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NEWS

IGP Warns Politicians Ahead Of Ekiti Election

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has warned that any politician found parading thugs or soliciting for vote during election will be arrested and prosecuted.

Mr Idris who gave the warning in Ado Ekiti, encouraged residents of Ekiti State to cooperate with the Police to ensure credible Governorship election and peaceful society.

He explained that a level playground would be given to each political party, electorate and INEC officials to carry out their activities.

Mr Idris also urged the people not to hesitate to report any police officer who misbehave during the Governorship election in Ekiti and sought the cooperation of other security outfits for a violence free poll.

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NEWS

States Get Another Paris Club Refund

President Muhammadu Buhari has on Monday, released another set of Paris refund to enable states meet their financial obligations, especially to workers and pensioners.

Ekiti, which got N9.5 billion in the first tranche, received another N4.772 billion; Abia got N5.715 billion but received N11.4 billion in the first tranche.  Governor Ayo Fayose’s Media Adviser Lere Olayinka confirmed Ekiti’s receipt of the second tranche while Commisioner for Finance Obinna Oriaku confirmed that of Abia.

Although the total amount paid out by the Ministry of Finance could not be confirmed last night but top officials of the ministry said they were waiting for clearance from Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun before giving out that information.

In the first tranche, a total of N516 billion was released to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Ministry of Finance spokesman, Salisu Dambatta, in a statement after the release of the cash, said:  ”The debt service deductions are in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the Federal Government and states.

“While Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some states had already been overcharged.

“The funds were released to state governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

“The releases were conditional upon a minimum of 50 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions.”

 

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NEWS

FLASHBACK: How Gov. Fayose Killed Scores In Ekiti By Lere Olayinka

?However funny how times flies, Fayose, after inflicting electoral injuries on the psyche of Ekiti people now mounts the podium, preaching against election rigging. Saint Fayose now goes about preaching rule of law, good governance, free and fair elections. He wants to be seen as a Saul who has given up his persecution of Christians and turned to Paul.

As a student of a missionary school, Roman Catholic Primary School to be precise, I learnt early enough the story of Paul the Apostle. Saul, who later became Paul, was born around the same time as Christ. He was sent to the Jewish school of learning at Jerusalem to study law. After his studies, he returned to Tarsus but soon after the death of Christ he returned to Jerusalem where Christianity was becoming wide-spread. Saul was a key player in the persecution of Christians. However, after his encounter with Jesus Christ, on his way to Damascus to persecute some suspected Christians, Saul became converted and this conversion changed the course of his life.

In Ekiti, there is one Saul that is daily struggling to become Paul. In the case of this Saul, he does not need an encounter with Jesus Christ to become a born again because he is not out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but that of politics. He won’t even become anything close to Paul Apostle because his name was never Saul in the first instance. He was Peter Ayodele Oluwayose, who later said his father; Pastor John Oluwayose erred by replacing Ifa (god of divination) in his name with Oluwa (God).

For over three years that Ayodele Fayose was the governor of Ekiti State; he was everything but a democrat. Rule of law, free and fair election, political tolerance and respect for traditional institution was anathema to him. Those of us who dared him then had bitter tales to tell. For instance, just because I was courageous enough to expose his N1.4 billion poultry scam and other atrocities, using a local newspaper, he (Fayose) obtained a warrant of arrest against my good-self and made arrangement with ‘’boys” in the prison to break my legs in detention. I escaped the arrest by whiskers. The arrest warrant saga was confirmed to me by the judge, who signed it. I had gone to the judge to sign a form, when he saw my name and exclaimed; “this world is indeed a small place. I signed your arrest warrant in 2005 but I thank God today because my conscience is clear. I vacated the order a week after without letting Fayose know about it.” The judge is still alive!

