Vanguard’s Greek Award To Mrs. Aisha Buhari

April 16, 2018

On Saturday, April 14^th, 2018, Vanguard Media Limited beckoned Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos, to honour her with a prestigious Award. The Award is Personality Of The Year 2017.

One of the reasons the management and Board of the Vanguard Media Limited chose Aisha for the honour was that she had the courage to speak boldly against her husband, President Buhari on the way he was running the government. That was months ago.

Responding to what she called: “this unexpected award,” the President’s wife expressed surprise that she was being honoured based on the interview she granted which some people saw as criticism to a government that she has been part of.

Although, Vanguard might have meant well to regard Mrs. Buhari as a courageous woman that had the guts to tell what, to the management, was the truth, to the power, but recognizing and celebrating such courage that was displayed within a matrimonial circle wreaks of mischief.

As a matter of fact, it is un-African, much more, un-Islamic for a woman to criticize her husband in public no matter how aggrieved and how right she is. Women have all the opportunities in the whole world to express their grievances to their husbands in the confines of the matrimonial homes and even matrimonial beds, but not on the pages of newspapers or the screens of televisions.

Of course, no one is beyond mistake, even the ones that are knowingly committed, but the sign of maturity and repentance is for such person to show remorse and return to the world of sanity, mend his or her ways and shows determination not to repeat the mistake.

And long after the dust raised by Mrs. Aisha’s mistake over which she had since repented, has settled, for Vanguard to nominate her and honour her for the same, does not look neat on the face of it. It was like acknowledging that she had set a worthy example to other women in the same position; to vilify their husbands in public and still cling to the same men.

The mood of celebration and mockery which the award signified to Vanguard, was however, rudely cut short by the repentant President’s wife when she showed Vanguard management that that issue no longer exist and that the matrimonial bond between her and her husband remains as strong as when they first met before marriage.

Hear her: “let me use this opportunity to state that I support my husband in this call to service and will continue to do so.”

Aisha Buhari would not deny, even if for the purpose of making the Vanguard management happy for a while, that she said what she said, but insisted: “I need to state that my position was a result of my sense of justice and not confrontation or disrespect. I was brought up to stand by the truth and this is how I have always been.”

We in Greenbarge Reporters believe that the Vanguard’s Personality Of The Year Award was wrongly channeled to a wrong person for mischievous reason. We believe that for the same mischievous reason, Vanguard should have given it to the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who had made the deafening noise and unprintable characterization of President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), more than the way Mrs. Aisha had done, just once.

Indeed, if all good men and women are no longer in existence in the country to merit such award, it is just wise for the management of Vanguard Media Limited to suspend it for now, for, you don’t give award to a person who you rightly or wrongly believe to have developed the courage to confront his or her loved ones.

If that is the concept of Vanguard, what is it celebrating and encouraging in the society? [myad]

APC Names 68-Member Committee For Its National Convention

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a 68 member committee for its planned elective national convention with governors dominating the list.

The composition of the committee, which was announced on the newly hoisted official website of the party and its official Facebook page which was made public today,Sunday, confirmed week-long speculations that the Governor of Jigawa state will head the convention committee.

The Committee headed by Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar has the Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu as deputy Chairman while Senator Ben Uwajumogu who served in the APC Technical Committee that put a final nail tenure elongation is to serve as secretary of the convention committee.

Also on the list as members of the committee are Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Godwin Ibaseki (Edo).

The committee also includes both former and serving senators, former and serving members of the House of Representatives, representatives of women and youth as well as persons with disability and APC coalition groups.

The announcement of the convention committee was signed by the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso.

The announcement was silent on when the committee will be inaugurated as well as when the convention is expected to hold, but the tenure of the present National Working Committee the party is expected to end in June this year.

Attempt to make the current members of the National Working Committee to continue in office acting capacity was truncated when President Muhammadu Buhari raised objections to it, saying the idea contravene the constitution the party and the Nigerian constitution.

