I had completely forgotten about a promise I made to a friend----a good, trustworthy and dependable one at that-----that I would say a thing or two about him and our friendship until he sent me one of the pictures we took at his mother's burial reception a few hours ago on the WhatsApp platform. After all, a promise made, especially to a friend of over 40 years must be a promise kept.  Olumide and his siblings finally committed their mother Princess Rebecca Omoyelade Ogunleye to mother earth on Friday, November 25, 2022 in Ikole-Ekiti. I met Olumide through Kunle Ashaolu, a childhood friend. Olumide and Kunle met at the University of Benin in the present Edo State where both of them became roommates.  Advert As a bosom friend who was the first among our moderately sized herds of close-knit secondary school leavers to gain admission into a university, having escaped the hammer of the Almighty WAEC, which hammered yours truly in the first instance because of the poor and dark presenc

 The members of the Senate of Southern extraction under Southern Senators Forum, has insisted that Nigeria can only witness progress and prosperity if all citizens value unity and patriotism. As the citizens step into another new year, the Senators, harped on the need to forge a united nation to fortify the country bonds and make it strong to overcome the cankerworms of corruption, insecurity and economic deprivation.  The forum's Chairman and  Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, said this in a statement, marking the new year celebration, on Saturday. Advert Bamidele made passionate appeal to religious and political leaders, not to make incendiary and inflammatory comments that can further widen the existing cleavages and stoke the fire of disunity, that has been the main challenge ripping the country apart. Bamidele stated that the country was brought together was through God's design, and not by the knowledge of any mortal, urging

By Wole Olujobi  It happened just the way we all thought it would/should be: a scholarly interpretation of the Nigerian law anchored on facts, rationality and conscious attempt at strengthening the supremacy of the nation's law bordering on fundamental rights to freedom of choice and principle of franchise of the universal adult suffrage.  Eventhough the judgement must have bruised the egos of some law barons and ranckled the ranks of Nigeria's power dealers, as it were, politicians and ordinary Nigerian citizens are being indoctrinated into living in the confines of the law, to understand the fundamentals of democratic practice as opposed to the culture of power renting and tricks of political jackboots in the corners of power loop that hold Nigerians by the hair.  It is all about the judgement on the petition by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Asiwaju Segun Oni, on the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Biodun Abayomi

• Tribunal says Oni's petition fails woefully The Election Petition Tribunal hearing the dispute arising from the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State on Thursday upheld the election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his Deputy, Mrs. Monisade Afuye. The Tribunal in a judgment dismissed the petition filed by former Governor and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Chief Segun Oni resolving all issues in favour of the Respondents. Oni, who was aggrieved with the declaration of Oyebanji, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), filed a petition against the result declared by the electoral agency in the early hours of June 19. In the unanimous judgment read by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Wilfred Kpochi with the concurrence of the two other members of the panel, Justice Sa'ad Zadawa and Justice J.A. Atsen, the panel held that "head or tail, the petitioners (Oni an

• As ex-Governor hosts party leaders, stakeholders  Barely two months to the 2023 general elections, Ekiti citizens have been charged to vote massively for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the state and National Assembly candidates of the party.  The immediate past Governor of the State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji made the call during a APC leaders and stakeholders annual Christmas get-together hosted by Dr Fayemi at his Isan- Ekiti country home on Monday. Dr Fayemi, a former Presidential Aspirant and currently Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the APC Presidential Candidate, said Ekiti State and indeed the country have a lot to gain if the APC retains the presidency with Asiwaju Tinubu as President.  Similarly, he said the state would witness more development if the party could win all the state and national assembly seats, stressing that this could only be made possible by massive

• Warns against vote apathy The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief ( Mrs) Christianah Monisade Afuye, has assured the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council that the party's flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  will secure over 75% of total votes cast in the state in the 2023 election. Mrs Afuye described Tinubu as part of Ekiti, being an in-law, political leader and mentor to many great politicians of Ekiti's extraction, who deserved to be compensated with votes in 2023. The Deputy Governor spoke , on Tuesday, while donating cash and consumables to Ogoga-in-council and across 11 wards in Ikere Local Goverment to mark the Christmas and New year festivities. She also empowered 110 Ikere indigenes with cash gift to lift them out of poverty and donated a sum of N1.5 million to party members and leaders across the wards.  The Deputy Governor, in a statement by her Special Assistant (Media), Victor Ogunje, appreciated Ikere voters for the support  they exhibite

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has said bailing his constituents out of hard-biting  poverty and prioritising their welfare will continue to be paramount to him as their representative at the Senate. A statement issued by Bamidele's media office, on Monday, quoted him as saying this in Iyin- Ekiti, while distributing rice and other consumables to the people of Ekiti Central Senatorial District to mark Christmas celebration. The  Senator representing Ekiti Central, charged the good people of Ekiti State to continue to spread the virtues of peace, love and charity for which purpose Jesus Christ came to the world . The statement reads, "As we celebrate this Christmas, the good people of Ekiti State should explore this season in spreading the virtues of peace, love and charity which is the purpose of Jesus Christ coming to the world and also pray for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