I was not the only one who tasted Fayose’s bitter pills. Others, including the former governor of Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni, Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd.), Chief Idowu Odeyemi, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Ojo Falegan, Chief George Femi-Ojo, Taiye Fasuba, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Kunle Ogunlade, Femi Falana, former governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adeniyi Adebayo and Segun Osoba had more mind boggling stories to tell too.

Fayose waged war against anyone he perceived as a threat to his hold on power. Even his own siblings were not left out. Ask Bimpe and Emmanuel, they sure still remember what they went through in the hands of Fayose, their own brother.

In Fayose’s days as governor, there was nothing like free and fair election in his electoral dictionary. Elections to him must be won by whatever means possible and that he demonstrated during the 2004 local government elections in the State, May 28, 2005 councillorship bye-election in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ekiti South Federal Constituency II bye-election among others.

Interestingly, the local council elections were conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC)– members of which were appointed by Fayose himself.

In the case of the local government elections in Ekiti South West Local Government, which was held on April 3, 2004, Senator Olowoporoku, whose wife, Anike was the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate gave the following account; “By the midnight of 2nd April, 2004 we heard that soldiers had invaded Iyin Ekiti, the home of ex-Governor Adeniyi Adebayo and had put former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State and Ex-Governors Osoba of Ogun State and Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State under arrest of no movement in and out of the compound in a state of incommunicado.

“By about 9.00 a.m, people were ready to go and cast their ballots despite the war songs of the armed forces all over the town throughout the night. Their resolve was to go and vote in spite of the reported heavy presence of soldiers and mobile policemen in the town. Several people were on the queue to vote by 10.30a.m when Mr. Ayo Fayose suddenly emerged in sleeveless shirt and knickers with a terrifying sword and also in convoy of about 80 vehicles. His eyes were red like a monster who has just finished drinking blood. Soldiers and “kill and go” (mobile policemen) in hundreds started shooting into the air, asking everybody to run for their dear lives. People ran away, any presiding officers or agents whether of PDP or AD or ANPP or NCP who attempted to protect the ballot boxes were beaten to a state of coma or in a number of extreme cases, they were shot in the legs.

“In a rage and something more than madness, the governor Mr. Ayo Fayose was overheard shouting “where is Bode Olowoporoku, I want to kill him, I have immunity for eight years as Governor of Ekiti State.”

Olowoporoku’s account was corroborated by the reports in various national dailies on Sunday, April 4, 2004. Sunday Punch captioned it thus; “LG bye-election; Soldiers, mobile policemen invade Ekiti. Govt officials hijack ballot boxes.

The News Magazine, in its April 5, 2004 edition captioned Fayose’s reign of terror thus; “The Power Drunk Governor; How Fayose’s men murdered students. His style shocks the nation.

But if Fayose’s show of madness on April 2 and 3, 2004 actually shocked the nation as reported by The News Magazine, what he did on May 28, 2005 must have sent the whole country into a coma.

Sensing that his preferred candidate was losing the Ifaki Ward II councillorship bye-election, Fayose stormed the town with thugs and mobile policemen and in a twinkling of an eye, Tunde Omojola, an in-law to Hon. Labaika Suleiman, the National Conscience Party (NCP) candidate in the election had been killed. His murder was allegedly supervised by Fayose.

Not done with the Ifaki escapade, Fayose moved to Mugbagba, Ado-Ekiti where the Alliance for Democracy (AD) was inaugurating its Ado Local Government Executives. Fayose was personally involved in the smashing of vehicle windscreens and stealing of property, including raw cash kept in the vehicles.

However, funny how times flies, Fayose, after inflicting electoral injuries on the psyche of Ekiti people now mounts the podium, preaching against election rigging. Saint Fayose now goes about preaching rule of law, good governance, free and fair elections. He wants to be seen as a Saul who has given up his persecution of Christians and turned to Paul.

Yesterday, I read in the papers, Fayose, who used to refer to himself as the “master rigger” calling on voters to protect their votes and resist rigging in next year’s elections. In other words, Saint Fayose, who spearheaded the rigging of elections and unprecedented electoral violence when he was governor, now, wants the 2014 election, which he hopes to contest to be free and fair!