The President’s rejection the tenure elongation plot led to the setting up of the Governor Simon Lalong led Technical Committee which recommended that the national convention be held to elect new leaders, while members of the National Working Committee should be given waiver to seek reelection instead of resigning their position first as provided for in the party constitution.

The technical committee also recommended the retention of the current zoning formula apparently to allow the current occupants to seek re-election into their various offices.

It was however not clear when the party will constitute similar committee to conduct congresses into the ward, local government and state executive committees which has already expired.

The Technical Committee recommended that “The conduct of congresses is preferable provided that constitutional and legal conditions requisite to the conduct of a valid elective congress and convention as contained in the roadmap are met.

“In the event that it is impossible to fulfill the constitutional and legal conditions requisite to the conduct of a valid elective congress and convention, the party may, as a last resort, leverage on the NEC resolution of 27th February 2018 which in our view is lawful in the circumstances.”

The committee said further that “There is apprehension that the holding of congresses and convention may exacerbate the crisis that led to the setting up of the reconciliation committee headed by Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the first instance and may eventually lead to factionalisation of the party and or the emergence of parallel bodies within the party. Such scenario may jeopardize the interest of the party in the oncoming general election.

“Beyond this, should the factionalisation , rightly or wrongly be taken to the national level and subject to court action, cross carpeting may become the order of the day in the party.

“It is in the above situation that the National Executive Committee considered upon which it took the decision to create caretaker committees out of the present Executive and other organs of the party as same is necessary to protect, advance and consolidate the gains and interests of the party.”

It also acknowledge the fact that the reconciliation committee set up by the President which was yet to conclude its report, stressing “It is also important to note that the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu led reconciliation committee is yet to conclude its work and present a report to the President or the party on the reconciliation of aggrieved members.

“The committee recommends that the reconciliation committee expedite and conclude its assignment.

“The committee recommends the retention of the existing zoning formula to enable the present officers who are desirous of re-contesting to do so and thereby avoid needless crisis or division in the party.

“From information at the disposal of the committee, conducting congresses may now be fraught with logistic challenges, especially due to paucity of fund. The committee advises the party to explore all means to overcome these challenges.”

National Publicity Secretary who confirmed the decision taken at NEC said it was only a stop gal measure, pointing out that there is nothing constitutional about it and dismissed insinuations that the leadership may leverage on that to ensure that congresses and convention does not hold.

He said “I can assure you that we are preparing for congresses and convention. The congresses and convention will hold and so, there is nothing like anybody leveraging on that to ensure that congresses does not hold so that some people will remain in office.”

Commonwealth Games: Nigeria Clinches 9th Position, Grabs 24 Medals

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Nigeria finished the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia with a total medal tally of 24 to place 9^th position with 9 Gold, 9 Silver and 6 Bronze.

It is the second in Africa behind South Africa which placed 6^th, with 13 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze.

Host nation, Australia topped the medal table with 80 gold, 59 silver and 59 bronze (total 198) followed by England with 45 gold, 45 silver and 46 bronze, a total tally of 136 medals. India came third, with 26 gold 26 silver and 20 bronze (total 66).

A good 28 nations did not win any medal. They include Belize, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone.

On the last day, Nigeria’s table tennis player Aruna Quadri settled for silver medal on the final day of Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Singapore’s Gao Ning, who suffered shattering defeats in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, beat Aruna 11-7 11-8 5-11 3-11 11-9 11-5 in the men’s singles final to collect his second table tennis gold of the day. Gao said “it was one of those matches where sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It could have gone either way. Today, I felt very calm.

“Twice I’ve been the runner up, now the winner but at the Commonwealth Games , I’ve won men’s team and men’s doubles gold medals… I’m happy to win, I just did my best.”

Gao and his team mate Yu Mengyu claimed the mixed doubles gold earlier in the day.

No Pastor Can Set Financial Qualification For Entering Heaven, Omokri Replies Pastor Adeboye

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Ex-media aide to the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has responded to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, who was reported to have said that people who don’t pay tithes won’t make it to heaven, saying: “no pastor can set a financial qualification to entering heaven.”

