A former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government Hon Abiodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday obtained his nomination form with a declaration that the APC would win the June 2022 election in the state with the achievements of the Kayode Fayemi administration as a major advantage.

Similarly Oyebanji said Dr. Kayode Fayemi had no preferred candidate in the forth coming election, adding that the Governor remains the leader of all the aspirants.

Oyebanji who resigned his position as Secretary to Ekiti State Government earlier on Tuesday, stormed the Natiomal Headquarters of the party with chieftains of the party including a serving senator, four members of the House of Representatives and five members of the state House of Assembly including the Speaker of the House.

speaking with journalists after picking the form at the APC National Headquarters, Abuja, the former SSG said party's candidate would emerge at the primary.

"I'm not the Governor's anointed candidate. Everyone that is running belongs to APC and the Governor is our leader and I'm sure that everyone enjoys his support."

When asked of his effort to reconcile the factions in the state, the aspirant said, " I'm not aware of any faction in Ekiti State APC. Politics is a game of ideas and there are a million views on how things should go."

Speaking further on his plans to develop the state. He said he has a five-pillar agenda that he intends running as well as a State Development masterplan that is being crafted.

"Whatever we are going to do must find a space within those two documents and also in Ekiti State, we have a tradition of always consulting with the people to ask for their needs. So, our approach to governance is going to be the bottom up approach that Governor Fayemi started.

"We will consult with them, we will ask for their needs and their preferences and those ones must find a space within the State Development documents and policy that is being put in place.

Speaking further, Oyebanji said he woukd abide by whatever form of primary the party brings up. According to him, " It's not in our place to choose for the party. We are members of the party, we will follow whatever the party chooses."

Speaking on his ambition, Oyebanji said he has capacity, competence and experience, working for him, having served in the government of Ekiti State for 11 out of the 25 years the state has been in existence

" I have a perfect understanding of the sentiment of our people. I know their needs, I know their situation. I was part of the team that crafted the blueprint for Ekiti State and I've learnt under the feet of great men, I've worked with two governors at very close levels. I've seen them take very tough decisions and I have seen them navigate the various curves in administration."

He stressed that he is well positioned and experienced to lead Ekiti State. Especially to continue the good work of governor Kayode Fayemi.

"I am part and parcel of his vision, the five pillars and the five pillars is work in progress and I intend to wramp up from where he ends. My prayer is that he finishes well."

Five persons, comprising three women and two children have been rescued by members of governor Fayemi’s press crew at an accident scene that occurred along Igede Aramoko road on Friday evening.

The victims, who sustained varying degrees of injury, narrowly escape death, were rushed to the state university teaching hospital, in Ado where they were attended to.



The accident involved a truck and a Volkswagen golf car both heading towards Aramoko-Ekiti.

The victims, trapped in the vehicle, were left unattended to, as most of the commuters and sympathizers could not rescue them, but rather were using their mobile phones to record the scene.

Eyewitness account revealed that the accident was as a result of over speeding and carelessness on the part of both drivers.



It was also gathered that the truck lost control due to break failure and crushed the glof car while attempting to overtake it.

One of the occupants of the glof car, who spoke on condition of annominity, said they left Ilejemeje local government area of the state and was heading for Aramoko when the incident happened.

The Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service (IRS), has promised to expand the tentacles of its operations for the state to hit the N1.5 billion target monthly.

The Chairman, Ekiti State IRS Board, Mr. Muyiwa Ogunmilade, said this in an interactive session with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on what steps the revenue-generating agency had taken to boost the IGR after the “Ekiti Investment Summit 2021′, organised by the state government recently.

He said Governor Kayode Fayemi has been able to jack up the state’s revenue from “N400m monthly in 2018 to N850 million without double taxation, without any burden, without increasing taxes. I am just sure that Ekiti can generate N1.5 billion monthly. We are not over-promising. If we can do that, a lot of things will be easier for our state”.

Ogunmilade said the agency succeeded in shoring up the state’s IGR through a process called ‘Tax Net’, where some of the business centres like hotels and schools operating in Ekiti and have not paid taxes for years were registered and made to start paying with immediate effect.

Ogunmilade disclosed that IRS in its determination to tackle tax evasion, also discovered about 150 car wash business premises in Ado, Ikere and Iworoko that were not paying taxes, saying the agency had given them bills to raise the monthly IGR profile.

The Ekiti State tax Chief added further that the informal or shadow sector of the economy like commercial motorcyclists fondly called Okada riders, tailoring, bricklaying and other associations, are being properly structured, to be able to make adequate contributions to IGR generation.

“We have also introduced Land use charge, which is what you pay to the government for a built property. It used to be tenement rate. We are particularly happy because our people are cooperating in spite of the initial hitches.

“That was why I said we can do N1.5 billion. Tax is not optional. The most certain thing on earth is tax and death. The issue of double taxation doesn’t arise. We are effecting our tax policy implementation with a human face”.

The tax chief said the government is also looking for ways to deepen its economic activities, by wooing investors and attracting the establishment of more private universities and employment-generating businesses to Ekiti to increase tax payment.

“We are also looking inwards and revamping our moribund industries. For instance, Nigeria requires 1.7 million litres of milk to cater for daily consumption and only 30 percent is produced locally. This shows that we must work quickly on our Ikun dairy firm that we are doing with Promasidor Nigeria Limited because we will definitely have off-takers if we produce that 10,000 daily.

“Let us look at how our economy will be in Ekiti if we have an international brewery in our state. We are at the centre and we can easily supply Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Kwara States, where there are no breweries. That is why our elite must support us. We have a long way to go”.

Ogunmiladeb disclosed that Governor Fayemi has given the agency autonomy to ensure independence in operations and to ensure efficiency.

He said: “We can operate without being caged by civil service rules. The law for our autonomy has been signed. We now have the potentials to develop. Tax is not a punishment, it is not a burden. It was even mentioned in the Bible many times than tithe”.

“Rather than for the citizens to be running away from tax or think that it is only when a government performs that they can pay, they should rather wait for election time to vote out any government that doesn’t use their taxes properly. They should learn how to use the weapon of election to effect change”.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said his administration has opened a Honour’s Register in the State containing names of individuals that have contributed immensely to the creation and development of the State.

This he said is in line with the provision of the law establishing the Ekiti State Honours Award, adding that the register would be kept in the office of the Secretary to the State Government for record purpose and for posterity.

Dr Fayemi disclosed this Saturday evening in Ado-Ekiti, during the maiden edition of the Ekiti Honours (Oni Uyi) Awards as part of activities marking the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state and the third year anniversary of his second term administration.

The event which turned out an evening of glitz, accolades and reminisces, saw the two former Military Administrators of the state, the late Lt. Col. Inua Bawa and Navy Captain Atanda Yusuf as well as three former Civilian governors - Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Dr Ayodele Fayose and Engr. Segun Oni receiving the state’s highest honours - Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (EEA) Award for their roles as ‘Builders’ of the State.

Former Military Governor of the old Western Region, the late General Adeyinka Adebayo, legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, HRM Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III and Chairman of the Ekiti State Creation Committee, Chief Deji Fasuan were also awarded the Ekiti Exceptional Achievers (EEA) awards for their roles as ‘Architects’ of Ekiti State.

Other recipients of the awards in different categories include legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), former Minister of Education, Prof Tunde Adeniran; former Minister of Information, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, former Minister for Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, second Republic Minister of Science and Technology, late Dr Bode Olowoporoku and incumbent Secretary to the State Government, Hon Biodun Oyebanji, who served as Secretary to the Ekiti State Creation Committee then as a young man in his mid- twenties.