But he (Fayose) surely needs more than mere press statements. For him to be seen as a Saul who has turned to Paul, Fayose must show penitence. He must visit the families of Tunde Omojola, Dr. Ayo Daramola, nine students of the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti killed during a mere protest, the likes of Aseweje, Ben Ogundana, Dapo Osunniyi, Kamoru Folorunso, Ojo Sunday and several others that were visited with terror during the 2004 local council polls in Ilawe, Ogotun and Igbara-Odo to seek amnesty.

Most importantly too, Fayose must go on his bended knees in front of the entire congregation of the Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, whose church’s two entrance gates he blocked with sand, gravel and gutter, deliberately dug in front of the church just because Chief Ojo Falegan, his perceived opponent, worshipped in the church.

Honestly, like Paul Apostle, Fayose can be admitted into the club of sainthood; after all, our Lord is a forgiving God. But he must be ready to show repentance by confessing that he once rigged elections, perpetrated electoral violence and persecuted opposition politicians. Until then, his quest for sainthood, by preaching free and fair elections will remain in the dustbin of morality.

– Lere Olayinka whi is currently Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media to Governor Fayose wrote this piece on April 14, 2014

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HEADLINES, NEWS

Fayose Threatened Jonathan Before Ekiti Election, Says Aluko

Temitope Aluko, former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti state, has alleged that Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, “threatened” former President Goodluck Jonathan in the buildup to the 2014 governorship election in the state.

The former scribe of the party said Fayose told Jonathan that he needed to support his governorship bid if the immediate past president wanted to win the south-west in the 2015 election.

Aluko said Jonathan invested heavily in the election, alleging that Musiliu Obanikoro, former minister of state (defence) and Fayose clashed over the huge cash deployed for the June 21, 2014 governorship poll.

According to The Nation, Aluko disclosed this during a live interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM, Akure.

“Fayose was threatening former President Goodluck Jonathan that he (Fayose) must deliver so that Jonathan will win in south-west. All the PDP elders were kept out of picture on the transactions and cash and some of the cash deployed did not get to their destinations,” he said.

“The presidency gave us security and money, the money was sent from a Diamond Bank branch through an account run by Sylvan MacNamara, a company owned by Obanikoro.

“My boss said he wanted to get his own in cash and that was why arrangement was made to get his own in cash and that was why such a huge amount (N2.1 billion) was ferried by plane. Obanikoro cannot claim not to have brought the money.

“He (Fayose) chose his man, Abiodun Agbele, to keep the money in a Zenith Bank account and the money was lodged at Zenith Bank, Alagbaka Branch in Akure. The transaction was not recorded and it got to a stage when it was discovered that the money was short by N80 million.

“This caused a crisis between Fayose and Obanikoro who brought money thrice from Abuja. He (Obanikoro) brought other things apart from money which I won’t disclose now and it was from it that N1 billion was released to INEC officials to manipulate Ekiti and Osun polls.”

Aluko, who claimed that Fayose did not have up to N10 million in his personal account before contesting the governorship election in 2014, added that the governor’s primary election was sponsored by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He claimed that it was after Fayose had won the primary election that cash from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) and oil contractors was deployed to fund the election campaign.

He said Zenith Bank and other corporate organizations came with business proposals after Fayose had won the election, insisting that the governor’s claim that his campaign was sponsored by Zenith Bank was a “blatant lie”.

Aluko said Fayose purchased five houses with the N2.3 billion, which was a remainder of the slush funds from ONSA in choice locations in Abuja, Banana Island and Victoria Island in Lagos.

“The cash carried on the plane was not entered into the plane manifest, the N2.1 billion was delivered to a bank at 4:30am in Ekiti. The N2.3 billion remaining from the total cash received for the election was used to buy house in Abuja and the house belongs to Fayose.

