Don’t politicise education policy, Ekiti teachers warn politicians

The teachers made this position known in Ado Ekiti on Thursday at the closing ceremony of the 2013 Cluster Schools Model for Teacher Professional Development Training Programme, held at Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School. 

The state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Kayode Akosile, said the rumour making the rounds that Fayemi hates teachers and intends to sack a large number of them after re-election is peddled by political gladiators in the opposition parties in order to cause disaffection and use them to actualize their inordinate ambitions.

Teachers in Ekiti State have faulted attempts by some politicians to make cheap political points from the educational policies of the state government, saying that they trust that the efforts of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration are geared towards repositioning the education sector.

The NUT chairman, who urged politicians to steer clear of the relationship between Fayemi and teachers, stressed that the warmth welcome given by the teachers when Fayemi arrived the venue of the training was a proof  that the governor is on ground with the teachers who have tagged him “the real teachers’ governor”.

Akosile assured that teachers will never betray the governor because he has consistently demonstrated commitment to their welfare, adding that while many of their colleagues in some other states of the federation are yet to receive their December salaries, Ekiti teachers have received January salaries despite the paucity of funds.

“There have been insinuations that teachers don’t like you or that you don’t like teachers. I think today when you came in, the way the crowd welcomed you shows the true situation of things. I think the rumour making the rounds, without any apology, I will say is from the political gladiators. Let me say that as long as Fayemi remains the governor of EKiti State, teachers will continue to give him support. You will continue to carry our loads, we will continue to bring our complaints to your doorsteps. I don’t think we have any apology for that because you are our governor. Despite all odds, the financial incapability, yesterday, I, like many others, received my salary alerts”, Akosile said.

KAYODE FAYEMI CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION HOLDS PRAYER SESSION

The Director-General of Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Honourable Bimbo Daramola, has said God is central and pivotal to the re-election campaign of the governor.

Speaking at a prayer session he midwifed in Ado-Ekiti to commit the campaign team and the re-election bid of Governor Kayode Fayemi into God's hands, Daramola stressed the importance of letting God be the captain of the ship.

"I believe so much in God and in prayer, as do every member of this campaign team. What we are doing today is to commit our ways and every of our activity into God's hands. We are also thanking God for bringing us thus far, because we know where we are coming from. We know where we are now. It is important to thank the Lord who rid Ekiti of locusts," the Director-General said.

He later met with newsmen in company of other members of the campaign team; Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Deputy Director-General, Mr. Sanmi Omiata, In-House Communications Director, Mrs. Bunmi Adelugba, Director of Finance and Administration, and Mr. Dimeji Daniels, the Campaign Spokesperson.


Daramola said although he had always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the newsmen, a fresh chapter which is solely about the success of Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the June poll was being opened.

He assured the newsmen that the campaign would be issue-based.

"We are saying we know where we were and where we are now. Let every aspirant or candidate lay their programme before the people and tell Ekiti people what they want to do differently," he said.

Lending his voice, the Deputy Director-General, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, thanked the newsmen for their support so far and their anticipated support in days to come.

After the press briefing, the campaign team met with the state executive of the All Progressives Congress at the party' secretariat at Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti to solicit their support.

The Director-General explained to members of the party executive that the objective of the visit was to solicit their cooperation and to tell them that the committee was in no way an alternative to the party.

"We are not under any illusion that we are the most important. We cannot do this successfully without the knowledge and wisdom of the leaders and members of our great party. Our goal is one, and that is to ensure that Ekiti progresses and consolidates on the development that we currently enjoy," said Daramola.

Responding on behalf of the APC chairman who was on an assignment, Chief Dele Falusi, APC Interim Organising Secretary in Ekiti State, said he was happy that all the members of the team are competent.

He assured them of the party's support and cooperation every step of the way, adding that the party would work hand in hand with the campaign team to achieve success in the forthcoming governorship election.

Speaking further, Chief Falusi said the goal of the party and the campaign team is one: "We are for the same purpose. This June 21 determines our political future. We want to break the jinx of second term. In this task, there is no superiority. It is a collective mission."

He added that all political appointees must return to their domains to mobilize and galvanize the people to vote en masse.

"It is true that Dr. Fayemi has performed creditably, but we must work to ward off those who don't mean well for Ekiti. Most of the people who say they want to be governor don't have any programme. All they keep saying is 'I want to be governor'. We have to be on our toes to ensure that Ekiti does not go back to the days of locusts," Chief Falusi stressed.

Tinubu, Fashola mobilise members for APC registration

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged members of the party to register formally.