Other recipients of the awards were three former acting governors of the state - the late Chief Friday Aderemi; Hon Tunji Odeyemi, Hon Tope Ademiluyi. A former Sole Administrator of the state, the late Gen Adetunji Olurin was also honoured posthumously.
Others are Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; the Ajero of Ijero, HRM Oba Adebayo Adewole; the Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, HRM Oba (Dr) Adesanya Aladejare; the Obanla of Ijesa Isu, HRM Oba Gabriel Oso Adeniyi; the late Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Edward Adedoja Oni; the late Elekole of Ikole, Oba Adetula Adeleye; the late Elemure of Emure, Oba Adigun Oshin; and a former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Paul Alabi.

Also honoured were the late renowned Economist, Prof Sam Aluko; retired Permanent Secretary, Chief (Mrs) Tola Ajumobi; World Bank Executive, Chief Bayo Awosemusi; a former Member of House of Representatives, Dr Ife Arowosoge; renowned philanthropist, the late Chief Lawrence Omolayo; Chief George Akosile, Dr Teniola Oluwadare, Dr Biodun Aladetoyinbo and late Alhaji Shehu Ajijola.
Governor Fayemi in his remarks during the award presentation, explained that the award was done to preserve the pristine principles of diligence, hard work, honesty and integrity that the recipients had demonstrated in their service and commitment to the State.

Dr Fayemi, who noted that the erstwhile edition of the honours’ award held during the first term of his administration in 2012 received wide acclamation as the best model to celebrate exceptional personalities in the state, said the legal backing given to the award would ensure its sustainability by subsequent administration.

According to the Governor, the maiden edition was designed to celebrate those who played critical roles in the state creation movement whom he described as the architect and builders of the state. He added that the awards were non-partisans and every Ekiti citizen and friend of the state who had distinguished themselves in their various endeavours are entitled to be selected for the award, which according to him would now be held annually.

“It is no longer news that our mantra for this second term is to restore those values which make us unique as Ekiti people. In pursuance of this, we have decided to resuscitate the awards. To this end, the Ekiti State Honours Roll Law, No 41 of 2020 has been enacted to give legal backing to the awards and to institutionalize it perpetually for subsequent administrations.

“Those to be honoured today include those at the forefront of the vanguard for Ekiti State creation. We have diligently researched into our archives in a painstaking move to identify these heroes and heroines whose labour and efforts resulted in the creation of Ekiti State. Our decision to honour them today is our show of gratitude to these valiant men and women.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour and privilege for me to be in your midst at this significant event of the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the creation of our dear Ekiti State. We would all recall that Ekiti State was created out of the old Ondo State by late General Sani Abacha on October 1st, 1996. Today’s event is the culmination of about a month-long activities marking not only the 25th Anniversary of our dear State, but also the celebration of our third year in office.

“This is the maiden edition of “Oni Uyi” Award. The central philosophy undergirding our administration is the restoration of Ekiti Values. This is why a few days ago, we launched the Ekiti Values Education Curriculum and Textbooks. Today, we are implementing the provisions of the Ekiti State Honour (Oni Uyi) Awards Law, 2020 as we honour the architects and builders of Ekiti State and demonstrate that it pays to live honourably and serve the common good.”, the Governor added.

A major highlight of the event was a panel discussion on the creation of the state with the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe; Chief Fasuan and Hon Oyebanji as panellists.

The panel which was moderated by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi had the key actors of the creation of the state reminiscence on the critical roles played by traditional rulers, members of the state creation committee and other eminent personalities in the actualization of the creation of Ekiti State.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Dr Teniola Oluwadare commended the leadership style of Dr Kayode Fayemi for his development strides in the State and for considering it worthy to honour distinguished sons and daughters of the State.

Fayemi presents N100.7bn 2022 budget to Ekiti Assembly
...Reiterates commitment to completion of ongoing projects
…incorporates judicial, legislative budgets.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, presented the 2022 budget estimate of N100,753, 993,241.60 christened "Budget of Legacy and Consolidation” to the State House of Assembly.

The budget which according to the Governor was a product of wider consultation is made up of N60.686,914,229.22 recurrent expenditure and N40.067,079,021.38 capital expenditure making a ratio reflection of 60:40 of recurrent to capital expenditures.

Dr Fayemi disclosed that the major objective of the budget is to ensure that all ongoing legacy projects including the State Cargo airport and the new Ado-Iyin road and other new road projects were completed to consolidate his administration's plan to transform the state.

He added that the budget was designed to reduce unemployment, attract more investors, ensure smooth transition to the in-coming administration, increase the state's internal generated revenue, improve security architectures, contain the spread of covid-19 third wave and reduce its negative impact on the livelihood of the people, among others.

Dr Fayemi said: “Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I state that 2022 fiscal year is a watershed in the life of this administration on one hand, and in Ekiti State in general.

“It is a year of transition to a new administration. To this end, the primary objective of the 2022 Budget is to complete and consolidate on our numerous achievements and prepare a solid economic foundation for the in-coming administration.

“Therefore, only critical projects and programmes of short-term completion that will boost the economy of the State through attraction of more investors and mitigate against the risk of climate change have been considered in the 2022 Budget."

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing worker’s welfare adding that adequate provision has been made in the budget to defray backlog of salary arrears inherited from the past administration.

The Governor also announced that the 2022 budget incorporated the budget proposal submitted by the two arms of government to the executive in accordance with the provisions of the fund management law.

Dr Fayemi further informed members of the house that adequate provision has been made for the completion of ongoing Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) channelization project at Oke-Ako-Irele and Oye-Ekiti as well as other on-going ecological projects in the State to safe guard from the effect of ecological degradation and mitigate the risk of climate change.

Giving a breakdown of the budget in accordance with the five point agenda of his administration, governance takes the largest chunk of N36.716,049,580.38 representing 36 per cent, followed by Infrastructure and Industrial Development which take N28,056,524,153.02 representing 28 percent.

Others included Knowledge Economy N19.716,187,472.85 representing 20 per cent; Social investment takes N14.063,965,875.87 representing 14 per cent while Agriculture and rural development takes N2.201,267,159.48 representing 2 per cent.

The Governor, however noted that agriculture in the State is driven by private sector with an investment of over USD 300,000,000.

Governor Fayemi who also commended the Speaker Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye and other members of the 6th State House of Assembly for supporting programmes and policies geared towards the development of the State, reaffirmed his commitment to sustain the harmonious relationship with the legislature and judiciary for the betterment of the State.

Earlier, the Speaker assured the gathering that the Assembly would work assiduously on the appropriation bill and ensure it's passage to law before the end of the year.

He commended the Governor for translating the 2021 budget into reality, adding that the assembly would continue to identify with and collaborate with executives on matter that has to do with the development of the State.

Fayemi commends APC delegates for peaceful conduct of state congress
…as party members unanimously adopt new State EXCO through consensus election

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has commended the process that led to the emergence of the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as peaceful, adding that it was a reflection of the desire of members of the APC to move the party forward in the state.

Dr Fayemi who spoke in Ado- Ekiti shortly after the end of the State Congress that produced Barr Paul Omotosho as state chairman and Hon Sola Elesin as Vice Chairman. The Governor thanked officials of National Congress Committee led by Alhaji Yusuf Galambi and the Local Working Committee for doing a yeoman job that made the process seamless and transparent.

According to the Governor, the newly elected executive members of the Party emerged through a consensus process that was in tandem with the stipulated guidelines of the congress committee set up by the party’s headquarters in Abuja and received the endorsement of all the State delegates at the congress.