“Fayose purchased five houses in Victoria Island and Banana Island. The property in Dubai was purchased by a fellow who is known as Bisi in Ekiti but is known as Femi abroad. Questions are being asked on the N3 billion used to purchase the Dubai property but I strongly believe that we will recover our money.”

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HEADLINES, NEWS

Alleged Diversion Of N4.7bn Arms Fund: Fayose’s Aide Opens Up In EFCC Detention

Abiodun Agbele (a.k.a Abbey), an aide to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has started telling investigators how he was used by the governor and former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, to launder huge sums of money from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between 2014 and 2015.  Agbele, who is currently detained by the Economic and Financial crimes Commissions (EFCC), began reeling out details of the laundered cash after the EFCC secured a court order to keep him in detention until the completion its investigations.

He was arrested last Wednesday in respect of his alleged role in the diversion of  N4.745billion of the $2. 1billion arms funds  to Obanikoro and Fayose.

According to The Nation Newspaper, the money  was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the ONSA  under  Col. Sambo Dasuki, immediate past NSA, before  the  2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. Of the sum, about N1.219billion was transferred  to Fayose through Agbele and a company De Privateer Limited, which is owned by him. The ONSA allegedly wired the N4.745billion via Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a phony company run by former Obanikoro and his sons.

According to the report, the N1, 219 billion, which was flown as cash in an aircraft through Akure Airport, was not deposited in any account.  It was kept in a vault at a Zenith Bank branch and took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted,

After confirming the figure, reported The Nation,  Agbele coordinated the disbursement of the funds.

On June 26, 2014, according to the paper, Agbele paid N137million into Fayose’s account 10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814.

Fayose’s BVN on the teller is 22338867502.

“On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun Agbele paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14. “Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502. “After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and his wife, Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and his wife’s BVN in the account is 22298990256. “The governor and his wife are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account,” reported The Nation.

The  EFCC also discovered De Privateer Limited, owned by  Agbele, with Account No. 1013835889, received  N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014. The next day, the same account received N300million and another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN on the account is 22235692890.

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NEWS

EFCC Arrests Omisore Over N1.3billion Ekiti Election Loot

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Omisore was picked up earlier this morning in Abuja and has since been in the custody of the anti-graft agencies facing interrogation for his role in the election funding fraud.

According to EFCC sources, the Senator received over N1.3billion from funds pilfered from the office of the National Security Adviser to fund and rig Governor Ayodele Fayose into office in 2014.

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HEADLINES, NEWS

EFCC Launches Hunt For Properties Fayose Allegedly Bought In Dubai, Lagos And Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCCC) s saod to have launched a search for Fayose’s houses which he allegedly acquired after he became governor on October 16, 2014.

Already, it was gathered that the investigators had identified six of the properties  with purchasing papers that were skilfully prepared to deceive security agencies.

It was gathered that the purchasing papers were yet to be changed, but that those who sold the properties had confided in the EFCC who the real owner of the houses was.

The investigators are working on the theory that the governor might have used his detained bosom friend, Abiodun Agbele, as a front among others.

A source in the EFCC said, “We are closing in on the governor. Immunity does not stop us from investigating any sitting governor or president. And we have no apology to offer for doing our duty.”

Two of the governor’s friends were reportedly interrogated on the properties. They included one Abbey, who was said to have been brought to Abuja from Lagos on Friday.

He was said to have been confronted with the evidence on the various lodgements he allegedly made to banks in the name of the governor.

Another friend of the governor known as Fatai, was said to have allegedly aided the governor in securing his deposits in the bank. He was also said to be “in the know of how the properties were bought.”

It was gathered that the houses would be temporarily seized until the proxies whose names appear on the papers of some of the houses were “able to convince investigators whether the source of the funds used in purchasing the houses were clean.”

The commission was said to have relied on reports given to it by former and current associates of the governor.

Chief among the whistleblowers, it was gathered is a former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko.

