Ekiti North Leaders Move To Save Party From Segun Oni's Imposition

By Abasi-Femi Oguntayo & Idowu Adebomi

Against the backdrop of the statement made by the Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi that he has no anointed candidates, leaders from Ekiti North Senatorial District have met to support whosoever emerges from a transparent election during the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressive Congress.

This resolution was made at a meeting held on Thursday 23rd August, 2018 attended by seven out of the eleven Local Government Areas and the Local Council Development Areas Chairmen. They took this decision following the rumour making the round that the Senatorial seat of Ekiti North has been conceded to the former governor of the State, Engr Segun Oni who was also said to have unilaterally endorsed the former Senator, Olu Adetunbi for the plum job.

Engr Oni's endorsement of Adetunbi is allegedly causing a rumpus in the fold of Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) as majority of them condemned the former Governor's purported adoption of his kinsman against Dr Segun Osinkolu, a popular aspirant who had contested for the post three times without defecting from the party. Moreover, they expressed their disappointment in the former governor for jilting Dr Osinkolu who reportedly worked for him tirelessly at the last APC governorship primaries.

Prominent among the leaders who rallied round Ekiti North leaders to protest against Oni's endorsement of Adetunbi are; Messrs Samuel Oluwaniyi, Babatunde Odetola (Odelodu) and Elder Femi Bobade (Adebob). They went to the leaders meeting to solicit for an open primary, describing the purported adoption of Senator Adetunbi as "a gross injustice against Oluomo Segun Osinkolu who has been contributing tremendously to the growth of the party without ever being rewarded with any position even after contesting for the Senatorial seat for three consecutive times."

APC Chairmen of seven out of eleven Local government and LCDA in Ekiti North Senatorial District who were present at the meeting were; Mr Bode Ogunyemi from Ilejemeje, Chief Femi Afolabi from Ido/OSI and Baba Fasola from Isokan LCDA. Others are; Hon Akindele Ogungbuyi from Ifesowapo LCDA, Mr Jimoh Oluwole from Ifeloju LCDA, Chief Okeya Michael from Ikole Central and Mr Femi Ademolekun who heads Ikole West LCDA.

The three LGA/LCDA Chairmen who were absent at the meeting were; Engr Iyunade from Ajoni LCDA, Elder Moses from Moba Local Government, Mr Segun Ajamini from Ero LCDA and Mr Adeoye who heads Oye Local government APC. Some of these Chairmen who were absent sent their words of apology.

The meeting of the party leaders, according to APC Chairman in Ilejemeje, Mr Bode Ogunyemi, "was not to adopt any candidate or do the bidding of any aspirant but to foster unity in the Senatorial district. We also met to make it clear that leaders in the Senatorial district do not have an anointed choice just like our Governor-Elect had also said."

Ogunyemi declared that the meeting was not at the instance of any aspirant as it was not the first time such meeting would hold. According to him, "some other leaders who visited us heard about the meeting and they came to plead that we should allow free and transparent primaries for the State and national assemblies in the forthcoming primaries of our party"

It would be recalled that Oluomo Osinkolu, a PhD holder contested against the Ifaki Ekiti born former Senator, Olu Adetunbi in 2015 in a keenly contested election. Despite the controversy that surrounded the election, Osinkolu did not leave the party, rather, he was said to have supported the party and empowered members for the four years that the party was not in power between 2014 and 2018 while Senator Adetunbi was alleged to have gone into the oblivion.

In a telephone chat with the Fountain Newsbreaker Dr Osinkolu expressed his determination to emancipate his people from "poverty and inadequate representation at the national assembly.". He expressed his disbelief invtge rumour that Engr Oni had adopted his kinsman to be the flagbearer of the party for the third time.  According to him, " I have heard the rumour but I didn't believe it. Even if the rumour is true, I gave solace in the assurance given by the leader of the party who is also our Governor-Elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi that he has no anointed candidates among those of us contesting." Several calls put across to Senator Adetunbi by our reporters were not answered. 