Governor Fayemi, who said he was glad that the process was hitch free, commended the delegates for conducting themselves in a manner that reflected the ethos and principles of peace, progress, stability and unanimity of purpose that the party represented.

“This has been a remarkable event and it has gone on peacefully, it has been resolved consensually and it has received the endorsement of all the State delegates here present on behalf of the party from all constituencies in the State.

“This is what we are about in APC, we are about peace, we are about progress we are about stability and unanimity of purpose haven done our homework in the various local government and haven been presented with your nominees from the Local government, I am glad that this process has gone on without any hitch. All that remains for me as the leader of our party is to thank the congress committee from Abuja immensely for the great job they have done.” He added

Speaking further, the Governor stressed the need to work collectively with the newly elected committee to ensure that the determination and commitment of the party to produce the next governor of the State in 2022 comes to reality by providing a level playing field for all interested candidates.

He said; "now the elected executive committee of our party has a bulk of work to do and we have to assist them. The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the date for every step leading to the successful election of the next governor of our state.

“Just as the newly elected Chairman has said our prayer, our determination, our commitment is that the next governor of this state will still come from our great party, the All Progressives congress The work we have to do is that we need to collectively move in that direction working with party leadership to ensure a process that provides a level playing field for all interested people in this exercise.

“Our prayer is also that it will be violent free, just as we have witnessed in this exercise that has been conducted today, I congratulate all our members who have been elected into office.” He added.

Communities across the three senatorial districts in Ekiti State have showered encomiums on Governor Kayode Fayemi for executing various development projects which have boosted the standard of living of people in the grassroots.

Dr. Fayemi received the plaudits on Monday at the Town Hall Meetings tagged Citizens Engagement Towards Preparation for 2022 Budget where all the communities in the 16 Local Government Areas and the 19 Local Council Development Areas submitted their requests for inclusion in the budget proposal.

The Governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, told the gatherings that his administration had delivered on its electoral promises despite the financial challenges imposed by lower revenue from the Federation Account, occasioned by global economic crisis.

He also promised that his administration will not leave any ongoing project abandoned or neglected including the Agro Cargo Airport and key industries attracted through partnerships with development partners as the government heads towards its terminal point in October 2022.

Dr. Fayemi assured that dilapidated roads in Ado Ekiti and other parts of the state will be attended to as soon as rain ceases to bring relief to the people of the state and other road users.

Traditional rulers and community leaders who spoke on behalf of their towns at the Citizens' Engagement held in Oye Ekiti (for Ekiti North), Ise Ekiti (for Ekiti South) and Ado Ekiti (for Ekiti Central) hailed the Governor for his ingenuity in sourcing for funds to carry out grassroots-oriented projects to the benefit of the masses.

They noted that their gratitude to the Governor was anchored on the fact that their hometowns have benefited from projects which include intrastate roads, renovation and equipment of schools, renovation and equipment of hospitals, restoration of public water supply and execution of policies that have changed their lives for good.

Addressing the people at the three centres, Dr. Fayemi also urged traders and residents of Ado Ekiti, Oye Ekiti, Ikole Ekiti and other towns to make use of designated markets and desist from displaying their wares on the major highways to avoid loss of lives and goods.

He explained that Agric Olope Market and other new markets built across the state were products of requests of the people during the previous town hall meetings for inclusion in the past budgets saying his administration will not want accidents that claimed lives on highway markets in neighbouring States to happen in Ekiti.

The Governor said the Citizens' Engagement on Budget had been a major programme of his government since his first tenure. This he said resulted in projects the people demanded for and deepened their participation on governance.

Dr. Fayemi disclosed that the creation of the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) was also one of the major legacies of Citizens' Engagement, adding that people demanded for by the creation of the LCDAs during previous engagements.
He said the councils were created to bring governance nearer to the people and engender grassroots development.

The Governor who urged community leaders to take ownership of projects executed in their domains also expressed delight that his administration has fulfilled the electoral promises made to the people during the electioneering campaign for the 2018 governorship election.

He said: "Our administration has delivered on our electoral promises despite the financial challenges occasioned by lower revenues from the Federation Account and our administration will not leave any project uncompleted or abandoned including the massive cargo airport.

"We want our Obas and Chiefs to take ownership of projects completed and personally supervise ongoing projects so that contractors handling them will not do shoddy jobs.

"The commitment of our administration to openness and fiscal transparency has been acknowledged in a research conducted by Public and Private Development Centre and Ekiti was ranked second out of 36 States which were assessed on various indices.

"This endorsement has further fired our resolve to further entrench transparent management of funds. I solicit support to build on legacies of this government even beyond our tenure which ends in 2022."

The monarchs and community leaders made demands which include construction and renovation of palaces, procurement of new transformers and rural electrification, rehabilitation of dilapidated roads, provision of police stations, military outposts, civic centres, town halls and construction of township roads.

Other demands are establishment of cottage industries, rehabilitation of collapsed bridges, resuscitation of payment of stipends to local vigilantes, payment of grants to youth for commercial farming, more ambulances for government hospitals, construction of boreholes, among others.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Femi Ajayi said the interface is organised annually to enable the Governor interact with people at the grassroots and articulate the needs of various towns and communities in line with the five-pillar agenda.

Mr. Ajayi explained that the people's needs have been attended to either by state government or local government saying the town hall meetings have numerous achievements to show since its commitment.

He said: "I want to state with enthusiasm that majority of the critical needs submitted by our communities in 2020 had been implemented.

"For example, the Ikere-Ise Road which was almost impassable had been fixed. Also, three roads namely: Aramoko-Erijiyan-Ikogosi Road, Ode-Isinbode-Omuo Road and Ilupeju-Igbemo-Ire-Ijan Road, which cut across the three senatorial districts had been constructed and ready for commissioning.

"It was observed that most of our communities requested for renovation of their health facilities and schools. May i state that our primary healthcare institutions had been renovated while out primary schools had also been renovated."

The Commissioner stated further that the high rating received by Ekiti on openness and transparency was an affirmation of the open governance and inclusive policies of the administration.

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has lauded various economic and investment initiatives of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; which had turned the State into a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

Prof. Osinbajo said Ekiti has economic potentials and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is higher than some African countries, describing the State as a land of limitless opportunities for investment in agribusiness, technology and knowledge economy.
The nation's number two citizen made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the first Ekiti Economic Development and Investment Summit (otherwise known as Fountain Summit) held as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Fayemi Administration in office.

The Vice President had, a few minutes before the commencement of the summit, inaugurated the Ekiti Civic and Convention Centre, a legacy project of the Fayemi Administration with the Summit making history as the first official event to be held in the imposing edifice located near the gate of the Government House, Ado Ekiti.

He said the Federal Government and most especially President Muhammadu Buhari has a special interest in Ekiti and commended Governor Fayemi for leveraging on investment from the private sector to grow the economy of the State most especially in sectors where the state has comparative advantage.

The Vice President showered encomium on Governor Fayemi for reviving Ikun Dairy Farm after being abandoned for over 40 years and divesting 40 per cent of its shares to attract private investor, the Promasidor Group, in order to keep the business enterprise running and generating more jobs for the locals.

The Summit which had as its theme: Investment Attractiveness and Economic Development: Lessons for Sub-Nationals also featured a panel of discussion on key issues including fiscal federalism, revenue generation, security, infrastructure, governance, attracting investment, among others.

Panelists who featured in the discussion segment moderated by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi include Vice President Osinbajo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the host Governor, Dr. Fayemi.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ben Liewellyn-Jones; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mr. Emeka Offor and Director General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), Mr. Seye Oyeleye.

