Irepodun/Ifelodun LG Chair Hon Oluwatuyi Supports Security Agencies in Ire/Ife Bush Combating Exercise.

Irepodun/Ifelodun LG Chair Hon Oluwatuyi Supports Security Agencies in Ire/Ife Bush Combating Exercise.

...Commends Oyebanji's Efforts Towards Enhancing Security in the State.

In a bid to enhance security and safeguard lives and properties, security agencies in collaboration with the Local Government Chairman, Honorable Gbenga Oluwatuyi, organized a bush combing exercise in Ire/Ife Bush, located in Igede-Ekiti, the capital of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.

On Friday, February 9th, gallant personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Vigilante Group, Amotekun Corps, Association of Hunters and Forest Guard, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps descended upon the Ire/Ife Bush. The exercise was part of the government's ongoing efforts to combat crime and bolster security measures in the area.

The Chairman Honorable Gbenga Oluwatuyi, after holding crucial meetings with various security agencies in the local government, provided unwavering support and directives to ensure the successful execution of the operation. His commitment to enhancing the protection of lives and properties was evident as he authorized and backed the security agencies in their mission to rid the bush of criminal elements.

During the operation, security personnel interacted with non-indigenous residents in the farmsteads, cautioning them against harboring criminals within their midst. Notably, the only Fulani individual encountered during the exercise, who had erected a hut in the forest with his cattle, was promptly invited to the police station for profiling.

Addressing reporters, Hon Oluwatuyi expressed his readiness to collaborate with Governor Oyebanji in championing the protection of lives and properties in the local government area, aligning with the six pillars outlined by the state government. He commended Governor Oyebanji for his relentless efforts in securing the release of kidnapped pupils and teachers from Apostolic Faith Nursery in Emure-Ekiti. Furthermore, he praised the Governor for initiating dialogue meetings with service chiefs, leading to the deployment of additional military personnel to fortify security across the state's territories.

The combing exercise in Ire/Ife Bush signifies a proactive step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, underscoring the government's commitment to fostering a secure environment for all citizens.

Oyebanji Felicitates Fayemi On 59th Birthday.

Oyebanji Felicitates Fayemi On 59th Birthday.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has felicitated his immediate predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his 59th birthday.

Dr Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of the state and one time Minister of Mines and Steel Development, clocks 59 years old on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Governor Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, expressed gratitude to God for sparing Dr. Fayemi's life to witness another birthday in good health, sound mind and excellent spirit. 

The Governor said Dr. Fayemi is a beneficiary of immense grace of God judging by the great achievements God has helped him to attain in academics, politics and public service, at a relatively young age.

He noted that history would be kind to Dr. Fayemi for using public office as a means of selfless service to Ekiti State, Nigeria and at the global level. 

He described the former Governor as an exemplary leader, a strategist, a bridge builder, a mentor who believes in the ability of his mentees; a passionate believer in greater Ekiti as well as an incurable optimist in the greatness of the Nigerian nation.

According to Governor Oyebanji, Dr Fayemi's impact as a notable scholar, pro-democracy activist, committed progressive, a diligent leader and eminent statesman are there for all to see. He added the former Governor’s legacies as a visionary leader are quite visible in key sectors of the state. This he said, has continued to endear him to the people of the state. 

Governor Oyebanji commended the ex-Governor for still working for the State and offering useful suggestions which have brought additional value, describing him as one of the state’s gifts to the Nigerian nation and the world at large. 

He prayed God to grant the former Governor long life, good health and sound mind to offer more service to mankind and accelerated divine fulfillment of his wishes as a befitting birthday gift. 

“On behalf of my wife, Olayemi, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I congratulate our dear leader and former Governor of our dear state, a man of Honour from the land of Honour, His Excellency, Dr John Kayode Fayemi as he marks his 59th birthday today, and pray that God grants him more years in good health, prosperity and undiluted joy. May his shadow never grow less.” The statement added.

Fubara inspects 20,000 housing project, warns saboteurs.

Fubara inspects 20,000 housing project, warns saboteurs.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has said he will not fold his arms and watch anyone or group of people sabotage his government.

He said the state government would deal decisively with anybody who wants to disrupt the ongoing 20,000 housing units project in the state.

He said the project was aimed at providing decent accommodation for the low-income earners.

