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Tag: Fayose

  • Ekiti 2018: Buhari’s boys will unleash terror on Fayose – Dele Momodu

    Ekiti 2018: Buhari’s boys will unleash terror on Fayose – Dele Momodu

    Veteran journalist, Dele Monodu has predicted what will happen to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, few weeks to the end of his tenure.

    The media mogul alleged that Fayose, a critic of the current government, will find it tough because President Muhammadu Buhari’s “people” will unleash “terror and give him busy”.

    Momodu, who took to his Twitter handle, also noted that Fayose will find it very difficult to fund the governorship campaign of his deputy, Kolapo Olusoji.

    He also observed that the manner in which the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi emerged governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was an indication that he has “some war chest” behind him.

    He wrote: “I love the way we all overrate some and underrate others. Fayose will find it tough in the next few weeks.

    “He will find it hard to raise funds once he’s not the one contesting. His priority will change to self preservation. He won’t spend his personal savings on anyone right now.

    “The Buhari people will unleash terror on him & keep him busy. The people who are hailing him may not trust the Prof to carry on with the easy disposition & stomach infrastructure of Fayose.

    “The manner Fayemi won against all his attackers shows he has some war chests behind him.”

  • Okonjo-Iweaa speaks out on allegations that she tagged Amaechi, Fashola ‘scavengers’

    Former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has slammed those she termed “mischief-makers” for “putting words” in her mouth, saying she described former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Raji Fashola, now ministers, as scavengers.

    Okonjo-Iweala, who was also a former minister of finance during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was reacting to reports trending on the social media where she allegedly said ‘yesterday’s scavengers are today’s saints’.

    The two-time Minister of Finance was said to have stated this in her book: ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous’.

    However, Okonjo-Iweala, who was also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, said those were not her words.

    Okonjo-Iweala said: “At no point in my book, ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous’, did I say ‘yesterday’s scavengers are today’s saints’.

    “While I appreciate all the reviews and discourse the book is generating at home and abroad; mischief-makers who wish to add their comments should get their own copy of the book so that they can make intelligent contributions, rather than putting words in my mouth”.

    In the trending social media report, Okonjo-Iweala allegedly talked about the challenges she faced while trying to make the Nigerian Government save during the season of oil boom.

    The alleged report is reproduced below:

    “Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of Nigeria governors Forum took Jonathan government for trying to save for raining season including Fashola and most APC members, today they are the ones shouting that the PDP did not save, hypocrites and liars.

    “We then established a stabilization mechanism and opened an account for the oil surplus, which posted up to $22 billion.

    “In 2008, when prices fell from 148 to $ 38 a barrel, no one has heard of Nigeria because the country was able to tap into this fund. And that, I am very proud [of].

    “When I returned to the department in 2011, there remained only $4 billion on this account (because part of the money saved was used to fund the amnesty programme for Niger Delta Militants embarked upon by the Yar’adua government) while the price of oil was very high!

    “I tried again to put money aside. The PRESIDENT agreed, but the GOVERNORS did not accept.

    “I suffered a lot of attacks from them (and they took us to the court up to the supreme court) and now that the country would really need this account, these same people accuse me of not having saved!

    “If Nigeria had been more careful, we would not be here today. It hurts me. We have the mechanism, we had the experience, but we were prevented to act.

    “Unfortunately, the same scavengers of yesterday are the saints of today.”

    According to Okonjo-Iweala, who is now Senior Advisor Lazard Ltd, Board Chair Gavi; Board Member AfricanRiskCapacity, the said report is the handiwork of mischief-makers.

    Okonjo-Iweala urged the mischief-makers who wish to add their comments to get their own copy of the book so that they could make intelligent contributions, rather than putting words in her mouth.

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose picks Deji Ogunsakin as Eleka’s running mate

    Ekiti 2018: Fayose picks Deji Ogunsakin as Eleka’s running mate

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Friday afternoon picked the former Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, Ayodeji Kazeem Ogunsakin as the running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka.

    Fayose announced this at Ado-Ekiti. The candidature of Ogunsakin is expected to strengthen the party’s fortune at the governorship election coming up in July 2018.

    Ogunsakin 39, was born to the popular Bello Ogunsakin family of Ado-Ekiti. His late father, Alhaji B.S Ogunsakin was a Muslim leader, Businessman, and Commercial Farmer, and highly respected community leader.

