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Ekiti Polls: Fayemi Concedes Defeat …Jonathan, Afenifere, CNPP Hail Fayose
Director, Nike Centre for Arts and Culture, Chief Nike Davies-Okundaiye (left), with Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion, at the 2014 Ogidi-Ela Day in Kogi State, last Saturday.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose won 203,090 votes against 120,433 votes recorded by Governor Kayode Fayemi to become the next governor of the state.
Declaring the result in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that Fayose won in all the 16 local councils in the state.
In a quick reaction yesterday, the governor-elect of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose, dedicated his victory to the people of the state.
Fayose said in Ado-Ekiti that his victory reflected the wishes of the people of the state.
The governor-elect, who spoke through his Chief Press Officer, Mr Idowu Adelusi, described the election that produced him as free, fair and credible.
He promised to improve the living standard of the people by providing job opportunities and making education affordable.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has congratulated the governor-elect and candidate of the PDP, Ayodele Peter Fayose over his victory at the polls.
Addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, Fayemi said if the outcome of Saturday’s election was the wish of the people, “so be it.”
He said, “Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially returned the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election.
“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
“I have just spoken with my brother, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, congratulating him on his victory. In a few hours from now, I would be meeting the Governor-elect to discuss the future of our dear state and how we would work together to institute a smooth transition programme.
“It has been a hard fought election. As expected, in the course of the campaigns, there were unsavoury episodes as the candidates toured the nooks and crannies of the state to sell ourselves to the people. Elections tend to be highly divisive affairs that often see brother rising against brother.
“Despite our diverse party affiliations, and regardless of which way we voted on Saturday, we must remember that we are all sons and daughters of Ekiti State. Ekiti is ours to build together”.
He added: “On our part, over the course of the campaigns, we presented our scorecards before the people of Ekiti State. We never at any point took your support for granted. We campaigned, we canvassed and we traversed the nooks and crannies of this state.
“Our performance and achievements in office will remain the backdrop against which the next government and indeed future governments will be assessed. We are proud that with the support of Ekiti people, we have raised the bar of excellence in governance. In all, we gave our best, for conscience and for posterity.
“Indeed a new sociology of the Ekiti people may have evolved. However, the task of understanding how the outcome of this election has defined us as a people will be that of scholars. For us as an administration and a cadre of political leaders in Ekiti State, we have fought a good fight, we have kept faith.
“To members of our party, our campaign team and indeed all Ekiti people who defied the siege on our state to cast their votes for our party, I salute your exemplary courage and doggedness in the face of harassment. Thank you for staying the course.
“The incidences of brazen harassment, intimidation and allied infractions on fundamental human rights, which many of you suffered in the hands of agents of the state, would be documented and communicated to the appropriate authorities, for the records.”
The Labour Party candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has also expressed appreciation to indigenes of the state for their support.
Bamidele said in a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that the election conducted by INEC was a true reflection of the people’s wishes.
He commended INEC and all security agencies involved in the electoral process for their roles, saying they all ensured that the people of the state contributed to the nation’s democratic process.
The Labour Party candidate particularly thanked his supporters in Iyin Ekiti, his hometown, saying their support ensured he triumphed in the community inspite of the party being only five months old in the state.
Bamidele, who got 18,135 votes came third out of the 18 candidates who participated in the election.
In his reaction, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan urged the governor-elect of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose to see his electoral victory as a sacred mandate from God and an opportunity to serve his people for the second time.
He, therefore, urged him “to be humble and magnanimous in victory and commit himself to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties.”
Jonathan gave the advice in a message of congratulations to the Governor elect. The message was signed by Dr. Reuben Abati, the presidential adviser on media.
President Jonathan commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Services and the people of Ekiti State for the peaceful conduct of the elections “in keeping with the present administration’s avowed commitment to ensuring that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible”.
The President also gave an assurance to Mr. Fayose that the Federal Government will give all necessary support and assistance to his incoming administration and cooperate fully with him in furtherance of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.
Similarly, the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), yesterday congratulated the governor-elect of Ekiti, Mr Ayo Fayose.
Afenifere spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said that the election of Fayose reflected the people’s choice.
“The Ekiti people have spoken and we congratulate the governor elect, “Odumakin said.
Odumakin, however, urged the governor-elect to utilise the opportunity of his re-election to correct any mistakes he may have made during his first term.
“He should come to office with better maturity and make life better for the Ekiti people, “ the Afenifere spokesman said.
He further urged Fayose to govern with the fear of God and justify the trust reposed in him by his people.
The South West Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Austin Nnorom, also urged Fayemi to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.
He urged the people of Osun to emulate the conduct of Ekiti people by making sure that their votes counted.
In a related development, the Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN) has urged the governor-elect to ensure that the interests of the Ndigbo community in the state were taken into consideration.
The group, in a congratulatory message signed by its President, Chief Udoka Udeogaranya, said promoting a spirit of inclusion would enable non-indigenes contribute their quota to the development of the state.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.