Addressing members yesterday at a stakeholders meeting held at the Lagos State APC Secretariat in Ikeja, the former governor said only registered members would get the party’s Identity Card and be recognised.

He said: “You cannot claim to be an APC member until you register. I appeal to you all to formalise your membership of our great party. The registration starts on February 5 and will last six days. It starts from 10am to 6pm daily.”

Tinubu said arrangements had been made to ensure a hitch-free registration, saying: “The registration forms are ready. They are pre-numbered and have security codes. Nobody can hijack or hoard the forms because they will serve no purpose.”

He urged members to register at the polling units where they voted last, telling those who have relocated to register in their new locations.

The party leader said: “Your physical experience before the registration officers is compulsory. You cannot send your passport and form. That is where rigging starts and APC will never encourage rigging. You will thumb print and you will be given a counterfoil, which you will present later for the collection of your ID card. Every one of you will have the opportunity to register. Do not postpone till tomorrow what you can do today. “

He warned against using the registration to create division among members, saying: “There is discipline in APC. If you are caught promoting division, you will be suspended pending trial. APC is my party. I do not have a group. We cannot encourage grouping or caucuses in APC. If you want to contest for any office, the procedure is in the party constitution.

“We want to show good example, good leadership and let people know we know what we are doing. We shall build this party to victory. Whether Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba, we will remain one. We will perform wonders.”

Lagos APC Chairman Chief Henry Ajomale hailed Tinubu for making the APC a formidable party within a short time.

Ajomale said it was in recognition of Tinubu’s efforts in building a virile opposition party that he was honoured by ThisDay.

He said Tinubu had changed the country’s politics, adding that he was confident that the former governor would lead the party to victory at the national level in next year’s polls.

Governor Babatunde Fashola urged members to conduct themselves with decorum during the registration, adding: “We should not fight ourselves over registration. Let us be patient, so that we can achieve our goal.”

Also at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Senator Tony Adefuye; Admiral Lanre Amosu (rtd.); Prince Abiodun Ogunleye; Mr. Ademorin Kuye; Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye and State Woman Leader Mrs. Adetoun Adediran.

Resign now, ex-governor tells Jega

Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, to resign, if he cannot guarantee perfect elections next year.

He was reacting to Jega’s comment that Nigerians should not expect perfect elections in 2015.

Speaking with reporters yesterday after the All Progressives Congress’s (APC’s) membership registration sensitisation meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Lagos, Tinubu said: “With such comment, Jega is already admitting failure and laying the foundation for failure. If he cannot do the job, let him quit. What do we pay him for? A perfect election makes a perfect society. We must strive to give the people what they want.

“There have to be perfect elections in 2015. They have to be 99.9 per cent perfect. If he wants to lecture again about perfect and the imperfection of the electoral process, let him go back to the university.”

Lamenting that the country should have learnt enough from past polls, the APC National Leader said: “Jega is presently moving from one country to the other. Is he saying he has not learnt enough from this country to give us a perfect election? He is in America now, gallivanting around the countries. Is it the estacode of his speeches that is enough for us? If he has not learnt from these countries in the last few years, then we can excuse him.”

On the series of defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the National Assembly to the APC, Tinubu said the lawmakers have the right to “choose their alliance as it suits the mandate given to them by the people”.

Source: The Nation

No plan to sack teachers, says Fayemi

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has denied rumours that he plans to sack teachers after the governorship election.

He said the rumour was the handiwork of his detractors, adding that they were behind attempts to paint his administration black and misinterpret its intentions for the Education sector.

Fayemi spoke yesterday at the Ola Oluwa Muslim Grammar School in Ado-Ekiti at the closing of the 2013 Cluster Schools Model for the Teachers’ Professional Development Training Programme.

He said the government encourages teachers to partake in capacity building programmes, adding that this paid off as evident in last year’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Fayemi said last year’s SSCE result was the best in the last 10 years, adding that his administration had reasons to be proud of teachers.

He said: “There is no reason we should not make teachers proud of their profession. We are asking you to undergo capacity building training because we believe in your ability to deliver. Last year’s SSCE result is the best we have had in the last 10 years. It is the result of your work, not mine. Teachers in public schools are better remunerated than those in private schools, so why should pupils in public schools not be better than those in private schools? The best pupils last year were from Ikere High School; Government Girls College, Iyin; and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. You are the ones to help us maintain this standard and achieve 100 per cent.”

Fayemi said the government would improve teachers’ welfare package this year in appreciation of their hard work.