Ekiti North Senatorial District comprises of five Local Government Areas namely; Oye, Ilejemeje, Ido/Osi, Moba and Ikole. Six Local Council Development Areas that were carved out if these local Government during the first tenure if Dr Fayemi are; Isokan. LCDA, Ifeloju LCDA, Ikole Central LCDA, Ikole West LCDA, Ajoni LCDA and Ero LCDA.

The leaders of all the above Local Government areas and LCDA have resolved that there would be a transparent primary where flag bearers of the party will emerge for both the State abs National assemblies.

Mrs Dupe Bakare APC-Ekiti Woman Leader Meets With Journalists At Her Temidire-Ekiti, Ijero LG Country Home

Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare

The pristine ambiance of Temidire-Ekiti, one of the smaller towns making up Ijero Local Government is simply breathtaking for any first time visitor.

Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare in her ever usual easy going self gladly speaks on a range of issues from personal to politic in this interview session

QUE: In your own words ma, How would you describe Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare?

ANS: Mrs Susan Dupe Bakare is a selfless, honest, humble, generous, diligent, godly and a committed woman, very intelligent and highly dedicated to the service of mankind, very passionate about women and youth, share love and affection, objective and speak truth to the authority always. Finally I’m a good listener.

QUE: Prior to this aspiration, what roles have you featured in Progressive Ekiti & Nigeria politics?

ANS: Prior to this aspiration, I have served in various capacities, first as a commission member at the house of assembly service commission and local government service commission. Also at the federal level as a member of the governing council of national Centre for women development Abuja. Presently I am the state women leader of our party (APC)

I have served as a member of reconciliation committee in the party at the state level various instances when occasions arose.

In my responsibility as the women leader I coordinate women activities from the grassroot to the state and to the federal level.

QUE: What brought about the quest for this aspiration to represent Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II at the National Assembly?

ANS: My quest for this aspiration is bore out of the passion that I have for my people. Because I live and stay among them, I know their yearnings and share their pains. And this is the reason why I want them to elect me as their representatives.

QUE:With your experiences in governance & administration, do you feel constituency people expectation from their representatives is achievable?

ANS: My experiences in governance and administration has thought me that my people love those that stay with them to represent them in positions that matters to them. Also their expectation from their representatives is achievable because as I earlier said that I live amongst them, I know their needs which is the reason why I want them to elect me as their representatives

QUE: What stands you out from other aspirants in your constituency?

ANS: My personality as a humble, consistent, loyal and dedicated well focused party member stands me out from other aspirants in my constituency

2019: Women Group Disowns Former President Obasanjo, Vows To Work For Buhari’s Re-election

Africa Women Arise For Change Network, on Wednesday took a swipe at the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for his recent verbal attacks on the person and office of President Muhammadu Buhari.
 

The women group wondered why Obasanjo is attacking on a government that has succeeded in delivering to Nigerians what he failed to deliver in the eight years as the Commander-in-Chief.
 

Addressing a Freedom Rally for One Nigeria in Lagos, Mrs Josephine  Okpara, Executive Director, AWACN, observed that Obasanjo and his party laid the right foundation for Nigeria, the country would by now be past the stage where the present government has to begin building the nation afresh from the ground up. 
Opera, who spoke on behalf of the group, said Obasanjo’s failure to build systems and institutions with preference for being the strong man has done untold damage to the psyche of the nation.
 

She said the group would mobilize other Nigerian women to join forces together so President Buhari would return in 2019 just to finish what he started.
She said, “We understand that the war on corruption has limited access to slush funds for all Nigerians, which has in turn caused people to tighten their belts and reassess their economic choices. The chorus of hard times across the land is therefore understandable in the context of people having to re-learn allocating resources based on their genuine incomes. It is however reassuring that the decision that gave rise to this feeling of doom will eventually lead to sunny times ahead.
 

