Ekiti 2014: Omoyeni rally support for Fayose’s victory •PDP ’ll reclaim stolen mandate in Ekiti, Osun - Sambo.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr Bisi Omoyeni, has reiterated his commitment and support for the  PDP governorship candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose, as part of efforts to ensure the success of the party in the upcoming election in Ekiti State. He said that the success of Fayose is the success of all PDP loyal party members and stakeholders.
He made this call on Wednesday in Ikere-Ekiti during Fayose’s visit to Omoyeni country home.
In a statement made available to newsmen at the end of the solidarity visit, by Mr YemiAkinbode, the Director of Media for BOFER, Bisi Omoyeni Campaign Organisation, Omoyeni stated “myself and Fayose belong to the same political family, we started this race together with love and understanding that we belong together. It is imperative that since Fayose, has clinched the ticket, it is reasonable for all the aspirants and their supporters to rally support for the success of the party’s candidate
in the June 21 election. Fayose was my former boss and we never had a single misunderstanding during my short stint as the deputy governor of Ekiti State.
In his own speech at the rally, Fayose thanked Omoyeni, his supporters across Ekiti State and the entire people of Ikere-Ekiti for their solidarity, love and commitment to the success of the party. He assured them of his readiness to integrate all other aspirants in the spirit of oneness, unity and justice.
Meanwhile, Vice President Namadi Sambo, on Wednesday, declared that  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would reclaim Ekiti, Osun states and the entire South-West ahead of the 2014 governorship election in the two states and general election in 2015, saying that  the party is heading for war in the zone.
The vice president who disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at the inauguration of the National Campaign Committee of the party ahead of the governorship elections in both states,declared that “we will deliver Osun, Ekiti to PDP, there is no doubt that the party will succeed.”
Fayemi’s aides accuse police of harassment, intimidation in detention •They should report to the appropriate quarters —CPBy Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti
Three of the suspects arraigned on Tuesday for allegedly leading the attack on the campaign secretariat of  Mr Ayo Fayose, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 21 election in Ekiti State, have alleged that the police harassed and intimidated them while in detention for the alleged offence.
Two of the suspects, who are special assistants to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Special Duties, Mr Richard Apolola  and Mr  Dele Owoju, along with the leader of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in the state, Mr Niyi Adedipe, addressed newsmen in Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, where they also accused the police of preferring “unfounded charges” against them.
Apolola, who spoke on their behalf, alleged that the MOPOL Commander (O/C MOPOL) in the Ekiti State Police Command, threatened to kill them and also allegedly harassed and maltreated them while they were in detention, saying that they were no longer safe.
They claimed that the letter by the police inviting them to explain their involvement in the attack, only said they were invited over “malicious damage” and that they were surprised to learn at the court that the charges went beyond just that to include “attempted murder.”
Apolola said: “The O/C MOPOL was hostile to us throughout our stay in detention. He ordered his boys to shoot any one of us that attempts to do anything. Our life is in danger and if anything happens to us, our people should know who to hold responsible.”
They said they only went as honourable men and respectable society members to honour an invitation by the police to clear the air on malicious damage and said they were alarmed that the matter had been expanded to include attempted murder.
Reacting to the allegations, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr  Felix Uyanna, described the allegations as strange and urged them to report to the “appropriate quarters,” and explained that officers and men of the command “acted responsibly and carried out their duties professionally.”
The Commissioner of Police had paraded Apolola, Adedipe and Owoju, before newsmen on Tuesday morning, before they were arraigned along with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Mr Deji Adesokan, before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates court.
Among other things, they were charged with threat to life, malicious damage, possession of firearm and attempted murder of one Olumide Gabriel, who was injured in the attack on the PDP candidate’s secretariat in the evening of Monday, April 7, 2014.
CP laments upsurge in violence, warns politicians •Fayose, Bamidele want perpetrators axedBy Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Mr Felix Uyanna, has decried the upsurge in violence as politicians intensify their campaign for the June 21 governorship election in the state and warned politicians and their supporters against violence.
Uyanna, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting with security agents, politicians and other stakeholders, lamented that despite the assurances politicians gave the police at an earlier meeting, there had been an increase in politically-related violence in the state.