Aluko said that it was true he was invited by the anti-graft agency, adding that the allegations he made against the governor concerning the funding of his campaign were true.

In a prepared statement, Aluko said, “Ayo Fayose was sworn in on October 16, 2015.  By January 30, 2015, he made a cash deposit of N145m into De-Private account.

“On on April 18, 2015, he paid cash of N70m to the same account. The N300m deposit paid into account no 9013074033 in April in cash by Abey in Fayose’s name can’t be from the Zenith Bank, but from the Office of the National Security Adviser/Dasuki for presidential damaging and presidential election.

“These funds were used to purchase choice properties in Abuja, Lagos and Dubai through other banks in Ekiti which the EFCC is now working on.

“Ayo Fayose is not ignorant of Money Laundering Act, although he’s relying on his immunity. He should know that any cash payment above N9m for corporate and N5m for individuals is an offence and should be reported to the EFCC.

“The ones discovered or uncovered by the EFCC are different from that of the N2.1bn, $2m and $35m from this same source.”

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OPINION

My Open Letter To The Good People Of Ekiti State By Paul John

I read in the news that some of you were deceived into staging a protest against the strong opposition voice to the current Federal Government. I sincerely believe that the protesters were hired with the aim of not only destabilising the state but also to whip up public sentiments . I have decided to write this letter to all who can listen. Ayodele Fayose is being persecuted for his opposition to the APC government. What type of democracy are we practising where every opposition is clamped down? Protesters these days are shot and survivors are charged with possession of arms that never existed. People are constantly made to believe that the current government is fighting corruption when actually political opponents are being clamped down. The same people that hoodwinked us during their campaign that there was nothing like fuel subsidy finally removed the subsidy just few months of assuming office, raising the petrol pump price of fuel from N87.50k to N145. I am yet to see the gains for such an increment. Last administration used their proceeds from such increment to establish SURE-P but we are yet to see what comes out from the increment by this APC administration.

 

Anybody that opposes the government is linked to the arms deal. The person will remain in custody even when there are court injunctions. Every other opposition has remained silent to avoid being linked to arms deal. Fani Kayode is still in custody and others like Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki. Who knows if I will be invited by DSS for airing my view and be charged with treasonable felony? How can our country be moved to another level if there is no vibrant opposition? The same opposition that brought this government in power is what the APC led Federal Government is hell-bent on eliminating. Good minded people like me can never keep quiet when issues like this are being discussed. Section 308 exonerates a sitting governor and president and  deputy/vice  from civil and criminal prosecutions but APC led federal government through EFCC is telling us otherwise. The only safety a leader has in Nigeria now is being in APC. Very soon , Nigeria will become a one party system .

 

They promised jobs to our teeming youths during the campaign but today workers are constantly being dismissed due to harsh economic policies the present government brought in. They made us believe that the last administration was corrupt but the cost of living then was low and now that saints are in power, Nigerian citizens are gnashing their teeth. A minister was recently indicted by a panel of enquiry in the state he just finished as the state governor but  ‘immunity’ covers him when immunity does not cover a sitting governor or his assets. That was how I told them in my previous write-ups that the use of electronic card readers was against section 52 of the Electoral Act, APC lawyers came out then to hoodwink us that it was not true even when elementary physics taught that anything that makes use of electrons are electronic. I thank God that governor Wike ‘s   Supreme Court victory vindicated me.

 

They have been in the blaming game, making Nigerians to know that what Nigerians are suffering now is due to 16 years of PDP misrule, I then ask, shouldn’t they just hand over to PDP leaders to continue their misrule where fuel will be sold to the common Nigerian at N87.50k per litre, where oppositions will be allowed to thrive, where right to freedom of speech will not only be on books but also in practice. They have forgotten how PDP government took over the country in 1999 after many years of military exploitation. Today ‘black and white’ televisions have disappeared in all homes courtesy of the same PDP government they now want us to believe they are corrupt. Owning of household gadgets is no longer difficulty since PDP came into power in 1999 and many people that never had cars found it easier to buy cars, what do we have today, dollars and other hard currencies are rising to discourage importation of foreign goods, without making any provisions for import-substituting industries. It is a matter of time, Nigerians will decide which government is clueless, PDP administration or current APC government.