In a tweet posted on his account today, Sunday, Omokri insisted: “the only qualification Jesus gave for entry to heaven is that you should be born again then born of water and the Spirit.

“Paying tithes has nothing to do with entering heaven. Such pastors should read 1 Timothy 6:5-6,” he wrote.

Pastor Adeboye had told his congregation at this month’s Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp that “I want to give every one of you pastors an opportunity to repent tonight.

“And then to go back, immediately after this convention, to restitute your ways with your congregation.

“Make it clear to them…Anyone who is not paying his tithe is not going to heaven, full stop.”

Senator Binta Garba Hits Gold, Osinbajo Was There

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, (5^th ^h from right), was in Yola, capital of Adamawa State today, Sunday, April 15, when Senator Binta Garba (6^th from right), hit golden age of 50 and celebrated it with thanksgiving service at the International Praise church in Yola. Also in attendance were the minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi (3^rd from left), and senior special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly matters, Senator Ita Eneng, (2^nd right) Photo by Novo Isioro. [myad]

Past Leaders Turned Nigeria Into A Land Of Poor, President Buhari Laments

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari is still grieving over the way the past leaders, provided by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned Nigeria into a land of poor amidst abundant human and material resources.

The President, who spoke in London today, Sunday when he received the Buhari Diaspora Support Organization, led by Mr. Charles Efe Sylvester, regretted that “failure of some of the leadership we had in the past led to our not being able to capitalize on resources to improve the lot of the people.”

According to President Buhari, wicked people plundered the country, “and kept Nigerians poor,” adding that looking at the condition in which the current administration met the country, without savings and the economy badly vandalized, “we have not done too badly.”

The President said that the damage done to the Nigerian economy in the years of plunder was massive, and that government is doing its best to recover some of the loot.

He made it clear however that it is impossible to identify and recover all.

“If they had used 50% of the money we made, when oil prices went as high as $143 dollars per barrel, and stabilized at $100 dollars with production at 2.1 million barrels per day for many years, Nigerians would have minded their businesses. You could almost grow food on our roads, as they were abandoned. The stealing was so much, and they were so inept that they could not even cover the stealing properly. I wonder how all those things could have happened to our country.”

Buhari expressed happiness that people like Diaspora in London, on their own, have been defending the country.

“You have shown courage and sacrifice. I assure you that your confidence in us won’t be abused, we will do our best to justify it.”

President Buhari particularly commended the Buhari Diaspora Support Organization for deciding to identify with the country, “when you could have stayed here, and being comfortable.”

The Coordinator of the organization, Mr. Sylvester, had said that the group is happy with the achievements of the Buhari administration so far, saying: “you met a difficult situation, but you have overcome most of them. We are happy with the agriculture revolution, the ease of doing business, the anti-corruption war, the employment of youths through the N-Power programme, and the blockage of leakages in the public sector through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“We are proud of the speed with which you recovered the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls. It shows you as a worthy general. We are happy that you have declared for 2019. Majority of Nigerians are happy, but agents of corruption and darkness are unhappy. The same God, who healed you when you were ill, will grant you victory in the 2019 elections. You are a General who does not fear combat, either with Generals or non-Generals. We declare our love and support for you. You are fixing the faulty foundations of our country and second term is when you will build the enduring structure.” [myad]

2019: I Will Support My Husband, President Buhari’s Wife, Aisha Vows

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Against the background of the earlier position she was quoted to have taken against her husband for the 2019 Presidential election, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has now made it clear that she is fully in support of the President for the 2019.

She announced: “let me use this opportunity to state that I support my husband in this call to service and will continue to do so.”

The President’s wife, who made a short speech when she was conferred with the Honour of as Vanguard Personality of the Year 2017 in Lagos, thanked the management of Vanguard Media Limited “for this unexpected award, in recognition of my humanitarian efforts towards improving the health and welfare of Nigerians particularly women, children and less privileged.”

Mrs. Buhari was surprised that another reason adduced for the honour conferred on her by the Vanguard was the interview she granted which some people saw as criticism to a government that she has been part of.

