EKITI CIVIL SERVANTS GRADUATE FROM POSTGRADUATE COURSE FACILITATED BY FIRST LADY.

EKITI CIVIL SERVANTS GRADUATE FROM POSTGRADUATE COURSE FACILITATED BY FIRST LADY.

.…Governor's wife says SDGs can't be achieved without gender equality.

The first set of civil servants in the employ of the Ekiti State Government have graduated from a postgraduate programme facilitated and sponsored by the First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.

The beneficiaries who graduated from Executive Masters programme in Gender and Development Studies at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) expressed profound gratitude to the Governor's wife for contributing to their personal development and career progression through the course.

Speaking while playing host to the graduands, Erelu Fayemi emphasized that Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved in Ekiti State without gender equality which she said was critical to development in the society.

The First Lady stated that the knowledge acquired by the graduands would go a long way to open doors of opportunities in their choosen careers and make them to be better equipped in contributing their quota to the implementation of policies that would lead to the realization of SDGs.

Erelu Fayemi pointed out that the outgoing administration recognized the importance of gender mainstreaming hence the creation of the department in the faculty of interdisciplinary studies.

She directed the Ministry of Women Affairs to begin to prepare another set of senior officers who would benefit from such government scholarship scheme towards equipping them in such area that could be very important to the society.

"It is one of our initiatives that we are proud of. Let me now assure you once again that the exit of this outgoing government does not mean the end of the programme, it will be continued by the incoming administration since it is the same political party ," she added

Earlier, the course participants led by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr Bamidele Arowosola said the new course of study had exposed the beneficiaries to interdisciplinary and specific study of Gender Development, Poverty Studies and Wealth Creation, Policy Analysis, Social Work, various theories and teachings on problems relating to gender issues among many other things.

He said the graduands were already fortified with the skills and knowledge to address imbalance in gender equality, improvement of lives of women, men and children as well as ways to develop guidelines in assisting government to reduce poverty in the society. 

Mr Arowosola promised the participants' readiness to contribute their quota in resolving developmental challenges facing the state at large.

The beneficiaries who were selected from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies appreciated the Governor's wife for initiating such programme  further showed their appreciation with presentation of gift to the First Lady .

"We wish to state that your kind gesture and efforts towards the capacity development of workers in the public service are historic. We have therefore determined to be ambassadors of gender equality in the public service, mainstreaming gender equality in our different offices as agents of change," one of them said.

ONI FAILS TO BRING MORE WITNESSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE, GETS LAST WARNING FROM TRIBUNAL.

ONI FAILS TO BRING MORE WITNESSES TO GIVE EVIDENCE, GETS LAST WARNING FROM TRIBUNAL.

....PANEL ADJOURNS TO OCTOBER 11

The three witnesses scheduled to give evidence in support of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Chief Segun Oni, before the Election Petition Tribunal were not called by the Petitioners to testify at Friday's proceeding of the Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti.

Oni and SDP who are the 1st and 2nd Petitioners said they would not be able to take the three witnesses in view of a fresh application filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with which they was served earlier in the day.

The Governor-elect, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and the Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Monisade Afuye are the 1st and 5th Respondents respectively in the petition. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the 2nd Respondent while Alhaji Mai Mala Buni is the 3rd Respondent. INEC is 4th Respondent in the petition.

With the latest application, INEC now has two applications before the three-man Panel which the Petitioners insist must be heard before they bring their next set of witnesses to give evidence at the Tribunal.

One of the two pending INEC  applications is a Motion on Notice to object to the subpoena to compel the appearance of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to produce some documents and give evidence at the Tribunal.

The Petitioners through their counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale (SAN), sought an adjournment of sitting  while also informing the Tribunal that they had filed objection and counter affidavit and accordingly served parties in the petition.

Adewale, said the Petitioners "vigorously and vehemently" opposed what he called the "disruptive motion by INEC seeking leave of the Tribunal to continue with the witnesses already listed to give evidence after the determination of the two pending motions.

But the Respondents opposed the application of the Petitioners insisting that the already listed witnesses should be taken in line with the dictates of the Pre-Hearing Report agreed to by all parties in the petition.

The disagreement among lawyers in the two sides of the divides sparked exchange of verbal jabs albeit in a friendly manner sometimes throwing everybody inside the courtroom into laughter.

