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Tag: Fayemi

  • JUST IN: Police arrest suspected abductors of Fayemi’s ex-commissioner

    JUST IN: Police arrest suspected abductors of Fayemi’s ex-commissioner

    Ekiti State Police Command, on Friday, said one of the suspected abductors of former Commissioner of Agriculture in the state; Mr. Olabode Folorunso had been arrested.

    Folorunso, who was kidnapped by some suspected Fulani herders men on Sunday, April 26, 2020, at Elemosho -Ekiti along Isan- Iludun Road in Oye Council, was left off the hook after eight days in captivity.

    Parading the suspect, Yakubu Aliyu, at the Command headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the police spokesman, ASP Sunday Abutu, said the suspect confessed to be a member of the kidnap syndicate that abducted Folorunso.

    He said, “During interrogation, Aliyu confessed to be a member of kidnap syndicate that kidnapped Mr. Folorunso Olabode, former Commissioner for Agriculture to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    “Other gang members mentioned include Dani, Gide, Danja, Bello, Sidi, Babi, Ali, and Wada. Both Wada and Bello Mohammed had earlier been arrested, prosecuted and now being imprisoned at the Ekiti State correctional centre”.

    “We have invited the former Commissioner for Agriculture to come and identify them. But the suspects said that all the faces of their victims were being covered and that it will be difficult for anyone to identify their faces.”

    Abutu added that a murder suspect, Ayo Lawal, who killed a motorcyclist simply identified as Isaac inside a farm at Odo Oro, Ikole Local Government Area of the state had also been arrested.

    Isaac was said to have conveyed Lawal, one Jimoh Ojo, Sule Abduallahi and one other person (name withheld) from Ikole to a farmstead at Odo Oro Ekiti, where he was murdered and the corpse buried.

    Abutu said two of the suspects had been arrested and confessed to the crime, adding that the police are on the trail of Abdullahi and Wonder, who had allegedly bolted with the motorbike to Kogi State.

    “Following a tip-off, the Command’s operatives had on 24th November 2020 arrested Ayo Lawal and Jimoh Ojo and they had made a confessional statement. We are assuring you that those who at large will be arrested soon”.

    Lawal who said he was prodded by one Abdullahi, who is now at large to commit the heinous crime, saying he partook to raise money to purchase yam tubers for the 2020l2021 planting season.

    “It was Abdullahi that said we should kill the deceased so that he could go to Okene, Kogi State and sell the motorbike with the intention to use my own share to buy yam tubers for the next year’s planting season.”

  • Fight for your rights but know when to pause, negotiate – Fayemi tells #EndSARS protesters

    Fight for your rights but know when to pause, negotiate – Fayemi tells #EndSARS protesters

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has commended #EndSARS protesters that “are beginning to fight for the change they want but advised that they should know when to pause and negotiate with the government.

    According to the former minister, the youths are the larger part of the country’s population, but they need to really rid themselves of a sense of entitlement.

    Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, therefore urged the campaigners and youths in the country to employ stealth rather than brigandage in pushing for social change.

    The governor said this at a virtual symposium organised by the Harvard Kenny School Alumni Association of Nigeria on Friday, with the theme, ‘The Africa Policy Dialogue Series: Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend for Peace, Security, and Productivity through Investments in Youth’.

    Fayemi said youths had a right to demand good governance and an end to police brutality.

    The governor said, “We do owe them (youths) a duty to begin to respond to those reasonable demands that they make for a good education which is a right not a privilege, for accountable governance, for human rights protection and I think this is something that the government must respond to.

    “They are the larger part of the population, but they need to really rid themselves of a sense of entitlement because nobody gives you these things freely, you have to fight for it, and I am glad that they are beginning to fight for it.

    “Ultimately, when they start knocking on that door, and they break the door open, they will be allowed in. But in breaking it open, they can do it by stealth rather than by brigandage.

    “Some of us have spent our time at the barricade. In the better time of my younger days, I was also a #EndSARS protester of sorts as you know. But I knew when to stop and when to start negotiating with those in power and authority and ultimately, we made some progress.”

  • El-Rufai, Fayemi, others speak as new book provokes thoughts on fixing Nigeria’s democracy without development

    El-Rufai, Fayemi, others speak as new book provokes thoughts on fixing Nigeria’s democracy without development

    A new book “Nigeria Democracy without Development: How to fix it”, brings to light some practical solutions to fixing some of the fundamental problems hindering the functionality of democracy in advancing Nigeria’s development.