“The Freedom Rally for One Nigeria is further to remind us all that we should not allow those who once tried to destroy the country to succeed. Such people have been trying to use the impact of the anti-corruption war to incite Nigerians against the government and against themselves. We have seen them bellyaching and daily creating the impression that we are not making progress as a country while the reverse is the case.  
 

“Progress is being made under the government of President Buhari and the Freedom Rally for One Nigeria aligns totally with this progress. We are for progress and development under President Buhari. It is something we want to continue. But unfortunately, those that have truncated the fortunes of the country want to be allowed to keep sabotaging the country.
 

“Most tragically but unsurprisingly, a former president, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, is the arrowhead of this misguided group. He has used the pedestal of the esteemed office he once occupied as a platform to launch attacks on a government that has succeeded in delivering to Nigerians what he failed to deliver in the eight years he led the country and things his party was not been able to deliver in the sixteen years it held Nigeria hostage. Had Obasanjo and his party laid the right foundation for Nigeria, the country would by now be past the stage where the present government has to begin building the nation afresh from the ground up. 
 

“Obasanjo’s failure to build systems and institutions with preference for being the strong man has done untold damage to the psyche of the nation. The present administration is constrained to begin rebuilding critical national institutions while reintroducing systems that should have been in place long before it came into office. We do not want to venture into the parlous state of critical national infrastructure that are only now being built. Yet, in those eight and sixteen years, the country was bled dry, verging on the point of death while the enemies of the land pretended to be making giant strides.
 

“We are also aware that while Obasanjo appears to be attacking President Buhari, his main target is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who he is afraid will soon surpass him in stature as a leader in the region. Obasanjo’s hatred for Osinbajo and other Yoruba politicians has pushed him to the extreme and he does not mind burning down the whole country with his utterances so long as he can hurt the government in which the Vice President is a part. Proof of this is in his lack of fairness in criticising the current administration as a way of insulting Professor Osinbajo. 
 

This Freedom Rally for One Nigeria therefore categorically state that it is time for Dr. Obasanjo to keep quiet and let Nigeria work and succeed for Nigerians. If he is bored and is desirous of catching fun as a drama king he should find a past time that do not entail acting the role of the shadow president. We prescribe for him to productively use the excess time he has on his hands in sorting out the dysfunction in his immediate and extended family. If he has not been successful in averting the failings in his immediate family we wonder what qualified him to have led Nigeria in the first place because the mess he made of the country is reflective of the failure he has been in the most basic enterprise for a man, which is the running of a family.
 

“We appeal to President Buhari to focus on the task of rescuing Nigeria form the stranglehold of the likes of Obasanjo while he remains undeterred by the attacks. We further urge Mr. President to acknowledge that the time for niceties are over as the reality on ground demands that the nation gets to the root of its problems without fail. For instance, we know that the violence affecting part of the country is not unconnected with the tendency for certain people with influence to maintain killer squads, which get out of control once their sponsors are out of power. It is on record that Obasanjo introduced the culture of organizing, training and arming such squads during his ill-fated third term bid.
 

“Mr President should henceforth allow the relevant security and anti-corruption agencies dispense with the requirement to un-necessarily treat former Presidents as untouchables so that the anti-terror and anti-corruption wars can go on successfully. This is especially so when they have been proven to be strategic to the continued unity of the country as the corrupt people are the ones financing terrorists and separatists that are bent on destroying the country.
 

“With this Freedom Rally for One Nigeria we affirm that we will not allow evil people triumph over us neither shall we allow them partition our dear country. Long live Nigeria. We therefore conclude this address by declaring our support for President Muhammadu Buhari and his able Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. We urge them to ignore Obasanjo, who the electorate in the south-west do not know because of his unbridled greed. The Presidency has our assurance that we will take up protests to every single location associated with Obasanjo if he continues to attack the leadership of the country. “

Youth Alliance To Farooq Kperogi; “Your Blackmail Won't Stop Obono-Obla From Doing His Work”

Okoi Obono-Obla

The  Integrity Youth Alliance said her attention has been drawn to a false article titled "Corruption Fighting Corruption: The tragicomic case of Obono-Obla" by one Farooq Kperogi blackmailing the amiable Okoi Obono-Obla, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions and Head of Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property.