    Deji Ogunsakin attended Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede -Ekiti, University of Ado-Ekiti (now EKSU) and worked as a banker before he joined politics. Ado-Ekiti indigenes adjudged him as one of the best preforming Chairman in the history of Ado-Ekiti Local Government.

  • [Update] Fayose’s man, Eleka defeats Adeyeye, wins PDP governorship primary in Ekiti

    [Update] Fayose’s man, Eleka defeats Adeyeye, wins PDP governorship primary in Ekiti

    Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka who is the the preferred candidate of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has emerged the overall winner at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary conducted in the state today.

    Olushola will represent PDP come the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

    With over 1000 votes out of the total 1968 votes cast, Kolapo Olusola, deputy governor of Ekiti state, polled 1,191 votes out of 1968 total numbers of voters.

    Olusola was declared winner at exactly 8.30 pm by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary Electoral Committee.

    Declaring the result, Okowa said: “We have come to the end of the congress and in the first instance, you are aware that just before voting started, Senator (Biodun) Olujimi stepped down and we have only Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    “It was definitely a keen competition, at the end, we had total number of 1,968 accredited voters and Prof. Kolapo Olusola scored 1,190 votes and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye scored 771 votes.

    “That brings the total valid votes to 1, 961 with seven votes voided; I want to also announce that both aspirants told us that they did accept the results.

    “Before Prince Adeyeye left, he told me that he was quite satisfied with the conduct of the primary. I must thank all members of the State Congress Committee as appointed by the National Working Committee.

    “I want to thank everybody for your patience for the success of this primary. I want to thank the representatives of INEC who came out in good numbers.

    “I want to thank the Press, because without you, the world will not hear about it. I must also thank agents of our aspirants.

    “I hereby return Prof. Kolapo Olusola as the duly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. I want to congratulate Prof. Kolapo Olusola for his victory at this gubernatorial state congress.”

    In his acceptance speech, Olusola appreciated everybody who contributed to the success of the PDP governorship primary extending his hand of fellowship to Adeyeye.

    Olusola said: “Today is historical, the victory of today has not only validated our loyalty to the party but it has also rekindled our trust in the democratic process.

    “I humbly and sincerely appreciate all our party stalwarts who have contributed to this victory, more importantly my mentor, a man with golden ideas who has stood solidly behind me, His Excellency, Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose.

    “I saluted the doggedness of my co-contestant, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye. I extend my hand of fellowship to you (Adeyeye). There is no victor, no vanquished.

    “Every hand must be on deck to economically develop Ekiti, the development witnessed under Governor Fayose must be sustained and we assure our people of transparent and inclusive governance.

    “We are aware of the intent of desperate interlopers to coerce Ekiti into economic slavery. Ekiti people are set and prepared to resist these interlopers loaded with evil intention. We are going to record another 16-0 victory.

    “I appreciate our dynamic delegates for making a good choice. I thank Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose for standing behind me daring all odds.”

  • BREAKING: Fayose’s candidate, Eleka emerges PDP gov flag bearer in Ekiti

    Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka who is the the preferred candidate of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has emerged the overall winner at the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary conducted in the state today.

    Olushola will represent PDP come the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

    With over 1000 votes out of the total 1968 votes cast, Kolapo Olusola, deputy governor of Ekiti state, polled 1,191 votes out of 1968 total numbers of voters.

    Olusola was declared winner at exactly 8.30 pm by Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Chairman of the Ekiti PDP Governorship Primary Electoral Committee.

    Declaring the result, Okowa said: “We have come to the end of the congress and in the first instance, you are aware that just before voting started, Senator (Biodun) Olujimi stepped down and we have only Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    “It was definitely a keen competition, at the end, we had total number of 1,968 accredited voters and Prof. Kolapo Olusola scored 1,190 votes and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye scored 771 votes.

    “That brings the total valid votes to 1, 961 with seven votes voided; I want to also announce that both aspirants told us that they did accept the results.

    “Before Prince Adeyeye left, he told me that he was quite satisfied with the conduct of the primary. I must thank all members of the State Congress Committee as appointed by the National Working Committee.

    “I want to thank everybody for your patience for the success of this primary. I want to thank the representatives of INEC who came out in good numbers.

    “I want to thank the Press, because without you, the world will not hear about it. I must also thank agents of our aspirants.

    “I hereby return Prof. Kolapo Olusola as the duly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the Ekiti State gubernatorial election. I want to congratulate Prof. Kolapo Olusola for his victory at this gubernatorial state congress.”