Fubara handed down the warning when he inspected the extent of work done at the 20,000 housing units project site located along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road opposite OPM Headquarters in the Ohio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by the governor’s media aide, Boniface Onyedi, quoted him as saying: “I am also aware that some of the community people are coming up with issues. But let it be clear, we didn’t jump into this land, we did all the due diligence that we needed to do.

“We took our time to check the land. It is a property that belongs to the Rivers State government under the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority.

 “We are not taking anybody’s land. However, if you feel that there is an encroachment, you should know the right authority to visit.

“Nobody should come here and disturb the contractor. That is the truth because I am going to take it personally as sabotage to my government.

“I know a lot of people are trying to do one thing or the other to sabotage us. I am not going to take it lightly.

“Inasmuch as I believe that peace is the major ingredient that we need for every development, it doesn’t mean I will be quiet when I see anybody that will come here to disrupt this project.”

Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis since October when some lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike plotted Fubara’s impeachment.

There has been an uneasy calm since the intervention of President Bola Tinubu last December.

16 parties to contest Edo gov poll, says INEC.

16 parties to contest Edo gov poll, says INEC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday, said 16 political parties would be fielding candidates in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

He identified the parties as Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the Allied Peoples Movement.

Others are Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

He advised them to ensure that they conducted rancour-free primaries, compliant with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Olumekun said, “Sixteen political parties have notified the commission of their intention to participate in the election as well as their preferred modes and dates of primaries.

“Therefore, primaries must take place within the state in line with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“Parties to avoid unnecessary postponement, arbitrary changes of venues of their primaries, wholesale change of delegates’ list or the submission of names that did not emerge from valid primaries as candidates for the election.

“They should also avoid rancorous primaries that lead to the breakdown of law and order often as a result of non-adherence to the provision of their constitutions and guidelines.

“These are some of the issues that lead to a large number of pre-election litigation.”

INEC had in September 2023 released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Edo State off-cycle governorship election.

According to the timetable, political parties are to conduct their primaries between February 1 and, 2024.

By virtue of Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022, political parties are required to give INEC at least 21 days’ notice ahead of the day fixed for the conduct of their primaries.

Food crisis, hardship: Fed Govt, States launch emergency action.

Food crisis, hardship: Fed Govt, States launch emergency action.                                            ....Tinubu directs release of 102 metric tons of assorted items.                                               ....Governors move to save naira, end insecurity.

Agitations for affordable food items and calls for improved living standards got the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors yesterday.

The Federal Government and the states rolled out emergency actions to stem the tide.

Some of the measures include:

*Release of 100,000 metric tons of assorted food items from the strategic reserve and the stores of the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria;

*Likely importation of food items to block shortfall.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the President gave the directive during a meeting of the Special Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Intervention.

The minister, who spoke with reporters at the State House, Abuja after the meeting, warned that those hoarding food items will face the wrath of the law.

“Emergencies require measures to ensure food is available to Nigerians,” he said.

According to Idris, the government plans to clamp down on those deliberately hoarding foodstuffs with the intent of creating artificial scarcity so that they can sell at higher prices.

He warned that nobody would be allowed to hold the country to ransom.

Idris said: “The government has come up with some measures to ensure that food becomes more readily available to Nigerians. ⁣

“The first one is that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has been directed to release immediately about 42,000 metric tons of maize, millet, ‘garri’ and other commodities in their strategic reserve so that these items will be made available to Nigerians.

“The second one is that we have held meetings with the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria – those responsible for producing this rice and we have asked them to open up their stores.

“They’ve told us that they can guarantee about 60,000 metric tons of rice.

“This will be made available and we know that is enough to sustain Nigerians for the next one month to six weeks, perhaps up to two months.

“They’ve agreed that they will make that available to Nigerians.⁣

“The whole idea of this is to crash the cost of these food items and these are measures that would happen immediately.⁣

“The government is also looking at the possibility – if it becomes absolutely necessary as an interim measure in the short run – of importing some of these commodities immediately so they can be made available to Nigerians within the next couple of weeks.”

On the long-term measures, the minister said that the President directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to work with farmers and invest heavily in the production of various food crops in the upcoming farming season.⁣

He said: “As soon as the dry season farming gets underway, the government hopes that food prices will drop. ⁣

“Now, the government of course is also looking at all those who are hoarding these commodities because actually, they are available in the stores of many traders.