In a press released jointly signed by the National Coordinator, Integrity Youth Alliance Kelvin Adegbenga and Publicity Secretary, Integrity Youth Alliance, Danjuma Lamido, they said that there is no iota of truth in all the allegations again Okoi Obono-Obla.

“The claim by Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) that Obono-Obla possibly stole his dead relative’s “O” level certificate in 1982, fudged it to include Literature in English, which the dead relative didn’t sit for, used the result to gain admission to the university, and then changed his name decades later is total false.

The group further said that those sponsoring all the false information again Okoi Obono-Obla have failed as the war against corruption must be fought to a logical conclusion.

“No amount of blackmail will stop Okoi Obono-Obla from doing the excellent work he has been doing and results already taking place.

The group further reiterated that some powerful looters are using the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee that investigated the legality of the operations of the special investigation panel for the recovery of public property to cover up their stolen wealth.

“We also called on West Africa Examinations Council not to dance to the intrinsic of those looters conniving with the House of Representatives to blackmail Okoi Obono-Obla as we will occupy their office soon and tagged them corruption agents

“It is total false, nobody instructed Obla to seek clearance from the AGF before granting any media interview or making press releases on official matters.

“He was neither directed to promptly provide a detailed up-to-date report on the activities of the panel to the Minister for onward transmission to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the statement concluded.

Kayode Fayemi: A Sure Alternative To Crass Opportunism

By Soyombo G. Olalekan, Esq

Elections are periodic opportunity for the people to set the cause of their history through their decision of who leads them at a given period. Leadership is an important factor in the history of a people. Some of the greatest historical epoch that the world has witnessed were midwived by great leaders, for example, we can not talk about the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 without talking about the leadership dexterity of Vladimir Lenin, ditto,  we can not talk about the historical feat of the great Britain in world war 11 without talking about Winston Churchill. Leadership in the course of history of a people is everything , because, it determines the direction of the people at that particular time.

Consequently, Ekiti State is now on the verge of history again as July 14 election day draws near. It is therefore tropical to take a decisive decision that we either make or mar us as a people. The July election must be an election that the ekiti people must approach with conscience,  consciousness and altruism. It is an election that Ekiti People can not  afford to approach with sentimental affinity and infantile tokenism, otherwise,  we return to the Egyptian we are coming from. It is an election that must take us to promise land, take rascality away from the affairs of governance in Ekiti State, using the instrumentality of ballot to achieving same.

The issue at hand may have placed us on a cross-road, but not without a direction.It is left for us to take a decision between the reactionary forces that has held us by the jugular in the last four years and the voice of liberation beckoning to us presently;  a decision between progressivism and opacity, between deceit and truth, and genuine policy making governmental services and street unbridled adventurism that goes to no issue.

History has provided us with yet another opportunity, and we can not afford to squander it. In making this historical decision,we must be guided by history as those who refuse to learn from history will be doomed to repeat it. The event in the past four years in Ekiti has shown that our people need deliverance from the orgy of rapacious leadership of PDP.

We must make a firm decision to breakaway from the past that has debased our humanity to the lowest of lows in the comity of states.We must make a firm decision to break-away from the past of wanton pillaging of our meager resources at the detriment of the indigenes of our dear state.We must make a firm decision to breakaway from the past of the ruination of our economy and the neglect of our infrastructure that PDP had caused us in Ekiti State.. We  must breakaway from the past of infantile populism and comical braggadocio that has characterised governance in our state in the last four years under the rulership of PDP government. We must depart from street carnival and infantile showmanship to ushering in good governance in our dear Ekiti State. We must separate shafts from the real breed and present the reality of government that is anchored with vision that is ably manned  by visionary men and women.

