-As SWAGA candidates lose out The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda has rallied APC party faithfuls in the three wards of Okemesi Ekiti to a successful ward congress.  As at the time of going to press this afternoon, the congress in the three wards had been concluded without any disturbance.  In Ward 08 members opted for consensus candidates after successfully negotiating with all party members to pull together. Fapohunda had before today’s congress held series of meetings with the Ward Leaders urging them to adopt a unified list of candidates.  One female candidate who insisted on contesting for ward chairman was persuaded to work with the party leadership. She eventuality stepped down for the incumbent. In Ward 09 noted for the presence of a SWAGA chieftain there was a contest for five positions by candidates sponsored by SWAGA .  Dada Toyin the preferred choice for chairperson of the ward leaders defeated Oyetu...

When asked why he sometimes looked back while dancing to _pooro_ (a local percussion in the city of Okemesi-Ekiti), my late father responded that it was a stylish way of having a 360-degree view of his admirers and to guide him on when it was time to stop dancing. It’s useless to dance when the ovation has died out like an unsustained note of the piano.  Because of the ridicule faced in primary 3 when agbalumo (the African Star Apple) smeared my mouth and hands due to poor handling of my tiny fingers, I have kept the fruit at a distance over the years. Sunday Igboho came, saw but whether he conquered or not is a function of his handling of the opportunities and he had and the threat he faces. As the elders say, a child would hardly eat the solid pap (eko) without messing up his fingers. If he was truly caught as reported, he’s demystified the title of _Oosa_ (a deity) that many of his followers gave him. If he were a very strong man as acclaimed, he may have chosen to rather die th...

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday inaugurated the 260,000 capacity first private cemetery in the state, saying the concept will avert environmental hazards and safeguard the health of the citizens.   The Governor spoke in Ado Ekiti while inaugurating the ‘CitiGate Park and Gardens Cemetery’ located in the Eminrin area of the state capital. Fayemi, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Iyabo Fakunle-Okieimen, submitted that the smooth take off of the business was a testimony that the state is encouraging private investors to invest their hard-earned monies in the state . The Governor said: “With this investment by a private body, Ekiti is no longer a rural setting. In the USA, Britain and other European countries, you can’t just bury your dead at home. Aside from the fact that it causes groundwater pollution, it devalues our buildings and reduces its aesthetic values.   “This is a public-private initiative, but will be driven largely by ...

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti state has sent warm felicitations to Muslims in the state as they celebrate this year's ed el kabir. In a message on the occasion, the chairman of APC caretaker committee in the state, Chief  charged Muslim faithful to use the period of the celebration to pray for peaceful coexistence and harmony in the country. The message, signed by the party's Public Relations Officer, Hon Ade Ajayi, encouraged the Celebrants to ensure that the lessons and spirit of Prophet Mohammed are allowed to sink into their behaviour. The chairman, while acknowledging the current economic downturn, urged them to celebrate in accordance with their power and not to go beyond their bounds. He reminded them that Prophet Muhammed in his lifetime shunned profligacy but rather was committed to assisting the less privileged in the society. Chief Omotoso reiterated the commitment of the present administration to do everything possible to deliver in its promises to t...

Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders’ Forum has said the state deserves a government of continuity in 2023. Rising from a meeting presided over by its Chairman, Asiwaju George Akosile, in Igbara-Odo-Ekiti, the group said the next progressive government would build on the achievements of the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration. According to the forum, party members taking part in the proposed congresses should adhere to the resolution of the stakeholders. A statement by Akosile said the APC family should support the resolutions by not imposing anybody. He added: “We believe that APC is strong enough to ensure continuity as demonstrated by the laudable achievements of the Governor Fayemi administration in Ekiti State.” “The forum wishes to congratulate Dr. Fayemi on his passion for progress and development. The governor is described as a pride and a gift to Ekiti State, Nigeria and this generation. “The forum congratulates Mr. Paul Omotosho, the chairman of APC in Ekiti S...

Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki has felicitated with Muslim brothers and sisters as they celebrates this year El Mubarak and also urged them to pray for the peace, progress and unity of the country.  According to her, the festive season is a period of sober reflection, she also charged all Muslim faithfuls to embrace and exhibit the teachings and tenets of the Holy Qur’an and exemplary lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).  “I wish to emphasise that, its imperative in a moment like this for us as a People to pray for the peace, progress and unity of our nation Nigeria. “I urge all our religious leaders to use their platforms to advocate peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups in the country; and to offer prayers for our leaders @ all levels of government, as Nigeria is better off as a united and indivisible entity, ” she added.