 

I read in the news that the lawyer pursuing Mr president’s certificate issue may soon be charged for discussing the matter before a court outside the court, when the same government has been discussing Sambo Dasuki’s arms deal, Nnamdi Kanu’s case and those of other of their ‘victims ‘ pending before different courts, on the pages of newspapers. Jonathan allowed opposition to thrive hence APC was formed but today, any state government or local government outside APC is guilty and the anti-graft agencies will clamp down on the state with all sorts of charges. They started by arresting Ekiti State lawmakers, believing that Ayodele Fayose could be impeached through cowing his lawmakers, reminiscing the late DSP Alamieseigha style but Fayose is unperturbed. Now, it is to whip up public sentiments so that the people of Ekiti State will hate their governor. I enjoin the people of Ekiti State to see beyond the present shenanigans. If they have anything against a sitting governor, let the court resolve it, the APC led government should allow the court to decide.

 

At least I still believe in the sanctity and incorruptibility of our judicial system. See our National Assembly, they are out to clamp on Saraki. If Saraki survives the asset declaration issue in Code of Conduct Tribunal, he will be ensnared with the recently commenced forgery charge. What was Saraki’s offence if not that he went against APC’s plan to emerge as the senate president? When I read where it was reported that Saraki’s trial would be on daily basis and that it would start in the morning till evening, I laughed because the target was to ensure that Saraki would not meet the minimum number of attendance required in the plenary hence his impeachment would commence but that failed. The next was forgery suit so that both Saraki and Ekweremadu would be out of the plenary to pave way for impeachment and you tell me to keep quiet. Instead of thinking of how to fix our rapidly-deteriorating economy, the present APC government is busy planning how to deal with the opposition. They either blame the past PDP administration or the falling international oil prices any time things go wrong.

 

When in 2008 or thereabout, there was a global economic meltdown, the then PDP-led Federal Government fixed the economy for us and they cushioned the effects of such hence the citizens never felt it but what do we see today, even the blind can see that the current APC administration has no policy or plan to cushion the effects of such fall in international  oil price rather the government is poised to make life more difficult for the citizenry by increasing the petrol pump price without increasing the minimum wage. The alleged corrupt PDP government handed an African largest economy to this APC government, I don’t know our current ranking. All I have to tell the protesters in Ekiti State is for them to look beyond the shenanigans. Will this current government ever tell you that Sambo Dasuki played a major role in the arrest of Mr President after his military regime was toppled? Will they tell you that opposition from Nnamdi Kanu, Fani Kayode, Fayose etc is landing them into charges ranging from corruption to treasonable felony? Of course they won’t! My last word for the good people of Ekiti will be to repeat the words of late Sam Mbakwe, who said that a fool once is not a fool but a fool twice is the real fool. Ekiti people, this is the time to take your destinies in your hands. Don’t be deceived into fighting your governor who happens to be the only man standing in opposition to the federal government .If they have any charge against him ,let them wait for him to finish his tenure in 2018.

Dr Paul John

Port Harcourt,Rivers state,mazipauljohn@gmail.com,08083658038

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NEWS

Tambuwal Condoles With Ekiti Govt Over Doctors’ Deaths
Sokoto government has expressed sadness over the death of six Ekiti doctors who died along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway on their way to Sokoto for the 56th annual general conference of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

Making known the government’s condolence, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the unfortunate incidence has left Sokoto people traumatised and has cast a huge shadow over the conference.

He said Sokoto government has already sent a condolence letter to Ekiti state government to condole them over the incident.

