EKITI 2018: GROUP MOBILISES SUPPORT FOR BETTER LEADERSHIP IN EKITI STATE.

 Ahead of the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State, a socio-political group known as Ekiti Heritage Platform has called on the people of Ekiti State to be sensitive in choosing the next governor who will pilot the affairs of the state for another four years after the expiration of governor Ayodele Fayose in office.

The group is established to sensitise the people of Ekiti state on the need to vote for a visionary leadership that will drive the state to her economic haven.

Speaking with Naijanewsonline yesterday, the group’s coordinator, Ayo Fapohunda berated the state governor Dr.Peter Fayose over his attitude towards the state’s economic situation saying the governor has plundered the resources of Ekiti state.

While affirming the group’s recent endorsement of a top contender in the governorship race in Ekiti state,Fapohunda said the endorsement of Akogun Banji Ojo by the group was as a result of a research carried out by a 10-man committee on the aspirants in the state both in the ruling party PDP  and the APC, and having accessed the programmes of Akogun Ojo and his antecedents,EHP resolved to endorse his aspiration.

His words: ‘’Our group is committed to mobilising support for a leadership that is driven by vision and compassion. Ekiti state is at the verge of economic explosion because the state is plunged into debts and it’s our collective  responsibilities to salvage the hands of poor managers of our resources. 

''We cannot fold our arms and watch some people take our resources to a halt. We are prepared for the change of baton which informed our collective decision to endorse Akogun Banji Ojo.’’

Fapohunda said the group has been actively involved in the electoral process and would continue to pursue that which is just and fair among the citizenry.

The group also urged the people of the state to join hands with the group in its drive to make Ekiti a better place.

ABEGUNDE AND ALE ARE COMPETENT TO HANDLE CHALLENGES IN GOVERNMENT....Akeredolu

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Friday said the appointment of  Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde as Secretary to State Government and Mr. Olugbenga Ale as his Chief of Staff was made possible because he believed they are men of immense capacity to respond to the expectation of the people of the State.

The Governor made this known during the swearing in of the duo and that of the five Senior Special Assistants, SSA  at the Exco chamber in the Governor’s office, Akure.

Mr Akeredolu said, “The personalities of these two individuals and the high ranking offices they occupy bear testimony to the significance this administration attaches to excellence and best practices. It is also an evidence of our abiding commitment to devote the best of our efforts to our avowed goal of changing the lives of the people.

“With the critical appointments of these gentlemen being sworn in today and that of the five Senior Special Assistants alongside, the business of governance has begun.

“To drive this change process, we believe there is the need for an excellent human resources comprising of experience, competence, vision and confidence.

“In setting out to achieve these lofty goals, our administration is conscious of the fact that Change itself is a process. It is a process that must be clearly thought out, clearly articulated and clearly implemented to produce definite and quantifiable results.

“This exactly is the reason we have taken our time to search for men and women with immense capacity to respond to the expectation of the people.

“Our Secretary to Government Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde has a pedigree that speaks loud for experience, loyalty and vision. He is urbane, exposed and loyal. As you know he is a consummate politician with an enduring and enviable grassroots appeal.

“He served the people of Akure South and North federal constituency as a two time member of the House of Representatives. He is a disciplined party man and an excellent team player whose understanding of the vision and mission of this government convinces us beyond doubt that as Secretary to this government, he will support us to steer the center of government towards effective service delivery. May God help him in his discharge of his duties.

“Chief Joel Olugbenga Ale is not only an accomplished bureaucrat, his vast experience in public service has trained him to be steady, focussed and systematic in finding solutions to difficult challenges.

“He retired from the public service at the peak of his career having taken rounds as a government bureaucracy manager in virtually all the key departments of government. His renown ability as a planner, organiser and enforcer will serve government in great stead at all times in need. May God help him as he discharges his duties.”
Speaking further, the Governor said his government will continue to reward loyalty, dedication, competence and diligence.

“Let me restate to our people in Ondo State, in particularly to members of our party, the APC, that in due course, many more of our people will be invited to hold other key positions of authority at different levels of government, to serve the best interest of our state.

“We urge our people to understand that this state needs help and that as patriots, their sacrifice and service to common good remain the only purpose of their involvement in government.

“While waiting for such opportunities to come, we wish to appeal for patience with government, renewal of faith in our party and a complete dedication to our promises to the people of our state.,” he said.

 

AKEREDOLU RECOGNISES COKER AS SPEAKER OF ONDO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

The leadership crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly took a new turn yesterday as the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Friday publicly pitched his tenth with Hon. Coker Malachi, factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Mr. Malachi was recognized as the Speaker of the House of Assembly while he sat next to the Governor during the swearing in of the Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff to the Governor at the Exco chamber, Governor’s office, Akure.

Newsnaijaonline recalled the State House Assembly has for the past weeks been engulfed in leadership crisis following the suspension of its Speaker, Ms. Jumoke Akindele, and other principal officers over an alleged N15 million fraud by half of the 26 members of the Assembly.

The 13-member, 8 of them from the PDP and 5 from the APC, purportedly elected Mr. Malachi and Mr. Ayodele Arowele, as acting Speaker and acting Deputy-Speaker respectively.

The development led to a fracas on the floor of the Assembly resulting in the deployment of armed policemen to maintain law and order and eventual sealing of the complex allegedly on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police.

Former Governor Mimiko was also violently prevented from accessing the Assembly to present the 2017 budgetary proposals and his attempts to have the legislature approve a list of 38 bills was equally rebuffed.

Newsnaijaonline gathered that the recognition of the Malachi-led faction might not be unconnected with the latest intervention of the Mr. Akeredolu to resolve the crisis in the Assembly.

Our reporter gathered that the Governor had last week met with the two factions where he advised them on peaceful resolution of the crisis rather than him supporting a faction of the house.

A source close to the Governor who spoke to Newsnaijaonline on Friday  said the suspended Speaker, Ms. Akindele and her group also met with the Governor in Ibadan on 5th of March during a thanksgiving service held in his honour.

Mr. Akeredolu was said to have told the lawmakers to sheath their swords and reconcile in the interest of the state, adding that there was the need for compromise on both sides to move forward.

We also gathered that the Ms. Akindele’s group during the meeting explained that due process was not followed by the Malachi group in impeaching the leadership of the house.

They also agreed that a peaceful change of leadership in line with the rules of the Assembly would be encouraged after the resolution of the ongoing crisis.