It is no news any longer that the mantra of the ruling PDP in the coming election is continuity.If our reality in the last four years is anything to go by, I am sure that the route is not an option to take anymore, and the more reason why it is important to consign them and their misguided project into the dustbin of irrelevance in our state just as it has happened in the centre, by  casting our vote for Dr John kayode fayemi , the quintessential, goal-oriented and pro-people flag-bearer of the APC. A man whose impact continues to resonate with us despite his almost four years absence from our political saddle; a  away in abuja as a minister of the Federal republic of Nigeria . Testimonies upon testimonies have continued to trail his campaign all-over the States by beneficiaries of the various welfare packages of his government.A case in point was that of a woman who gave him a goat as a token appreciation of the benefit she enjoyed in her government being part of those who subscribed to the owo arugbo scheme which she utilised in setting up an animal husbandry business. Another beneficiary of the owo Arugbo gave him a portrait photograph of Himself(JKF) a venture she utilised the Owo Arugbo( The Aged Support Fund) for after which she became a proud owner of a well established saloon and hair- braided accessories . Yet,  that is just a part of the life-enhancing and economically impactful programmes that Kayode Fayemi government implemented while in the saddle from 2010-2014 which dots the nook and crannies of the state. What about the 5km per local govt road road construction initiatives of Fayemi?  What about operation renovate all schools in ekiti(ORASE)? One laptop per students ? The renovation of the ikogosi warm springs? The renovation of all hospitals in ekiti which today a dearth trap? what about Ekiti pavilion and renovation of all the palaces in Ekiti State? What about Ilera laafin Health Scheme for all monarchs in Ekiti State and purchase  of brand new cars for all traditional rulers??? It is worrisome that all these people's targeted and oriented dividends has been canceled by this government and thereby make frivolous exercise and policy her priority.
The aforementioned therefore testifies that Fayemi's  re-emergence is with a sense of unfulfillment and not a pursuit of vendetta as being mischievously peddled by the nay-sayers and fayose's propaganda cronies  and mercenaries .The difference between Fayemi's achievements in office and that of the incumbent is like comparing day and night. Fayemi's midas-touch was also brought upon his assignment as the minister of solid-minerals in Nigeria-  a nearly comatose mining sector has become a money spiner with prospects for more under Kayode Fayemi . Fayemi is tested,trusted and reliable. He's  the sure alternative to crass opportunism among others in this current contest. I therefore charge the dearest people of Ekiti States to give Fayemi another chance to turn our state around from her current recreant nature.

Be Professional And Apolitical In Handling The Offa Bank Robbery Case; Centre Advises IGP Idris

The Citizen Communication and Advocacy Center has called on the Inspector General of Police to be professional and apolitical in handling the Offa Bank Robbery.

At a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, the Executive Director of the Citizen Communication and Advocacy Center, Lord Charles Ibiang, he said that the Center is worried by the action of Nigeria Police as the dastardly act maybe compromised; in the name of fighting perceive political enemies and extending vendetta by the Inspector General of Police to those who are seen to be in opposition against current status quo going forward toward 2019 elections.

Excerpt is the full text of the press statement:

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY CENTER, LORD CHARLES IBIANG ON MONDAY JUNE 11, 2018.

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY

Gentlemen of the press, there have been a rash of unjustifiable attacks, killing and massacres in various parts of the country, putting our collective safety as a people in great jeopardy.

Recently, as you are aware, the peaceful town of Offa in Kwara State was greeted by group of dare devil robbers for a bank robbery and carnage, leaving behind its trail unfortunate deaths of Offa citizens and officers of the Nigerian Police with attendant destruction of properties.

