Nigerian Gazette

Over two hundred members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) today defected to People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilupeju Ekiti, in Oye local government area, where the former governor, and present Minister of Mine and solid minerals Dr Kayode Fayemi hails from. Today's defection was the third with a week as many APC members had earlier defected to PDP in Igede Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Oye local government areas of the state Welcoming the deputy governor to Oye local government, the political leader in the local government Hon Salindo welcomed the Deputy Governor and reassured him that Oye local government will give Eleka block vote on the day of the party's Primary Also speaking, Hon Dr Samuel Omotoso, Member Ekiti state House of Assembly said the defection was also a sign that the PDP was poised to retain power, adding that the leadership quality of Hon Salido facilitated their sound resolution to stand firmly with Eleka congratulated the decampees for...

As the PDP governorship primary draws nearer, a former governorship aspirant under the Alliance for Democracy (AD),  and former State's Attorney-General, Barrister Obafemi Adewale has said that Prof Kolapo Olusola was the most qualified and experienced among those jostling for the PDP governorship ticket. The former governorship aspirant made this known during a meeting with all the PDP leaders in Ijero Ekiti.  Adewale said having been the deputy governor for more than three years, Prof Olusola has been equipped with needed experience for the task ahead, adding that the deputy governor  posses three major qualities that distinguish a man, which are Humility, Loyalty and Ability. "There are three things that stand out the Deputy Governor. God Himself in the book of Psalm 138 verse 6 said, 'Though the Lord is exalted, He takes note of the humble; but He knows the haughty from a distance.' Our own deputy governor, Kolapo Olusola is humble.  "In politics, lo...

The continuity agenda of the Ekiti State Governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose has received a major boost today, as delegates to the April's PDP primary election have declared their unalloyed support and loyalty for the governor and his continuity agenda. The delegates who converged at the Ijero local government Secretariat hall with enthusiasm warmly welcomed the deputy governor amidst funfair. Introducing the delegates to the Deputy Governor and his entourage, Hon Akinleye Adedayo a.k.a Dayo Maxima said Ijero local government belongs to PDP, and every vote on the day of primary election will be delivered to Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka. Speaking on behalf of PDP leaders' caucus, Pa Michael Omoleye said, Ijero people are not betrayers, adding that whosoever try to betray Fayose and Eleka project will sure meet his/her waterloo. Iyabo Olofinlade who spoke on behalf of the women folks said positive feedbacks from people around confirmed that the continuity agenda is a done d...

It was a carnival like event today in Igede Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government area of Ekiti state as over 200 APC members defected to the People's Democratic party, PDP. The decampees, who all adorned themselves with Aso-Ebi said their decision to join the ruling party in Ekiti was borne out of the outstanding performances and leadership qualities of governor Ayodele Fayose. Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Mrs Alade said despite the huge debt their party, APC bedeviled Ekiti with, Ekiti under Fayose is still hundred percentage better off than Ekiti under Fayemi. Mrs Alade said continuity is no doubt needed to guarantee sustainability of rapid multifaceted developments, and successes being witness in the state, most especially in Education sector, where the state is performing brilliantly, security provision, infrastructure development etc Welcoming the decampees to the People's Democratic Party, the Deputy Governor Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka said All...

A member of House of Representatives, Chief Thaddeus Aina has once again heaped praises on the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose for making him a member of the national assembly where he has been able to attend to the needs of the people. Chief Aina who was a Local Government Chairman during the first tenure of Gov. Fayose disclosed this to his media handlers on Sunday while discussing ongoing Ido-Ilogbo road project which was facilitated by him, saying the conspiracy behind the illegal impeachment that took place in Ekiti in 2006 affected him as unexplained and unexpected circumstances forced him out of office shortly after the governor was removed by political conspirators of the time. The lawmaker said he didn't know there would still be a time like this in his life, giving praise to God and Gov. Fayose. "All that I had achieved and will still achieve in politics shall be dedicated to God and Gov. Fayose because if not for God and the man He...

The Ekiti Grassroots Movement (EGM) has boasted that Professor Kolapo Olusola, the leading aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party will win the forthcoming governorship election which is slated for 14 July, 2018. Speaking through its State coordinator, Mr. Adesuyi Alex, the group said its findings across the Ten (10) local government areas it has taken its neighbour-to-neighbour outreach programme to confirmed the readiness of Ekiti people to the continuity agenda of the this administration under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose. EGM, a sociopolitical organization with over ten thousands youths across the sixteen local government of Ekiti State posited that Ekiti state has witnessed tremendous infrastructural developments which have positioned Eleka above other aspirants. “The development plans and other human development policies of Governor Fayose within three years of his administration should be continued; to guarantee a flourishing Ekiti that all of us will be proud...

