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Tag: Fayose

  • Fayose blasts Buhari for blaming Gaddafi over herdsmen attacks

    Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is becoming “an embarrasment” to Nigerians, after he blamed former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi for the herdsmen killings in the North.

    This was contained in a statement released on Thursday and signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.

    “It is embarrassingly shameful that the President has taken his blame game to the international level by blaming the dead for his clueslessness,” he said.

    The Governor also said it was becoming obvious that “very soon, President Buhari will blame those who elected him for his failure.”

    Fayose went on to ask how many Libyans were killed by herdsmen in the last three years.

    “Nigerians are accusing President Buhari and his government of complicity in the herdsmen killings and all that the President could do in response is to blame Gaddafi, who became history seven years ago? This is no doubt another international embarrassment from a President who knows nothing other than to blame people for his own failure.

    “Methinks those handling the President should see to it the he is prevented from speaking outside Nigeria without a prepared speech.

    “The other time, he went to Germany to embarrass Nigeria by referring to the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, as ‘President Michelle of West Germany,” the statement added.

  • Road projects: Residents tackle Fayose over demolition of shrines, houses

    Road projects: Residents tackle Fayose over demolition of shrines, houses

    There was pandemonium on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital as residents resisted the demolition of some shrines and houses by officials of the state government.

    The ongoing demolition of structures in Ado-Ekiti is part of the urban renewal policy of Governor Ayo Fayose’s administration.

    During the pandemonium, adherents of the deities at the shrines almost attacked men of the demolition squad but the intervention of armed security men deployed to the scene saved the day.

    The residents of neighbourhoods in the Oja Oba area insisted the shrines would never give way for the urban renewal exercise which they said was done in bad faith by the state government.

    They had mobilized themselves on sighting two bulldozers deployed to pull down the two shrines in the vicinity.

    The Ogun shrine and the Ejeye Oka Ere shrine are located in the court of the Arowa of Ado-Ekiti.

    Armed security men were mobilized to the scene and entrance to Ewi’s Palace, to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    The protest led to temporary suspension of work on the shrines and the sacred trees.

    But the locals remained at the scene raining curses and pouring invectives on the government for the action they described as “desecration of tradition which will have dire consequences.”

    The latest demolition operation which started on Thursday saw at least four corpses exhumed from where they were buried which angered the deceased’s family members.

    The bodies had been relocated elsewhere.

    About seven graves were marked for demolition which sparked tension with family members keeping vigil awaiting the demolition squad.

    A relation of one of the deceased who craved anonymity alleged that the compensation reportedly paid by the government did not cover the exhumation of the corpses and dismantling of the shrines.

    Houses, shops and makeshift structures adjacent the palace of the Ewi were brought down by government bulldozers on Thursday.

    A cold war erupted between the governor and the people of Ado-Ekiti over the latest demolition which led to a face-off with the Ewi, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe at his palace, about three weeks ago.

    The state government claimed it had paid a total of N400m as compensation to people whose houses were demolished so far in the ongoing demolition exercise in the state.

    The government, however, was silent on those whose properties were to be demolished in the latest exercise.

    Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Tayelolu Otitoju who disclosed this said the exercise did not affect Ado Ekiti alone,.

    According to him, more than 300 houses had so far been demolished under the exercise in Ado, Ikere, Efon Alaaye, Omuo, Ise, Emure and Ijero, among other major towns.

    He explained further that government embarked on the project to ease traffic congestion, adhere to urban policy expected of any civilized society especially Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Otitoju added that government would not compensate owners of demolished houses that were built on waterways and setbacks.

     

  • Fayose speaks on Buhari’s approval of $1bn, reveals how money will be spent

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has queried President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of $1 billion for the procurement of security equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

    He described it as pooling of public funds for the purpose of funding President Buhari’s reelection as well as the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

    The governor demanded to know whether the $1 billion was from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), adding that, “it will be illegal and against the principle of federalism that operates in Nigeria for the President, who is the head of just one of the federating units to approve spending of fund belonging to the three tiers of government without the consent of heads of other federating units.

    In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, and signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose asked: “When did the National Assembly approve the spending of the $1 billion? Or can the President spend $1 billion belonging to Nigerians without the approval of the National Assembly?”