“I need to state that my position was a result of my sense of justice and not confrontation or disrespect. I was brought up to stand by the truth and this is how I have always been.

“As we are all aware, Nigerians elected this administration based on the trust and confidence they have on my husband; I therefore feel that we are here to serve Nigeria to the best of our ability.”

Mrs. Aisha Buhari dedicated the award to the people of Nigeria, especially women. [myad]

Aliko Dangote Bags ABU Top Corporate Award

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Africa’s foremost philanthropist and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has bagged top Corporate Award of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association, Zaria in Kaduna State.

The Association’s National President, Professor Ahmed Tijani Mora said at the award ceremony in Zaria that the 2018 Corporate Award was presented to the top industrialist in view of the numerous contributions of his conglomerate to the development of the educational sector in Nigeria,

Professor Mora said that the interventions of the Aliko Dangote Foundation in the educational sector over the years have been unprecedented through, especially, the sponsorship of various scholarship programmes.

Reading his citation, Professor Mora said apart from the $100 million donation to fight malnutrition, Mr. Dangote is a ‘dedicated philanthropist’ who has also “made an initial endowment of $1.25billion to the Aliko Dangote Foundation in March 2014.”

He said that Dangote Foundation has constructed 10 blocks of hostels for ABU Zaria.

According to him, the Association has 12 governors as alumni, adding that one in every four Nigerian is governed by the alumni of the school.

The Dangote Academy, located in Obajana, Kogi State, is yet another contribution of the Group to education to Nigeria, he said.

The Group’s Executive Director Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communication Engineer Ahmed Mansur who received the award on behalf of Africa’s richest person, said that the award will spur the conglomerate to scale up its intervention programmes in all sectors.

Mansur thanked the Association even as he said that the Dangote Group will not rest on its oars in ensuring that the educational sector achieved its rightful place in Nigeria.

He said that the Dangote Group has pumped billions of naira into the educational sector over the years, even as it planned to officially launched another multi-million naira hostel, with the capacity to accommodate 1,440 students at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

It would be recalled that the Group had only recently donated a World Class Dangote Business School worth N1.2bn to the Bayero University Kano, and building another one in University of Ibadan worth N250M.

Earlier, it donated N200 million to Katsina State University while N500 million for Bayero State University Business School in Kano.

Funding was also provided for the construction of a 500 capacity student hostel complex of the University of Science and Technology, Wudil.

The Group also gave N118 million for a squash complex project at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka main campus and another N50 million to the University of Port Harcourt, as well as a N100million for the proposed Otuoke University.

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Ibrahim Garba commended the awardees, and added that all hands must be on the deck to rescue the educational sector.

Professor Garba said out of the about eighty thousand applicants yearly, of which thirty thousand are qualified, only 11,500 eventually get admitted due to limited facility.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of the Aliko Dangote Foundation has told stakeholders on health that Universal Healthcare Coverage(UHC) is one of the top priorities of the Foundation.

This is coming as the Federal Government through the Minister of Health, and other stakeholders lauded the Dangote Foundation for its positive impact on the country’s health sector.

Ms Zouera Youssoufou who was speaking at the ThisDay Newspaper Healthcare Policy Dialogue Thursday in Abuja, said the Foundation will continue to work with governments and civil society organizations for the development of impactful health sector programmes in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

She said that the Foundation over the years have expended billions of naira in supporting the causes of health through its strides to eradicate Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria, adding that the Foundation has made significant social investments in health, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief.

Recently the Foundation made a pledge to commit $100million to fight malnutrition in some parts of the country, she said.

“Dangote Foundation in partnership with Bill and Milenda Gates Foundation have been supporting the government in the eradication of polio,” she added.

Ms Youssoufou said the Foundation is also trying to woo other private sector operators to commit at least one percent of their profit after tax to support the health sector.

She commended the ThisDay Newspaper for bringing together stakeholders to find solution to the country’s health challenges.

Speaking, Minister of Health Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole who commended Dangote Foundation and other stakeholders said the Muhammadu Buhari administration is not resting on its oars in trying to achieve a Universal Health Coverage(UHC).