Vice President Osinbajo who said the policy framework put in place by the Fayemi Administration is already yielding dividends, noted that Ekiti has a GDP that is five times more than that of Sao Tome and Principe, The Gambia and Seychelles while it has the same GDP as Liberia.

According to him, Ekiti under Dr Fayemi's watch has been placed on a sound economic footing, which he said future administrations must build upon to the benefit of the people of the state “in more entrepreneurship, generation of more revenue, among other indicators of better economic growth.”

Prof. Osinbajo said: "Ekiti has a friendly business environment; it ranks 18th overall out of 36 States and FCT in the inaugural edition of the Nigerian Homegrown Sub-Nation Ease of Doing Business Baseline Survey. The survey was commissioned and serves as a situation report on current attractive ness of business environment of States in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

"Ekiti was the strongest in the skills, labour and infrastructure and security indicators. Also in the last World Bank Ease of Doing Business Survey, Ekiti excelled in the area of dealing with construction plan, ranking 4th in the entire federation.

The Vice President said Governor Fayemi’s excellent relationship with donors and international agencies, his experience as a second term governor and one-time Minister of Mines and Steel and Chair of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, has helped in putting the state at a distinct advantage “and evidently, there is a commitment to private sector economy here.”, he added.

"Government should as much as possible facilitate or at best collaborate with the private sector. An excellent example is what we have in formerly state owned Ikun Dairy Farm. After 40 years of inactivity, the state government has divested 76 per cent of shareholding to a private dairy company, Promasidor, now resulting in the company now producing over 10,000 litres from a herd of 500 cows."

Prof Osinbajo also lauded the concession of the famous Ikogosi Warm Spring Tourist Resort affirming the principle of giving the private sector an opportunity to tale the lead in bettering economic fortunes of States.

In his welcome address, Dr. Fayemi said the ongoing developmental strides of his administration resulted from the promise he made three years ago to restore the land and reclaim Ekiti values including completion of abandoned projects and lifting the state economy higher than he met it on assumption of office.

The Governor said he took the gauntlet in attracting private investment to breathe life into the local economy, make the state less dependent on the federal allocation and also shore up the Internally Generated Revenue which he said had grown from N400 million monthly to N800 million adding that the state had grossed over N1 billion twice this year.
He disclosed that work is ongoing on the Ekiti Agro Cargo Airport which he pledged would be inaugurated by this time next year to stimulate more investment and provide an opportunity for marketing produce within and outside the country.

Dr Fayemi said: "Our solution to reduce the dependence of Ekiti State on federally distributed revenues, is to enable private enterprise, by making the state an attractive destination for investors.

"Today, I am pleased to note that our weakest section, enforcement of contracts, has been addressed by the collaborative efforts of the Judiciary, Legislature, our Ministry of Justice, and EKDIPA. We have also made significant progress with our Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, and Cargo Airport projects, which are all designed to increase economic activity in the State.

"We have started construction of the airport, and expect it to be completed by this time next year. We have also received a grant of $250,000 from the African Development Bank to prepare a full feasibility study for Ekiti Knowledge Zone, and should announce an anchor investor and partner for the project before the end of this year. Our agro-industrial processing zone is already occupied, and we expect additional occupants over the next few months."

During the panel discussion, Vice President Osinbajo said there is need for more peer review among the States to engender sustainable development which will rub off positively on the national economy.

Speaking during the panel session, Governors Sanwo-Olu, El-Rufai and Obaseki , were unanimous in their submission that a multi-level policing would help address insecurity issue in the country.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who said Lagos State presently generates N45 billion internally every month urged Ekiti State Government to block all loopholes of revenue leakage and consolidate its automated revenue platform to transit from low IGR to high IGR.

Governor Obaseki said investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and education remained a key to economic revival and growing the SMEs to place Ekiti on a higher economic pedestal as witnessed in Edo.

He said failure of many States to plan ahead of the economic downturn and beyond the oil driven economy has placed many of them at a tight corner noting that the need to look inward has become imperative more than ever before.

Governor Fayemi during the discussion also harped on the need for successive administrations at federal and state levels to imbibe the culture of continuity of projects and policies that are beneficial to the people to stem the tide of waste in the country.
He noted that Ekiti Civic and Convention Centre commissioned earlier in the day was started during his first administration but abandoned by the administration that succeeded him noting that it was Providence that brought him back to office to complete the iconic project.

Governor El-Rufai urged states to invest more in human capital development and "tame the monster of recurrent expenditure" which, according to him, is eating deep into their developmental strides.

He identified education, health and security as critical sectors that must witness quality investment to gradually turn the States into investment havens and make them depend less on the Federal Government for survival.

The event was attended by the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; members of the National Assembly, State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, clerics, senior civil servants, artisans, interest groups and members of the public.

A Lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 2 in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, has described Governor Kayode Fayemi as the best Governor the state ever produced, taking cognisance of his cumulative performances index since 2010.

Aribasoye, a Human Rights Activist dropped a bombshell against the immediate past government of Mr Ayodele Fayose for despising human capital development through owing of over eight months of workers’ salaries, branding this as the highest point of insensitivity.

The All Progressives Congress Chieftain said this in a statement in Ado Ekiti, congratulating Fayemi, the APC and the Ekiti populace on the third year anniversary of the governor in the saddle of governance.

The Lawyer said politics aside, Governor Fayemi has succeeded in restoring Ekiti values of integrity, industry, honour, honesty and scholarship it was renowned for since pre-colonial days.

Aribasoye said the paradigm shift Governor Fayemi has brought into governance and some novel actions taken by his administration like the Social Security Scheme for the elderly and domestication of the Gender Based Violence Prohibition laws, were areas that eloquently attested to the governor’s outstanding and sterling qualities.

He said: “If you dissect Ekiti’s developmental strides since the advent of democracy in 1999, Governor Fayemi towers above others that had ever ruled Ekiti in terms of performances and commitment to human Capital development.

“When Governor Fayemi came in 2010, he initiated the Social security scheme where 25,000 poor elders got N5,000 monthly stipend and the programme still gulps N100 million monthly from the allocation. Governor Fayemi also introduced food banks, village kitchens and various empowerments for this group.

“Governor Fayemi was the first governor to domesticate the GBV law in the country, thereby reducing incidences of rape, defilement , child slavery, and all forms of gender molestations. The law had also facilitated the jailing of many rape offenders in the state.

“In a bid to shore up the internally generated revenue of this state, Governor Fayemi built the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion , revamped Ikun Dairy farm with $5m in partnership with Promasidor company that will produce 10,000 litres of milk daily, Ire Burnt Brick now functional and many other initiatives that have increased the IGR from N490m to about a billion naira monthly.

“In the area of education,Governor Fayemi canceled tuition fees in all primary and secondary schools and introduced free education up to secondary School level . He also built four model schools in Ado Ekiti with a promise to build five more. This initiative has increased school enrolment by 90 percent.

“Most memorable is good governance Governor Fayemi has brought to Ekiti. Our workers are no longer beggarly the way they were under the immediate past government. Salaries are now being paid as and when due. Before Fayemi came on board in 2018, workers and Pensioners are owed between five and eight months arrears.

“The airport project that would also expose Ekiti to further and better investment is now being undertaken and would be completed soon to expose the state to further national and international business opportunities.”

Aribasoye lauded Fayemi’s achievement in youth empowerment and encouragement in agriculture, where over 2,000 of them are being encouraged in commercial farming that is gradually making Ekiti attains food security.

Further on youth empowerment, the lawmaker added that the governor has completed the Civic Centre at Fajuyi area that would serve as rendezvous for youth to exchange profitable ideas, receive vocational trainings, skills and get exposed to act of role modeling.

