ONI’S ADMINISTRATION IS PRESS FRIENDLY – ATEGBERO (27/03/08) Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Hon. Odunayo Ategbero has described Governor Oni’s administration as press friendly. Ategbero who made the remark in Ado, while featuring on a BSES special programme, said government would not succumb to harassment from journalists but would continue to maintain relationship with the media. The commissioner said, the restructuring of BSES was to allow the establishment to compete favourably with its counterparts in the country. Ategbero, also noted that the reintroduction of boarding system in public Secondary Schools was to restore the glory of education. He added that technical education would be accorded priority, while the University of Education, Ikere, would replace the College of Education now relocated to Ifaki. Ategbero, stressed the need to support government, assuring that the on-going road projects would be completed as scheduled while additional 1000 people would be recruited into the Civil Service. The Commissioner debunked the allegation that government was behind the vandalization of some vehicles belonging to the Progressive People Alliance (PPA) Assuring that it would continue to protect people’s lives and properties.                            EKSG AWARDS CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS (27/03/08) Ekiti State Government has awarded the construction of Ado-Afao and Ado-Iworoko roads.  The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Prince Tunji Olatunde gave the information in Ado. Olatunde said the construction was to serve as an alternative assess road to reduce traffic congestion along Adebayo – Iworoko road.  He said that the roads would be constructed with interlocking paved stones which is a new technology in construction, adding that it is suitable for marshy. The constructor handling the project, ORTIM Nigeria Limited, Bayo Erinkintola gave the assurance that the road would executed according to specifications and pledged to deliver the job within the next six months. The people living around the area lamented the deplorable condition of the road and applauded Engr. Segun Oni for awarding the road contract.     E-PAYMENT TO FELICITATE ECONOMIC TRANSACTIONS (27/03/08) The introduction of E-Payment by the Government has been described as a way of facilitates economic transaction between the state and the world. Thee Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Information Technology, Mr. Toyin Oriola made the remark while fielding questions from journalists in Ado. Oriola stressed that the level of business transaction on daily basis across the nation was a challenge that could be adequately tackled by an E-payment. The SSA added that this administration will assist people have access to the Internet to avail information on global economy. He stated that credit cards will also be introduced which would allow the users to carry out transactions in any part of the world.   EKITI STATE TO GENERATE 50 MEGAWATTS OF ELECTRICITY (27/03/08) The Ekiti State Government will soon begin to generate 50 megawatts of electricity.  The State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni who made this known at a reception organized in hour of his Deputy Dr. Sikiru Lawal at Ijan Ekiti, said it was part of efforts at improving electricity supply. Oni described the project as first of its kind in the country and would be site between Ado and Ikere.  The Governor also disclosed that a water-booster station which would serve both Ado and Ijan Ekiti communities would soon be established at Ijan adding that over one thousand and seven hundred points where people could fetch pipe borne water would also be provided across the state.  He however charged people in the state to support governments at delivering the dividends of democracy to them In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal showered encomiums on his late mother, Mrs Theresa Lawal who he said was born at Ijan Ekiti.  Lawal also expressed gratitude to Governor Oni for the love shown him, describing him as intelligent and hard working Governor.  He called on youths to emulate the Governor, stressing the importance of diligence and hard work for a better future. Earlier the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti diocese, Bishop Olatunji Fagun described Dr. Lawal as a worthy son who combined humility with nobility. Bishop Fagun who charged the Deputy Governor to use his position to better the lots of the people lauded various programmes of the Oni administration and called for the decentralization of power generation in Nigeria. Governor Oni and Dr. Lawal read the two lessons at the service while the church choir was at hand to add colour to the event. At the reception, the spokes person for Ogunmoriye Descendants Union organizer of the event, Professor Kolade Adeyoju commended Dr. Lawal for being a good ambassador of the community. The late Theresa Lawal who was the mother of the Deputy Governor Dr. Lawal was born to a Catholic family at Ijan Ekiti while his father, the late Alhaji Lawal was an indigence of Ado-Ekiti.    ONI PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALARA (27/03/08) Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has described the late Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Amele as an accomplished traditional ruler whose reign brought about unprecedented development to the town. Governor Oni, during a condolence visit to the Regent of Aramoko Ekiti, Chief Oye Ogunlana and other traditional Chiefs over the weekend remarked that the reign of Oba Amele witnessed great human and physical development. The governor, who noted that the late Alara was one of the key traditional rulers in the state and Yorubaland prayed God to grant the royal family and the people of the town the fortitude to bear the loss. He promised to look into the request of the community as regards the establishment of the School of Agriculture and a High Court in the town. While restating the commitment of his administration towards the provision of amenities in all towns and villages in the state, Governor Oni said his administration had been fair to Aramoko in the distribution of the key political appointments in the state. He urged the kingmakers and other stakeholders to ensure that there was no acrimony and unnecessary litigation in the process of selection of the new king. Earlier, the spokesperson of the community, Architect Fola Alade expressed appreciation to Governor Oni for the visit. He urged the Oni-administration to site one of the proposed Schools of Agriculture as well as a division of the State High Court in the town.   