Contrary to the claims of two ministers of President Muhammadu Buhari, Sahara Reporters can report that a handsome ransom was paid to Boko Haram to secure the release of Dapchi girls freed by the insurgents early Wednesday morning. Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as well as Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali had denied that ransom was paid to Boko Haram to secure the freedom of the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in their school in Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February. The two ministers said instead of paying a ransom, the federal government relied on 'backchannel negotiations" to ensure that the girls were released by Boko Haram. But investigations by Sahara Reporters revealed that the federal government not only made ransom payment to the insurgents, it also exchanged some Boko Haram prisoners in return for the Dapchi girls. However, the lie that no ransom was paid to secure the return of the Dapchi girls followed a consistent pattern of ...

Deji Ogunsakin March 21, 2018 "A politician… is a man who thinks of the next election; while the statesman thinks of the next generation". The quote above brings to mind the scenario that ensued during the tete-a-tete between His Excellency Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose the Apesin of Ado-Ekiti and Ewi in council on the recent demolition of houses within Ado-Ekiti metropolis. The passion with which the governor spoke about the need for Ado-Ekiti to wear a modern and cosmopolitan look is what struck me. A show of statesmanship and courage to stick with ideals that can promote peace, security, exquisite radiance and a beautiful ambience befitting of a capital city we can all call our own, a rare courage to do these things when a critical election is fast approaching should be applauded and not condemned. Elections come and go but legacies last forever for the benefit of all and sundry. Political jobbers don't care much about the future of the society they only live f...

Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose has approved 2017/2018 Bursary and Scholarship awards to the qualified students in the state. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jide Egunjobi made this known in a press statement released in his office yesterday. According to the Commissioner, Mr. Governor had approved the disbursement of scholarship and bursary awards to the qualified students in the state, saying verified students were proposed to the governor. He said 2, 805 students were qualified for bursary award across the 16 Local Government areas of the state at the rate of 10,000 per student which amounted to #28,050,000. The Commissioner explained that 184 Law Students had been screened and qualified for bursary awards at #150,000 per student which amounted to #27,600,000 while 450 undergraduate students had been screened and qualified for scholarship at #60,000 per students which amounted to #27,000,000. Egunjobi also explained that 15 Physic...

Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has said he intervened in the crisis that rocked the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti recently even though it is a federal institution because of the need to defend the interest of the people. According to the governor, corporate interest must be placed above personal or even political considerations. He stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday when members of the board and the management team of the hospital paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House. In a press release by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor also reiterated the call that the Federal Government should include nominees of host state governments in the boards and councils of federal institutions, saying that would facilitate flow of information and cooperation. "What is important is Nigeria and our people. Public interest is the ultimate and we must protect it. The Federal Government should find states important to inclu...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has told the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, to perish the thought of his party making any appreciable impact in the July 14, 2018 governorship election not to talk of winning, saying; “Ekiti is a no go area for APC.” State Chairman of the APC, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, who reacted to statement made in Ado Ekiti on Monday by the APC National Chairman that the forthcoming July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election was a must win for the party and that every available resources will be deployed to win the election, said “If Oyegun believes that the federal government instruments can be used to manipulate the election in favour of the APC, Ekiti people are well prepared to resist the party and its rigging plot.” Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Chief Oguntuase called on the International Community as well as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country to “focus thei...

Ekiti state deputy governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola Eleka has charged those who are well off in the society to as a matter of importance invest in the lives of our youth, saying affluence without meaningful impacts in the lives of the youth is meaningless. Eleka who dropped this admonition today at Usi Ekiti during the scholarship award program organized by Sunday Agbetuyi Foundation (SAFO) said if he, and the dignitaries on the high table had not gone to school to receive good education, they wouldn't have been who they are today, noting that everything good comes with good investment, most especially education. "Some bright and brilliant students could not further their education because they couldn't pay their school fees, some could have been great and important personalities today, but they aren't because they couldn't complete their education due to paucity of fund "Fingers are not equal, even in their inequality, they still aid and assist them...

19th March, 2018 Hon. T. A. Aina, representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, comprising Ido/Osi, Moba and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas of Ekiti State in the house of Representatives has added another feather of success to his cap as the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation presented him a certificate of credence in Abuja today. According to the spokesperson of the organisation, Prince Salih Yakubu "the body is a secret assessor that has thoroughly done a secret assessment of the legislator's projects and it's impacts on the lives of the people of the constituency. "The organisation dispatched a group of secret assessors who visited the locations of various projects facilitated by the honourable member which include motorised and hand pump boreholes at several locations in the constituency; solar street lights, construction of standard blocks of classrooms, consruction of skill acquisition centre, road construction among others". Princ...