“The government is appealing to them to make these commodities available in the interest of our nation.

“Don’t lock up the products to make more money and then Nigerians suffer. ⁣

“Of course, the government will not fold its arms. We know where all these major traders are. We know where all these major stores are.

“If they don’t respond by bringing these commodities to the market, the government will take appropriate measures to ensure that these products are made available to Nigerians.”

Asked if the committee discussed the prices at which the items will be sold, Idris said: “Yes. The President has directed that whatever it will take, food will be available to Nigerians at a cost that is also very reasonable.”

Abbas swears in 12 new House members.

Abbas swears in 12 new House members.

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas yesterday swore in 12 of the 15 members-elect who were presented their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday.

The 12 new members won last Saturday’s by-elections and court-ordered rerun polls to fill vacant seats in the Green Chamber.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who recently defected from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was in the House to witness the inauguration of YPP members who are among the new House members.

Four political parties – the ruling APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the YPP, and Labour Party (LP) – won the rerun and by-elections in different parts of the country.

But the elections into Jalingo/Yorro/Sing Federal Constituency of Taraba State and Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State are outstanding.

The other three members-elect who have collected their certificate of return from INEC but have not been sworn in will be inaugurated at a later date.

Abbas presented the new members copies of the House Standing Rules and the Legislative Agenda.

With the development, APC now has 188 members to maintain its majority status in the House.

The new members who have collected their certificates of return are: Umar Garba (Ngaski/Shanta/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, APC), Ifeoluwa Ehindero (Akoko North East/North West of Ondo State, APC), Faud Kayode Laguda (Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, APC), and Saleh Gabriel Zock (Kachia/Kargarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, APC).

Others are: Daniel Asama Ago (Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, LP), Rabiu Kamba (Arewa/Dandi Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, APC), Emma Ukpong Udo (Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, YPP), Dr. Emil Inyang (Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency of Cross River State, APC), and Peter Uzokwe (Nnewi North/Nnewi South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, YPP).

The rest are: Chinwe Nnabuife (Orumba North/Orumba South Federal Constituency of (Anambra State, YPP), Adamu Yakubu (Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, PDP), Yusuf Umar Yabo (Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, PDP), Husseini Jallo (Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, PDP), Yusuf Dalhat Tafoki (Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa of Katsina State, APC), and Mohammed Buba Jajere (Fika/Fune Federal Constituency of Yobe State, PDP).

House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas yesterday swore in 12 of the 15 members-elect who were presented their certificates of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday.

Ekiti First Lady Pledges More Aggressive Campaign Against FGM.

Ekiti First Lady Pledges More Aggressive Campaign Against FGM.

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has vowed to launch more aggressive campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) until the battle against the scourge is won.

Dr. Oyebanji who unfolded her resolve at a one-day training for service providers on FGM Inclusion to Clients in Ado Ekiti on Thursday said it was disturbing that Ekiti State still has high prevalence rate of FGM.

The training which was held as part of activities marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM was attended by traditional birth attendants, registrars at marriage registries, faith-based organizations and civil society organizations.

The Ekiti State First Lady stressed that FGM is punishable under the law in the state and also described the menace as a violation of the rights of the girl child which would not be tolerated in the Land of Honour.

Dr. Oyebanji urged the practitioners of FGM to drop their blades and save the future of girl child from noting that the practice does greater harm to the reproductive health and general wellbeing of the victims.

She said: “Our girls should not be cut, they should not be circumcised. The reason why we are organizing this workshop is to see a drastic reduction in the increase of FGM. We will continue to mount rigorous campaign until we achieve minimum reduction in FGM cases in Ekiti State.”

The Governor’s wife charged the participants to take the message to the grassroots and sensitize others noting that marriage registrars in local councils were incorporated into the training to counsel intending and newly-married couples not to circumcise their female children.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said Ekiti has one of the highest level of literacy hence practice like FGM should become a thing of the past.

He added: “There is no reason why we should still be involved in FGM. Let all of us commit ourselves to the total eradication of FGM in our dear state.”

The Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju said victims of FGM are liable to infections adding that the practice has become unacceptable because of its negative effects.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi  said one-day training organized for stakeholders would create a forum to strengthen the bond of fighting the harmful practice.