Counsel to 1st and 5th Respondents, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) while opposing the application of the Petitioners saying "this is not the appropriate situation to grant such an adjournment" arguing further that "such an adjournment must be based on cogent and compelling reasons."

Fagbemi said the Tribunal had given an order that parties should forward the schedule of the order of their witnesses for Day 3 as they are all polling units agents of the Petitioner on the day of election.

He maintained that the two pending motions have nothing to do with the evidence of the witnesses who intended to give evidence on how election went on their polling units saying "there was no basis for not calling the witnesses for Day 3in line with Paragraph C of the Pre-Hearing Report."

Counsel to 2nd Respondent, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), adopted "in-toto" the submission of Fagbemi urging Their Lordships to reject the Petitioners' application which he described as "disrespect to the noble lord's ab initio."

Counsel to 3rd Respondent, Mr. Umar Abdulhameed, adopted what he described as "the brilliant submission of the learned counsel to the 1st and 5th Respondents (Fagbemi)" in opposition the Petitioners' request for adjournment.

Counsel to 4th Respondents, Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), simply said "we will all do our duty and work while noting that the motion in question was not ripe for hearing.

The Tribunal in its short ruling delivered by its Chairman, Justice Wilfred Kpochi, recalled that the Panel had earlier provided the roadmap in the Pre-Hearing Report in which it was decided that hearing would take place everyday and witnesses would be heard on stipulated days while those who failed to appear would be deemed to have abandoned their case.

Justice Kpochi said the pending application by INEC was capable of causing a dislocation on the sequential order of proceedings including the evidence of witnesses as the Panel had not been told of the "boomerang effect" it will have.

While agreeing with Fagbemi that the Petitioners' request to stop their witnesses from continuing with their evidence was contrary to one of the resolutions at the Pre-Hearing stage, the Panel "would be reluctant in invoking such an order for now."

While holding that the Petitioners' position was necessitated by INEC's new application, it was incumbent on them (the Petitioners) to know that they should not come with applications that will ebb away the time available to adjudicate on the petition.

Justice Kpochi said the Panel would "reluctantly" grant the application of the Petitioners but it was granting same with "last warning" to them.

He subsequently adjourned hearing to Tuesday, October 11 for the continuation of hearing of the petition as the Federal Government has declared Monday, which would have been the day to adjourn to, as a public holiday.

THE STORY OF ADO BAYERO.

THE STORY OF ADO BAYERO.

...One Of The Strongest And Powerful Emir In The History Of The Northern Nigeria.

Image: Sarkin Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero.

The story of Sarkin Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero is indeed the story of the transformation of the Emirate from the authority that controlled the society to the status of community leadership that earned its Islamic legitimacy through service to the people and commitment to the ideals of the Islamic Faith.

He was a leader of Muslims of all shades of opinions not only in Kano but in many parts of Nigeria and the world. Various groups seek his blessings in their activities largely because of his influence and the fact that he is one of the most respected Nigerians.

Ado Bayero lived for eighty four years (1930-2004), fifty one (1963-2004) of which were at the helm of Kano traditional authority. This institution has been in existence since 999 AD with Bagauda (999 to 1063) as the first King. The institution survived because of its capacity to adapt to changing circumstances of the world.

It has been affected by global Islamic currents beginning with the Wangarawa who came to Kano during the reign of Sarkin Kano Yaji (1349-1385) and made him to adopt Islam as the official religion of Kano.

The next epoch was that of Muhammadu Rumfa (1463-1499) when Shaykh Muhammad bn Abd al-Karim al-Maghili wrote the first constitution for a sub Saharan African state to guide Rumfa. The Jihad of Shehu Usman Danfordio made Islam the ideology of the people and the state. Sarkin Kano Ibrahim Dabo established the Sullubawa Dynasty.

Abdullahi Bayero (1926-1953) and his son Muhammadu Sanusi (1954-1963) harnessed the connections of the Tijaniyya to resist colonial annihilation of Islamic culture. Ado Bayero put Kano at the national and global stage when he became one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world. 

According to the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center Amman he was “regarded as a wise counselor both at home and abroad because of his experience and ability to mediate between cultures”. He was “an important asset in promoting mutual understanding and resolving conflicts between different ethnic and religious groups”.

Legacies of Ado Bayero;

As the Emir with the longest reign (1963-2014) since the Jihad of 1804 he bequeathed a glorious legacy on the foundation laid by Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Rumfa (1463-1499) and consolidated by Sarkin Kano Ibrahim Dabo (1819 to 1846) his ancestor and the founder of their Sullubawan Dabo.

