From: National Mirror Published on: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
ABIODUN NEJO
An Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced two policemen to death by hanging over the killing of two members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a fight over defacement of party posters on March 23, 2011. Justice Abiodun Adesodun, who found the two policemen, Mr Ameh Richard and Akinyede Olaiya, guilty of murder in his judgement yesterday, said there were sharp contradictions in their evidence.
Justice Adesodun, however, said the evidence supplied by the prosecution counsel, Messrs Femi Onipede and Omope Oluwanitemi, were overwhelming and convincing enough for him to grant their reliefs.
The judge ruled: “The prosecution counsel have proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and the accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging”. It will be recalled that the two PDP members, Kehinde Faluyi and Michael Ipinlaye, were shot dead during a fracas that broke out between their party and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on March 23, 2011 at Kota Junction in Omuo-Ekiti over alleged defacement of PDP aspirants’ posters in the community.
The two policemen, who were among the security men deployed to the community during the crisis, were accused of firing the shots that killed the two PDP members.
Following the murder, a PDP chieftain in the community, Hon Femi Bamisile, alongside a crowd of PDP supporters stormed the Governor’s Office with the body of one of the victims and accused the state government of complicity in the matter. Consequently, the policemen accused of killing the victims were arrested and prosecuted.
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, have said that ensuring food security in the country is one of the conditions that must be met in order to effectively tackle the menace of insecurity.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mallam Yusuf Ali, also shared the same opinion when they all spoke at the opening of the seventh annual conference and general assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice on Monday in Ado Ekiti.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Defining and rethinking peace and security systems in transitional democracies’, Fayemi said access to food by all Nigerians would go a long way in addressing the frustrations of many people and made them less vulnerable to crime.
Fayemi also said there must be justice to guarantee peace, saying conflict and criminals’ activities would never cease in a society devoid of justice.
The governor said his administration realised this, adding that it informed its decision to make agriculture one of the main points in his agenda and the introduction of the social security scheme where the elder citizens in the state were paid N5,000 stipend monthly.
Tambuwal, who was represented by a lawmaker from Oyo State, Mr. Muraina Ajibola, said the insecurity in some parts of the country had affected the economy in the troubled states.
He said there must be food security among other necessary things to guarantee peace in the country.
Tambuwal said, “For a nation like Nigeria to attain peace and security, certain irreducible fundamentals must be addressed. One of such fundamentals is justice. In this connection, one will be quick to point out that for Nigeria to attain peace and security, both the government and people of Nigeria must address the following: political justice, economic justice, social justice, religious justice, fraternal justice, educational justice and food security, because hinder is a denial of a form of justice.”
Chairman Board of Trustees of SPSP, Prof. Isaac Albert, and the National President of the group, Dr. Willie Eselebor, said the conference would deliberate on how peace could be returned to Nigeria and other troubled parts of Africa.
From: Nigerian Tribune Published on: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Written by Sam Nwaoko- Ado-Ekiti
people of Usi community in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State have thanked the Catholic Church in the community for its impact on the life of the people and the community in general.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Olusi of Usi, Oba Adebayo Akande, who gave the commendation while addressing the congregation at Holy Mass to mark the centenary of Catholicism in Ekiti land, said the community was ripe for a diocese.
Oba Akande said “it is our good fortune that whenever the story of Catholicism in Ekiti and Ondo states is told, Usi’s noble role will continually be acknowledged,” adding that “not only this, Usi has excelled on all fronts; in industry, education, faith, politics and every other honourable areas of human endeavour.”
The traditional ruler also thanked the missionary priests who came from Ibadan and Ajidahun, Agbo, Mosofe, Ode and Ogidi families of Usi “who were instrumental to the celebration of the first Holy Mass in Ekiti land.”
Oba Akande also commended Bishop Emeritus, Most Reverend Michael Fagun and his successor, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye, for establishing institutes in the community, including Ekiti Diocesan Catechetical Institute and School of Evangelisation.
He, however, appealed “that Usi be declared a Pro-Cathedral, given the significant role that Usi has played in the propagation of the Catholic faith in Ekiti,” adding that “I believe that in no distant future, the Catholic Diocese of Usi would be created.”
Responding, Bishop Ajakaye thanked the traditional ruler and explained that creation of a diocese was beyond the powers of Ekiti Diocese.