State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Kayode Akosile said: “There have been insinuations that teachers do not like you and that you do not like teachers. But the way the crowd welcomed you when you came in today showed the true situation of things. I think the rumour is the handiwork of political gladiators. For as long as you (Fayemi) remain governor, teachers will continue to support you. You will continue to carry our loads and we will continue to bring our complaints to your door step. Despite the state’s financial constraints, I, like many others, received an alert yesterday that my January salary had been paid. Many of our colleagues in other states are yet to receive their December salary.”

Thanking the government for organising the training, he said: “There is need to continue to learn, especially under this type of unique cluster training.”

At the event were the Deputy Governor, who also chairs the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Commissioner for Education Kehinde Ojo and chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission Bayo Adeniran, among others.

Why Nigeria’s development is slow – UN agency

UNIDO plans to help Nigeria diversify its economy

The United Nation Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, on Thursday attributed Nigeria’s slow paced development to inconsistency in the country’s industrial policy.

UNIDO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that helps countries, particularly developing ones, in industrialisation.

UNIDO Country Representative in Nigeria, Patrick Kormawa, stated this in an interview in Abuja.

Mr. Kormawa said that Nigeria’s over-dependence on export of raw materials would not enhance development, adding that dependence on export of finished product was a major key to economic development. He said that Nigeria had over the years focused on export of raw materials, especially oil, without focusing on non-oil sector such as industry and agriculture.

“Nigeria did not address fundamental constraints to competitiveness; as a result of this, businesses crumbled and products were rejected,” he said.

Mr. Kormawa also blamed the problem on lack of a well-defined trade policy that was integrated with a clear investment policy and a detailed industrial policy plan.

“No country in the entire world can thrive by depending on exportation of raw materials rather than exporting finish products. The more a country specialises in the production of raw materials which, of course Africa has found itself in, the poorer it becomes. The Europeans and Americans have developed through value-added activities not by exporting oil or agricultural commodities but by making and doing things,” he said.

Mr. Kormawa pledged the commitment of UNIDO to offering necessary support that would enhance diversification of the nation’s economy by boosting trade and investment through public- private initiatives.

He said that UNIDO had concluded plans to set up quality infrastructure in Nigeria to facilitate international trade and competitiveness in international markets for Nigerian products. He added that the project, if fully executed, would help to reduce rejection of made in Nigeria products due to low quality.

“The challenges facing Nigeria globally, in terms of acceptability of its product, is inconsistency in industrial policies. No country can develop where the largest proportion of its people are engaged in selling of raw materials. This country, over the years, has engaged in selling crude oil and by simple mathematics, you sell crude oil at N100 and you buy refined product at N150. This means that the country losses N50 on each barrel purchased,” he said.

He noted that the recent launch of Nigeria competitiveness programme by UNIDO would help to diversify the economy.

“The project is designed to assist the country in its effort at diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. It is geared towards boosting the contribution of the non-oil sector growth and development of the country, creating jobs, improving business climate among others,” he said.

Mr. Kormawa called for the establishment of an accredited body to manage quality infrastructure in Nigeria to enhance the acceptability of made in Nigeria goods across board.

(NAN)

‘Fayemi’s critics should respect Ekiti people’

Femi Awoniyi is the publisher of the Germany-based magazine, The African Courier. He speaks with DAPO FALADE on various political issues as they affect Nigeria and Ekiti State, where he hails from. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of politics in Nigeria?
Instead of democracy bringing about greater peace in the country, we have been running from one crisis to the other since 1999. I believe that the confusion that characterises the political landscape today is inevitable; it is the product of a dysfunctional system that we operate. I’m of the firm conviction that we still need a grand constitutional conference to build a system that will enable us to make real progress and become a peaceful, united and strong nation.

What should that conference look like?
It should provide for a very decentralised federal system, where the centre will not wield much powers and where the states and regions have the most responsibilities and control most of the resources. We also need to develop a non-acrimonious system of competition for political power at the centre that is consistent with the need to build sustainable peace and stability in the country, without which we can never really develop.

What do you think Nigeria can learn from the Germans in terms governance?
The people should imbibe the idea that the government belongs to them. Germans believe that everybody should be part of the governance process. So, you must be interested in what policies are made and how they are implemented. This means that if the government fails to do what it should do, the people should challenge the government. I am not happy with our young people. The level of political consciousness is very low and, of course, their level of political participation is also low. I would love to see our young people get actively involved in civil society initiatives that fight for common causes. That is the preparatory ground for their future involvement in politics. In fact, when you talk with young people about politics you get really disappointed and when I compared them with young Europeans, I feel depressed about the future of our land. Our governments should work with clearly-defined objectives and make policies to achieve those objectives, and they should take the people along. Ekiti is a good example of where such a principle has produced good results in Nigeria. Governor Kayode Fayemi’s eight-point agenda will go down in history as one of the most thoughtful documents of governance ever formulated in the country.