    In his acceptance speech, Olusola appreciated everybody who contributed to the success of the PDP governorship primary extending his hand of fellowship to Adeyeye.

    Olusola said: “Today is historical, the victory of today has not only validated our loyalty to the party but it has also rekindled our trust in the democratic process.

    “I humbly and sincerely appreciate all our party stalwarts who have contributed to this victory, more importantly my mentor, a man with golden ideas who has stood solidly behind me, His Excellency, Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose.

    “I saluted the doggedness of my co-contestant, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye. I extend my hand of fellowship to you (Adeyeye). There is no victor, no vanquished.

    “Every hand must be on deck to economically develop Ekiti, the development witnessed under Governor Fayose must be sustained and we assure our people of transparent and inclusive governance.

    “We are aware of the intent of desperate interlopers to coerce Ekiti into economic slavery. Ekiti people are set and prepared to resist these interlopers loaded with evil intention. We are going to record another 16-0 victory.

    “I appreciate our dynamic delegates for making a good choice. I thank Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose for standing behind me daring all odds.”

  • Ekiti PDP Primary: Fayose’s deputy, senator, others battle for delegates’ votes today

    No fewer than 2,132 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will participate in Tuesday’s governorship primary election for the July 14 election in Ekiti State.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known when he briefed newsmen on preparations for the primary in Abuja on Monday.

    Ologbondiyan said the number of delegates was made up of 1,585 statutory and 547 elected and national.

    He explained that the statutory delegates comprised party officials, current and past elected councillors, council chairman, former State Working Committee members, and members of National Assembly.

    The others, according to him, are former federal lawmakers, speakers, serving and former members of National Executive Committee, who are still members of the party and former governors.

    Ologbondiyan also disclosed that all the 51 appointees of the state governor who did not resign their appointments but contested delegate election and won at the Ward level had been dropped.

    He said that the delegates were dropped because they did not resign their appointments in line with the Constitution of the party, adding that PDP, as father of democracy was committed to always doing what was right.

    The spokesman disclosed that the Primary Election Committee for the state had Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as chairman, while the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, would chair the Appeal Committee.

    “All other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are also members of the Appeal Committee which will be sitting in Abuja on Thursday.’’

    He added that all three aspirants in the party had been cleared for the primary election by the party’s Screening Committee.

    The aspirants are incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Olusola Eleka; a senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Abiodun Olujimi and the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dayo Adeyeye.

    Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that the primary would be transparent and successful, saying, “So far, the three aspirants are happy with all arrangements.

    “The processes leading to the primary are very transparent and that is why there have not been any complaints from them.

    “The party is desirous of sticking to the rules and making sure that a popular candidate emerged,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan urged delegates to the primary and party members to continue in their resolve to work together to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.

    “The party commends all stakeholders, particularly the aspirants, for the spirit of sportsmanship being displayed in their commitment toward a peaceful, free and credible process.

    “The party further lauds the stakeholders in the state for keeping to their resolve to work together to ensure the victory of the party at the main election, irrespective of the outcome of the primary election.

    “The leadership of the party restates its stand to continue in the highest level of transparency and to ensure an all-inclusive playing ground for all aspirants in all the processes leading to the governorship primary.’’

    He advised PDP members in Ekiti to remain vigilant and give no chance to external forces, who might be used to attempt to disrupt the peace of the state.

     

  • Inconclusive primaries: Expect more violence from APC come 2019 – Fayose

    Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has mocked the disruption of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries by thugs allegedly loyal to one of the aspirants.

    The voting exercise in the governorship primaries of the APC in Ekiti was disrupted on Saturday by some protesters at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti, venue of the exercise.

    The protesters had alleged that attempts were being made by some party officials to compromise the process.

    Reacting, Fayose took to his Twitter handle to describe APC members as ”hypocrites and enemies of democracy” adding that the party is a house divided against itself.

    He wrote, ”The whole world can now see the so-called progressives. Ordinary primary election, the APC could not hold here in Ekiti. These people are hypocrites and enemies of democracy, masquerading as progressives.

    ”Their party is a house divided against itself, its center will never hold.

    ”If they could be this violent during their own primary election, won’t they do worse things during the election proper?

    ”INEC must be mindful of being used to manipulate the July 14 election in favour of APC. More so that they have by their conduct today, failed themselves.”