He said so far, the Ekiti  State police command had recorded 12 politically-induced cases of violence, eight of which he said ,had been charged to court with others still being investigated, saying the rising violence was against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Uyanna said: “It should be noted by all and sundry that the command will utilise all legal means to ensure that persons involved in these cases do not escape justice. For avoidance of doubt, I want to reiterate my earlier warning that the use of thugs and possession of offensive weapons will not be tolerated.”
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Alhaji Halilu Pai, said the electoral umpire would provide a level playing field for all.
In his speech, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ayodele Fayose, said his party would conduct its affairs peacefully.
Speaking in the same vein, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP),  Opeyemi Bamidele, said those perpetrating violence were only afraid of facing the electorate.
Fayemi’s second term sure - Faparusi —Says Fayose not a threat to APCBy Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja
Ahead of the June 21 Governorship Election in Ekiti State, a federal lawmaker representing  Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East Federal Constituency of Ekiti in the House of Representatives, Honourable Bamidele Faparusi, has said that the people of the state would vote massively for the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, for his second time tenure based on his landmark achievements in office.
Faparusi, who stated this on Wednesday, during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, on the preparations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the election,disclosed that Fayemi “is a tested and trusted hand in the state and who is taken by his words by the people as he has fulfil all his electoral promises to the people”
He pointed out that Fayemi had laid a good foundation for the development of the state and had started building on it, saying that bringing a new man at this stage would amount to starting from the scratch again .
Faparusi also dismissed the speculation making the round that the emergence of the governorship candidate of the main opposition in the state, thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ayodele Fayose, would pose a threat for  the APC, saying that it would not be a threat to APC in way.
According to him, “I don’t see Fayose as a threat to us in a sane political environment, he can only be a threat if we are playing hooliganism, maiming and what have you?, we have been telling our people to be wary of them,so, PDP picking Fayose is to harass and intimidate Ekiti people to submission which we know it is their strategy and it will not work this time around.”
Faparusi urged the Ekiti people be vigilant and be weary of electoral fraudster whom he said the PDP led federal government was intending to impose on them,saying that the People should come out in large numbers to vote for Fayemi for him to continue his good work so that the peace,progress and development which the state have been witnessing in the past three and a half years would continue.
Bamidele laments neglect of rural communities, promises better timesBy Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti

The Labour Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has lamented what he referred to as the neglect of rural dwellers by the preceding administrations in the state and promised better times for them if elected governor in the June 21 election.
Bamidele, who is the chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, promised to make the welfare of rural dwellers his priority if given the mandate to serve the people in the June 21 governorship election.
The Labour Party candidate, who was speaking at Iyemero community in lkole Local Government Area of the state .during a rally on Wednesday, said he would “initiate programmes that would bring about agricultural revolution in the state through which youths can be attracted to live in the remote areas.”
Bamidele pledged that his administration will revamp the State Farm Settlements and build more in remote areas across the three senatorial districts to generate employments for the youth and launch the state to a recognisable height  in the attainment of  food security.
He also visited other town s like Isaba, Itapaji, Odo Oro, Itapaji and other Ebira communities, promising to use the land expanse in the council for mechanised farming  and economic transformation of the area and the state at large.
The LP chieftain added that he would exploit the capacity of Itapaji Dam  in the council for irrigation process  and  to supply potable water to every home contrary to what is presently being experienced by the residents.
Bamidele pointed out that the natural endowments in terms of water, land and atmospheric condition, could turn Ekiti State economic fortune around and put smiles on the faces of the citizenry.
The LP governorship candidate, however, promised not to develop the urban centres  at the expense of the remote areas, saying  any sensible government must make the two complement each other for radical economic development.
He said the state will continue to be far from real economic development until the agrarian potential of the state is tapped to the optimal level.
At Odo Oro Ekiti in Ikole Ekiti township , the parliamentarian promised to partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission for the delineation of  wards  to bring the government close to the people.
He promised that he would increase the infrastructural facilities in the rural areas to check rural-urban drift.
Bamidele pointed out that such move will make more indigenes to be either elected or appointed into government.
During his visit to Ebira Community in the Council, Bamidele pledged that his administration won’t discriminate against them in terms of the distribution of wealth.
The lawmaker, said  they will be accorded the same respect and attention in terms of infrastructure and human capital development since they are contributing to the economic development of the State.