While declaring open the NMA’s annual conference in Sokoto Tuesday, Tambuwal urged doctors to uphold the ethics of their profession and promote virtue that will enhance their profession in the country.

He said the the National Health Act, whose operations the conference seeks to implement, will help in achieving universal health coverage and sustain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the Sokoto state government has already internalised the National health Act and already initiated provision of healthcare insurance for communities and public servants in the state.

“We have established the state primary healthcare development agency and brought all health facilities, staff and funding under one management unit. The state has also approved the procurement of cold chain equipment, generators, walk-in cold rooms and construction of satelite stors in the 23 LGAs and zonal offices in the state,” Tambuwal added

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HEADLINES, NEWS

How We Perfected Rigging Of Ekiti Election Inside Hotel – Aluko

Fresh facts have emerged on how the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State was allegedly manipulated in favour of Governor Ayo Fayose.

The embattled former State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Tope Aluko, has revealed how the rigging was perfected inside a hotel barely a week before the poll.

He said sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), such as ballot papers and result sheets, were delivered to PDP chieftains to allow for the manipulation of the poll long before the first ballot was cast.

Speaking on a special interview programme on Wednesday on ADABA 88. 9 FM monitored by our reporter, Aluko claimed that the electoral materials were delivered through Akure Airport and taken to a hotel owned by Fayose’s Chief of Staff Dipo Anisulowo in Are-Ekiti, where the alleged manipulation was carried out.

He said ballot papers were thumb-printed and result sheets filled by PDP members, which gave the party “undue advantage”.

Aluko explained that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives, led by a woman officer, stormed Anisulowo’s hotel and arrested the PDP henchmen but they were released within three hours because “you know we (PDP) were in government at that time”.

The whistleblower said a lorry conveying some of the electoral materials was intercepted by soldiers led by the recently retired Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh.

“But the materials were later released after the officers received ‘order from above’.”

According to him, the Fayose administration received the refund of the N5.2 billion spent on Ado-Ifaki highway by the Kayode Fayemi administration.

He said the governor initially denied but it was confirmed by former President Goodluck Jonathan during the PDP presidential campaign rally.

The PDP chief alleged that the money was diverted to the Ado-Ekiti  flyover, following the outcry generated.

Aluko said: “Ask him (Fayose) why did (former Works Commissioner) Kayode Oso flee?

“Finance Commissioner  Toyin Ojo told DSS interrogators about the state’s finances, including the N5.2 billion refunded on theAdo-Ifaki Road carried out by Fayemi.

“You will recall that the governor denied receiving  the refund but Ojo’s revelation made him (Fayose)  divert  the money for the flyover.”

Responding to questions on the prosecution threat by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, the PDP chieftain said Ajayi is also liable for prosecution for his alleged role in an attack on the court.

Aluko said: “I pity Owoseni Ajayi who is saying that I should be prosecuted because he (Ajayi) was the one who  ‘disrupted’ the delivery of a ruling by Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi.

“Owoseni told Fayose on phone that should the judge deliver the ruling on the perjury case, it would go against him and his planned swearing-in would be in jeopardy.”

Speaking on the purported reconciliation meeting with Fayose in a Lagos hotel, Aluko said he never went to meet Fayose as believed in some quarters.

His words: “It was the governor and former Ekiti Assembly factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi who barged into a meeting I was holding with some PDP leaders.

“Olugbemi and Fayose barged into the meeting venue. Olugbemi is a liar. He had lied against Fayose.

“He lied against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and  the PDP.

“He is working for the money and appointment he  just received from Fayose.

“I did not create a scene at the venue because hefty men were stationed around and my wife was afraid of what could happen.

“The governor held my clothes that I should not talk when I wanted to talk.

“I feared for my wife who later disappeared from the scene and I did not know her whereabouts.

“They almost attacked me when I went to Channels Television  but it was policemen led by the CP who saved me after being holed up there for about three hours.