    He said “Nigerians required explanations from the federal government as to where the $1 billion will be sourced because the President lacked power to unilaterally spend money from the Excess Crude Account.

    “Not even when there is a pending suit by Ekiti State Local Council Chairmen, challenging the powers the 36 state governors to purportedly execute the constitutional duty of the Federal government without the their consent.

    “Another question the federal government must answer is; which insurgency are they buying arms worth N370 billion to fight? Is it the same Boko Haram that they told Nigerians they completely defeated?

    “Since they said they have defeated Boko Haram, and later told Nigerians that they had ceasefire agreement with the insurgents, what else do they need a whopping sum of $1 billion (over N370 billion) for; if not to fund the 2019 elections?

    “Also, up till now, the government is yet to give satisfactory explanations as to the abduction and return of the Dapchi School Girls. With the hurried approval of $1 billion, is it not being reinforced that the Boko Haram insurgency has become a source of looting public fund by this government?

    “It is on record that Transparency International (TI) once said in its report that some top military officials in the country were feeding fat from the war against Boko Haram by creating fake contracts and laundering the proceeds in the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere.”

    The governor reiterated his challenge to the federal government to make available to Nigerians, how the money released by international donors for the fight against Boko Haram was spent.

    He said; “Like I have maintained, they are building a very huge financial war chest towards the 2019 elections and our treasury is daily being looted to achieve this. One of such means is the $1 billion approved by the President, purportedly for the procurement of arms to fight a Boko Haram insurgency they claimed to have defeated.”

  • Looters list: Buhari presiding over most corrupt govt in history – Fayose

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has faulted the list of alleged looters released by the Federal Government on Sunday.

    Fayose described the list as a “concocted and afterthought to cover the shame of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”

    The governor also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of presiding over “the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria and protecting looters of the country’s commonwealth.”

    He likened Buhari to a father who is protecting his children that are armed robbers but calling on security agents to arrest children of his neighbour for stealing meats from their mother’s pot,

    Fayose in a statement on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, insisted that the administration Buhari presides over lacks the moral justification to call some people “looters” alleging that his (Buhari’s) presidential nomination form was procured with looted cash.

    He reiterated that Nigerians were more interested in their welfare, security of their lives and physical development of the country than tales of concocted lists of corrupt Nigerians, who are only corrupt in the estimation of the government because they do not belong to the APC.

    Fayose said: “With the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, saying that corruption has become more endemic in Nigeria than it was in the last 16 years.

    “With the country moving 12 places below its rating, a honourable government would have stopped using fight against corruption as its major achievement and releasing names of people that are still under trial as looters just to cover up its failure.

    “The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) never pretended to Nigerians that it had corrupt people in its fold and the party never protected them. Today, the party has gone ahead to offload the corrupt elements into the APC and they were not only accepted gladly into the party, they were given prominent appointments by the President.”

    “For any lists of alleged looters to be credible, the President, who is protecting looters should be number one while those looters in his government should follow.

    “His nomination form was bought with proceeds of corruption and those who bought the form and financed his election were paid back with the return of all their seized properties, ministerial appointments and even disappearance of prosecution witnesses in EFCC cases.

    “A government that reinstated and promoted Abdullahi Maina, who was declared wanted for corrupt practices by the International Police Organisation, (INTERPOL) and dismissed in 2013 for alleged N2.1 billion pension fraud and used APC broom to sweep the $25 billion contracts scam in the NNPC under the carpet is nothing but a government of plunderers and that is the clear definition of Buhari’s government.

    “It was in this same government that the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole suspended the National Health Insurance Scheme Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf for alleged corruption and the President recalled him even without the knowledge of the Minister.

    “Up till today, nothing has happened to the probe panel on the allegedN500 million bribery said to have been paid to the President’s Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari by officials of MTN to influence government to discontinue its heavy stance on the $5 billion fine imposed on the company.

    “Therefore, no matter how hard they try now, they can no longer hoodwink Nigerians with their deceit of fight against corruption. Even APC Senator, Shehu Sani once said that the President uses insecticide to fight corruption involving his perceived political opponents, but use deodorant when it comes it affects his own men.”