From: The Nation Published on: Monday, March 25, 2013
Posted by: Our Reporter
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said he is not under pressure to replace his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, who is on a sick leave.
In a statement yesterday, the governor’s media aide, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said: “The attention of the governor has been drawn to false and misleading reports in some newspapers regarding the health of the deputy governor, as well as the misrepresentation of the meeting between the governor and Mrs. Olayinka’s elder brother, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, the Sasere of Ado-Ekiti.
“While it is true that the governor and Famuagun met, the governor did not tell the chief that he was under pressure to replace his deputy; neither did he allege that some politicians had started lobbying for the position that is not vacant.
“The widely reported falsehood is a figment of the writers’ imagination. We urge journalists to be guided by the ethics of the noble profession and stay away from fictitious writing.”
by Femi Makinde, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said he is not under pressure to replace his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.
Fayemi said this in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode.
The governor said it was true that he met with his deputy’s elder brother, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, but did not say that politicians had started lobbying for the position.
The statement read, “The attention of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to false and misleading news items being published by some newspapers regarding the health condition of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, as well as the misrepresentation of the meeting between the governor and Mrs. Olayinka’s elder brother, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, the Sasere of Ado Ekiti.
“While it is true that the governor and Famuagun met, the governor did not tell the respected High Chief that he was under pressure to replace his deputy; neither did he allege that some politicians had started lobbying to be considered for the position that is not vacant.”
The state government announced last Monday that the deputy governor applied for a sick leave to enable her to attend to her health issues.
This was announced in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo.
The announcement confirmed the speculation that the deputy governor was sick.
From: Ekiti Panupo Yahoo Group Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2013
PRESS RELEASE
The attention of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has been drawn to false and misleading news items being published by some newspapers regarding the health condition of the State’s Deputy Governor, Mrs Funmi Olayinka as well as the misrepresentation of the meeting between the Governor and Mrs Olayinka’s elder brother, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, the Sasere of Ado Ekiti.
While it is true that the Governor and Chief Famuagun met, the Governor did not tell the respected High Chief that he was under pressure to replace his deputy; neither did he allege that some politicians had started lobbying to be considered for the position that is not vacant.
The widely reported falsehood is at best a figment of the imagination of the writers.
We urge journalists to continue to be guided by the ethics of the noble profession and stay clear of fictitious writing.
From: National Mirror Published on: Saturday, March 23, 2013
ABIODUN NEJO
Top politicians in Ekiti State have started mounting pressure on Governor Kayode Fayemi to replace his ailing deputy, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka. Sources said some prominent Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members in the state are already strategising to fill the deputy governor’s seat any time it is declared vacant, just as others had begun presenting candidates to the governor.
The deputy governor, who is down with an undisclosed ailment, is said to be receiving treatment in Lagos.
The Ekiti State Government had, in a statement last Monday, declared that the deputy governor was on leave to attend to her health and it urged well meaning citizens of the state to pray for her.
Although government officials are keeping sealed lips on the thorny issue, elder brother to the deputy governor and the Sasere of Ado Ekiti, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, confirmed the development, saying some “heartless politicians have begun moves to replace her.”
Famuagun, who said he confirmed the jostling for his sister’s job during his meeting with Governor Fayemi, condemned those behind the scheming for their “inhuman moves.” “For how many weeks has she (the deputy governor) been sick that they have started presenting another candidate to the governor? We are all in this country, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was ill, she even said she died seven times but she survived.
Some governors were also in the same situation lately. So, her case is not different. I can assure you she will bounce back and those wishing her dead should stop playing God,” Famuagun said. Insisting that his sister was hale and hearty before she assumed office, Famuagun added that he saw her last week Friday and had every cause to believe that she would return to work soon.
He also revealed that when her sickness became pronounced, he once suggested to her to resign if that would give her good health and her life, saying “her life is more important to us than the office.”
From: The Nation Published on: Saturday, March 23, 2013
Posted by: Our Reporter
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has described the death of literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe as a great loss to Nigeria and Africa.
Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said the late Achebe has immortalised himself through his literary works, which attained global importance and acceptance.
He said the late Achebe used his novels to positively project the image of Nigeria in the international community and advocated a better society through his works.
