Afenifere Lambasts Buhari's One-Man Show, Says He's Behaving Like A Dictator

Afenifere, a socio-political group weekend condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of administration saying he is behaving like a dictator. The group’s Chairman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti said this in Akure while assessing the President’s actions so far. “President Buhari is running a one-man show. Let him appoint his cabinet and start serious business,’’ he said. Fasoranti also added that it will be a disaster if the report of the National Confab organised by the immediate past administration is dumped by the president. According to him; ”I think the President should sit down and have a package. What people are saying is very correct that he is just picking people here and there. “He seems not to have settled down to governance yet and time is flying. “Let him constitute the cabinet and start working. As it is now, Buhari is still behaving like a military dictator. Just picking on people, he should sit down to work. He is running a one man show now. Speaking on the report of the National Conference, the Afenifere boss said the group will continue to engage the administration on the implementation of the report for the betterment of the country. On the possibility of dumping the report, he said; “We will wait until then, because at that time we will still want to express our opinion. When we are convinced, we will say it. “The reason we supported Jonathan of course was because he agreed to carry out the decisions of the National Conference. The present government is not working towards that and when the time comes, we shall speak.’’ Speaking on Ooni, he said; ‘’His death is a sad loss, very heavy loss. Ooni was a quintessential monarch ,very humble, friendly and broad minded. He towered above other monarchs.” “The way he dresses, the way he speaks with confidence. I have never seen him frown. He was always relaxed, always approached problems with ease and understanding. I think the other monarch accepted him as a superior king.’’

Ekiti Farmers Get N10m Agrochemicals

In fulfilment of his promise, Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose through the Commissioner for Agric, Kehinde Odebunmi distributed agrochemicals to cocoa farmers in Ekiti state. Some months back, Governor Fayose promised to loan cocoa farmers in Ekiti state N10m to buy agrochemicals. Today, the promise has been fulfilled, as agrochemicals worth N10m were given to cocoa farmers. In the past, lack of fund to purchase agrochemicals to treat the cocoa trees/pods was one of the major factors militating against the yields of cocoa produce, but the timely intervention of Governor Fayose has eliminated the financial impediment. Cocoa farmers from all the sixteen local government of the state converged at the Seed Processing Unit of the Ministry, Matthew street, Ado Ekiti to be part of good gesture. Promise fulfilled by the Promise keeper Fayose is working.. Ekiti is progressing.. Farmers are happy...

Community projects: Economic challenges won't slow us down, Fayose assures

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has said despite the financial challenges facing the state government, his administration will not slow down the pace of the execution of its ongoing projects. This is just as former Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ekiti State University, Professor Fashina Abayomi Sunday, commended the governor for having the fore sight to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people. The governor gave the assurance on Saturday while inspecting work on the 11-kilometre Bawa-Irewumi-Olorunsogo-Police Headquarters Road in Ado-Ekiti. In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said the determination to impact positively on the lives of the people of the state was keeping him going in the face of enormous challenges, and also appealed to the people to be alive to their responsibilities to the government and support it. He stressed that the opening up of Ado-Ekiti metropolis with access roads would help in decongesting the city centre. "One good thing is that we are trying our best and improving the quality of life of the people. The people of this area did not lobby me to construct this road, but we are always ready to do the needful and we won't allow the current economic challenges to deter us. "We want to service more people by embarking on projects and policies that will make life bearable and comfortable for them. People of the state should also be praying for this government. There is no perfect person. We have our shortcomings, but we are improving daily to give our best to our people," he said. The governor urged the people of the area and the state at large to also be alive to their civic and other obligations to the government. On the complaint of poor power supply to the area, the governor said the relevant agencies would be informed, but urged the people to note that electricity companies were now private and that consumers should also pay their bills. Professor Fashina who is a resident of Irewumi Estate, one of the communities the ongoing road project would serve came out of his house to witness the Governor inspecting the project said,"Governor Ayo Fayose is a friend of the masses not by words of mouth only, but in action. "Before he came to office and start the opening up of this community with the road project, we were in a serious dilemma. Imagine a community of about 5,000 people with no access road, but the governor has changed that," he said. Also speaking, other residents such as Godwin Felix and Mrs Christiana. Ayeni, thanked the state government for the project. They appealed to the governor not to allow the pace of work to slow down and ensure that the job is done to specification.