    The new book which was launched in Abuja on Tuesday is authored by Dr Omano Edigheji, who is a Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

    Speaking during the launch of the book, Kaduna State governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, said it was paradoxical to have democracy without significant progress.

    El-Rufai said: “I think it is a book that tries to explain a paradox on how you could have democracy but without significant progress.

    “Most of the countries that we have seen register significant progress moving from low income to middle income in the last 59 years are states that have practised this.

    “What Dr Omano Edigheji has done is to articulate this argument for development to drive democracy and everything else in a compact written in this book.”
    ‘
    Contributing to the discourse, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State noted that sustenance of democracy will only be a mirage except the nation addresses issues of poverty, illiteracy and insurgency.

    According to Fayemi, who spoke during a book launch in Abuja, democracy can only be sustained when the people are happy and can foresee a future for themselves and their children.

    He, therefore, said it was expedient for the Federal Government to invest more on solving the nation’s developmental deficits for democracy to flourish.

    Represented by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi at the launch of the book titled, “Nigeria Democracy without Development: How to fix it”, Fayemi said only development can drive democracy.

    Fayemi faulted the nation’s thinking that democracy will drive development as misplaced, noting that rather development should be the focus to drive democracy.

    “I hold the view that to have a democratic state, we first and foremost must succeed as a developmental state because it is when we get rid of poverty, illiteracy and insurgency that you can talk of democracy.

    “It is only when these human calamities are taken away from a polity of a geographical location, that is the only time you can say that democracy can work.

    “That is why I believe that any government, including the current government, needs to invest more time, more thinking and will bring all hands on deck so that we can solve the problem of developmental deficits.

    “Unfortunately, we believe that democracy in our country will lead to development, and that has been the state of Nigeria since independence.

    “I think in my view, the development will deliver democracy and not the other way round because in an environment where you have poverty, lack of consensus, vision for the people and nation, it is difficult to rarely talk about democracy.

    “Without development, it is difficult to sustain democracy because democracy presupposes that people are interested in enforcing freedom and participation in governance through the contribution of representation. But how do you do this while the majority of the people are not even able to put food on their table?

    “Democracy can only be sustained by people who are happy, who can foresee a future for themselves and their children’s future, and because of the current stability they enjoy, they want to use the instrument of democracy to sustain that.

    However, Senator Uba Sani argued that despite the challenges of transparency and accountability, the country had made some progress.

    Sani faulted the premise that the nation had made little progress under a democracy.

    Sani said: “This is too sweeping. It is also incorrect. In all indices of development, we have made progress but huge challenges remain. There have been missed opportunities. Transparency and accountability is a major challenge.

    “I agree with the author that the inability of leaders to meet the expectations of the governed has created a wide gulf between the citizens and governments at all levels. A large segment of the population has disengaged from the electoral process. The situation is worrisome but it can be fixed.”

    Edigheji who is a pro-democracy activist and humanist recommended the adoption of the developmental state model which has been applied by East Asian countries to transform their economies from largely agrarian subsistence to achieve high levels of industrial development.

    He said: “A developmental state is an interventionist state. The state actively intervenes in the economy by regulating, guiding and controlling it.

    “For Nigeria to overcome these development and institutional deficits, it is proposed that democratic governments embrace developmentalism as an overarching national development agenda.

    “In effect, development needs to be carried out democratically, in the context of an overarching endogenous national development plan and anchored on a long term national development vision. Its key elements should consist of the promotion of human capital development, infrastructural development and industrialization.

    “Industrialization, as a central element of the ideology of development nationalism, will contribute to the structural transformation of the economy, create jobs and ultimately improve livelihoods. In this regard, agriculture-focused industrialization should be given due attention.

    “Also, the service sector needs to be anchored on a strong industrial sector for the former to make meaningful contributions to an inclusive economy. At the same time, pursuing high value-added services should be undertaken if the country is to reap the benefits of the digital age.

    “Surely, attention needs to be given to the manufacturing sector if Nigeria is to transit from a country of consumers to that of producers of finished goods.”

    Dr Innocent Chukwuma of Ford Foundation decried the role of godfatherism in Nigerian politics which he said may not be unconnected with some of the criteria given by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of political parties in 1998.