Fayemi, however, urged Nigerian authorities to address the problems afflicting the country which made Achebe to reject the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2004 and 2011.
He described the late Achebe as the Father of Modern African Writing, an activist who spoke against injustice and corruption, a role model to generations of writers whose works inspired the younger ones and paved the way for the emergence of a vibrant literary community.
The governor said the late Achebe’s books, such as Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, Man of the People and Anthills of the Savanna defined the literary world and announced Nigeria’s arrival on the global literary stage.
The late Achebe’s literary prowess, according to Fayemi, traversed novels, short stories, poetry, essays, criticisms, non-fiction, political commentary and children books.
Fayemi noted that the late Achebe shone brightly in the literary world which made him to receive over 30 honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States.
The governor said the late Achebe also excelled in broadcasting and rose to the pinnacle of the profession as the Director of External Broadcasting of the then Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBS) .
He advised activists and other followers of Achebe not to relent in their quest for a better Nigeria.
From: Punch Published on: Saturday, March 23, 2013
by Femi Makinde, Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi
Politicians in the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti State have allegedly begun an intense struggle to replace ailing Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.
The alleged plot was brought to the fore by the deputy governor’s family, which described as ‘callous’ the struggle by politicians to replace Olayinka, who applied for a sick leave to attend to her health some days ago.
An elder brother of the deputy governor, Chief Olusegun Famuwagun, said he was shocked when Governor Kayode Fayemi told him that some politicians had started lobbying to replace her.
Famuagun, who is a lawyer, said this while speaking with some journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday evening.
Famuagun said, “Her health matters to us than the office she is occupying. And to confirm our fears, for how many weeks has she been sick that they have started presenting another candidate to the governor? Governor Kayode Fayemi told me that some politicians had started struggling to replace her and you can quote me.
“We are all in this country. The wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, was ill, she even said she died seven times, she survived it. It was the case with some state governors, so her case is not different. But I can assure you she will bounce back and those wishing her dead should stop playing God.”
He said that the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, was worried about her indisposition and had called on chiefs and elders of the town to pray for her quick recovery.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, had on Monday said that Olayinka applied for a sick leave.
The statement reads, “Ekiti State Government wishes to inform members of the public that the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, has taken leave to attend to issues relating to her health.
“We urge all well -meaning citizens of the state to remember her in their prayers.”
The deputy governor was rumoured to be in a coma last December and allegedly resigned her position. But this was swiftly denied by the state government.
She resumed her official duties although she did not say anything about her health.
From: National Mirror Published on: Friday, March 22, 2013
ABIODUN NEJO
Aides of ailing Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, are now living in fear over the security of their jobs.
Sources close to the Ekiti State Government House said the aides are jittery as none of them knows what would become of their positions should another person emerge as the new deputy governor of the state, following the turn of events, occasioned by the anxiety over the illness of their boss.
Their fear is heightened by speculations in some quarters that the move by the state government to alert the public on the deputy governor’s health status on Monday was a ploy to ease the woman out of office.
Also aggravating their fear are insinuations that Olayinka’s family members want her to resign her position as deputy governor in order to have time to attend to her health.
It will be recalled that there was confusion in the state in January, when it was rumoured that the deputy governor had resigned her position in view of the fact that she could no longer continue in office due to her deteriorating health condition.
The tension that time was doused by the appearance of the deputy governor in office and the clarification by Governor Kayode Fayemi that the deputy governor did not resign.
One of the aides of the deputy governor, who did not want his name mentioned, told National Mirror that the fear of job insecurity by the aides and others, whose fates hang around the deputy governor, was not unfounded as “another deputy governor, if appointed, will come with his or her aides.
“And definitely, some of us will lose our jobs, especially in view of our closeness and loyalty to her.” The aide, who said there might be some sinister reasons for the declaration that the deputy governor was on sick leave, said; “We are praying for her quick recovery. We believe she will be back to her seat at the end of her leave.”
It will be recalled that the state government, in a statement on Monday, said the deputy governor “has taken leave to attend to issues relating to her health,” and urged all “well-meaning citizens of the state to remember her in their prayers.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state which, last week, raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the deputy governor, however, on Wednesday, praised the state government for having the courage to disclose Olayinka’s health state, and called for prayers for her recovery.
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