Fasholagate: My Defence ~ Babatunde Raji Fashola

In response to allegations of extra-marital affairs, N78 million website and his role in the National Assembly drama, Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos state has released a statement to defend himself. In his statement he explained how he adopted three more kids, the reason for spending N78 million on his website and that he did not interfere in the NASS election that brought Bukola Saraki to power. Below is his full statement: #When you wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty". This statement of profound wisdom informed my silence in the wake of manipulated and unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing recently being levelled against me. They started a few weeks to the end of my tenure, and have continued till date. They range from allegations of extra marital paternity of children, to mundane and phantom conspiracy in the National Assembly, a debt profile for Lagos State and lately a website upgrade contract of N78 million, which is being distorted. In so far as the allegations of paternity are concerned, they are wicked and false. I have no biological children other than my two children. #Paternity issue: Of course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the tragic DANA Airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due process. Those who do not care whether they hurt innocent children or invade the privacy of other citizens in their mindless rage against me will have their rewards served upon them in the fullness of time. #National Assembly crises: As far as my alleged involvement in the National Assembly elections are concerned, they remain only the products of the imagination of those who made the allegations. I was out of the country at the material time and returned only in the early hours of that morning to Abuja, and from there proceeded to Lagos. #Lagos Debt Profile: As far as debts of Lagos State are concerned, the fact is that Lagos had always had debts. Her population is growing and for a long time she has run deficit budgets to cater to the needs of that growing population. All the debts contracted in my time were approved by the Parliament in the annual budgets, some have been paid back and the financial status was healthy and stable when I left. The outlook for the state and her rating by Fitch was long-term foreign and local currency IDRs at 'BB-', short-term IDR at 'B' and national long-term rating at 'AA+(nga)'. When we all pause to reflect and think, we will realise that there are a sizable number of companies who are running business, who have no responsibility for Security, Public Health, Public Education and other responsibilities of Government, who borrow more than Lagos State Government, whether collectively or individually. #Website issue: As far as the website contract is concerned, yes there was a contract. It went through procurement and was approved by the Government agency authorised to do so. One of the services was an "upgrade" quoted for N12.5 million but awarded for N12 million. There were other services that were new; like a handover countdown clock, mobile Apps for Google, for IOS and ipad, for Microsoft, and for Research in Motion (Blackberry), which the existing website did not have, as well as the annual maintenance cost for managing the website. It was for all these services that the contract was issued for N78 million, which the Lagos State procurement agency gave a No Objection based on the advice of the Ministry of Science and Technology, who are the Government adviser on ICT matters. In publishing this Contract award which was the Government tradition under my watch, the procurement agency website summarised it as "upgrade" only without detailing the other services and this has been distorted by the agents of hate as their suspected "smoking gun". For those who are familiar with mobile Applications, they will know that users either pay for them online or download them for free. What is usual is that applications for service are usually provided to users free, but somebody bears the cost. Since these applications were to be made available to the public for free access and to assist Government communication, we decided to pay for them. The entire documents are with the Lagos State Government and are available for those who seek the truth. For the record, since 2008, long before the Freedom of Information Act was ever passed, we had put out all our contracts on the State website because I believe people deserve to know. It is regrettable that a "summary" of the contract has been deliberately distorted to misinform the public. This particular website came into being as a result of the decision I made to make my telephone number public for the several thousands of people seeking to reach me daily. The website that is now under attack helped me to do my job and to respond to citizens, and the contract was issued to run till my last day of office. It stands logic upside down to "fraudulently" award a contract and then have it published on a website. To date, there have been 27.666 million hits on this website, with 1,844 videos, 34,381 photographs, 2,531 press releases and 595 speeches, among other items of public communication. I have chosen to make this personal response because as the head of government at the time of the transaction, the buck as they say stops on my desk and also because of the many calls, text messages and mails coming from many people seeking clarification and to prevent fiction from being mistaken for truth. I expect that there may be more distorted allegations without evidence, for reasons that remain in the realm of speculation, because, I have been informed reliably that large amounts of money are being paid to some of these agents to bear false witness. I cannot conclude without responding to the crusade of CACOL and their ilk, seeking my prosecution on allegations that have no proof and writing "pre-emptive" letters to the Presidency. In case they are unaware, I am not looking for a job. I expect them to know that allegations of wrong doing are not resolved without evidence, neither are they resolved in press conferences. I have served my state, and by extension, my country for Twelve and half years and I did so with my heart. I am taking the rest that I believe I have earned. For those who still wish to remain in the mud, they should look in the mirror. For those who wish to throw mud at me, they should look at their own hands. As for me, I have moved on. My job is done.

Ekiti Govt debunks APC lies on Federal Allocation, says State got N4.1bn in June

Ekiti State government has debunk claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the State got a total sum of N8.5bn from the Federation Account in June, saying that the State got a total sum of N4.1bn while the 16 Local Councils got N2.7bn. Reacting to claim by the APC, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Idowu Adelusi said lying has become the first name of the APC, urging Ekiti people to ignore them as they have always done. He said; "In June, Ekiti State got net allocation of N1,958,432,714.17 and in July, the State got a sum of N2,687,536,884.88. "The breakdown for June allocation is as follows; Gross Allocation (N1,815,552,424.75), Value Added Tax (N536,678,738.75) and Exchange Rate Gains (N171,236,640.31). "The following deductions were made from the allocation, Foreign Loan (N42,260,280.19), Contractual Obligations-ISPO (N397,196,808.00), Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (N23,120,001.44) and Bond Issuance Programme 2 (N102,458,000.01), totalling N565,035,089.64. "If N565,035,089.64 is deducted from the gross allocation of N1,815,552,424.75, it will leave a sum of N1,250,517,335.11 and this added to VAT and Exchange Rate Gains will be N1,958,432,714.17. "In June also, Ekiti State got N2,173,624,315.39 from the Liquefied Natural Gas proceed while the 16 Local Councils got N1,259,124,010.15, totalling N3,432,748,325.54. "Addition of the State's June allocation of N1,958,432,714.17 and the LNG Proceed of N2,173,624,315.39 will be N4,132,057,030. "The local councils total allocation for June of N1,455,018,959.92 added to the N1,259,124,010.15 LNG Proceed will be N2,714,142,970 and if this is added to the State total June revenue of N4,132,057,030, it will amount to N6,846,200,000. "The facts as laid bare here is that Ekiti State and the 16 Local Councils got N6.8bn in June. "Our question then is, where did the APC liars get their own voodoo June Federal Allocation of N8.5bn from?"

