Home About Ekiti Ministries Exco Members Governor FFTF Feedback Contact US | NIGERIA LEADERS EXTOL FAYOSE'S VIRTUES.Former Transport and Aviation Minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope has given kudos to the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose for taking concrete efforts to develop the State. Chief Babatope who gave the commendation after a tour of completed and on-going projects embarked upon by the Ekiti State Government that had taken place since his last visit to the State last year. He described Governor Fayose as a humble, dynamic and fast moving leader who was leading a fast moving administration.Chief Babatope urged the Governor not to be distracted by the comments of his critics stressing that there must always be a criticism as society must always be in a State of conflict. The Newspaper columnist who described the people of the State as peace loving and well informed said he was happy that Governor Fayose was not taking the people of the State for granted.Speaking on the forthcoming National Dialogue, Chief Babatope said the forum would enable Nigerians dialogue and proffer solutions to the Nation’s numerous problems. He however warned that the forum would not give room for the discussion of the breakup of the Nation of the individual agenda of some few delegates. Chief Babatope assured that the National dialogue would come up with recommendations that will serve the best interest of the people of Nigeria.So also notable and respected people in the country have continued to appreciate the developmental efforts and vision of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose. At the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the Juju Music King, Sunny Ade, at Ondo over the weekend, a cross section of political bigwigs from outside Ekiti State spoke with newsmen about the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose who was also present at the occasion.An Alliance for Democracy Chieftain and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethnics and Petition, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora described Governor Fayose as a man of vision with a unique style of administration. Senator Mamora who stated that Fayose is popular with the people added that popularity is a measure of acceptability and positive impact on the people. Hon. Dave Salako representing Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives described Fayose as a hardworking, humble and straightforward Governor who is well focused and never allowed any distraction to make him deviate from his good works.The Federal Lawmaker affirmed his likeness for Fayose and remarked that Fayose is his next choice after his home Governor. A former Minister of information and Sports, Chief Alex Akinyele acknowledged the hard work and commitment of Governor Fayose to the development of Ekiti State but advised him to make friends with all and sundry so that his enemies would not destroy his good works. The publisher of the International and Classy Magazine Ovation, Mr. Dele Momodu described Governor Fayose as a gentleman who is doing very well contrary to people’s expectation and commended his vision, focus and determination to better the lot of humanity. Mr Momodu remarked that criticism and opposition that Governor Fayose was experiencing was good for him saying, it would spur him for greater achievements. The religion leaders in Ekiti State as well did not fail to praise God for the type of Governor they have in the State. The Ekiti State missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Maulvi Hashim Uthman commended the State Governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose for creating an enabling environment for religious harmony in the State. Maulvi Uthman gave the commendation in Ado–Ekiti on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen at the Ahmadiyya Mosque. He said that the Governor has been fair, just and equitable in the treatment given to Christians and Muslims. The Muslim cleric observed that there might have been religious chaos if the Governor had been partial in the treatment of religious faithful.Maulvi Uthman thanked the Governor for the Christmas and Sallah gifts given to people at festive periods and charged him to give more recognition to them saying they deserved more than that. He stressed the important role of religious leaders in ensuring political stability, peace and progress in the society and stated that they should be accorded a pride of place. The Religious leader commended the religious harmony in the State and charged leaders to make their followers realize the unity of God and the message of God as passed through His messengers. Maulvi Uthman enjoined sincerity of purpose in whatever man does and advised Ekiti people to continue to support Governor Fayose adding that he means well to the State. UNAD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; PROF. OSUNTOKUN SPEAKS:"Poor Medical Training, more Dangerous than AIDS"RENOWNED Professor Osuntokun is a one-time Nigerian Ambassador to Germany and a former Resident Director, Nigerian Universities Commission in Canada and Washington D. C. He was appointed recently by the Ekiti-State government as chairman, Ad-hoc committee on the administrative panel into tertiary institutions. The International Relations specialist whose committee report recently led to the scrapping of University of Ado- Ekiti (UNAD) College of Medicine broke his silence over the raging issue, warning that medical training must not be compromised on the altar of politics. He spoke over other national issues in an interview. Sunday Sun news paper of 13 february2005 was there. Excerpts: Given your vast experience in International Relations, how will you assess Nigerian’s position among the comity of nations now? In all honesty, I think Nigeria is fast regaining her lost glory among the countries of the world as a result of the foreign policy of the present Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. You will agree with me that there was a time Nigeria, supposedly the