This dynasty is almost two hundred years old. Ibrahim Dabo the youngest member of the Emirate Council when he became the Emir was known for his piety and devotion. Rumfa established the sarauta and Dabo established the dynasty. Since when Islam became the official religion of the State, during the reign of Sarkin Kano Yaji (1349-1385CE) the Sarakuna (Kings and later Emirs) remained the custodians of Islam. When Ado Bayero became the Emir in 1963 there was only one Juma’at Mosque in Kano which was the first to be modernized in Northern Nigeria by Sarkin Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero (1926-1953).

Sarkin Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero constructed Abdullahi Bayero Mosque the second Juma’at Mosque he commissioned in 1971 since then he has commissioned over fifty Juma’at Mosques in Kano Metropolis, over 100 in the state and many others in other parts of the country. No other than Nigeria leader has had this privilege.

He became the leader of Hausa Muslims where ever they were. They looked up to him as the symbol of Hausa Islamic culture because Kano is the leading center of this cultural bloc with over 70 million speakers of the Hausa Language. No other African traditional leader has had this influence. He was on the list of the most influential Muslims of the World published by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center Amman because according to the center he was “regarded as a wise counselor both at home and abroad because of his experience and ability to mediate between cultures”.  He was “an important asset is promoting mutual understanding and resolving conflicts between different ethnic and religious groups”.

Apart from his support for the Local Government Reforms as a result of which most other traditional leaders across the country gave their support he participated actively in sensitising the people to accept free and compulsory primary education introduced by the Federal Government which needed local government support and participation.

Kano now has the highest public primary school enrolment of 1.9 million pupils as at the last enumeration. The people accepted his call to enroll in schools because of the confidence they had in him as the greatest supporter and patron of Islamic education. He supported more Islamiyya Schools than any other leader in Nigeria. All the people of Kano always pray for him because of this. As a man of Allah he was attacked in January 2013 after he had commissioned an Islamiyya School at Murtala Muhammad Mosque this was the last he did.

He had commissioned and supported hundreds in the last fifty years. In Kano he did everything possible to support all efforts geared to the socio-economic development of his people.

As the Chief Executive of the Native Authority before the Local Government Reforms under which he controlled land allocation he discharged his duties with equity and sense of justice. This encouraged investment and consolidated Kano’s commercial pre-eminence in northern Nigeria. Because of his status and the confidence they had in him many investors came to Kano. A very recent example is the Ado Bayero Shopping Mall the first ultra modern shopping mall in northern Nigeria, a major private sector initiative with investors from all parts of Nigeria.

It brought leading African retail giants; Shoprite and Game to Kano. He was a mentor of his people. In 1988 he supported the first public presentation of a book in Kano which I wrote and in 1990 he personally invited the neighboring Emirs to the public presentation of two books I wrote, one on the Jihad in Kano and the other on the Sullubawan Dabo which was the first on the dynasty. I remain indebted.

He did these things and so many others.

Rest in peace ICON 

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE HUGH CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION (1922) BEFORE ?

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE HUGH CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION (1922) BEFORE ?

...It was used to govern Nigeria in the colonial era.

...All you need to know about it.

Image: Sir Hugh Clifford.

The Clifford Constitution adopted in 1922 derived its name from the then governor of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford, who took over from the former governor, Lord Lugard. The constitution introduced a new legislative council and executive council which replaced the abolished old legislative council for Lagos colony and the Nigerian council.

The constitution introduced elective principle which increased political agitation and awakened the spirit of nationalism in Nigeria. The Northern Nigeria was not represented in the new legislature. The Governor General retained the legislative power for the North.

FEATURES OF THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION

1.The introduction of elective principle.

2. It encouraged the development of political parties.

3. Members in the legislative council were increased (46 members).

4. Elective principle was restricted to Lagos and Calabar.

5.Northern Province was not represented.

6. Governor made laws for the country.

MERITS OF THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION

1. It provided room for the formation of political parties like NNDP.

2. It offered wider scope for African participation in politics.

3. It also created room for the bringing up of newspapers such as Lagos Daily News and the Daily Times Nigeria Plc in 1925.