  • Fayose heads to S/Court to upturn EFCC’s freezing of his account

    Gov. Fayose of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose is headed to the Supreme Court, seeking to upturn the judgment of the Appeal Court in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, permitting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze his personal accounts.

    He has also filed a stay of execution of the judgement of the appeal court pending the determination of the case.

    The accounts were in June 2016 frozen by the EFCC after they were linked to the $2.2billion arms deal fraud which occurred at the office of National Security Adviser under the erstwhile government of Goodluck Jonathan.

    But the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti under the leadership of Taiwo Taiwo, unblocked the accounts after faulting the steps taken by the commission in barring Mr Fayose access to the accounts.

    Thursday’s Appeal Court judgment, granted the prayers of the EFCC, and overruled the judgment of the Federal High Court.

    The judge said although Mr Fayose enjoys constitutional immunity, his accounts, found to be linked to the proceeds of crime, were not covered by the said immunity.

    Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the counsel to Mr Fayose, Mike Ozekhome, said his client had appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court.

    “We have already appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court on Friday,” said Mr Ozekhome, who also confirmed that a motion for a stay of execution had also been filed.

    “The entire judgment of the Court of Appeal was perverse and did not take the facts and the law into consideration,” he said.

    “In fact, the judgment was against an earlier ruling of the same Court of Appeal two days ago, when the EFCC wanted to adduce further evidence on the matter.

  • Fayose will go to jail after tenure – Fayemi

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday vowed to jail Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, if reelected.

    He spoke during the declaration of intent to contest for Ekiti State governorship seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Fayose, he stated, will be made to account for the gross mismanagement of the state’s resources and allocation in the last four years.

    Fayemi, who was governor between October 2010 and October 2014, shocked the crowd by bringing out a red card from his pocket which he symbolically showed to Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the red card is an answer to the White Paper issued against him by the Fayose regime which indicted him of financial impropriety and banned him from holding public office for ten years.

    Traffic was grounded for about four hours in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where a massive crow turned out to hear Fayemi speak on his readiness to win Ekiti for APC in the July 14 governorship poll.

    Fayemi said the state has retrogressed sharply in the last four years he left office saying his bid to run again was motivated by the need to “rescue Ekiti people from bad governance, want, hunger and poverty.”

    He lamented the suffering of teachers, state civil servants, local government workers, and pensioners who are being owed backlog of arrears of salaries, allowances and benefits.

    According to him, Fayose owes core civil servants six months, local government workers ten months, community health workers ten months; pensioners, ten months; teachers, ten months and students, bursaries of over three years.

    Fayemi said Governor Ayo Fayose has no excuse not to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners benefits having collected two tranches of bailout funds, two tranches of Paris Club refund cash and Budget Support Funds for thirteen months.

    He also disclosed that latest records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) showed Fayose has borrowed N56 billion since coming to power in October 2014 with nothing appreciable to show for it.

    Fayemi vowed that Fayose would be brought to justice at the end of his tenure on how he has managed all the funds received from the federal government on behalf of the state.

    The former governor was joined by his wife, Bisi; former deputy governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. Eniola Ajayi and other officials who served in his administration to the APC secretariat where he officially informed party leaders of his intent to run.

    After declaring at the secretariat, Fayemi and his train moved to the nearby Jonathan African Church Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti where he addressed another crowd waiting for him on his agenda for the state.

    He said all APC members who had joined the governorship race are eminently qualified to occupy the state’s number one seat saying anyone who emerges as the flag bearer would be supported by all.

    The minister declared that everything humanly, constitutionally and legally possible would be done to win Ekiti State for APC at the next governorship election.

    Fayemi said: “When I come before you, it is with profound need for the unfinished business, we need to complete what we started, reclaim our land and restore our land.

    “Anywhere Ekiti people go, people subject us to questions that what is wrong with you Ekiti people?

    “We thought you are educated, we thought you are exposed, how do you come up with a character like this as governor?

    “It is time to put a stop to that; it is not about title, it is about sacrifice and whatever it will take us to free Ekiti from these criminal and rapacious brigands, we will do it.

    “We are here to inform Ekiti people that we will never abandon them. We will never hesitate to leave the comfort of Abuja. It is high time to come home and help our vulnerable people.”

    He added: “We will do everything that is required to win Ekiti back. They will accuse us of using federal might.

    “Although power belongs to God and he gives it to whoever He wishes, we will use bottom power, middle power. That is why they are jittery.”

    He described the White Paper of the Fayose administration which

    indicted him of financial impropriety and recommended him for a ten-year ban from holding public office as an “ordinary tissue paper.”