The centre condemns in the strongest terms this unfortunate incident by these sons of the devil, describing it as ungodly satanic and sheer wickedness. We extend our heartfelt condolences and commiserate with the families who lost their loved ones, the people of Offa and Kwara State. We call on the security and judiciary to make sure the culprits are severely punished or prosecuted according to the law of the land. We acknowledge the Police for the speedy arrest of the culprits and wish this rapid response action should be extended to other cases pervasive in the country.

However, we are very concern about the politicization of the issues in the Offa bank robbery whereby a legislator is accused, the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki is been accused of sponsoring armed robbery despite the fact that he is the head of all important legislature, the third ranking political office holder in Nigeria and former two-time governor of Kwara State. By this action by the police, we are worried that the dastardly act maybe compromised; in the name of fighting perceive political enemies and extending vendetta by the IG of Police to those who are seen to be in opposition against current status quo going forward toward 2019 elections.

In the same vein, we are concern that the integrity of Nigerian Senate President and entire institution of the National Assembly would be tarnish and reduced to rubbles on unsubstantiated allegation of sponsoring or aiding robbers and murderers. The centre considered this very mundane, petty and the lowest we could degenerate as people capable of portraying us badly before the international community.

We condemn this recent pastime of the Police in fighting serious crime in our country troubling, where security operatives will attempt to frame up highly place public officers using hardened criminals just to get at them for holding contrary view on National Issues without serious consequences or sanction by the appropriate or regulating institutions.

In conclusion, the center warns that linking the Senate President to the Offa Bank robbery by the Police portend a great danger to our democracy and serious threat to foreign investors’ confidence in doing business in Nigeria and with Nigerians. No foreign investor will want his money to be kept in a country where some of her highest ranking public servants aid bank robbery. This is too much to bear for our Country considering also our battered image abroad.

The Centre believes that only citizens can salvage us from this dangerous war of attrition among the ruling class. We call and urge the Nigerian people to ask pertinent questions about the Offa robbery:
Where is the retired police officer who was mentioned by the culprit as the supplier of arms and ammunitions to the robbers.
Are political thugs not a culture of the present ruling class? Who among them is exempted? Let us use this case to resolve this issue.
Citizens must insist that fairness; justice must be seen to be done not vendetta or vengeance.

OUR OBSERVATIONS ON SOME CIVIL SOCIETIES

Nigerian should be weary of some unscrupulous, unregistered civil society group posing as promoters of democracy, been sponsored and used as agent of destruction to orchestrate falsehood, lies, and propaganda against the Senate President. They should not listen to them nor their falsehood.

Going forward, the centre recommends and advice the Inspector General of Police to be professional, unbiased, and apolitical in handling the issues in Offa bank robbery.

We call on the President, President Buhari not to remain aloof or being seen protecting anybody but wades into the issue because it is capable of derailing our democracy.

I thank you all for your attention.

Lord Charles Ibiang

Ambode Hosts South West Youth Summit

Akinwunmi Ambode

The South West Youth Foundation has announced her 2018 South West Youth Development Summit slated for Lagos, Nigeria.

In a press release by the Director General of the Foundation, Otunba Temitope Eniola, he said that Summit themes “Youth Social Inclusion and Economic Freedom: Challenges and prospects” will take place from the 27th to 29th June 2018 at the Anchor Event Centre, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos by 9.00am daily.

The summit will have in attendance over 1000 Youth delegates from all the Local Government Areas of South West, various youth organizations and stakeholders in the Youth development sector.

The summit which is coming at a very important time like this, will critically look into issues of Youth Unemployment and Job Creation, Drug Abuse, Ethics and Values, Culture and Heritage, Security, Patriotism and Youth Participation in decision making process

The Special Guest of Honour for the Summit is the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo while the Chief Host is the Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode

Other Guests of Honor are Governors of Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo States respectively.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the distinguished Guest and Chairman of Occasion.

The Royal Father and Summit Patron is the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.