations of voted buying, challenging anyone with evidence to make such evidence public.
“I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote buying and intimidation. In the place where l voted there was no vote buying anywhere.
“As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that, it is not our style.
He disclosed that his party the All Progressive Congress ( APC) won the election fair and square” adding that “it was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote buying. So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience”
Speaking on his program for the state, Fayemi declared that “ We always been interested that out people lived a decent life, a life without hunger, with social support and that is why we were paying social security benefits to the elderly, we provided the youth graduate scheme fir the recent graduates, provided support for the communities”
“For us, we never saw stomach infrastructure from any pedestrian manner that the current administration has lived it up to. For us, it is about total development of our people, human capital development in education, health care, in social services and infrastructure development. It is the services we focused in.
“We increased salaries three times so that people could put food on their table in four years. That was why we provided range of allowances fo4 the workers . There was a huge difference between what we did and the present administration with lack of salaries , heartless , despair and despondency. We are restoring the values and reclaiming our mandate.
The chairman of the APC Ekiti election committee Governor Atiku Bagudu commended the party leaders, including President Muhamamdu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo , the National leaders, stakeholders and Ekiti people for the success of the eclectic not
“We had a vey successful election, it was quite peaceful and Ekiti on the day the election results were declared, there was jubilation and we congratulate them. We thank INEC and the security despite the misconstrued reports, provided their best. I have seen many who said this is the most peaceful election we have had.”
“Let people campaign on issues and here we have a candidate who was humble and despite what happened before, he was humble to say in 2014 that if that was the wishes of Ekiti people, I will not go to court. Ekiti people have once again delivered their wishes and anyone who loves Ekiti should respect their wishes “ he said