4. It introduced elective principle in Nigeria.

5. The introduction of the elective principle led to an upsurge in political consciousness.

DEMERITS OF THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION

1. Africans were excluded from the executive council.

2. Whites dominated the legislative council.

3. Legislative council was only advisory.

4. Governor enjoyed unlimited powers. 

5. North was excluded from legislature.

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Oyebanji Visits NDPB, Pushes for training of Ekiti Youths in Data Protection.

Oyebanji Visits NDPB, Pushes for training of Ekiti Youths in Data Protection.

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, on Thursday, paid a courtesy visit to the Abuja office of National Data Protection Bureau(NDPB). 

Oyebanji who was accompanied to the NDPB office by the Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Olubunmi Adetumbi, was received by the agency's National Commissioner/ CEO Dr  Vincent .O. Olatunji and other principal officers.

Speaking during the meeting, the Governor-elect said the visit became necessary and strategic to his administration's determination to deepening digital economy in the state, as well as enhancing the digital skills of Ekiti youths.

He also made a strong case for training opportunities for the youths in data protection as an avenue to provide employment.

The National Commissioner showed his profound appreciation to the Governor-elect for the courtesy visit and assured him of necessary support from the agency wherever the need arises. 

NDPB is a public institution that processes data in furtherance of public interest or the legitimate interest of the data-subject.

Oyebanji Media Office

October 6, 2022

STORY OF EKUMEKU WAR

STORY OF EKUMEKU WAR 

...All you need to know about it 

The Ekumeku Movement consisted of a series of uprisings against the rising power of the Royal Niger Company of the British Empire by Anioma people in present day Delta State. The British penetration of Nigeria met with various forms of resistance throughout the country. By 1878, the Anioma people (today, nine Delta North LGAs from Asaba to Agbor and Kwale) could no longer stand the open robbery misnamed as free trade, and Asaba people simply refused to buy from, or sell to, Europeans.

This trade boycott was a terrible blow to the British for Asaba was by this time the commercial and political headquarters of British rule. Captain William Allen and T.R. H Thompson wrote on August 31,1841, on the importance of the Asaba market, “At Asaba the natives of Benin come to trade by land, they have no canoes. The Eggarah people bring their produce of the interior.

Those from Aboh bring European goods, when they have them, or salt. The dry land people (from the hilly land behind Adamugu or Damoogoo or Abele bring horses.” That trade boycott of 1878 made the British traders to team up to form the United African Company. Earlier in 1882, Ase (Asaba-Ase, near present day Ashaka and Patani (both in Delta state), had been bombarded because a few individuals were suspected of stealing goods belonging to the British. Even Asaba itself was so thrashed that it never could join in the Ekumeku resistance.

Apart from unfair trade, the Anioma people resisted their being forced to be beasts of burden to carry goods for the Whites or even transport whites who would sit snugly on hammocks. Precisely in 1888, some Asaba people on such a forced march as beasts of burden to Ibusa stopped half way and refused to go any further. The first “native” to complain was shot immediately as a lesson to others.

British forces perpetrated genocide against Ilah people and Aboh people suffered the same fate as punishment for the death of one Mr. Carr, a member of the 1841 expedition who got drowned while on a solitary trip – against expert advice. What ensued, the Ekumeku war itself, has been a frequently retold shallow tale; every village claims that it fought the last and the toughest battle against the British because the revolution was individually organized by various communities.

This was how the the St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku Whatsap forum discussed the war last week because the school was briefly renamed Ekumeku Grammar School. Before Ubulu-Uku fell by November 5th, 1909 Chief Igbukwu Mordi had brought home the head of a Whiteman who was attacking Ubulu-Uku through the bush from Ubulu-Okiti. His fellow town’ s man Idegwu Ajootokpor (terrible weed), was also a fierce Ekumeku war hero.

The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku first took refuge at Ubulu-Uku when the British sacked his town and later hid at Olor, but no student of the school that was named after the revolution knew of such. In 1902, the people changed from individual and direct confrontation with the British forces to guerrilla warfare. In 1911, the Ekumeku forces were largely defeated but the insurgency lasted till 1914. 

Ogwashi-Uku’s fall in 1911, paralysed the revolution; some 300 warriors, were arrested, tried, and jailed at Calabar. Among them were Chief Ijeh from Issele-Uku and Chief Ibe from Ugbodu. Others were chiefs: Mordi, Odum, Nwajido and Banoba of Idumuje-Unor – heroes all. Those who collaborated with the colonialists were however richly rewarded with appointive posts in the British colonial administration. The kingship tussle that has wracked Ogwashi-Uku till today started when the British dethroned the intransigent king of that time and appointed a collaborator from the Okonjo family.