But, Fayemi’s opponents say he has not done well in office?
Anybody, who claims that Fayemi has not done well, should not be taken seriously. I know the state very well and I regularly travel there. I am amazed at the tremendous impact his government has made on the lives of the people within such a short period of time in office. Ekiti roads are in a far better condition than they had ever been. Never before in its history, are so many towns and villages of Ekiti connected by well-tarred roads.
  Take education as another example; the renovation of schools and the supply of 76, 000 laptops to pupils in secondary schools and their teachers are a major achievement of the Fayemi administration. This is in addition to the improvements in the condition of service of teachers in the state. Look at the phenomenal improvement of the performance of Ekiti’s secondary school leavers in the past three years; from a woeful 27 per cent pass rate in 2010 to more than 70 per cent last year! And on top of that, the Overall Best Male Student in 2013 was also from the state. That is for me, the outcome of purposeful governance.

Should I also mention the state’s Social Security Scheme for the Elderly and the Food Bank and Soup Kitchen initiatives that are meant to alleviate abject poverty in the state? I can go on and on...

But, his critics are saying these are media hype...
The achievements that I just mentioned are not hype. Are the township roads in Ado-Ekiti hype? Are the newly-constructed roads such as the Ikogosi-Ipole-Efon hype? Is the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort hype? I know how that place looked like just four years ago; my hometown, Ipole Iloro-Ekiti is just five kilometres from Ikogosi. The huge work done by the Fayemi administration is visible to all. Ikogosi has become one of the most beautiful holiday resorts of its kind in Africa. We should be careful about how we do politics in Nigeria so that we don’t inculcate destructive cynicism in our people.

Are you saying that the criticisms are unfair?
I have observed in the ongoing politicking for the governorship election in the state that most of the candidates avoid the issues that matter to the people, but dwell on irrelevant matters. One of the candidates said his wife saw a vision that he would be governor again and he believes so much in that vision. In a recent newspaper interview, the man continued to harp on the vision of his wife without bothering to tell the readers what he would do for Ekiti people when he becomes governor. Imagine in a full length newspaper interview; he did not talk about policies, not for once. And yet you want to become governor.

Another candidate mentioned how student unions are not allowed to operate freely in the state as one of his grievances. Will you stand before Ekiti people and tell them that the reason you believe you will make a better governor is because of student unions? It is so trivial, so ridiculous that you don’t know what to say.

There is nothing wrong with anybody having political ambition but it has to be pursued with intelligence. You have to offer the people a better alternative; you have to tell them what you will do better than the incumbent or whoever your rival is. However, you have to acknowledge what has been done otherwise you will be taking the people for granted. Politicians should respect the intelligence of Ekiti people. The impression some aspirants make is that they’re doing politics for self-aggrandisement, instead of doing politics for the people.

You are talking as if Ekiti were a completed project...
I don’t claim that Ekiti is a finished job. No, not at all; too many of our young people still don’t have jobs. However, if there is any state governor that has done the most to create jobs for young people, it is Fayemi. Look at his agricultural projects, such as the rehabilitation of the cocoa and oil palm plantations. Take the Cassava initiative as another example. Ekiti has now become the state with the highest production output of cassava in Nigeria. This will attract processing companies to the state; in fact, it is already doing that.

If the state’s Youth Commercial Agricultural Development Programme is pursued diligently for four more years, Fayemi would have created a new class of young commercial agriculture entrepreneurs in Ekiti. He would have then broken the jinx of young educated people not taking interest in agriculture. These are no accidental achievements, but the outcome of visionary thinking, good policies and their proper implementation. It is this unique style of governance that is attracting international institutions and foreign companies to the state.

Another Ekiti project that I believe will have a lasting impact on the development of the state is its industrial park that is presently under construction. It will have its own power and water plants and the roads to and within the estate will be tarred. This means that you can site your factory there without bothering about power or water supply. This is a revolutionary development as it will enable companies to bypass problems such as inadequate power supply when setting up shop which is the main stumbling block to industrial production in the country. I believe Fayemi’s continuation in office will consolidate his many lofty programmes such that will create a basis for a self-sustaining economic development in the state. There is no better antidote to unemployment than that.

What is your view on the forthcoming election in the state?
The most important task is to ensure a peaceful and credible election. Under no condition must the Anambra-type fiasco be allowed to repeat itself in Ekiti. I have no doubt that Ekiti people will overwhelmingly return Kayode Fayemi to office.