  • Boko Haram escapees operating as bandits in North-West, abductors in South-West –NGF

    Boko Haram escapees operating as bandits in North-West, abductors in South-West –NGF

    Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, says Boko Haram absconders from the North-East part of the country are infiltrating other parts of Nigeria as bandits and kidnappers.

    With the recent onslaught on 43 rice farmers in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents, some concerned persons have stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the North-East.

    However on Sunday, Fayemi said the insecurity in the country is not limited to Borno State or the North-East as there is a nexus between terrorists’ activities in the North-East and the banditry in the North-West as well as the kidnapping in the Southern part of the country.

    The Ekiti State governor, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme called for a holistic approach to ending menace.

    He said, “If a state of emergency were to be declared, I have no opinion on that, we haven’t discussed state of emergency as far as the Governors’ Forum is concerned. And that is not something that our colleagues who are at the receiving end of the insurgency has proposed to us. Governor (Babagana) Zulum or our North-East colleagues have not said anything about state of emergency.”

    Speaking further, Fayemi added: “Insurgency is not limited to Borno State. We will be making a mistake if we do not draw a correlation between what is going on in Borno State and what is happening in other parts of the country – banditry, kidnapping, militancy, they are inextricably intertwined. Some of the insurgents that escaped from the Boko Haram territory are the ones prosecuting the banditry in the North-West, some of them are involved in the kidnapping in the South-West.

    “ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) insurgents coming down from Sudan, from Niger (Republic) are involved in what is going on. How many states are you going to declare state of emergency on then? So, we must take a holistic view on this.”

    The governor said the state governments should be given more powers to handle the security of their domains, adding that anything that will help Nigerians overcome the insecurity in the country, the Federal Government and the National Assembly must do.

     

  • 2023: I’m not in support of zoning – Fayemi

    2023: I’m not in support of zoning – Fayemi

    Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said that he is not an advocate of zoning.

    Fayemi’s comment comes on the heels of various calls to have a President of Southeastern extraction.

    Many from the region have over the years felt marginalized and believe that 2023 is the year for a balance to be achieved in the Nigerian political sphere.

    Fayemi who made the remarks during an interview session on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics said he understands why those who feel marginalized are clamoring for a Southeast Presidency come 2023.

    The governor said he also understands that “in a country that is multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic, one of the equilibrating mechanisms is to ensure that those in leadership represent the mosaic that the country is”.

    He, however, stressed that he strongly is of the view that excellent Nigerians come from all parts of Nigeria, adding that there is no place where qualified and purpose-driven leaders cannot be found.

    Fayemi who was in charge of the APC primaries in 2014, said there is no reason why candidates from all parts of Nigeria will not partake in the primaries when the stage is set in 2023.

  • #EndSARS protest is wake up call for people in power – Fayemi

    #EndSARS protest is wake up call for people in power – Fayemi

    Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi has described the nationwide protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings as a cautionary tale for people in positions of responsibility.

    Fayemi said the protest was a wake-up call against the manner political office holders handled governance, noting it was high time government acted more decisively on how to better the lives of the masses.

    Speaking in a statewide broadcast on Friday, the Governor said the issues that triggered the EndSARS protests and its attendant violence were being addressed.

    “I fully understand and endorse the far-reaching message that the EndSARS protest articulated. It is generally a protest not just against brutality by police officers but a wakeup call to all of us in positions of responsibility and the entire citizenry to have a new direction in the manner we handle the governance of the nation.

    “It is a collective reminder to us that the urgency to act more decisively on how to improve the lot of our people is now. We must not let this seed to be emasculated in the crevice of violence that has attended the protest. This message has been well made. It is time for meaningful engagement,” he said.

    Fayemi appealed to residents and the Southwest geo-political zone to allow peace to reign and refrain from wanton destruction of lives and properties.

    He disclosed he met with President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on on Monday, 19th October on the needs for the nation’s leader to make a broadcast and careful handling of the protests, which degenerated into violence nationwide.

    He thanked the leadership of the protest movement for calling off the protest, saying “the import of the protest has been largely achieved.

    He urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, politicians and community leaders to use the weekend to further engage youths in their localities on the need to embrace peace.

    He commiserated with those who suffered losses during the orgy of violence visited on the state by miscreants who hijacked the peaceful EndSARS protests praying God “to give his administration the strength to bring joy and succour where there is sadness, despair and despondency.”

    He said: “While calm has been restored in most parts of the State, we have decided to watch development over the weekend before deciding on next steps.