In the colonial era, the Anioma area was part of the defunct Asaba and Aboh Divisions of Western Region. The British called it the Western Igboland ostensibly to differentiate it from the Igbo east of the River Niger. The uprising  “league of young men,” the “Otu Ikolobia,” in various villages formed the Ekumeku secret organization organized around prominent chiefs such as Dunkwu, Elumelu, Obiora, Idegwu, Chiejina, Ikemefuna, of Onicha-Olona, and Elikwu, Ofogu, Umejei, and Uwechua of Ibusa. Others were Awunor Ugbo and Obi of Akumazi. Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Nkwo and Mordi of Ubulu-Uku, Onwudiaju of Issele-Azagba and Nzekwe,  Nwabuzo Iyogolo of Ogwuashi-Uku and the Obi of Ubulu.

Only members knew how it was organized and where it’s operational bases were at Ogwuashi-Uku, Issele-Uku, Onicha-Olona, Ubulu-Uku, and Ezi, where it fought its fiercest battles with the British forces. The Ekumeku resistance movement existed in many towns in the Asaba hinterland and neighbouring Afemai, except Asaba itself.

It attacked mission stations and colonial government institutions, and their military exploits extended to the neighbouring Ishan people, who collaborated with the Ekumeku warriors by sending reinforcements for the struggle. The constabulary force that attacked Ibusa in January 1898, under Major Arthur Festing comprised 202 African soldiers, 134 carriers, and 8 European officers. In that first battle of the war Ibusa killed some white officers and emboldened the other villages.

Subsequent attacks led by Captain Burdon, on Idumuje-Ugboko, IdumujeUno, Akwuku-Igbo, Atuma, Ebu, Ukala-Okpunor and other proximate communities in 1898, had seven British soldiers, 160 African soldiers, 4 non-commissioned European officers, a medical officer, and many carriers. A Briton, Talbot captured the Ekumeku warriors’ gallantry and heroism: “the dogged resistance of Ekumeku made it to be the stoutest warriors in the course of the British occupation of Nigeria area.” 

The resistance movement inspired the Aro and the Ijebu in Eastern and Western Nigeria and the Mau Mau of Kenya, to later resist the British.

Teachers Day: Fayemi Splashes N20Million On Two Best Teachers In Ekit

Teachers day: Fayemi Splashes N20Million On Two Best Teachers In Ekiti.

...26 others get N100,000 each.

Ekiti State government, on Wednesday, presented N10 million each to two best teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The beneficiaries were, Mrs Adeyemi Omolade and Mrs Mary Kupolati

Also, twenty-six teachers across the 16 local government areas received N100,000 cheques each from the government for their contributions to the development of education in the state.

Addressing the teachers at the event marking 2022 World Teachers’ Day, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, commended the teachers for their efforts and contributions to the education sector in the state.

Applauding their sacrifices and commitment, the outgoing governor noted that the increase in enrollment since 2018 could be attributed to the work done by the teachers in the state.

Fayemi said: “As a result of the quality of your teaching and the friendly learning environment provided in our schools, enrolment increased from 191,117 in 2018 to 261,292 in 2022. This increase in enrolment automatically resulted in the need to establish additional ten secondary schools in 2021. The number of public primary and secondary schools in Ekiti increased from 901 to 906 and 196 to 203 respectively between 2018 and 2022.

“At the inception of our second tenure in 2018, the free and compulsory education programme was re-established. Levies on primary school pupils and secondary school students were abolished. This was done to ensure that no child drops out of school.

“As a government, we observed that many school buildings were dilapidated. That was what informed our decision to pay about eight billion naira (#6b) counterpart fund to match UBEC’s contribution that enabled us to execute 886 projects which were for 2016 to 2020.

“If our education will transform to a hybrid model that allows pupils/students to learn at their individual paces and at times in the comfort of their homes, teachers who are their role models, counsellors and influencers must lead by example. Our quest will be fulfilled only if our teachers are able to encourage their learners to strive for greatness and maximise their potential.”

In his speech, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS) in the state, Sola Adigun, called on the governor to pay all the outstanding benefits due for the teachers before the expiration of his administration.