  • God showed me Buhari will lose in 2019 – Fayose

    God showed me Buhari will lose in 2019 – Fayose

    The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Peter Fayose has said that God has showed him in a dream that President Muhammadu Buhari will not come back in office in 2019.

    He stated this at a political function in Aba, commercial city of Abia state on Monday.

    Fayose recalled that he warned Nigerians of a dream he earlier had that Buhari will not perform in office as President.

    “I am not a Pastor, but God has always shown me things through dreams. I dreamt before that God showed me that President Buhari will not perform. Did he perform?”

    “This time around I had a dream that President Muhammadu Buhari will not win in 2019,” Fayose said.

    The political function, which was meant for commissioning of a flyover road built by governor Okezie Ikpeazu at Aba, has all the three senators from the state in attendance as well as other political topnotchs in the state.

    The political function was aired live on AIT.

  • 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.”

     

  • [Video] Fayose takes ‘stomach infrastructure’ initiative to Enugu Market, buys carrot, cucumber

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose took his stomach infrastrucuture initiative to Enugu Market yesterday when he visited the state.

    He was received by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    After a meeting, the two leaders took a walk round town.

    Crowds cheered as the governors, under tight security, waved back in appreciation.

    In a video published on Saturday, Fayose was seen stopping at a market to buy carrot and satchet water.

    “How much is this carrot. Give me pure water to wash it”, he told the seller.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=138&v=IYnK8l10ct4

  • Ekiti 2018: Fayose orders removal of unauthorised posters, campaign billboards

    The Ekiti Government on Tuesday pulled down gubernatorial campaign billboards erected in any part of the state without official permission and payment of attached fees.

    The government said there was no going back on its resolve to put a stop to indiscriminate mounting of billboards and littering of the environment with posters and leaflets.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the exercise was not a witch-hunt.

    He stressed that the development was to maintain sanity in the sector through proper management and control.

    Ogunsuyi emphasised that the law regulating outdoor advertisement would henceforth apply to all persons, regardless of their political or religious affiliation.

    According to him, the defacement of both public and private infrastructure has become a source of concern with posters and billboards of products, upcoming events and political campaigns becoming not only an eyesore but a health hazard.

    He explained that no reasonable government would continue to tolerate the flagrant disregard for human health and hygiene.

    The commissioner expressed surprise that most of the culprits were opinion leaders and educated people who should know the danger of the “unwholesome act”.

    He said the State Signage and Advertising Agency had been mandated to prevent individuals, organisations, religious bodies and other stakeholders from defacing the environment in a bid to ensure cleanliness.

    He advised that placement of any billboard must henceforth be registered with the agency.

    Ogunsuyi solicited the support of all stakeholders for government’s effort at developing the state and protecting the overall interest of the people,

    He warned that all recalcitrant individuals and groups of people trying to test the resolve of government would be dealt with according to the law of the land.

    The government had warned that bill boards and campaign posters erected in unauthorised places would be pulled down.

  • Benue killings: Fayose lampoons Buhari’s ignorance about IGP’s disregard for his order

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose says he wonders if President Muhammadu Buhari “really knows anything” about happenings in the country.

    Fayose said this while reacting to Buhari’s comment on Monday that he was not aware Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, disobeyed his orders.

    Shortly after 73 persons were killed in January following clashes between farmers and herdsmen, Buhari asked Idris to relocate to Benue.

    But when he visited the state on Monday, the president was told that Idris did not spend up to 24 hours in the state.

    In a surprise, Buhari had said: “I’m not aware that the I-G did not spend 24 hours in the state as directed by me, I am getting to know in this meeting.”

    Writing via his Twitter handle, Fayose wondered why the president is learning about the IGP’s alleged disobedience two months after.

    He said the comment could mean the president is not aware of happenings around him, “not to talk about Nigeria”.

    Fayose wrote: “What manner of a President will give order to the IGP on January 9, only to be telling Nigerians on March 12 (2 months after) that he never knew that the IGP disobeyed his order?

    “Does this president really know anything about happenings around him, not to talk about Nigeria?”

  • 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.