    “It is for this reason that I have extended the 24-hour curfew on the State until 0600hrs on Monday, 26th October 2020.

    “This painful action was taken in the best interest of ourselves to ensure that the crisis does not escalate since criminals enjoy mimicking violent occurrences in other places. It is my hope that we will not have cause to extend the curfew any further.

    On the gains achieved by non-violent #EndSARS protest, the Governor said: “Now that the President has spoken acknowledging the demands and explaining what government is doing about them. I want to thank the leadership of the protest movement in Ekiti for calling off the protest. The import of the protest has been largely achieved.

    “The Federal Government has banned the SARS department in response to the five demands made by the EndSARS movement and those held in SARS detention centres have been released.

    “In Ekiti, as in many States of the Federation, a Judicial Panel of Enquiry to look into the cases of abuses, extra-judicial acts and general misconduct which led to the protest has been set up.

    “A restitution fund to compensate for the losses of the victims of such abuses is also established while other demands like increase in salaries of police officers is being attended to.”

  • Fayemi declares 24-hour curfew in Ekiti

    Fayemi declares 24-hour curfew in Ekiti

    Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, has declared a 24-hour curfew in the state due to the growing concern of how the #ENDSARS protest, which started as a peaceful protest against police brutality by youths, has been hijacked by some hoodlums.

    The governor ordered the effectiveness of the curfew from 10 pm on Tuesday (today).

    He said the hoodlums have capitalised on the ENDSARS protest to rape, assault, rob and extort innocent citizens across the State.

    The governor, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday titled, ‘Fayemi imposes 24-hour curfew on Ekiti, added that;

    “Government is concerned that if this state of affairs is allowed to continue unabated, it will lead to a breakdown of law and order thereby threatening the wellbeing of the people of Ekiti State.”

    “In the past 48 hours, there have been incidents of gang-rape, robberies, physical assaults on innocent people, looting and burning of a police station. These acts of brigandage are not in consonance with the legitimate aspirations of the protesters. It cannot be logical to seek to remedy impunity with impunity.

    “Government, therefore, cannot afford to watch a deliberate enthronement of anarchy by some bad elements who have hijacked the protest for some clandestine reasons. Consequently, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Fayemi, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew on all parts of the State starting from 10 pm tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

    “Only essential workers and service providers with valid means of identifications are allowed to move around during the period of the curfew. Any person found on the street that does not belong to this category would be promptly arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of Ekiti State.”

  • Buhari, Fayemi Felicitate with Frontline Journalist, Social Commentator, Tony Iyare @60

    Buhari, Fayemi Felicitate with Frontline Journalist, Social Commentator, Tony Iyare @60

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi have sent their warm greetings to frontline Journalist and Social Commentator, Mr Tony Iyare on his 60th birthday

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the President “joins family, friends and the media community to celebrate frontline journalist, Tony Iyare, as he hits the Diamond age October 1, 2020.”

    He noted that, “With more than three decades of reporting, editing, and public commentary tucked into his belt, Iyare also served as Special Adviser on Media to the then Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.”

    The President wishes him “many more decades of commitment and contribution to the profession he loves so much, praying for long life and prosperity.”

    Also in a statement he personally sent to the celebrant, Governor Fayemi, also his classmate at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), writes: “To my Comrade at 60. I heartily felicitate with ace journalist and international relations scholar, Tony Iyare on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

    “Having known Tony for over three decades, first as fellow graduate students at the University of Ife to our days in journalism and democracy activism, Tony has always been the voice of the voiceless, speaking truth to power in his unwavering commitment to building a better society.

    “Bisi and I join millions of family members, friends and well wishers to rejoice with Tony and wish him many healthy and prosperous years ahead,” he said.

    Mr Anthony Oluwatoyin Iyare, 60 was born on October 1, 1960 in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial where he has spent most of his life. He is a Consultant Writer at the Nigerian Democratic Report. More popularly known in the media simply as Tony Iyare, he’s also a Development Advocate.

    A renowned International Journalist, African Affairs Analyst, Trainer, Development Advocate and Human Rights Activist, Iyare is a former Group Editor with the Daily Times of Nigeria.

    Also a former Correspondent with The African Report, a bi-monthly magazine based in Paris and a former Visiting Member of the Editorial Board of Nigerian Compass, Iyare who has edited four national newspapers, has been a stringer for the high brow American newspaper, The New York Times since 1992.

    His over 30 years span in the media has seen him straddling the position of Foreign, Political and Features Editor in different publications.