    The minister said: “Every time I move around, I see the suffering and penury our people are going through. I saw their pain and pangs of not knowing where the next meal will come from.

    “That is why we must tell the man who is shouting around that he has a White Paper, we have a red card for him and his party. We will ensure that he will end up in jail.”

    Fayemi described Fayose as a “pathological liar” for claiming that the debt he (Fayemi) left behind was responsible for his (Fayose’s)

    inability to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners benefits as and when due.

    The ex-governor explained that he took a N25 billion bond from the Capital Market in December 2011 with which he executed capital projects adding that he had repaid N14.5 billion at the time he left office in October 2014.

    Dismissing the opposition’s claim that he hates workers and teachers, Fayemi stressed that workers enjoyed most during his administration when they enjoyed salary increase three times.

    Apart from this, he said workers were sponsored to local and overseas seminars, teachers got Core Subjects Allowance, Rural Teachers Allowance and no worker was sacked.

    To party members, Fayemi said: “Whoever wins the primary, we will all support him. Don’t run down any aspirant. Let us desist from hate speech because all aspirants are promoting our party.

    “Party members should not use abusive and intemperate language and I want to suggest to our party leaders to come out with a code of conduct to check this.

    “If we don’t do that, we run the risk of damaging our brand (APC). You are free to market your aspirant and leave the judgment to our delegates.

    “They (delegates) want our party back in power and we must respect their judgment. Any aspirant who does not respect the rule, I will take him as an agent who does not want the good of our party.

     

  • Ekiti 2018: APC will use federal, state, local powers to defeat Fayose – Fayemi declares

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development and governorship hopeful in Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will deploy all resources at its disposal to wrestle power from incumbent, Governor Ayodele Fayose in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    He also threatened that once the PDP was roundly defeated, Governor Fayose would be prosecuted for mismanaging the economy of the state.

    Fayemi, a former governor of the state, spoke on Saturday at a rally in Ado Ekiti, where he declared his ambition to seek the APC ticket for the July 14 governorship election.

    He however assured that whoever emerged from the party’s primaries would be supported by other aspirants to ensure victory at the polls.

    Fayemi was governor between October 16, 2010 and October 15, 2014, after he was defeated by the incumbent.

    “They said the June 21, 2014 governorship poll was free, fair and credible, so that of July 14, 2018 too will be free, fair and transparent,” Fayemi said.

    “They will accuse us of so many things. They will accuse us of using federal might, but we will not care.

    “We will use local, state and federal powers to take over Ekiti from a rapacious and government being run by a brigand in Ekiti.”

    The rally, which was well attended by party supporters, created a traffic snarl that left motorists stranded for several hours.

    The minister who used the declaration to highlight his achievements during his tenure as governor, said he would want to bring back the “good days” and ensure the state was rescued from the “misrule” the current government had brought the state to.

    He, however, stressed the need for members of the APC to be united during and after the primaries.

    “Let me say this, I am a loyal party man and I am ready to support whoever the party fields as the candidate,” he assured.

    “Yes, I am holding an important position in this government through the grace of God and by the magnanimity of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, and I am satisfied with it if politics that I play is for me and my family alone.

    “But there is an unfinished business in our State. We have to complete and bring back those projects we initiated when we were in the saddle.

    “Again, politics to me, is not about title but about service and sacrifice”.

    On the rising acrimony among the APC aspirants, the Mr. Fayemi urged the State Working Committee to set out a code of ethics to regulate the conducts of every contestant, describing the tirades against his person as unacceptable.

    “It is absolutely unacceptable for aspirants to indulge in abuses, use intemperate languages against one another. If we do this, we will be damaging the brand the APC is known for,” he said.

    “Each contestant should sell his brand to the party delegates who will decide our fates.

    “We should be ready to support whoever the party picks as the candidate, provided the process is free, fair and transparent if truly we are loyal party men. I will see whoever fights after the primary as a mole who was sent to destroy our party.”

    The APC acting chairman, Kemi Olaleye, said the party would do its best to be transparent in the primary.

    “We are in a sensitive time and we need ourselves. No one can win election alone, so I beg of you to not use your writeups on our platforms to destroy our party,” she said.

    “Let us be united and know that we have only one enemy, which is Fayose for us to be able to win.

    “Our minister has been supportive of the party. We are proud of him for using his Ministerial position to help Ekiti and APC members.”