Despite the parlous and debilitating economic situation being experienced in the State and Nigeria, Aribasoye disclosed that Governor Fayemi is presently tarring about ten major roads in Ekiti like Agbado-Ode-Omuo, Ilupeju-Ire-Ijan, Ise-Ikere, Aramoko-Erinjiyan, Oye-Ayede-Isan-Iye and the dualisation of the new Ado-Iyin road.

“Recently, Governor Fayemi flagged off the completion of the dualisation of the 14 kilometres Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road that started over a decade ago.”

Aribasoye boasted that the APC would triumph in the 2022 election with a wide margin, saying the performance of the party would serve as a springboard for any candidate picked by the party.

“It is going to be a work over for APC. Though we will work hard, we won’t take the people for granted. The job will be easier because Governor Kayode Fayemi has touched every facet and stratum of the economy.”

He assured all the intending aspirants that the party leadership under Governor Fayemi would allow a free , fair and credible primary , like they did in 2018 and 2019 elections.

A member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, has congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi on the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state.

Aribasoye, a Human Rights Activist, branded the creation of Ekiti as a huge blessing to the citizens, describing the widespread notion that Ekiti has failed as a state as tantamount to wrong and hasty conclusion, as well as narrow perspective of a few .

Ekiti state was created on October 1, 1996, by the military government of the late General Sanni Abacha.

In his congratulatory message released in Ado Ekiti on Friday, Aribasoye, representing Ikole constituency 2, commended the giant strides being presently made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, to direct the state to the path of greatness and radical development in all spheres.

Aribasoye saluted the industry of those who laboured hard, navigated the bumpy paths and took many risks for Ekiti to be created, saying the history had consigned them to the positive side as Patriots and Pathfinders, who consolidated the dividends of our freedom from Invaders in 1886, after the Kiriji War.

The All Progressives Congress stalwart, also lauded the past leaders of the state: the late Col. Inua Bawa, Commodore Atanda Yusuf, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Segun Oni, and Ayodele Fayose, for contributing their highly beneficial quotas to the development of the state.

Aribasoye exuded confidence that Ekiti is one state with a bright future in view of its enormous human capital resource, saying the state would become an eldorado, if this abundant resource is harnessed and conscionably deployed to the service of Ekiti.

He said: "To me as an individual and not because am in government as a representative of my people, the creation of this state in 1996 was a huge and immesurable blessing to all of us as Ekiti citizens and not a curse or burden to anyone.

"We knew how Ado Ekiti was in 1996. We knew the little space and attention Ekiti attracted then and what had followed afterwards. This state is undoubtedly making steady progress.

"We might not have got to where we are supposed to be, but we have left where we were in 1996. Ekiti has not failed and that has been corroborated by the enigmatic progress we have made in the areas of education, agriculture, industrial development, human capital development and radical health services being accorded our people.

"Our past governors had tried to uplift our state in all spheres despite the lean resources, but the present John Kayode Fayemi government has really revved the pedal of development and accelerated the velocity further by its pragmatic and purposeful style of leadership".

Aribasoye added that the construction of the Civic centre, revamping of the moribund Ikun dairy farm, conversion of the college of education Ikere Ekiti to a full fledged university, construction of strategic roads across the Senatorial districts, establishment of four model schools in Ado Ekiti, prompt payment of workers' salaries and pension, promotion of gender equality policy, free education and health policies of government among others, were pointers that Ekiti has not failed .

"Between 2018 and now that Governor Fayemi returned , he has attracted investment worth a total of $100m to our dear state through direct investment and partnership to revamp our ailing or moribund industries.

"The governor had also promised to make Ekiti one of the top five states with ease of doing business while also completing the Cargo Airport before exiting office.

"To all of us who are savouring the sweat and sacrifices made by our founding fathers to ensure creation of Ekiti State, time has come for us to perceive its existence as a huge blessing, rather than a curse.

"In leaps and bounds, Ekiti is expanding and gaining traction as one state with potentials to compete among the comity of states", Aribasoye stated.

The commitment of the Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration to transparency and accountability in governance has paid off with Ekiti State emerging as the second most transparent and integrity-compliant State in Nigeria.

The 2021 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) survey which was carried out by the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW), a non-partisan organization, in a recent release ranked Ekiti State second with 73.33% , with Kaduna State coming first with 76.67% rating.

Kwara State with 65,00 per cent was ranked third in the report.

According to the report by the Centre whose aim is to promote accountability, transparency within the public sector and ensure good governance at all levels, the 36 States of Nigeria were assessed based on their commitments to fiscal transparency, budget implementation, open procurement and contracting, and citizens’ engagement.
The Centre stated that citizens can only hold their governments accountable when they know how they are being governed; adding that though all the 36 States have communication channels to facilitate citizens’ engagement, only Ekiti and two other States have domesticated the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law.

“The UN is of the opinion that informed citizens can make decisions on how they are governed. Information is power. Only when citizens know how they are governed can they hold their governments accountable for their decisions and actions. Therefore, universal access to information is the cornerstone of healthy and inclusive societies. The TII Index 2021 will provide the benchmark to rate public sector institutions in Nigeria and, at the same time, empower Nigerians to demand accountability at all levels”, the report states.

In the survey, local governments were considered parts of the State and were not assessed separately. Under the States Variables Compliance ranking for local governments, Ekiti scored one point and was joint 4th with Kaduna State but was ranked third in its compliance with Anti-Corruption laws and Citizens’ engagement.

In Budget and Audit reports, Ekiti ranked next to Kwara, Taraba and Yobe who were joined first, while it was fifth in procurement ranking.

The executive summary of the report revealed that 20 states published the list of its awarded contracts between 2016 and 2020, while 19 states disclosed the list of the contractors.

Governor Kayode Fayemi said the administration would continue to uphold the tenets of transparency and accountability in government as well as excellent service delivery to the citizens.

Yinka Oyebode
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

...SAYS NGF WAITING ON SUPREME COURT TO RESOLVE VAT DISPUTE

...PREDICTS VICTORY FOR APC IN 2023

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said there is need to channel borrowed funds to regenerative ventures to strengthen the nation's economy and generate more jobs for the citizens.

Dr. Fayemi said there was nothing wrong in the recent call made by President Muhammadu Buhari for a downward review of the nation's debt portfolio owing to the prevailing revenue challenges facing the country.

He said the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), which he chairs, is waiting on the Supreme Court on the final resolution of the dispute between the Federal Government and some states of the federation on the collection of the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The Ekiti helmsman expressed confidence that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would still form the next government at the federal level and win majority of the states of the federation after the conduct of the 2023 general elections noting that the party for now was interested in the stability and security of the country.

Dr. Fayemi stated these while fielding questions on THISDAY LIVE, an interview programme on ARISE TELEVISION monitored in Ado Ekiti on Sunday. Dr. Fayemi also advocated that the Petroleum Industry Act should be implemented equitably among the nation's federating units.

The Governor said the security of the people of Ekiti State was paramount to his administration, adding that the state has been leveraging on the synergy between the mainstream security institutions and the Amotekun Corps to secure lives and property of dwellers of the Land of Honour.

Predicting victory for APC in 2023, he said: "Contentions are always going to happen. APC is a big Party with different tendencies and there will be contentions for and against. We are very confident that this Party will produce the next government in this country in 2023 but before we get there, we are more focused on the country now. The Party is more interested in the stability and security of Nigeria. What is happening internally is something we will resolve internally."