    Apart from publishing the country’s pioneer online newspaper, The Gleaner News Online, as its Editor in Chief, Iyare has been an Editorial Consultant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2001. He is also a Consultant to many NGOs in Nigeria.

    He was at different times an Assistant Editor in Platform, Newswatch and Timesweek. Iyare was also Acting Editor, The Post Express, Editor, The Post Express, Midweek, Editor, National Interest, Sunday and Editor, Business Times.

    A Country Specialist to the Department of Political Science, Swarthmore College, Philadelphia, USA, he also anchored a Special Report on Nigeria for the Wall Street Journal in September 2001 and has contributed several pieces to Choices, a magazine of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    Iyare was Editor, Index on Corruption and also a Contributing Editor to Nigerian Review, a monthly magazine. He also edited the Nigeria Country Report on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2004.

    A former Columnist at The Punch and co-author of a book titled The 11 Day Siege: Gains and Challenges of Women’s Non Violent Struggles in Niger Delta, Iyare has contributed papers to several International Conferences which have been published in books and journals.

    He is a regular analyst on Conflict and Development Issues in Africa on Africa Independent Television (AIT), Nigeria’s biggest privately owned TV and Channels, also a TV with a strong bias for news.

    A widely travelled journalist, Iyare has since 1985 attended training programmes in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Germany, South Africa, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of Benin, and Guinea. He has also traversed a host of other countries.

    Also a member of the Media and Communications Committee of the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) of Vision 2020, his special area of work include Conflict & Development, Gender, Media, International Politics and other Social Issues.

    A graduate of Political Science and International Relations from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Iyare is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He also worked as Special Adviser, Media Affairs to Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole between October 15th, 2009 – November 11th, 2012.

    An active member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), he is also a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), World Investigative Journalists Association, World Environmental Journalists Association, Global Editors Network and the World Editors Forum (WEF)

  • Fayemi: ‘My purported suspension is a joke taken too far’

    Fayemi: ‘My purported suspension is a joke taken too far’

    Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has faulted his purported suspension as a member of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

    This was contained in a statement titled ‘Governor Fayemi’s purported suspension: A joke taken too far” on Friday.

    In the statement, Fayemi’s Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said those behind the governor’s suspension belonged to an “unknown group”.

    He said, “The All Progressives Congress as a party is governed by laws. Members of the group cannot hide under their recent suspension to announce a dubious suspension they lack the locus to handle.

    “While one would have dismissed their claims as another failed attempt to polarise the party in the state, it is also important to put it on record that the action of the group smacks of criminal impersonation as none of those who signed the purported suspension letter were executive members of the party at ward, local government or state level.

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    “The action is but a joke taken too far as they never had such power they want to arrogate to themselves while they were members of the party, much less now that they have been suspended.

    “Governor Fayemi however remains unperturbed by these antics of the suspended members.

    “Well-meaning members of the public as well as members of the APC are urged to disregard the news of the purported suspension as it only exists in the imagination of members of the group.

    “Fayemi remains the indisputable leader of the APC in the state.”

  • JUST IN: APC nullifies suspension of Fayemi, Ojudu, others

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has nullified the suspension of Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, presidential aide Senator Femi Ojudu and others.

    Fayemi and the Paul Omotosho-led State Executives Council were suspended for alleged anti-party activities by the State Executives Committee (SEC) on Friday.

    The development came barely 24 hours after the Omotosho-led executives suspended Ojudu and 10 others following report of the Patrick Ajigbolamu-led eight-man disciplinary committee set up to probe allegations of anti-party activities levelled against them.

    But in a statement on Friday by Deputy National Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena, APC said the suspensions were a “nullity.”

    Read Also: UPDATED: Ekiti APC crisis deepens as SEC suspends Fayemi, excos
    The party said: “The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported “suspension” of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi as well as an earlier reported “indefinite suspension” of some other party members in the state.

    “The actions are a nullity as the Party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported “suspensions”. We strongly advise all members to adhere to our Party constitution.

    “Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State.

    “In line with the mandate of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and the President’s admonition to party members to ensure and support ongoing amicable and rancour-free settlement of internal party disputes, we call on our esteemed party members and leaders in Ekiti State to be duly guided.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Architect Paul Omotosho-chaired APC Ekiti State Working Committee is the authentic, valid and duly recognised Executive as no factions or divisions exist in the State Chapter.”