“I played safe because of my wife and to avoid the scenario that played out when I went to Channels Television to grant my first interview.”

Aluko contended that his disagreement with the governor started with his (Fayose’s) alleged derailment from the plan for the development of Ekiti State and not because he was not made Chief of Staff.

He said: “I am not doing this because I was denied appointment. I discovered that this man has no plans for Ekiti and I went to him that Oga, it’s almost a year in office now and we have not done anything for the people.

“Fayose replied me by saying ‘don’t worry, Ekiti people are easy to deceive because by the time you buy them ponmo (cow skin) and booli (roasted plantain), you have stolen their hearts’.

“It was there that our crisis started. The issue of Chief of Staff was secondary.

“Fayose derailed from our blueprint for the development of Ekiti. He cancelled the monthly allowances for the aged.

“He imposed taxes on primary school pupils, among his other anti-people policies but when I reminded him, he told me that Ekiti people are gullible.

“I need the prayer of Nigerians so that I will not fall prey to the evil machinations of those planning to kill me by all means because of the truth I told Nigerians.”

TheNation

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NEWS

Army Orders General who Masterminded Ekiti Governorship Election Rigging To Resign

Nigerian Army has ordered Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, who achieved notoriety by overseeing the rigging of a governorship election in Ekiti State in 2014, to resign.

Minister of Defense, Dan Ali, disclosed the plan to end General Momoh’s military career in an exclusive interview in Washington, DC. Mr. Ali was in the US as part of the Nigerian delegation at a nuclear power summit convened by President Barack Obama of the United States of America.

The Nigerian Defense Minister revealed that the army decided to initiate the process of rusticating General Momoh who was indicted last year by a military panel.

General Momoh led a contingent of soldiers and other security agencies who intimidated voters and inhibited the movement of officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a broad strategy that was reportedly approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan to enable Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to defeat then incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi.

A former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, was used as a conduit to transfer huge sums of funds for the rigging operation. Mr. Obanikoro, who faces a separate investigation for money laundering, reportedly used the corporate account of his son’s firm to receive more than N4.7 billion for the election. The funds were then distributed among Mr. Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore and security agents who carried out the rigging.

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NEWS

Policemen Storms Ekiti To Arrest 11 Lawmakers, Others, Fayose Alleges

Armed policemen from Abuja have allegedly invaded Ekiti State to begin indiscriminate arrest of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, top government officials and 11 members of the State House of Assembly over allegation of stockpiling arms during the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

The policemen were led by one CSP Mohammed Abubakar of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja, according to a statement by the Special Assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who said the new plot was an aftermath of the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to achieve the plot of coercing the House of Assembly members to impeach the Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

The government said the indiscriminate arrest was to begin this night and that the policemen arrived Ado Ekiti, the State capital with Mr TKO Aluko and APC Chairman, Jide Awe today. “We are aware of the arrival of policemen from Abuja to Ekiti State with the intention of arresting 11 members of the House of Assembly, two PDP leaders per local government and some other top officials of the government.

“Ridiculously, the offense for which the policemen are to embark on this indiscriminate arrest is owing toTKO Aluko malicious outburst that those listed for arrest stockpiled arms during the governorship election conducted in Ekiti close to two years ago. This plot is in furtherance of the APC plot to destabilize the government of Ekiti State just because of Governor Fayose’s hard stance on President Mohammadu Buhari’s APC government policies.

“The question is, what was the arms they claimed were stockpiled used for? Was anyone killed or attacked during the election? And why is the Police not arresting the APC Chairman, Jide Awe who is wanted for alleged murder and TKO Aluko, who was declared wanted by the court for perjury, and instead providing security cover for them?

“We therefore which to alert Nigerians on this new plot and state that Ekiti people will resist any attempt to use the Police to harass innocent citizens of the State. Democratically, we are entitled to our views on any issue in Nigeria and we won’t succumb to intimidation and harassment from any agency of the Federal government.”

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