RAINSTORM WRECKS HAVOC AT OBJ HOUSING ESTATE (25/03/03) Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by rainstorm at the Obasanjo Housing Estate, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti.  The rainstorm which lasted several hours blew off the roofs of some houses, pulled down fences and completely destroyed some others. In a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Environment, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni paid a visit to the Estate and described the incident as unfortunate and sympathized with affected families. Sanni said the Ministry has in stock improved tree seedlings and urged citizens to purchase and plant these to serve as wind breaks.  He assured residents of government readiness to alleviate their sufferings. About 21 houses were affected by the rainstorm.  In a related development, the residents of the estate have appealed to the State Government for assistance. They made the plea during the visit of the General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Kunle Olofintuyi. The Chairman of Landlords Association, Mr. Odunayo Ogunleye explained that the rainstorm which lasted for three hours destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The General Manager sympathized with the victims and thanked God that no life was lost in the incident. Olofintuyi called on building contractors to use quality building materials in order to avert disasters. He assured that Officers of the Agency would deploy to the areas to assess the extent of damages and recommend to government for assistance.     EKSG DISBURSES N15M AGRIC MICRO CREDIT LOANS TO FARMERS (25/03/03) Ekiti State Government has distributed Fifteen Million Naira (N15m) as Agricultural Micro Credit Loan to farmers.  The Director-General of the State, Micro-Credit Agency, Mr. Cyril Fasuyi made the announcement while disbursing Micro-Credit Loans to the beneficiaries in Ado. Fasuyi said the State government merged the old Poverty Reduction Agency with the Agric Credit Loan to form the Micro Credit Agency to improve service delivery to farmers. The Director General said the Agency has money to disburse but is cautious because of the problem of beneficiaries not paying back the loan.  He explained that the loan was to enable farmers embark on livestock and crops production. He however, called on farmers, groups and individuals who have lands for farming to contract the Agency for assistance. The Micro Credit Boss explained that the Agency has concluded arrangements to construct two thousand (2,000) kerosene tanks and purchase tankers to supply kerosene to all parts of the state. Beneficiaries commended government for the gesture and requested for a market, where farmers could sell cassava without hindrance.  About 50 farmers benefited from the gesture.     MRS. ONI COMMENDS WOMEN (25/03/03) Women have been commended for their commitment and dedication to the development of the state.  The Governor’s wife, Mrs Kemi Oni gave the commendation while paying host to Ekiti women in politics in Ado-Ekiti. Mrs. Oni who described them as source of inspiration to the administration, urged them not to relent in their effort. She said government has set aside eight hundred million (N800m) to empower women through its micro-credit scheme regardless of political affiliation. The wife of the Governor explained that government is committed to the provision of employment for youths while 27 roads are under reconstruction. According to her, many lives have been saved through the surgical festival, 1,463 operations were carried out while seven hundred and fifty eye glasses were distributed freely to people with eye problem. Mrs. Oni told the women that computer laboratories have been set up in some schools with boarding facilities. The Governor’s wife said scholarship and bursary have been set up in some schools with N100,000 to Ekiti indigenes in Law School. Earlier, the former PDP Women Leader, Mrs Jolaade Onipede urged women to give their maximum support to the government. She advised them to be united, loyal and faithful to one another in their bid to move the women folk forward. Mrs. Onipede thanked the government for the gesture and the recognition accorded women in the state. Among the dignitaries at the occasion were, the Deputy Governor’s wife Mrs. Yemisi Lawal, Women Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Omotomilola Osunde, top government functionaries and women in Politics across the state.     BE MINDFUL OF THE WATER YOU CONSUME – SANNI (25/03/03) Residents of Ekiti State have been called upon to be mindful of the water they consume.  The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Environment, Alhaji Yakubu Sanni made the call while reacting to the report of the medical Laboratory Scientists in Ado-Ekiti. According to the report, the water being sold or distributed in some parts of the    state contain a substance suspected to be alkaline which could cause cancer of the skin.  It also revealed that the samples of water taken and tested were harmful to the body. Sanni, decried the unhealthy practice where some unscrupulous people for the sake of popularity and profit give people unsafe water to drink which may bring epidemic. The commissioner said the welfare of the people is a priority to the administration and resolved to impound any water tanker or tanks with contaminated water. He however advised the people to inform the Ministry whenever they discover untreated sachet water.   