Responding to a question on borrowed funds, Dr. Fayemi said: "The President Buhari administration ought to be commended on the utilization of money being borrowed. It has utilized these monies more on infrastructure development than consumption which has aided economic growth.

"Clearly, it would be great not to borrow but it would also be great to redirect the funds that we have to regenerative areas of our economy. Realistically, we have a revenue challenge which has not enabled us build an economy that responds to the yearnings of Nigerians.

"I don’t think there is anything wrong in the President as a major voice in international affair, particularly in Africa and the black world calling for a review of debt management and arrangements."

Lending his voice to the VAT controversy, Dr. Fayemi said: "For us at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, this is an issue that we are looking both legally and politically. But our take on this is that the Supreme Court should accelerate its decision so that we have clarity over who should be in charge of Value Added Tax (VAT). Whether it is the Federal Inland Revenue Service, or States.

"States that have gone to court believe clearly that this responsibility evolves according to their own understanding of what the constitution says. The important thing is that our tax system is problematic, confusing, and contradictory. We need to do a lot more to clarify things so that it can give room for more efficient and effective collection of taxes."

Lending his voice to the new Petroleum Industry Act, the NGF chair said: "We do not believe that the Ministry of Finance (incorporated) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources should be the sole owner of the company that have emerged out of the Petroleum Act because we believe that the entire

Fayemi's Aide Hosts community, party men.
... Awards scholarship to Miss Ilogbo


The Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Hon Tolu Ibitola has awarded a scholarship to the winner of Miss Ilogbo pageant competition, Miss Olabisi Ogunleye.

Hon Ibitola gave the scholarship this weekend to the 200 level Business Administrator of the university of Ilorin, at the 2021 Ilogbo day celebration.

The Governor's aide who promised that the scholarship would cater for the remaining part of her tuition fee in higher institution, said the scholarship was to encourage youths in the community to develop their creativity and talents.

Responding to the award, Miss Ogunleye commended Hon Ibitola's gesture and promised to be more diligent and committed to her study to justify the confidence reposed her.

Commending, Mr. Ibitola kind gestures to Ilogbo community, Former APC Usi ward Chairman, Gabby Kayode said, he was not surprised at Ibitola' benevolence, selfless service and commitment to community growth and development.

The Governor's aide also play host to his community members, Ido-Osi APC ward councilors, women leaders, Student Associations and some cyclists from Ilogbo and neighboring town in his country home, Usi Ekiti.

The Governor of Ekiti State and Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has appointed Tosin Durodola as his Special Assistant on Digital Communications.

Mr. Durodola, 24, hails from Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA. Until his appointment, he was a Technical Assistant at the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti.

Mr. Durodola obtained his M.A in African Studies (Diaspora and Transnational Studies) with the highest Distinction from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. His thesis which emerged as the overall best at the faculty level was recently nominated for the 2021 Africa Thesis Award. He graduated from Bowen University, Iwo in 2016, with Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History and International Studies. He has a Certification from the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC), Leiden University, Netherlands. He is an alumnus of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti.

Confirming his appointment, Tosin Durodola posted on his Facebook page, “I am privileged to have recently been appointed Special Assistant (Digital Communications) to the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Glory be to God! This is a rare opportunity to continue working on and managing the Digital communications, solutions and services for the Government and Governor of Ekiti State as part of my contributions to making a difference in governance and public service. At 24, this work is exactly what I have been prepared to perform and hope to do more in line with higher standards of discretion, loyalty, and excellence enshrined in public service rules.

“I am grateful to H.E. Governor Kayode Fayemi and H.E Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi for the trust and confidence reposed in me, as well as the Communications and Strategy Advisory Committee (CSACS). Special thanks to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications and Strategy, Mr. Akin Rotimi for the recommendation. To my parents, thank you for the solid foundation and the bold decision to allow me venture into partisan politics at the age of 20. I am forever grateful.”

Durodola has a substantial record of research and policy development, and community outreach on broad range of governance, migration, conflict, and displacement-related issues.

He is a Research Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) and was a Research Intern at the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai. Some of his research work have been featured at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University’s Centre for Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) and the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), while a few of his papers are under review for publication at reputable journals such as the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) International Migration Journal, Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Change, Oxford Monitor of Forced Migration, Journal of African Currents amongst others.



He previously served at the digital media unit of the John Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation prior to the 2018 Ekiti State gubernatorial election at the age of 20.

This appointment makes him the youngest political appointee in the state.

We read with dismay the recent tirade by the Ekiti State chapter of the People's Democratic Party, (Ekiti PDP), containing defamatory allegations aimed at causing disaffection for the person of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the office of the Governor of Ekiti State, based on the challenge of insecurity we are currently dealing with in Ekiti and the country at large.

We must start by affirming that the Fayemi-administration, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property in Ekiti state. The Governor is at the forefront of working with stakeholders at the federal, regional, state, and community levels, to make our state safe. At the federal level, Mr. Governor works very closely with the federal security agencies, and ensures officers and men posted to Ekiti state are supported operationally and logistically in the discharge of their duties. As the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), he is a well respected voice in national discourse on security sector governance and continues to advocate on many important issues.

At the regional level, he was central to the creation of the Western Nigeria Security Network (codenamed Operation Amotekun) and continues in the bid to improve their operational effectiveness. He is vital to regional efforts aimed at enhancing collaboration amongst our neighbouring states to improve the security situation in the region.

At the state level, through the Ekiti State Security Council, Governor Fayemi and other stakeholders have carried out several wholistic and integrated interventions at the strategic and tactical levels to address insecurity.

At the community level, the Government of Ekiti State, has consistently engaged with community stakeholders on measures to improve intelligence gathering, early warning mechanisms, and structures for rapid response to security breaches. This is a very crucial aspect of building a resilient security architecture that requires the input of all and sundry. It requires bi-partisan cooperation, mutual trust, and for the setting aside of all differences to have a strong and unified response. As patriots and honourable Ekiti people, it requires putting Ekiti first before politics – an idea that sadly appears to be far removed from the imagination of Ekiti PDP.

Governor Fayemi would continue to support the extensive joint patrol of the dark spots and bushes by the RRS, Amotekun and the regular police. He would continue to strengthen the Ekiti State Security Trust Fund, provide equipment and logistics for security outfits, involve the traditional institutions in the security of their domains, lobby the military authorities to set up military security bases in the state, fence public schools, amongst other classified efforts.

It is true that we are currently facing huge security challenges in the country, which are the culmination of several factors far more complicated than the simplistic way Ekiti PDP has chosen to look at things. Some of the conditions that birthed these challenges originated and were nurtured during the years of misrule by the PDP at the state and national levels. We would however not join issues with the Ekiti PDP on this since they have demonstrated a lack of cognitive capacity to comprehend state affairs.

We would rather concentrate on doubling up our efforts to address the problems. We would concentrate on working with well meaning people to ensure our homes, our roads, our farms, our workplaces, our educational institutions, our places of worship, and every other space in Ekiti is safe and secure.

We expect that in keeping with democratic principles, Ekiti PDP would play their role as a responsible opposition and proffer constructive criticism and suggestions, and not fan embers of disaffection that would be inimical to our efforts in ensuring grassroots stakeholders have a greater role to play in our security architecture. With the vacuous diatribe by Ekiti PDP, they have dishonoured the memory of the dear departed lost to the spate of insecurity and caused further pain to those who have suffered in one form or the other.

