By Akogun Tai Oguntayo You will hardly see people talk about an underdog in the society who goes solo and cares about nobody. But if you are outspoken, down-to-earth, charitable, unpretentious, elegant, generous, cerebral and highly deep in thoughts, you will always be a subject of blackmail, envy, condemnation and hatred by some never-do-well simply because they are disadvantaged by your actions and inactions.  In the JKF1 most people in that government complained that Dr Kayode Fayemi was always too busy with governance that hardly did he have time to socialize with his aides and associates at so ial events. During that same JKF1, the Governor's wife was not also too deep in governance but you would see her at events dancing with the aged and young women. Hence they nick-named her _Bisi Omologbalogba._ Hmmm! May God endow us the enablement to rule our world at our own time. In this JKF2, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, from day one, was poised in bridging the gap and blocking every loophole t...

...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 N100.703 billion, 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 N60.686bn recurrent expenditure and N40.067 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 generat...

A herdsman suspected to be Fulani, one Abubakar has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Ekiti State.  Abubakar was tried and found guilty on two counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms. According to the charge which read in part, “On April 9, 2019, at Aba Cotonou, Omu Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the defendant did attempt to murder one Chief Samuel Amaa and others. Found in his possession were a gun and cartridges on the same day.” The police prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu, said the offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap.R11, Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The prosecutor called four witnesses. A witness, in his testimony before the court, said, “The defendant was challenged while grazing on the cassava farm; he was angry for being questioned. He pulled out his gu...

• Harps on lawyers joining politics, becoming part of decision-making, solution finding process  The Attorney General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda has decried the low number of lawyers working on public interest matters in Nigeria. This, according to him, is why limited progress is made in the areas of reforms of the justice sector. Fapohunda made this assertion yesterday during a session on ‘Conversation on leadership and followership’ at the ongoing Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association held in Port Harcourt.  Fapohunda said a key reason why limited progress is being made in the area of reforms of the justice sector is that lawyers are simply not interested in doing the thankless and not profitable job of championing the required reforms.  He emphasized that another major obstacle to achieving reforms is the limited number of lawyers willing to go into government. According to him “we need to eschew the reasoning that those of us who go into gove...

 As Ex Govr Leaves Before Service Ends  Story By - Kolawole Oguntayo The Archbishop of the Catholic Church, Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Femi Ajakaye has told the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, that he is still in the High Court over his case against him while in power. Bishop Ajakaye, while delivering his sermon during thanksgiving of Governor Fayemi's third anniversary in office categorically asked the former governor who sat in front; "am your friend or not?" Though Fayose didn't respond, the Bishop further quipped; "I'm not anybody's enemy. When you offend me, I forgive you and when I offend you I expect you to forgive me but if you don't, it is left for you because I don't even know if you nurse grudge against me." It would be recalled that when Fayose was in government, he introduced a development levy  of N500.00 on pupils in primary schools in Ekiti State. The Catholic Church under Bishop Ajakaye condemned this action, de...