CLERIC COMMENDS ONI (25/03/03)  Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Michael Olatunji Fagun has expressed his satisfaction over the style of Governor Segun Oni in governing Ekiti State and playing of politics without bitterness.  The cleric in his sermon at a special service organized by Ogunmoriye Descendant Union, Ijan Ekiti, Ekiti State over the weekend at St James’Catholic Church, Ijan Ekiti for the deputy governor Sikiru Tae Lawal, whose deceased mother, Madam Theresa Lawal hailed from the town, said that Governor Oni had put in place programmes that would improve the lives of impoverished people of the state. In a statement issued by the special Assistant to the deputy governor on Public Communications, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, Bishop Fagun said that Engineer Oni knew the problems facing the people of Ekiti state and had been doing so much to ameliorate them "Engineer Segun Oni is well focused. He is a silent operator who understands the problems of his people. His programmes show that he knows what he is doing. His Micro Credit scheme, the road revolution, the medical intervention programme, pensioners welfare plans , education rejuvenation, employment scheme and industrialization plans are some of his projects that endear him to me.", he said. Bishop Fagun who said that he was not known for praise singing and other frivolities declared that Governor Oni had shown that he actually prepared for governance , stressing that "Governor Oni is doing well, if he doesn’t I will say it , you all know me .He works without making noise, he works humbly and effectively. We thank God hat the government has started micro credit scheme, health programme, health intervention, road projects and employment generation among others. I urge the people to avail themselves of the opportunities". The cleric however commended the governor for making the right choice in picking Dr Lawal as his deputy, saying the latter was an embodiment of humility, hard work and loyalty "I am sure that the duo of Oni and Lawal will lead Ekiti to the promised Land. The two of them have been working like brother and not competitors. God will continue to be with them.", he said. Governor Oni in his response said that his was to transform Ekiti State economically and socially during his tenure and prayed for God’s guidance. He said that the problem of electricity would be a thing of the past before the expiration of his tenure, urging all the stakeholders in the State to join hands with him in the crusade to improve the lives of the people. . Dr Lawal thanked his maternal family for the honour done him and expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the governor, Engineer Oni for appointing him as his deputy. "I am the luckiest deputy governor in the country. I am working with a brother and the most intelligent person I have ever met. I also enjoy maximum cooperation from members of my family both at Ado Ekiti and Ijan Ekiti here. I thank God for his glory.", he said.   ONI URGES LOVE AMONG NIGERIANS (25/03/03)  Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has urged Nigerians, especially the Christians to emulate Jesus Christ by showing love and care to everyone as His cruxification and ressurection is being celebrated, saying Jesus Christ demonstrated unequalled love for mankind by accepting to be cruxified for our sins. According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications, Mr. Moses Jolayemi, Governor Oni  in his Easter message to the people of the state called on religious leaders to continue to preach love and harmony among the people. “Jesus Christ demonstrated unequalled love for mankind by accepting to be cruxified for our sins. He had the option of minding his own business and allowed us to continue to carry the burden of sin, but he opted to carry it for us on the Cross of Calvary. “The kind of love demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary is what we need so as to get to the promised land in Ekiti in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Therefore, we should emulate Jesus Christ in all our dealings by showing love to others,” Oni said. While urging members of opposition parties in the state to in the spirit of Easter to desist from all acts capable of painting the state in bad light, Oni said; “People who are suppose to be stakeholders in the Ekiti project should not be the ones telling lies against the state. “Though we understand their anxiety, because things are not moving in their direction, it is important for them to know that propaganda is not going to help, more so that it never helped them during the election. They should stop lying against the people they claimed to love because Jesus Christ never lied against His own people. He never raised a finger against anyone, not even those who betrayed him. ”It is therefore important for our friends on the other side to also begin to show a little bit of love and respect to others irrespective of which side of the divide they belong bearing in mind that we are all Ekiti people.”     ONI COMMISERATES  WITH AJASIN FAMILY (25/03/03)  Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has commiserated with the Ajasin family on the death of Chief (Mrs) Babafunke Ajasin, wife of the late elder statesman, Papa Adekunle Ajasin.  The governor, in a letter of condolence sent to the head of the Ajasin family and the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu described the deceased as a honest, dogged and forthright person who stood by her husband during his turbulent and active political life.  "Mama, was no doubt a pillar behind Papa Ajasin during his turbulent and active political life, including his tenure as Governor of the old Ondo State, which comprised the present Ondo and Ekiti States in the Second Republic.  "There is no way one could isolate the deceased from the attributes and virtues of honesty, simplicity, humility, industry, doggedness, forthrightness and selfless service to humanity that dominated the life of her late husband, both as an educationist and politician.  "The irony of life is that no matter how long and fulfilled they lived, we do not ever want to lose our loved ones, we however take solace in the fact that Mama lived a Godly and exemplary life of numerous achievements," the governor said.   LAWAL URGES NIGERIANS TO EMULATE PROPHET MOHAMMED (20/03/08) The Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal has urged Nigerians to emulate Prophet Mohammed (SAW), a foremost messenger of Allah (SWT). Dr Lawal in his goodwill message to Muslims and Nigerians on the occasion of the celebration of Mawlid’N-Nabiyy, which connotes the birthday of the holy prophet (SAW) said that the sterling qualities of Prophet Mohammed were enough to guide Muslims in particular and Nigerians in general in their daily activities. The Deputy Governor said Prophet Mohammed was very honest, upright, visionary, morally sound and always at peace with his neighbours, including the unbelievers. “The life and times of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) should serve as good lessons to all Nigerians, especially the Muslims .He was born after the death of his father; his mother died two years after his birth, yet he lived an upright life. He was at peace with himself and others. Even when the unbelievers were fighting him, they still kept their precious items with him. “The holy prophet also signed many peace treaties with the opponents for the sake of peace, including that of Huaybiyya, wherein he had to shelve his first pilgrimage to Mecca. He lived   unique and exemplary life. His first wife was 15 years older than him and twice widowed, with three children, yet he lived peacefully with her until her death. Prophet Mohammed (SAW) only remarried after the death of the first wife. Even at that he always referred to the deceased as the best wife “, Dr Lawal narrated. From all these, the Deputy Governor said “we have a lot to learn from the Muslim leader if we want live a good life and be at peace with our neighbours. In fact the prophet should be our role model .He never placed premium on acquisition of wealth or embarked on inordinate quest for power as he knew that nothing could be acquired unless given by Allah (SWT) “ Dr Lawal however said that much as the birth of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was worth celebrating, the occasion should not be turned to a festival of alcohol drinking and engagement in immoral acts capable of making a mockery of the global event.        Dr Lawal however said that much as the birth of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was worth celebrating, the occasion should not be turned to a festival of alcohol drinking and engagement in immoral acts capable of making a mockery of the global event.   MONARCH MOURNS ALARA, SUSPENDS SOCIAL FUNCTIONS (20/03/08) The Olohan of Erijiyan-Ekiti, Oba Olu Alade has described the death of the Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Amele who joined his ancestors a few days ago as a lost to the entire Ekiti people, saying his humility and sense of responsibility to his people will be missed by all. Speaking through the President of Erijiyan Improvement Union (EIU), Chief J. O. Adetule, Oba Alade said the people of Erijiyan would mourn the demised monarch for a long time because by tradition, himself and the Alara are brothers. "I wish to join the people of Ekiti, particularly my fellow Obas to mourn the deceased and pray that God will give the people of Aramoko-Ekiti, and the Amele family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. "To us in Erijiyan, we have lost a brother because by tradition, Alara is my younger brother. That explained why I directed that all social functions be suspended until the completion of the traditional seven days stay in Erijiyan by the first daughter of the Alara. I also directed that the first child of the Alara be well taken care of during the period of his stay in my domain," the monarch said. On the rationale behind the Alara burial ceremony held in Erijiyan last Saturday, the Olohan noted that the ceremony organised by the EIU was a demonstration of his people's love for the late Alara.   EKITI GOVT. BEGINS CONSTRUCTION  OF NEW DEP. GOV. OFFICE, OTHERS Ekiti State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni has laid the foundation of a new deputy governor’s office as well as six additional office blocks at the state secretariat complex, Ado-Ekiti with a pledge that his administration was fully committed to providing befitting accommodation for various arms of government and the civil service. The buildings are to cost N1.4 billion in Ado-Ekiti. Speaking during the foundation laying ceremony of the key public building expected to be completed within the next one year, Governor Oni said the days when legislators, key government officials and civil servants operate from dilapidated buildings and derelict structures were over. He said the poor condition of buildings currently being used as offices by the deputy governor; legislators and civil servants prompted his administration to embark of the construction of the new structures. "Legislators in Ekiti State currently operates in a small ramshackle House f Assembly building. I was indeed very sad when I saw what stands as Hallowed Chambers being used by the distinguished honourable lawmakers when I went to present the supplementary budget. "Same is also the condition of offices being used by state commissioners and civil servants; the engine room of government who are choked up in three blocks of buildings at the state secretariat complex. "Why should we allow such caliber of reputable officers with enormous responsibilities on their shoulders to work in such a sickening environment? "To me this is unacceptable hence the resolve by this government to take the bull by the horns and give our people a modern, befitting House of Assembly Complex and office and office complexes that would enable them work in a conducive environment. "No longer shall we as Ekiti State be counted in the negative. No longer shall we as Ekitis be satisfied with standards that portray us as people of the backyard. No longer shall we run government from dilapidated buildings and derelict structures," Oni said.