Ekiti 2014: Fayemi is our candidate, says APC

The All Progressives Congress on Thursday said that incumbent Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has emerged its lone candidate for the June 21 governorship poll in Ekiti State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that interim Chairman of APC in the State, Chief Jide Awe said that though APC had regard and respect for the Constitution and Electoral Act, the party’s laws were internal that must also be respected.

Awe said at a news conference addressed in Ado-Ekiti to usher-in the nationwide registration exercise of new members of the party that no candidate, other than Fayemi, would fly the party’s flag.

“All parties are permitted to operate, based on their internal mode of doing things, which is otherwise known as internal democracy.”

He said that every political party knew who was the best person to fly its flag in any election, adding that the case of APC, on the forthcoming governorship election could not be an exception.

The Ekiti APC Chairman urged residents of the State, especially the youths, to rally round the party by coming out to register en-masse with the party as members during the exercise.

On the issue of illegal pasting of posters as well as erection of campaign billboards across the State, Awe said most of the candidates, including Gov. Kayode Fayemi, did not know who were behind such act.

“It is unfortunate that people can continue to do this even though the governor does not know anything about it. There is no how the governor can choose to ignore INEC orders,” he said.

Source: The Punch

EKITI CONSTRUCTS N2BN NEIGHBOURHOOD MARKETS

Ekiti State government has begun the construction of modern
neighbourhood markets across the sixteen local governments of the
state, estimated around N2 billion.

The project is in fulfillment of the promise made through the Wife of
the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, about two months ago when she toured
markets across the state to empower traders.

The wife of the governor led top officials of the state to perform
ground-breaking ceremony and inspection of project sites in Moba,
Ilejemeje, and Oye LGs, on Wednesday.

Contractors handling the markets have been given up till May, this
year, to complete projects, with a promise by the First Lady to
personally reward the first contractor to do so.

When completed, each market will have lock-up shops, markets stalls,
toilets, worship centres, tarred road, police post, electricity,
parking space and other modern social amenities.

The neighbourhood market is a joint project of the state government
and the LGs. They are in different stages of completion in the three
LGs visited.

Addressing enthusiastic traders and locals that trooped out to welcome
the team at each stop, the governor's wife said that the project
demonstrated that the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, fulfils his
promises to the people.

Erelu Fayemi reiterated the commitment of the administration to
fulfill all the promises made to the people of the state as contained
in the 8-point agenda.

She advised the people of the state to embrace the present purposeful
administration of her husband and be wary of politicians whose
stock-in-trade was deceit and empty promises.

She said, "During my outreach to markets across the state last year,
one of the things I promised our market women and communities on
behalf of the government was to build modern markets as soon as
possible.

"Here we are today. This is to show you that this administration is a
performing one. I know you will want this type of good things to
continue. In the next three to four months. We will come and
inaugurate the market.

"This is the season when all shades of politicians will be going
around promising you 'we will do, we shall do' this and that. They had
opportunity of doing what we are doing now in their seven-and-half
years, but they did nothing.

"But, in the last three years of this administration it has been a
heartwarming story of we are doing this and that. And we are doing
more. There will be no dull moment."

On behalf of the governor, she thanked the women and the people of the
state for their unflinching support, urging them to reciprocate the
gesture when the time comes.

The Commissioner for Local Government, Mr. Paul Omotoso, commended the
visionary leadership and transformational agenda of the governor as
evident in plethora of modern infrastructure dotting the state.

Despite placing 35th among the 36 states of the federation on the
revenue allocation chart, he said that Ekiti had continued to record
massive turnaround in its infrastructure and human capital.
He attributed the feat to the sagacity and prudence of the governor,
whom he said did not belong to the class of "come-make-we-chop"
politicians.

Omotosho added that government would not spare any effort at ensuring
that the people of the state enjoyed more dividend of democracy.

The commissioner advised members of the community to ensure proper

monitoring of the projects and report to the LG caretaker committee
chairman if they were not satisfied with the pace or quality of work.

As a means of generating employment for the teeming youth population
in the state, he said that the contractors have been mandated to use
local artisans, adding that they were also told to source building
materials within the neighbourhoods.

At the ceremonies were the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Moba, Mr.
Adeleke Adeyeye; and his counterparts in Ilejemeje, Prince Bamigboye
Adegoroye and Oye, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi.

The chairmen promised to rally support for the second term ambition of
the governor in appreciation of his landmark achievements so far.

INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS JOSTLE FOR EKITI $3.5 MILLION DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE

No fewer than 12 national and international investors have arrived Ekiti State to participate in the bidding process for the construction of a $3.5 million standard diagnostic centre being proposed by the state government to further improve healthcare service delivery in the State.