The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Funminiyi Afuye, has described the award of Best Governor of the year bestowed on Dr Kayode Fayemi by the Vanguard Newspaper as a well deserved honour. Speaking to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the Speaker said that Ekiti Governor deserved the award "not just because he is the Chairman of Nigeria's Governors' Forum, but for his outstanding performances in office as the Governor of Ekiti State". Afuye noted that Governor Fayemi had held onto the five pillar of his administration as well as maintained peaceful co-existence among the three arms of government and the electorate." According to him, "despite the paucity of fund, the Governor has lived up to expectation in the areas of infrastructure and payment of workers' salaries as at when due." He therefore commended the Vanguard newspaper for basing its assessment on merit without any partiality. This award, according to the speaker, "will only en...

  President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is ready to use everything within its powers to end insecurity in the country and bring perpetrators of criminal activities to book.   The President, who spoke on Tuesday at a dinner with members of the National Assembly, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, said ‘‘insecurity, manifesting as insurgencies, banditry, kidnapping and urban crime of all sorts is the single most difficult challenge we face today.’’   He expressed concern that insecurity had inhibited the government’s ability to build infrastructure, provide the much needed social services to the people, and to attract investments that drive innovation, create industries, and provide jobs and create wealth.   ‘‘Some of the people who perpetuate these various manifestations of insecurity do so for profit, others, in the name of discredited ideologies.   ‘‘Whatever their motivations may be, their actions are an existent...

Following the submission of reports by the investigation panel that looked into the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of some students of the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti last month, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has set up a white paper committee to consider the report. The Investigation panel which has just submitted its report was chaired by the state's commissioner for health and human services, Dr Olabanji Filani.  The White paper committee will now be chaired by the State's Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda.  Other members of the committee are Dr. Fokake Olomojobi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Bayo Opeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Training and Mr Akindele Ariyo, Director, Pension and Inspectorate, who is the Secretary of the committee.

• Assures Them of Govt Support for Successful Takeoff Yesterday, members of the investment and risk assessment team of Family Homes Fund led by  the head of risk Victor Adufo, investment associate Reubens Onoba were in Ekiti on a due diligence mission to assess the readiness of the State to become a beneficiary of the National Social Housing Project (NSHP). The Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Mortgage Board, Oludayo Olorunfemi, while speaking at the meeting, assured the team of the State Government's support to ensure the project takes off successfully in Ekiti. She said, the NSHP keys in to Dr. Kayode Fayemi's road map  to restore Ekiti values by working with development partners in areas of  social investment and infrastructure development which will create immediate jobs in the State.  The NSHP is an initiative of the President Buhari led administration to bridge the housing deficit among the low income earners by providing affordable housing through mortga...

• As trial of Police officers begins in Ado-Ekiti. The trial of police officers accused of assaulting teachers and staff of Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Ado Ekiti  has commenced in Ado Ekiti. The orderly room trial which by police regulations is the first disciplinary procedure for erring police officers is being held at the State Police Command. It would be recalled that Police Sergeant Agenoise Elijah on Friday 21st May 2021 led four policemen to Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti to harass and assault the principal and other school officials for reprimanding his daughter for a haircut the school authorities thought was indecent and inappropriate. The Honourable Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda had in separate meetings with the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the principal and staff of Mary Immaculate grammar school reaffirmed the Zero Tolerance Policy of the Fayemi Administration for all forms of violence against teachers i...

• ‘Your suit is unmeritorious, premature and a classical abuse of court process’ says Judge The High Court of Justice sitting in Ado Ekiti has dismissed the suit brought by Senators Babafemi Ojudu, Tony Adeniyi, Dayo Adeyeye and four others seeking to restrain the Ekiti State Police Command from investigating a petition on an allegation of perverting the course of justice written against them by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda.  It will be recalled that Ojudu and others in several publications accused the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi and the State Attorney General, Olawale Fapohunda of colluding with the Justices of the Court of Appeal, Ekiti State division to relocate the sittings of the Court of Appeal from Ekiti State to Kaduna State for the purpose of delivering a contrived judgment in the matter of Senator Adebayo Adeyeye v Senator Biodun Olujimi.  In response to this allegation Fapohunda had written to the Stat...