giant of Africa, was being treated like a pariah. The negative perception seriously affected Nigerians abroad and at home to extent that we suffered tremendously in many perspectives including politics, economy, culture and bilateral relationship. Today, Nigeria is no longer a leprous country; it is fast becoming the cynosure of all eyes. With our roles in the African flash points of Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Dafur crisis in Sudan, Liberia etc. Nigeria is gradually returning to her status as the giant of Africa. And beyond Africa, Nigeria has recorded significant successes across the globe as the image is changing for better. Could that be attributed to the President’s junketing around the world? Those who accuse President Obasanjo of junketing around are not well informed. The President has done so much on foreign policy that we can only appreciate his effort after leaving office. President Obasanjo is probably the most knowledgeable President on foreign policy that Nigeria would ever have. Mark my words, as a result of his antecedents, being a former military Head of State, two time democratically elected, part of eminent groups that dismantled apartheid in South-Africa, who also served in South South commission among others. He is at home with many world leaders, kings and queens. You will never have another African like Obasanjo; even Nelson Mandela does not have the kind of rich experience of Nigeria’s President in the area of foreign relations.All we need now is to consolidate; the country has really done well. Talk about improved bilateral agreements and joint exclusive economic zones, New Economic Policy for Africa Development (NEPAD) etc. People should not misunderstand me. When we see what is right I think we should say it. I am a non-stipendiary adviser to Obasanjo and nobody can compromise my integrity at this stage of my life. Many people have criticized you for heading a committee that recommended the scrapping of University of Ado Ekiti (UNAD) College of Medicine, which had begun training students. They accused you of being political. What will you say to this? At this stage of my life, I can never be party to a fraud. I have learnt to call a spade no other name but a spade. If I might correct you, actually there was no college of Medicine. The college was an illegality as there was no law setting up the college. This was why the senate of the University had to hurriedly pass a resolution setting up the college. Though this had nothing to do with our recommendation. There was an intention to set up a college but not a single dime was voted for the college by the previous administration, the prime mover of the initiative. We said in our report that a college of medicine is desirable in a favourable financial climate. The Vice Chancellor and the acting Provost of the College of Medicine both gave financial requirement of N750 million per year to get the college on course. Where they are now in state hospital, there is not a single Bunsen burner; It’s just a building hijacked from the hospital with names of people on the door. Establishment of a College of Medicine is too sensitive to human existence to be politicized. Poor medical training could be more dangerous than AIDS.I was astounded when I read that the immediate past government in Ekiti State claimed it was going to use N100million out of the N4 billion loan raised from the capital market to establish a training school for doctors who will handle lives of Ekiti people tomorrow. For goodness sake, N100million is not even up to $1million, yet all the inputs are coming from abroad. The truth is as I speak to you now, the three faculties of engineering, law and management sciences, which have existed for more than ten years in the institution have been discredited by the concerned regulatory bodies So if you now add a college of medicine lacking in basic infrastructure teaching aids, you’ll end up with a situation whereby UNAD degree holders will become a pack of endangered species in the academic community. What would now be the fate off the student who had been admitted into the College of Medicine? On the fate of affected students, there is a solution going by previous experiences in university education in Nigeria. Time there was when the university of Ibadan established a faculty of Architecture, University of Ilorin started law, and the courses were eventually scrapped in a scenario similar to the UNAD medical college. The students were distributed to existing faculties in other universities. So in the case at hand, all we need to do is contact the executive secretary Nigeria Universities Commission, who will be sympathetic and persuade other accredited colleges of medicine to absorb the students since the entry requirements are one and the same. Nobody has an interest in making young people suffer. I am a father myself. What about N100 million take of grant purportedly given to the college by the present government? We called the Provost, Professor Oyebola, who said not a single kobo had been given the college. He is alive and I have known him for over 40 years. He would not tell a lie and I wouldn’t either. Nothing was done other than erecting signboards announcing the establishment of a college of medicine. How would you assess the current educational progmmes embarked upon by Governor Ayo Fayose in the state? I think we are moving forward. All the talk about the governor not being a graduate is absolutely unnecessary. Perhaps the best finance minister Nigeria has ever had was Chief F.S Okotieboh, a businessman whose highest educational qualification was standard six. Under his tenure, the Nigeria pound was as strong as the British pound. My point of departure really is politics is a totally different calling from academics. If one were to use the yardstick of the academic, I should be president of Nigeria because I am a professor, but it does not work that way. Ayo Fayose does not need my backing because he is governor already. He needs my prayer and advice. If we spend four years criticizing him and tearing him