The diagnostic centre which will also help the Funmi Olayinka diagnostic centre perform optimally is to be put in place on Public-Private Partnership arrangement

Receiving the investors many of whom are from the United Kingdom and South Africa among others in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the gesture is aimed at improving on the quality of healthcare services in the state as well as enable people who need diagnostic services have access to it.

The Governor stressed that it is the vision of his administration to establish a referral place that will be a reference in the country hence the opening of the bidding process which has brought in the investors who are leading players in providing medical equipment.

While reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensuring a very transparent bidding process, Dr Fayemi stated that Ekiti is the first state to domesticate the freedom of information law because of the administration's resolve for accountability and transparency.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnership, Mr Segun Ologunleko explained that it is necessary to have a good diagnostic centre for radiology, imaging and other laboratory services because many competent medical practitioners in the country are handicapped for lack of diagnostic facility and this has hindered them in becoming the best they should be.

Ologunleko added that this informed of government's decision to establish the centre through the PPP arrangement and provide a high quality, reliable, efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery system in the State.

He stated that government had advertised the various processes for the bidding last year and this year with a World Bank group, International Finance Corporation, serving as government's transaction advisor and enable the investors have confidence in the process since it involves investors from the international communities.

He disclosed that government is looking forward to a successful process that will culminate in the emergence of an investor who can fund the project to the tune of $3.5 million.

Ologunleko also assured EKiti people that the project is in their interest as the project would be put in place on build, operate, maintain, finance and transfer agreement and after certain number of years, the government would take full ownership of the project which will help the free health programme of the Fayemi-led administration.

 The Principal Operation Officer in charge of the PPP transaction Advisory services of IFC, Mr Bayo Oyewole had earlier stated that the calibre of investors which have come to the state shows that the Ekiti state is indeed a destination of choice for investment.

He assured that the bidding process will be carried out transparently even as the bidders hold their conference at the State University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti.

-- 
Olayinka Oyebode
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Ekiti State, Nigeria

Ondo governance: Concerned citizens ring bell for generational shift

Tuesday, 28 January 2014 00:00

Written by Niyi Bello, Akure

A NEW wave of awareness among the youths of Ondo State is currently sweeping the political landscape as agitation for young and vibrant politicians to take over from the present crop of leadership is gaining momentum by the day.

  High on the point of demand is that the new set of leadership must emerge from the vast pool of vibrant young professionals who would see politics as service to the people, not as instruments of oppression, opportunism and a platform to engender hatred to the detriment of the masses.

  Proponents of this new understanding argue that the state, compared to others being controlled by youthful leadership, lacks the necessary impetus for growth and that modern governance has gone beyond the analogue age that many of the leaders in the state belong to.

  Many are quick to point to the continuation of the politics of vengeance for which the old breed politicians particularly in the South-West geo-political zone are known which simply means that political opponents must do everything to rubbish each other even while the welfare and general interest of the masses are suffering.

  The abandonment of all the developmental projects embarked upon by the administration of the late former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, even after colossal amounts of money had been committed to such projects, is seen as pointer to the existence of such politics of hatred.

  These projects include the N14 billion Owena Multipurpose Dam reticulation project which was to provide potable water to more than half of the state population, the N5 billion Akure Stadium to raise the level of sporting facilities in the state and the N4 billion Irele-Okitipupa link road which would have reduced travel time between the two Ikale towns by 80 percent.

  For these projects which were awarded at the twilight of the Agagu administration and for which a whopping N36 billion that was later inherited by the new administration, has been reserved for their completion and others, the state had committed 50 percent mobilization fees to the contractors which conservatively runs into about N15 billion.

  Also on the list of projects abandoned for no reason other than the difference in political party colours and the obvious supremacy contest between incumbent Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his predecessor, are the construction of six-classroom blocks in all the state-owned primary schools of which the former administration had delivered two-third of the about 1,250 schools and the massive developments of the state’s oil-rich coastal stretch for which the sorry state of the neglected N27 billion Igbokoda-Ayetoro and the Aboto-Olokola roads are now examples of how the people can suffer when leaders embark on ego trip.

  Those who called for a new order in the management of the politics and administration of the state argue that such sheer wastages of the people’s commonwealth because of political differences could not happen if the two contenders were in their youthful ages and can imbibe the new paradigm shift in the management of the people’s resources.

  They pointed to neigbouring Ekiti State where incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi took it upon himself to continue all the projects awarded by his predecessor, Segun Oni and in many cases even retaining the original contractors handling the projects.