“Healthcare is a key driver of our socio-economic development and that is why our future success depends on our investment in the health sector,” he said.

The Minister also launched the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund(BHCPF) tagged HUWE, saying it is aimed at reaching eight million Nigerians in its start-up phase.

He said the the BHCPF is coming since the National Health Act was signed into law in 2014.

He said the Health Act stipulates that 1% of consolidated Federal Revenue be set aside to support the BHCPF. 50% of the funds are allocated to the National Health Insurance Sheme; 45% to the National Healthcare Delivery Agency and 5% for dealing with emergencies.

Speaking earlier, Chairman and Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper Mr. Nduka Obaigbena said he was elated by the contribution of government and stakeholders after its first dialogue in 2017.

Mr. Obaigbena said Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is about ensuring that people have access to the health care they need without suffering financial hardship

Minister of State for Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed assured participants that the funding of the health sector has been on the increase since Buhari government came to being.

Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghbreyesus said given its large population, Nigeria’s health sector is very central to Africa and the world.

He urged the Nigerian government to prioritize Primary Healthcare, saying its effort on UHC was timely.

Dangote Foundation had committed billions of Naira on critical intervention in the health sector by building hospitals and equipping teaching hospitals.

His Foundation is currently building the biggest maternity wards in Aminu Kano specialist hospital and state of the arts Surgical Operating Theatre and Diagnostic Centre (SDC), at a cost N7 billion, which soon be completed.

The 900-bed capacity maternity at the hospital, reputed for highest number of in-patients in sub-Saharan Africa, has been lacking facilities that may detract from the new SDC being built by the Foundation, hence the decision to carry out the construction and renovation of the auxiliary facilities. [myad]

Lee Engineering Establishes $100 Million Fabrication Plant In Warri

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2018

Lee Engineering and Construction Company, one of Nigeria’s indigenous oil serving companies, has established a $100 million fabrication plant in Warri, Delta State aimed at meeting the fabrication needs of multinational companies in the oil and gas sector.

The Chairman and Managing Director of the company, Chief (Dr) Lemon Ikpea, who broke the news in a statement, said that the vision of the new fabrication plant is to build an indigenous world-class manufacturing and fabrication workshop that will serve the industrial needs of Nigeria and Africa, especially in the oil and gas, and power sector.

Chief Ikpea said that he set up the fabrication company in order to contribute his quota to the oil and gas sector and to tap into the local content drive of the Federal Government.

Under the local content scheme, government encourages indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector to provide services to the big players in the sector and benefit from its financial resources.

The newly completed oil and gas production plant will produce high pressure vessels, heat exchangers, gas-heat exchangers, water bath heaters, glycol, skits, scrubbers, process modules, tanks and flare systems as well as carry out maintenance on existing pressure/process vessels and its components

The Chief Executive said: “if you look around the oil and gas sector, most production are done outside the shores of this country and we don’t have to fold our hands and wait for government’s foreign friends and partners to transfer technology to this country. If they transfer technology to you, who will be buying from them? So they will be reluctant to do that.

“Our mission is to produce high quality, reliable and durable products through competent workforce and best technology within regulatory laws. We intend to change the existing orientation of clients procuring similar components abroad with scarce hard currency and, in the process, boost national economy and reduce procurement lead time.”

Chief Ikpea said that his drive is also to support the government in creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and save huge foreign exchange for the nation.

“We decided to key into the local content policy of government, which was enacted into law in 2010. We want government to give more power to the Nigerian Local Content Management Board to ensure that Nigerians fully participate in any investment, expansion and Greenfields to be established in many parts of this country. It is from there that our people will learn, build capacity, learn on the job, and also the government will save half of what is meant to originally go to foreign companies.”

He said that as part of the company’s local content policy, Lee Engineering has so far sent 50 technicians and engineers to The Netherlands for training adding that by the time the fabrication facility is fully operational other trainees would also be sent to The Netherlands and other parts of the world for training in marketing of the products and the and after sale services.