The discerning should be curious about Ekiti PDP’s position on the matter. The hearts and minds that can be so desperate and insensitive to conjure such lies, are very capable of orchestrating criminal events to support their libelous narrative. We are glad that they have inadvertently offered an insight into the thinking in their camp and provided leads that the security agencies would investigate thoroughly, in line with the suspicion that many of the security incidences in the state have happened with the active connivance of criminal informants. Already, a suspect has been caught in relation to the recent security incident on the Ewu Ekiti and Aiyetoro Ekiti road, who is cooperating with the police. *Could Ekiti PDP be behind these targeted security breaches in Ekiti state?*

We empathise with the heavily splintered PDP who are smarting from the scandalous decimation of their ranks. Their members at the state and national levels are daily abandoning the sinking ship, and they have totally lost their bearing and appreciation of the role of a responsible opposition party. It is apparent that those who have left the PDP took along with them whatever decency, dignity, and sound judgement that the party might have had, leaving behind shockingly callous opportunists who can stoop so low to exploit the pains of fellow Ekiti indigenes to score cheap political points.

With or without the input of Ekiti PDP, by the grace of God and the support of all well meaning and honourable people of Ekiti, we will overcome.

Signed:

Hon. Ade Ajayi
Public Relations Officer
Caretaker Committee, All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State Chapter

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has promised to give the youths in APC active participatory roles in the core politics in his state. This he made known in his response to the request by members of the Strategic Lobby Committee in Ekiti yesterday.

The Strategic Lobby Group, empowered by The Chairman of the CECPC Governor Mai Mala Buni, has representatives drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country who have been meeting with leaders of the party to push for the inclusion of youths in key party positions.

A part of the Southwest team: Dayo Iyaniwura, Babajide Akeredolu, Titilope Gbadamosi, Tolu Ibitola, Kazeem Faleye and Egghead Odewale (a member of the National Lobby Group) pleaded with Governor Fayemi to engage more youths in leadership roles than he is currently doing.

Iyaniwura, who spoke on behalf of the team appreciated Governor Fayemi for being very intentional about youths in the state.

“We had no reason to doubt that Ekiti would be our easiest visit because in your cabinet you have ticked all the boxes.
We know you have been doing a lot for youths, but we are asking for more.

The youths should be given more opportunities to participate from the ward level up to the national level. We have a target we are pushing for: 1. 10% Young Ward Chairmen. 2. 10% Young LG Chairmen.
3. A Young Organizing Secretary for the State EXCO.
4. State Youth leader should be between the age of 18-35
5. 30% of Ward EXCo should be Youths. We are ready for leadership and we would not disappoint you “ he said.

The Governor, who flew in from Abuja to meet with the team, assured them of his support, saying that youths indeed must begin to occupy relevant positions not only in the party but also in governance.

“I agree with you that youths must be given opportunities. You have the energy and the numbers. We have seen a lot of youths who are intellectually sound and can contribute to nation building. We’ll look at your request and give the necessary support.

“In conjunction with the leadership of Ekiti State APC, headed by the Party Chairman, Barrister Paul Omotoso present with us in this meeting, we are promising you 40% Youth inclusion even though you asked for 30%.”

In her vote thanks, Titilope Gbadamosi implored the Ekiti State Government to give good representation to the women too, asking that the Deputy Ward Chairman should be a woman and the party should also explore the potentials of willing and able young women who are aspiring to the position of Women Leaders in the party.

The team proceeded to Ondo State where they were received by the Deputy Governor, H.E Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the State party chairman Engr Ade Adetiloye.

Expectedly, the Deputy Governor of the Sunshine State said the Youths in the state can testify to how much the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN) gives to the youth.

“Before your coming here, we have always included our youth in key positions. We made it mandatory that 25% of all government and party positions is reserved for youths. We have taken decisive steps to include them and give them opportunities “

The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State Chapter has been drawn to the scurrilous diatribe from the troubled opposition People Democratic Party (PDP), in the state urging the Ekiti State Governor to "build more hospitals, not cemetery."

While it is tempting to ignore the deliberate mischief of the PDP, which is clearly the intent of the misinformation, it is important to respond for the sake of unsuspecting members of the public who may be taken in by the blatant falsehood.

In the first place, Ekiti State Government has not constructed any cemetery anywhere in the state since inception of this administration. The government is however always keen to encourage private investors in all sectors of the state economy and social development sectors.

It is noteworthy that the State has attracted such private sector investors like Promasidor Ltd, Dangote Farms, SWAgCo, JMK Farms, Ellah Farms, NNPC Ventures, Irinajo Tours and many others with independently verifiable private sector investments worth over $100 million in the state. It is equally remarkable, even if the PDP does not think so, that the State attracted its first private sector investment in funeral vaults and cemeteries when Citygate Parks and Gardens laid the foundation of their 260,000 capacity cemetery in the state. This is at no cost to the State and a positive contribution to the hygiene and health security of Ekiti people. If the PDP leadership in the state is ignorant of the provenance of the proposed cemetery, it should simply ask questions as citizens and the information would be provided at no cost, instead of exhibiting inexcusable ignorance.

Regarding hospitals and health services, PDP chieftains should be ashamed to bring this up in Ekiti State considering the decrepit state in which their last government left our hospitals. When the APC government came into office in October 2018, the flagship Teaching Hospital in the state was an eyesore. The roof of the maternity ward had caved in and rains had damaged everywhere. The brand new Accident and Emergency Ward built before we left in 2014 had become a shadow of itself. The facility could not meet basic accreditation of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Today, not only had the Teaching hospital witnessed a major facelift with newly asphalted roads and repainted buildings, but brand new buildings for the Dental and Ophthalmology Departments, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, a brand new testing centre with a permanent testing centre, a 20 bed intensive care unit and new diagnostic laboratories are currently in the works.

The same is being replicated in the secondary and primary health centres across the state. All our State Specialist and General Hospitals and at least 100 Primary Health Centres have undergone or currently undergoing renovations and reconstruction across the state. Not to mention equipment worth over N1. 5billion slated for distribution into the various health facilities in the state.
These are in addition to the regular recruitment of health personnel and the introduction of the State Health Insurance Scheme in 2020. These were all facilities abandoned by the PDP government when in office between 2014 and 2018 leading to the failure to accredit the Ekiti Medical School until help came when the Dr Kayode Fayemi government got into office in 2018 and successfully graduated the first set of medical students in the State.
While there is still a lot to do in our health sector and the state is not resting on its oars, PDP should hide their head in shame for destroying the quality of healthcare received by our people before we left office in 2014 when we reduced maternal and child mortality and provided free health care for the vulnerable segments of our population. PDP has no moral justification to lecture us on how to serve Ekiti people. They blew that chance when they were in office and couldn't sustain all the progress made by us. If they do not understand the value of encouraging our people to refrain from burying their dead at home especially in the face of a pandemic, how would they know how to even run a health system.

We encourage them to refrain from crass sensationalism and mischief in a bid to score cheap political points.


Hon Ade Ajayi
Publicity Secretary,
Caretaker Committee, APC Ekiti State Chapter.

Ekiti State Internal Revenue has embarked on tax compliance enforcement which began on Monday ,24th May, 2021.

This was made known by the Executive Chairman, Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Olumuyiwa Ogunmilade while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti . According to him ,the enforcement named “Operation End Tax Evasion “ was aimed at ensuring compliance with Tax laws and also to ascertain the adequacy and compliance with Tax payment .

Mr Ogunmilade said the enforcement was not meant to victimize business owners but to ensure that all establishments captured in the tax net comply and pay what is due to the government .

He appreciated those who have been paying their dues into government coffers but also used the opportunity to appeal to those who have made tax evasion an habit or underpay to have a change of attitude so the state continues to enjoy the various development projects being witnessed across the state .