  Even though the two states suffered the same poll trauma that resulted in long-drawn legal processes and in the case of Ekiti, a re-run exercise after the April 2007 governorship election, the level of development in terms of continuation of on-going projects, is far higher in Ekiti than Ondo even while Ondo is an oil-producing state and Ekiti is at the bottom of the ladder in revenue allocation and generation.

  Now, a traveller to Ekiti from Ondo passing through any part of their mutual boundaries would know immediately that he is in Ekiti by the smoothness of the roads compared to the ones at the Ondo end. This is attributed to the completion of all the boundary road projects awarded by Oni which Fayemi, who put the interest of the people far above the political rivalry between the duo, delivered.

  Last month, some concerned Ondo youths under the aegis of The Change Agents in a statement made available to The Guardian, gave some of the reasons above as the motive for calling for what they called “generational shift” in Ondo State political leadership.

  According to them in the statement titled “Clarion Call on Ondo Youths” and signed by its coordinator, Sola Adepoju, “the time has come for the young people of this state to take up the gauntlet and wrestle power from our present crops of greedy and insensitive leaders who put their political interest above the needs of the common man.”

  The group said the state did not record any appreciable growth when late Adebayo Adefarati, a septuagenarian was the governor of the state between 1999 and 2003 during which his age-mates in the likes of late Chiefs Akerele Adu and Wunmi Adegbomire were the Commissioners for Agriculture and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) respectively.

  A disadvantage of putting the state in the hands of  the aged, according to them, was that the state, compared to Cross River State which was then under youthful Donald Duke, recorded great leaps in its cocoa production which was boosted by the provision of incentives for young farmers to engage in cocoa farming.

By the end of 2003, Cross River was almost taking over from Ondo in terms of cocoa production and back then, operators of the cocoa industry at the national level used to joke that cocoa trees in both states were as old as their governors.

  While Duke was embarking on the cocoa renewal programme and attracting external funding to its tourism sector, for the Adefarati regime, stories were told of fraudsters who were always coming to Akure in company of white men with proposals to bring foreign investments to the state and how many of these “foreign investors” went away with millions of naira in consultancy fees.

 In fact, not only Cross River but the entire South-South geo-political zone has enjoyed the leadership of young and upwardly mobile politicians, many of who impacted positively on their states.

  The current infrastructure revolution in Akwa-Ibom State, where the governor, Godswill Akpabio is said to be performing marvelously and the feats recorded by Duke in the tourism sector as evidenced by the Tinapa Resort and the annual Calabar Carnival, are said to be made possible because of the young ages and exposures of the governor.

  Proponents also alluded to the loss that Ondo State has recorded in the handling of a multi-billion naira project to construct a modern event centre in Akure that would be the ultimate destination for event planners across the country.

Tagged “The Dome Project”, the contract was initially awarded for the sum of N2 billion and was meant to be completed within a period of six months in 2010. 

  Four years after the elaborate flag-off by the governor, the event centre, now termed “The Doomed Project” by the opposition, is yet to be delivered even after many changes to the original design and contract fees variations.

Inside sources said the concept of the project was faulty from the beginning as the idea was muted by somebody who copied the design from the internet and sold the proposal to the governor as a standing edifice in one of the Scandinavian countries, a deception that they argued would not have been approved by a leader who is conversant with the internet and its manipulation.

  One of those who spoke to The Guardian on the issue, Rotimi Ogunleye, a young Chartered Accountant who also belongs to the People’s Democratic Party said there is a world of difference between the way most of the leaders in country are doing things and the way it should be done in this modern age.

  According to him, “it always amazes me to see our leaders jetting abroad in search of elusive investors when all what they need is to make necessary contacts through the internet. Nowadays you can do a billion naira business through your computer instead of wasting tax-payers money on unnecessary trips abroad.”

He said “that there are a lot of opportunities at the global level that could be harnessed by our leaders but they are blind to them. And instead of them getting young people with great ideas and dreams to help in driving development, nepotism and crude politics won’t allow them. We need a change.”

  When asked how this change could be effected, Ogunleye said the state has one of the largest pools of young professionals in the country and that “what is needed is to sensitize them to be interested in the task of state-building and mobilizing the masses towards that end. We will surely win.”

  Another young politician, Olalekan Odere of the All Peoples Congress (APC) said “we the young people of this state constitute a major force within the framework of socio-economic and political life. We must register to vote in the 2015 elections and seek positions of authorities.”

  Among the top contenders in the race for a younger leadership in the state is Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi, former Commissioner for Education in the State who later became the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Foreign Affairs and now the Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Aids Corps (TAC), an agency that recruits and deploy Nigerian professional to countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions to beef up their manpower shortfall.