The company boss stated that to further drive home the government’s commitment to the local content policy of government “we are optimistic that Mr. President will do us the honour by coming to commission the project”.

Ikpea said the first move he made with his European partner, which was one of the biggest in the whole of Europe (they service the whole of Europe, America, Middle East and China markets), was to discuss the setting up of this modern facility. He revealed that “they keyed into it immediately. They said this is what Nigeria needs to help boost the oil and gas sector. We have been in partnership with VDNKDI of Netherlands in the last 10 years and it’s been smooth all this while.”

The Lee Engineering boss, who has devoted over 41 years of his life in oil and gas business, said he started his journey in the sector as a junior worker and worked for 14 years before he decided to establish Lee Engineering and Construction company, the mother company of the fabrication plant.

The target of the Ewatto-born businessman is to export the products of his new fabrication company to other parts of Africa, and the rest of the world.

“We are targeting to export to other countries in Africa and the rest of the world. There are refineries in Angola and some West African countries. From there we will expand to the Middle East and to other parts of the world. But the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step and that is what we have done.” [myad]

Ekiti Governorship Poll: APC Will Win, Jail Fayose, Fayemi Predicts

Greenbarge Reporters

April 14, 2018

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr, Kayode Fayemi, has predicted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the governorship election scheduled for July 14after which the current governor, Ayodele Fayose, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will be sent to jail for various offences committed during his leadership.

Fayemi, who declared for the governorship race on the platform of the APC today, Saturday, said that the party will deploy everything within the constitution to ensure that whoever emerges in the May 5 primary will triumph over the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“They said the June 21 governorship poll is free, fair and credible, so that of July 14 will be free, fair and transparent as well. They will accuse us of so many things. They will accuse us of using federal might, but we will not care.”

Addressing the State Working Committee (SWC), led by its State Deputy Chairman, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, Fayemi said: “we will use local, state and federal power to take over Ekiti from a rapacious and government being run by brigand in Ekiti.

“Those of us who traveled out of Ekiti, we are being insulted, assaulted and mocked on daily basis asking why Ekiti they thought were well read, refined and exposed could make a character like Governor Ayodele Fayose as their governor.

“That is why it is important for us to reclaim our land and restore our values. Each time I move round Ekiti, I see the pains on the faces of the 25,000 elderly persons who benefited from our social security scheme, 600 people who were employed into the peace corps, 10, 000 volunteers who took N10,000 per month, among others but have been cut off from these safety nets by Fayose.

“More than 40,000 persons who were gainfully employed by my government have been disengaged by this present government in Ekiti.

“Under my government, I increased the salary of workers from N5,000 to N7,000 and from N7,000 to N13,000 and later N19,3000. Who will the workers hate between a government that did these and one that is not paying salary for more than ten months?

“They said teachers didn’t like Fayemi. During my time, education is free up to SS3. I paid rural allowance to teachers, Core Subjects’ Allowance, paid scholarship and bursary, paid for WAEC and NECO, but all these have been stopped by a government that has no interest in social investment.

“Today, I can boldly say that there is no town I get to out of the 133 towns and villages in our dear state where I will not point to five projects. If I have not done their road, I would have built schools, or renovate their hospital, but today, nothing is happening.

“Even those projects I did not complete were abandoned by Fayose. There is no single aspirant in APC who will not do much more fantastic works than what we are getting in Ekiti under Fayose among all the aspirants on the APC platform.

“That is why it is important for us to be united. Let me say this, I am a loyal party man and I am ready to support whoever the party fields as the candidate.”

The declaration by Fayemi, which locked down Ado Ekiti, was attended by large crowd of party supporters and admirers, who clad in vests bearing the portrait of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.

There traffic was chaotic along Ado-Ikere-Akure road for several hours, with commuters spending over one hour to navigate a distance that would take less than two minutes on a normal day.

Fayemi, who was the governor between October 16, 2010 to October 15, 2014, was defeated in the last election held on June 21, 2014 by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The Minister was the number 37 aspirant to have declared interest in the coveted seat; 21 have collected the nomination and expression of interest forms at the headquarters of the APC in Abuja.

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