Stomach Infrastructure-logy: EKSG Gives Ekiti Cassava Farmers N20M Grant

Beneficiaries of Fadama III Additional Financing have received grant that will enable them cultivate 200 hectares of Cassava produce. Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, the governor ably represented by his deputy Dr. Kolapo Olushola admonished the farmers to judiciously use the money for the purpose for which it was granted. He advised them not to see it as opportunity to go on spending spree with societal functions. Earlier, during his welcoming address, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon Kehinde Odebunmi encouraged other groups to quickly gather themselves together and satisfy all the necessary conditions put in place in order to benefit in the next phase of the project. Odebunmi said, "As we all know that the Third National Fadama Development Project came to a close in December 31, 2013, the success recorded led to emergence of Fadama III Additional Financing with the same objective as its parent which is to sustainably increase the income of Land and Water Resources Users. "I wish to remind you that the Fadama III project had made laudable impacts in the lives of our farmers in different agribusiness of their interests. The project not only empowered them financially but also equipped them mentally as the beneficiaries enjoyed relevant trainings through Capacity Building and Advisory services components of the project. "Fadama III Additional Financing came into existence because of well performing implementation arrangements in Fadama III Project. The Federal Government of Nigeria requested for World Bank support to align more to its Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), which was adopted in 2011 to improve value chain of prioritized agricultural commodities. This project will focus on farm productivity performance of clusters of farmers engaged in priority food staples namely rice, cassava, sorghum and horticulture in the state crop production zones in Kogi, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Enugu, and Anambra States. "Ekiti state government expressed her interest and was considered as one of the production states for cassava cultivation. I am happy to tell this gathering today that among other states that applied, only a few was considered of which Ekiti state was one. The intended beneficiaries also include Youth and women among others. "Ladies and gentleman, may I inform you that today's official flag-off of input support, a lot of pre-disbursement activities had been ongoing among which were sensitization of major stakeholders i.e farmers, policy makers, agro dealers and other relevant bodies. Farmers were also informed into registered groups (Production Groups and Cluster), 66 Business plans were developed out of which 20 beneficiaries of today belong to 20 Production Groups whose Business plans were approved for cultivation of 200ha of cassava in the state at one hectare per farmer. "I want to encourage other groups to quickly gather themselves together and satisfy all the necessary conditions put in place so that they can also benefit in the next phase of the project. "I am aware that the agro-dealers play very important roles in this project. As I earlier told you during the farmer-Agro-dealers forum that integrity must be your watchword as the government will not tolerate any collusion between you and any service provider which may truncate the project objective." Appreciating the government the Chairman of the group thanked the state government and promised to use to the money for the purpose it was meant for.

Buhari to act as petroleum minister?

The news has been making the rounds in both the conventional and internet media that President Muhammadu Buhari is to assume the position of Minister of Petroleum when he appoints ministers next month. According to the information reportedly leaked after a meeting of the president with chieftains of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja over the impending ministerial appointments, Buhari said he would take the action as part of his move to sanitise the oil sector and rid it of corruption. Ordinarily, this should be a welcome development for several reasons. Number one is that the president’s reputation as “Mr Clean” remains intact, even among his political adversaries. Number two is that the fight against corruption, especially in the cash-cow oil sector, has been a major concern of Nigerians which Buhari promised to address during his campaigns. Number three and most importantly, is that President Buhari is a veteran in the management of the sector. He spearheaded the establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when he was oil minister in the late 1970’s. He has the cognate experience to do a thorough job and creating the right template before ceding the position to a cabinet minister. However, we are concerned about issues of transparency and accountability if the president chooses to take up the post in addition to his onerous and overloaded duties as the nation’s Chief Executive and Security Officer. The nation is still at sea over the way in which former President Olusegun Obasanjo handled the same job for six years from 1999 when he assumed power. A number of turnaround maintenance projects were undertaken and billions of naira sunk and yet the refineries remained comatose until after Buhari took over, and they started bouncing back, as if by magic. We do not want a repeat of the nation being put in the dark about proceedings in the industry. One big disadvantage of having the president of the country as Minister of Petroleum Resources is that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to be summoned by the National Assembly to be grilled over any misgivings that might arise, and to supply information that will help to set the minds of Nigerians at rest when the “clean-up” of the industry begins. The story will be different if a minister is on the job. We suggest that the president appoints a person of proven competence and integrity to carry out his mandate in the industry and be available and accountable to Nigerians through the federal legislature, the media and civil society. Once bitten, they say, twice shy. A minister should be put on the job for greater transparency, accessibility and accountability.