Says NOI Has No Credible Poll Prediction Records  By Wole Olujobi  Tinubu-Shettima Media Support Group, a group of  veteran journalists canvassing support for the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has warned the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, against deceiving Nigerian voters with alleged fraudulent polls tracking results by hired pollsters ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential election.  A polls tracking firm, NOI Polls Limited, working for ANAP Foundation,  had in a media report on Wednesday predicted, for the second time, that Obi will win the 2023 presidential election, specifically predicting that Obi will win overwhelmingly in the North Central to defeat other presidential candidates.  According to the latest NOI Poll, Obi maintains "a solid overall lead" ahead of Tinubu, PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) in the 202

President Muhammadu Buhari joins leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in celebrating with the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, on his 55th birthday. The President rejoices with the Governor, his family, friends, and cabinet on the milestone while congratulating him on many achievements, delving into public service at a young age, and taking up many sensitive positions, including Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Government of Ekiti State. President Buhari notes Oyebanji’s passion to serve his people, which translated into winning the gubernatorial elections in June 2022 and swearing-in into office in October 2022, bringing a wealth of knowledge, network, and experience, after working in various capacities. As the Governor turns 55, the President trusts that Oyebanji will explore opportunities in building on the success of his predecessor in office, especially in education, in which the state earned a reputation for generational investments. President B

  • Urges citizens to emulate Governor’s selfless virtue The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Christianah Afuye, has appealed to well- meaning Ekiti indigenes not to abandon the less privileged, saying it is sinful and ungodly to neglect such category of citizens. The Deputy Governor urged Ekiti residents to emulate the virtues of humility demonstrated by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who directed his admirers to donate to Ekiti orphanages and less privileged homes, rather than donating to him to mark his 55th birthday. Mrs Afuye said this in Ikere, Ido and Ikoro -Ekiti, on Wednesday, while making donations to the Special Schools of the Blind and Deaf as well as orphanage located in the three towns to celebrate with Governor Oyebanji. The Deputy Governor was represented by her Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Victor Adeniyi, the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr Abayomi Opeyemi and Special Assistant on Special Duties, Prince Boye Adegboye. The Deputy Governor, in a statemen

For over 26 years of the creation of Ekiti State, it was an herculean task for every strata in the land of honour to overwhelmingly embrace any of the successive governments in the State. Each governor was branded with all manners of unpalatable names until the herald of Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who appears to represent what every dick and harry regard as a home-grown governor, thus making people’s expectations from his administration to be unimaginable. The unprecedented peaceful manner in which Biodun Oyebanji was elected as the governor of the State and his acceptance by all and sundry made political pundits to believe that he must do things differently because he is seen as the first elected governor who grew up among his people and had his education in the State. Ever before his swearing in, he gave the whole world the impression that his administration would be for all by visiting leaders; within and outside the State, with or without party affiliations, seeking their cooperatio

It was an uneasy task for me last week when the lot fell on me, as Mr Governor’s Spokesperson, to make a public announcement that Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji would not be marking his 55th birthday on December 21st, and would rather have his friends, associates and well wishers convert their planned events, gifts and advertorials into material and financial support to some state owned schools for the physically challenged. The fact I was privy to some private arrangements by some groups and individuals to celebrate the Governor on his special day made me put up a little case for some form of waivers. I was overruled, as the Governor insisted that material and financial donations to the three schools would be a more appreciated birthday celebration for him, stressing that the country is at a point where well-meaning citizens should make deliberate efforts at reaching out to the less privileged in the society. In his characteristic exemplary leadership style, Governor Oyebanji immedi

• Says Southwest Gov should be more decisive in tackling problem The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has expressed serious concern on the frequency of kidnap incidents in the South West especially on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in recent times. In a press release issued by the body’s national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere stated that the frequency and ferocity of kidnapping in the area these days are engendering so much concern regarding the territorial expansion of terrorists and bandits.  Afenifere recalled the kidnaps near Dominion University and Shagamu Interchange on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the past weeks. Victims of the kidnaps included the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Professor Adigun Agbaje and five others. Agbaje was released after payment of a ransom running into millions of naira.  Reports also had it that suspected Fulani bandits attacked travellers on October 27, 2022, abducting five persons and

The pan Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on the legislative arms of government at the federal and state levels to ensure that the sections of the 1999 Constitutions meant to be amended are expeditiously passed between now and January 2023 at the latest. In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere urged the lawmakers to stop the blame game and pass the amendments into law so that it would not be a case of ‘begin again for the next Assemblies of Lawmakers”. By this, Ajayi referred to the constitutional amendments made by the 8th Assembly but which went into oblivion because it could not be concluded before the expiration of that Assembly at the end of May, 2019. “Presently, the National Assembly and Conference of Speakers of Houses of Assembly are trading blames on why the amendments have not been passed. Nigerians are not interested in the bickering. Rather, Nigerians want the amendments to be promptly passed and mad