Osunyikanmi, a former banker and academician still teaches “pro bono”. 

  On the list is also Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) who once represented Akoko North East/Akoko North West at the House of Representatives and a fellow former Federal legislator, Abayomi Sheba, who is now a member of the Federal Character Commission board.

  If any of these emerges as the face of the new leadership in the state, it would confirm the saying of the elders that “only the dogs of today know how to hunt the hares of today”, and Ondo can then join the league of states with youthful governors.

Source: The Guardian

Ekiti schools get instructional aids

The Ekiti State government yesterday distributed textbooks and instructional materials to primary and junior secondary schools.

The colourful event was held on the premises of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) on Okeesa Street in Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, described the gesture as a demonstration of the commitment to qualitative education.

He said: “The distribution of these textbooks, library resource materials and other materials, jointly provided by the state government and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), is meant to strengthen Agenda 4 of the 8-Point Agenda of this administration.”

Fayemi said his administration considered the provision of reading materials and libraries as important.

He listed the provision of a conducive environment for teaching and learning as well as the motivation of the workers as some of the administration’s efforts to boost education.

“Now that our teachers are motivated and the Professional/Rural Teachers’ Allowance has been approved to boost morale, these instructional materials will be put to maximum use by the pupils with the full cooperation and supervision of the teachers.”

Prof. Adelabu, who chairs SUBEB, urged officials of the board and the Ministry of Education to distribute the materials equitably.

Mr. Sunday Arema, who spoke for UBEC, said the passion with which the administration was pursuing its education agenda was commendable.

State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Mr. Kayode Akosile said the intervention of the Fayemi administration had restored the glory of education in the state.

He said posterity would never forget the administration’s efforts to give Ekiti children a better future.

A pupil of AUD Pilot School in Ajilosun, Yusuf Rabiu, thanked the governor and assured him that the pupils would make the best use of the materials.

Also at the event were Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology Kehinde Ojo; representative of the School-Based Management Committee (SMBC) Chief Sylvester Adeyanju; Chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission Bayo Adeniran; representative of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) Ola Akintoye; Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs Aderemi Ajayi and former Commissioner for Education Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

Source: The Nation

2014: Fayemi declares interest in second term, names campaign team

It would be recalled that during the third anniversary of the Fayemi administration, various interest groups, including the women, youth, artisans as well as leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress from the 16 local government areas of the state, called on Fayemi to seek re-election for a second term so as to continue the recovery and restoration work he had begun.

Following the release of the election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has formally expressed his intention to seek re-election.

Fayemi also named key officials of his re-election campaign.


In a statement on Sunday, which he personally signed, Fayemi said: “Following the groundswell of support by leaders and members of our party as well as the generality of Ekiti people from the nooks and crannies of Ekiti State and in the Diaspora, it is with a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility that I today accept the calls by our people to seek re-election for a second term in office. You have made the calls, and today I have opted to act in deference to those sacred calls by throwing my hat into the ring for a free and fair contestation for the exalted office for a second term.”


On the reason for his decision to seek re-election, Fayemi said: “Our people can faithfully testify that together the Collective Rescue Mission we promised at the outset of our first term in office has crystalised. Indeed our people can testify to how we have rescued Ekiti State from the years of locusts and returned our dear state to the path of respectability, stability and development. Our people can affirm that we have kept faith with the Roadmap to Ekiti Recovery – our 8-points agenda. Every stratum of Ekiti State can see our footprints on those key sectors we promised to touch. My readiness to heed your calls today is therefore a demonstration of our collective commitment to continue the good work we have begun.”

Fayemi said further in the statement: “My decision to heed the calls of our people following the plethora of endorsements I have received from the leaders and members of our party does not translate to the closure of the political space for contest. I therefore look forward to fair competition from my co-aspirants within and outside our party. I look forward to very robust debates and issue-based campaign.”

Fayemi in the statement further named a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bimbo Daramola of Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, as the Director-General of his re-election campaign. He will be assisted by Hon. Biodun Omoleye, the Special Adviser (Policy and Strategy) in his government as the Deputy Director-General of the campaign, while Sanmi Omiata will serve as the in-house Communications Director of the campaign. Bunmi Adelugba will be Director of Finance and Administration and Dimeji Daniels is the campaign spokesperson.

Fayemi said: “My reason for the appointment of these illustrious citizens of Ekiti State who are professionals with impeccable credentials to stir the process of our campaign is to enable me keep my eyes on the business of governance while we run a truly professional and edifying campaign.”