As former President Olusegun Obasanjo moves to strategise for the 2019 elections and actualize his opposition against the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari, one of Obasanjo’s main men, Chief Segun Oni has given up till May this year for him to decide his full participation in the “Third Force” agenda. Chief Segun Oni is the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of those jostling to fly the party’s flag in the July 14, 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State. He was expected at the meeting Obasanjo held at Protea Hotel, located at 42/44 Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos with past Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Co-Chairmen of the Nigerian Intervention Movement, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), and Dr. Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; his Osun State counterpart, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a former Special Adviser to Obasanjo, who is the spokesman for the CNM, Mr....

The forthcoming July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti State has taken an interesting dimension as many beneficiaries of the federal government N-Power scheme in the State today, walked the streets of Ado Ekiti to express their support for the Deputy Governor, Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka ahead of the election. The N-Power beneficiaries, who were initially invited to a walk from Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to a popular event centre at Adebayo area of the town where a programme to be attended by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi was scheduled, were led by former Senior Special Assistant to Fayemi on Mobilisation, Hon. Tope Osatoyinbo. As early as 8:30am on Saturday, beneficiaries of the N-Power who were over 3,000 in number gathered in front of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital along Adebayo Road, for the Pro-Buhari and Pro-Fayose rallies. While a greater number of the N-Power beneficiaries displayed placards campaigning for Governor Ayodele...

As the Ekiti 2018 governorship election draws near, Ekiti State deputy Governor, prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka has charged PDP leaders to remain united for the continuity agenda. The charge came in a meeting held in the conference room of the deputy governor on Monday with some selected PDP leaders of various wards in Moba Local government. The meeting which was summoned at the instance of the deputy governor was meant to foster unity among Party leaders, and was also meant to charge all political appointees from the local government to return home and make themselves visible to their people. Eleka in his address to the party leaders said the meeting was convoked because it was important for the progress of the party, (PDP) " This meeting comes up because it is important for the progress of our party in Moba local government. I personally investigated some burning political matters, and I observed that some members of our party are not happy with the way politics in t...

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka has assured primary schools teachers of the state's readiness to offset the backlog of their unpaid salaries. The erudite scholar and Professor of Building Technology, who made this known on Friday, during the maiden 'Visit a School' tour of schools taken to St. Thomas' and St. Mary primary schools Irona, Ado Ekiti, said it was imperative and expedient to place primary schools teachers under state government in order to ensure uniformity in payments of salaries to teachers across board.  "We know you are facing challenges of non payment of salaries regularly, but I want to assure you, this is not going to be a problem that is going to last long by the grace of God," he assured.  The Deputy Governor said the inability of states to meet up with their responsibility was due to serious economic recession the APC led federal government plunged Nigeria into. He said; "Most states rely...

Ekiti State Former Commissioner for Finance,  Mr Dapo Kolawole has said that no state has been paid any refund on construction and rehabilitation of federal roads by the Federal Government.  Kolawole,  who was finance commissioner under the government of Dr Kayode Fayemi said in a statement issued on Wednesday, that the refund on roads by the Federal Government was not only due to Ekiti State but all the 36 (Thirty Six) States of the federation. He had filed a suit in Abeokuta,  Ogun State, seeking an order of the court to restrain the Federal Government from paying the N11bn refund due to Ekiti State on construction and rehabilitation of federal roads to the Governor Ayodele Fayose led government,  claiming that the roads were constructed by Fayemi's government. The statement read: "My attention has been drawn to the statement credited to Governor Ayodele Fayose during his “Meet the Your Governor” interview today February 28, 2018 that the case of libel and slander...

NMT Reporter 01/03/2018 Workers in Ekiti state have been assured of job security. The assurance was reaffirmed Wednesday by the Ekiti State deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka during an interactive meeting with some teachers' leaders from Ikere local government. Addressing the teachers, Prof Eleka said, "APC has an agenda, and the agenda is what is gradually manifesting. I can boldly say this because there was a time I had the opportunity of representing Mr Governor in one of the meetings. The APC governors were canvassing for retrenchment, downsizing. They said, "We are having challenges paying salaries, if you can not afford to pay salary, the best thing to do is to downsize." "Okorocha did it, Plateau state governor has done it. Kogi, and Kaduna etc. If you look at all this, you will not see any PDP state. In fact, my Governor came out then and told them that they are on their own, that as far as he's concerned, Ekiti case is different, ...