Ogunmilade said the erring businesses and stores have all had “NON COMPLIANCE” stickers pasted on their property stressing that it was imperative that those who claimed to have paid, provide their evidence of payment and those who have underpaid should pay up adequately.

A prominent monarch in Ikole Local Government, the Owa of Odo Ayedun Oba Solomon Ilesanmi Ajibade has described the programmes and projects of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi as legendary and capable of transforming Ekiti to a prosperous State.

The monarch made the statement on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, when he received the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye and other Senior aides of Governor Fayemi in his palace, at Odo Ayedun, Ikole Ekiti.

The lawmaker who was accompanied to the palace by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Tolu Ibitola; Commissioner for Finance, H.C. Akintunde Oyebode; and Senior Special Assistant Logistics, Mr. Adetunji Aribasoye, who all hail from the Ekiti North Constituency, assured the gathering of more developmental projects.

The Finance Commissioner, Mr. Oyebode who is a prominent leader in Ikole Local government, highlighted various projects of Dr. Fayemi's administration ranging from construction and rehabilitation of roads in Ikole, renovation of public school buildings, soft loans to traders and rehabilitation of health centres infrastructures and provisions of medical facilities into comprehensive health centres in the State.

Oba Ajibade explained that the economic importance of the various projects embarked upon by the State government would in no measure improve the standard of living of the people in the State.

The Owa of Odo Ayedun, who was full of appreciation to the State Governor, commended Fayemi for the various projects and programmes to Ekiti people.

The king also thanked the governor for appointing notable sons and daughters of the town into key positions, which was also re-echoed by the Chairman All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders' forum in Ward 8, Magistrate Ajayi, who commended Governor Fayemi for appointing reasonable number of youths into his cabinet.

He appealed to the state government to sustain the prioritization of pensioners welfare, as well sustain the social security schemes for the elderlies.

The special assistant on logistics, Hon. Tunji Aribasoye who noticed that Ward 8 has no public address system promised to donate one.

The group enjoyed, long conversations, and dialogue with their constituents, as they exchanged gifts with one another in mutual gratitude.

By Yinka Oyebode

In one of his most recent interviews with a national daily, Governor Kayode Fayemi was asked to state for the record, who between former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo brought him into partisan politics. The intention of the reporter was two-fold: First, to further the debate on the topic, which had been generating interest on social media for about a month. Second, to get a fresh angle to the story, exclusively for his newspaper. The question was neatly wrapped as a follow up question and should naturally provide him the opportunity to go full blast- to give credit to one above the other.

But Governor Fayemi calmly threw the question back at the reporter: “What does it matter who brought me into partisan politics?” adding, “The point is that I am in partisan politics. I benefitted from the tutelage of both elders that you mentioned.” He stated further that he had the privilege of working with both leaders and other leaders at different times and levels on development projects, emphasising, however, that both have been quite supportive of his rise to political prominence. “And I owe them a lot for bringing me into the partisan political space,” he said.

That composed answer did a lot to calm down the reporter who realised that a screaming headline he had envisaged was no longer possible.

That is quintessential Kayode Fayemi, a man who holds a doctorate in War Studies but believes in the biblical injunction of doing everything possible to live peaceably with all men, as contained in the Book of Romans. A leader who believes that public office is not a popularity contest but an avenue to impact positively on the lives of the people. He believes that no development can be achieved in a rancorous environment. Thus, his actions and policies are targeted at ensuring development that is sustainable with emphasis on peace building as a vital ingredient.

Regarded as an emissary of peace, JKF, as he is fondly called, demonstrated his statesmanship and penchant for peace and social justice when he accepted the outcome of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State in 2014, where he lost his re-election bid in a controversial manner.

That was the very first time a sitting governor would readily concede an electoral defeat and bow out gloriously. It was a sacrifice he had to make to avert a major crisis that could have arisen as a result of the highly compromised electoral result. He was emphatic in his appeal for calm, stressing that his ambition was not worth the life of a single Ekiti person.

His reputation as a lover and promoter of peace has been on the rise since then, making him the number one choice for conflict resolution with outstanding results.

The need to make peace a precursor to development made him initiate policies that addressed some inequalities and lop-sidedness in the mining sector during his stint as Minister of Mines and Steel Development between 2015 and 2018. Key among these was the win-win approach he engineered to address the contentious issue of land ownership. Through the right mix of policy, advocacy and consultation with the people, the exclusive right of the Federal Government on minerals and mining was retained, but a creative way was found for the States to be able to benefit from the resources in their domain, while the host communities also get their deserved compensation.

As the Governor of Ekiti State, Fayemi’s annual town hall meetings across the 16 local governments to get the people’s contributions to the yearly budget has been hailed as a model that has enhanced peace, progress and prosperity within the state. This is even as the creation of new local Council Development Areas as well as granting of autonomy to some communities are seen as strategic peace initiatives aimed at fostering good neighbourliness. His ability to bring together adherents of different faiths and people of diverse ethnic groupings in the state has also earned Ekiti State the reputation as one of the most peaceful states to live and do business. Under his watch as Governor, the vulnerable in the state are protected through legislations such as the Child Right law, Gender Based Violence law among others.
Governor Fayemi has also extended this peaceful approach to knotty issues to other sister states, where he has deployed his peace building skills to stem hostility. The recent intervention in the Herders versus Ondo State Government issue, his intervention in the alleged demolition of a mosque which was becoming a major crisis in Rivers State in 2019, and several others only point at his avowed belief that it is always better to jaw- jaw than to war -war.

Regarded as a consummate intellectual in government, Fayemi’s strength lies in his ability to initiate and pursue peace processes to logical conclusion and finding creative ways to ensure every peaceful step taken is trailed by sustainable development. Among his first meetings as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), where he wears the toga of a trusted mediator, was with top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to consider ways to strengthen transparency and accountability in the oil sector and address the dwindling trend in federation revenues.

As noted by NGF Director General, A.B Okauru, Governor Fayemi followed up this with meetings with the Joint Tax Board and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies to raise a common front to solve the revenue crisis in the country. With Fayemi at the helm of affairs at NGF, the forum became a “problem solving group”, what with several interventions that have helped to crack many knotty issues of socio-economic and political significance.

And like Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, said: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” For Fayemi, going where there seems to be no path is a familiar pastime. And leaving a trail- an impact, a legacy comes to him naturally.

He combines integrity, creativity and sincerity with passion for excellence and development. JKF stated this much in one of his books: “Reclaiming The Trust”. He admits that what he has brought into governance is the kind of trust that is based on and compels competence, openness, concern and reliability. “Trust is a public good; we cannot do great things collectively without trust. But trust has to be earned” he stresses.

As JKF turns 56 today, the question is no longer about what he is capable of doing as a leader and peace maker. For he has been able to demonstrate his capability as an imaginative, innovative and diplomatic leader. Rather, the question will be about what he would not do as a leader as many believe that his past has adequately prepared him for the present and the future.

Born on February 9, 1965, John Kayode Fayemi received his first degree in History and Politics from the University of Lagos in 1985, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in 1987 and a doctorate in War Studies from the King’s College, University of London, UK in 1993.

He was inaugurated as Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2010. He was named Minister of Mines and Steel Development in 2015. During his tenure as Minister, he also chaired the governing board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). He resigned from his ministerial position in 2018 to contest the governorship of Ekiti State. He won and was inaugurated as governor for the second term on October 16, 2018. His colleagues unanimously elected him Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in May 2019.

Today, it is 56 hearty cheers to this reliable mediator, soldier of peace and a change agent as he takes the fifty-sixth step in the quest for a more peaceful and developed society.

• Oyebode is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekiti State.
yinkaoyebode@gmail.com