Ajimobi: We’ve lost a star, says Fayemi

The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has mourned the death of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who passed on Thursday, aged 70.

Dr. Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described Ajimobi's death as a personal loss to him, and a  huge loss to the people of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.

"We have lost a star' said Fayemi who added that Ajimobi's death was a painful one not only to the family but to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on which platform the deceased had a remarkable tenure as Governor of Oyo State.

Fayemi described Senator Ajimobi as an accomplished professional, a respected politician and astute administrator, who reached the pinnacle of his professional and political careers by dint of hard work, courage and brilliance.

Fayemi said Ajimobi's memories would continue to live with him as a friend and brother as well as a dutiful family man and political leader who was ever there for his family, associates and the people he led.

Describing Ajimobi as a "man of history," Fayemi said the deceased etched his name in the annals of Oyo politics by being the first governor to be re-elected to office in the Pacesetter State.

He described Ajimobi's two-term tenure as a golden era which recorded execution of people-oriented policies and landmark projects.

The Governor noted that Ajimobi excelled in the private sector and reached the pinnacle of his career as Managing Director of a prominent oil company before venturing into politics, where he equally made some remarkable achievements.

Fayemi said: "We have lost a star. A man of honour and a statesman.  But we are consoled that Governor Ajimobi lived a good life, made his mark in his chosen fields, lifted many and left a good name and legacies of honour and industry. We shall surely miss him.

" On behalf of my family, the government and people of Ekiti State, we commiserate with his immediate family, the government and people of Oyo State and pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and grant his soul eternal rest."

Yinka Oyebode 

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

BREAKING: Liverpool win Premier League title after Chelsea defeat Manchester City

Liverpool have won the 2019/2020 Premier League title.

Liverpool's 30-year wait for a top-flight title is over after Manchester City lost 2-1 at Chelsea to confirm the Reds as Premier League champions.

Jurgen Klopp's side needed one victory to seal the league but City's failure to win means they cannot be caught.

It is Liverpool's 19th top-flight title and their first since 1989-90.

BREAKING: Ex-Oyo Governor Ajimobi dies at 70

Immediate past Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi is dead.He was said to have died of COVID-19 complications at First Cardiology Specialist Hospital, Lagos.

He was 70.A source close to the former Governor told The Nation that Ajimobi breathed his last at about 4pm.

Oyo House of Representatives member, Akin Alabi, also tweeted: “Forever in my heart.”Ajimobi was the first Oyo governor to win a second term in office.

He governed between 2011 and 2019.

BREAKING: APC dissolves National Working Committee

The All Progressives Congress has dissolved its National Working Committee.

The decision was reached at the National Executive Council meeting held on Thursday.

Bashir Ahmad, an aide to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), tweeted, “Following the recommendation of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dissolved.”

Details later…

BREAKING: APC National Secretariat sealed again

For the second time this week, the National Secretariat of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sealed off by Police operatives.

As early as 9am, two hillux patrol vans and two Peugeot 604 cars were stationed at strategic positions around the secretariat.

Party staff, who had arrived early, were asked to move out of their offices.

The Nation gathered that the seal off was at the instance of the Inspector General of Police.

The Commissioner for FCT Police Command was directed to ensure that nobody was allowed into the premises.

Hon. Victor Giadom led National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday got the Presidential backing to convene National Executive Committee(NEC) which holds today virtually from the Presidential Villa.

The Senator Abiola Ajimobi led NWC faulted the convocation of the NEC, which was described as illegal.

It said it won’t attend the NEC despite the expected presence of President Muhammadu Buhari. (The Nation)

EKITI PUNCTURES EX-SENATOR OJUDU AND NATION NEWSPAPER’S MISLEADING STORY

 

The attention of the general public is being drawn to a misleading publication by the Nation Newspapers online with headline “Fayemi’s failed mission to Villa with Giadom”, published in the online edition of the Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020.

The falsehood, we gathered reliably, was fabricated by a senior aide of the Presidency and a former Senator, Babafemi Ojudu, and planted in The Nation Newspaper, after it was rejected by some State House Correspondents, who rebuffed the former Senator for the misleading and malicious story.

It is on record that Senator Ojudu, in his desperate bid to rubbish Governor Fayemi, had told his close associates that he would battle Governor Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) with falsehood and cheap blackmail in his nefarious attempt to destabilize APC in Ekiti State.

While Ojudu has the right to continue to tread the path of perfidy which has been his lifestyle from time immemorial, we least expected the Nation Newspaper, a leading national daily whose motto is “Truth in Defence of Freedom” to buy into such cheap blackmail in form of an unverifiable report, without due regard to the principles of fairness. This is more so that modern technology has made the business of news gathering and editorial checks a lot easier, especially if the mission is about public good.

For the purpose of clarity, it is important to state that the Nation’s report was clearly a misleading one designed to cast aspersion on the person of Governor Fayemi and create an impression that the NGF Chairman is an unwanted visitor at the Villa. The largely unsubstantiated report was filled with bile, childish and unexplainable fury that signified nothing, just like a tale fit only for the tabloids.

We therefore implore the general public to disregard the highly illogical concoction that was served as an exclusive story.

In setting the record straight, we hereby state unequivocally that Governor Fayemi had no plan nor reason to see Mr President on Tuesday late afternoon as maliciously presented in the Nation’s report. The Governor, had earlier seen Mr President at noon in company of three of his colleagues - Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa). Also present at that meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari and Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Governor Fayemi was in the villa later in the afternoon to see the COS and State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).

The Ekiti State Governor was never denied any opportunity to see President Buhari as he did not ask to see the President and neither did he go with Chief Giadom. 

We are aware of surreptitious efforts to demonise and blackmail Governor Fayemi on account of the challenges the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is undergoing.

We have tried not to join issues with the barrage of falsehood, personality attacks and campaign of calumny against Governor Fayemi on social media in the last two weeks because it is not in Dr Fayemi’s character to engage in unintelligent rabblerousing in the media. As a principled democrat, Dr Fayemi is committed to fighting for the principles of democracy within the political party he laboured with other notable Nigerians to birth. It is normal for political leaders to be in disagreement, but it should not lead to campaigns of calumny based on falsehood.

Governor Fayemi’s position on the APC crisis has been to consistently subsume his views in the position of the Progressives Governors Forum as expressed by the Chairman. He has not spoken on the party crisis in any public forum but continue to urge all members and lovers of the party to exercise restraint and support the leader of the party, President Mohammadu Buhari and other leaders desirous of resolution to give peace a chance.

We implore the Nation Newspaper and other media organisations to be wary of unfounded stories wrapped as “exclusives” by disgruntled elements like the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Babafemi Ojudu who are now masquerading as news sources.

 

Signed

Yinka Oyebode

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekiti State

24-06-2020