apart, it will be four wasted years in the life of Ekiti. Ekiti has not been lucky to have governors who have their hearts on the ground like Fayose. He is a typical grassroots man who knows what the people want and he is doing it for them. The dualization of Ado Ekiti, which I hear is now going to be extended to Ikere, is an excellent idea. I myself drove on the Ikere-IgbaraOdo road and it was even much better than the federal government road. At my last visit to Okemesi, my hometown, I noticed improved electricity supply. As much as I know that Fayose has not accomplished all the things he wants to do, without prayer, support and advice, Ekiti will get to its Eldora do. We cannot close our eyes to the practicality and spontaneous measures brought into governance now in Ekiti State. As of today, anybody who has been to Ekiti State will see the hallmarks on the ground. I am not a politician. I only had the opportunity to be federal minister in 1999. But his critics and the elite in the state seem to see nothing good in what he is doing? The current peace voyage called interactive sessions with indigenes across the country is a step in the right direction, all in a bid to wave the olive branch. I have heard impressive reports about the previous sessions in Akure, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Abuja and I think it should continue. Incidentally, I have a passion for the Alliance for Democracy because of its position on fiscal federation, states’ rights and parameters of our association as a country, but I think PDP is doing well. Having said that, I think the present government in Ekiti State has outperformed the last government. It’s obvious I mean if Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo is going to be sincere with himself all he has to do is to compare his four year tenure with what his successor has done in 18 months. People say more money now comes into Ekiti State, but I suppose the money coming in then was not being effectively utilized. Ekiti state as of today is adjudged to be one of the best performing state in the Country. This is the verdict of respectable, non-indigenes. Our support for Fayose is conditional on the basis of performance, if he ceases to perform we will no longer support him However, I think Governor Fayose has done enough for Ado. We also need government to do something for Ikole, Efon, Aramoko and others. This government is for us all. I am happy at the concerted effort to revitalize education through the participatory funding of all stakeholders, which is manifest in the improvement of our students in National Examinations from shameful position of 35th position for three consecutive years to the 17th. However, Ekiti should be number one. Governor Fayose also demonstrated good leadership traits by putting his own children in public schools as a mark restoring public confidence in the system. On the clam our for the creation of a state- owned polytechnic, our panel recommended that there is no economic wisdom in the agitation. The existing Federal Polytechnic, Ado, is enough to provide technical education for our youths. EKITI STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN REACTED TO PRESS STATEMENT CREDITED TO ADO-EKITI PROGRESSIVE UNION. Our attention have been drawn to a press statement credited to Ado-Ekiti Progressive Union dated 7th March, 205, with reference to the relocation of the Ministry of Agric to Afao-EkitiWe have watched with keen interest the development in Ekiti State since inception of this administration and are convinced that more than 80% of the development projects are located in Ado-Ekiti the state capital.Some of the projects are as follows:-* 400 Locked-up shops at Ajilosun* Construction of abattoir and cattle market * Reconstruction of Oluyemi Kayode Stadium * Construction of trade fair complex and proposed 4 Star Hotel * 100 units of low cost housing * Poultry project* Okesa ultra modern market * Construction of Ado-township roads* Dualisation of Ado road* Construction of fire service station amongst others. These projects have been concentrated in Ado-Ekiti metropolis with little or no attention to the development of 15 other local governments. * We want to emphasize that all other 15 LGs are stakeholders in the "project Ekiti" and deserve development projects just like Ado-Ekiti. We give cogent examples in sitting of institution of higher learning whereby colleges or departments are sited outside location of main institution to allow for even development. Specific examples are colleges of Agric that are sited where students can benefit from the practicality of the environment. * From all indications, the current Ekiti State government does not intend to move the state secretariat from Ado-Ekiti, it only intend to move an arm of the Ministry of Agric to Ado-Afao Road. The land is Ado land and the structure can only be belong to Ekiti State, the project and similar ones are not Ad L.G. projects but Ekiti State government projects.* The decision to site this arm of Ministry of Agric to Ado-Afao Road was a joint responsibility and decision of both the Executive and Legislature as it was duly passed in 2005 budget. * We want the Ado Progressive Union to note that the population of the 15 LGs put together doubles that of Ado and should not arrogate to its self the status of "the biggest and the best" as all LGs are presumed equal and resources coming to Ekiti State belong to all.* We urge the State Government to start thinking of locating viable projects in other LGs as it appears Ado-Ekiti people are not appreciative of the concentration of projects in the town and are gradually personalizing these projects despite the fact that they belong to all.* We unanimously pass vote of confidence in Ekiti State Government and affirm 100% support for decisions taken by the State Government in the larger interest of the generality of the people of Ekiti State.* We urge the State Government not to relent in its efforts at bringing development to every corner of Ekiti State. Signed:Local Government ChairmenEkiti State of Nigeria. |
