By Gbenga Ojikutu
Ahead of the Saturday’s Local Government primary election in the State, indications emerged that attempts were being made to scuttle the selection process of candidates vying for the position at the newly created Irede LCDA. Ipoti.
Information at our disposal revealed that following a selection process of September 24, 2023, a winner emerged in a contest that the incumbent chairman participated.
According to a report made available to our correspondent, the exercise was witnessed by APC stakeholders in the Local Government who affirmed the winner.
However, it was gathered that some forces allegedly are working to impose an unpopular candidate on the people by replacing the real winner.
The group according to reports have perfected plans to impose the said candidate using the instrumentality of the State Governor who had earlier declared his neutrality on the choice of the people in the forth coming December 2 Local Government election in the state
Details later….
[10/6, 01:58] Website: EKITI ASSEMBLY PASSED SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET
…Continues with accounts of stewardship of councils
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed into law the State 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of over N134 billion, made up of N96 billion for recurrent expenditure and N38 billion for capital expenditure.
The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Teju Okuyiga (Gbonyin/Aiyekire), at the plenary sitting of Tuesday 26th September, 2023, read the report of the Committee. The said Committee Report was thoroughly considered at the Committee of Supply after which the Speaker called on the Clerk of the House to do the Third Reading of the Bill.
After the Clerk performed the Third Reading, the Speaker announced that the Bill has now become Law.
Following the motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Tolu Ige (Ekiti Southwest II), the Council and Local Council Development Areas Chairpersons and relevant officials were admitted into the hallowed Chamber to present the Accounts of Stewardship of their Councils and LCDAs
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, after thorough consideration of the Accounts of Stewardship presented by the Chairpersons of Ijero Local Goverment, Ifeloju LCDA, Ido/Osi Local Government and Ikere West LCDA by the House, advised the Councils and LCDAs Chairpersons to always utilize the fund allocated to them for the benefits of their people and in line with the vision of the state government to improve the standard of living of Ekiti people.
The Speaker stated further that the exercise was not for witch hunting, therefore the House would not be blackmailed into abandoning its legislative duties based on unfounded opinions of the people.
The Speaker also read a correspondence from the Office of the Governor seeking for the concurrence of the House to appoint members of some statutory commissions, namely;
- Local Government Service Commission
- House of Assembly Service Commission
- Audit Service Commission
The Speaker thereafter called on the nominees to submit thirty (30) copies of their curriculum vitae to the Clerk of the House on or before Friday 29th September, 2023 in preparation for their screening by the House. The House adjourned to Thursday 28th September, 2023
[10/6, 03:16] Website: DARK DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY AS EKITI, NIGERIA LOST A LEGEND, KAYODE OLUYEMI
October 1, 2023 marked the 29th anniversary of the death of a sports legend Oluyemi Kayode.
He would have been 55 years old .
He died in a ghastly road accident in Arizona, USA on October 1, 1994 at the age of 26
Until his untimely death, the Ekiti- born athlete was an Olympics medalist
Out of sheer patriotism, Olukayode was said to be on his way to the venue where Nigeria’s Independence was being celebrated when he met his untimely death
Nevertheless, the mother of Late Oluyemi Kayode , Mama Cecilia is still alive , hale and hearty though devastated because no one remembers her anymore
The last time she came out of her shell was in 2021 when Qozeem Oladapo hosted her and the children at the Sports Press Awards and she went home with gifts donated by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ekiti State chapter
But in memory of this illustrious son of Ekiti origin athletics event was organized by Ekiti State Sports Commission together with a friendly football match organized by the family of Olukay took place at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium
[10/6, 03:26] Website: EKITI FIRST LADY IDENTIFIES FOOTBALL AS AVENUE TO EMPOWER GIRL CHILD,
…Commended for support to Ekiti Queens FC
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has urged parents to encourage their female children to participate in sporting activities especially football to make name and money for themselves and their families.
Dr. Oyebanji said sports development is very central to the Ekiti development agenda of her husband, Governor Biodun Oyebanji and has been recognized as a big business that can be tapped into to take the state’s economy to greater heights and generate more employment opportunities.
The First Lady made the remarks recently when she hosted members of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Board led by the Chairman, Ms. Nkechi Obi, who were on a visit to the state to commend her support for female football especially Ekiti Queens Football Club.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media), Office of the First Lady, Odunayo Ogunmola, Ms. Obi also led other executive members to the state to intimate football stakeholders on the agenda of the NWFL Board for the development of female football in Ekiti and others states in Nigeria.
Ms. Obi also used the forum to officially invite Ekiti First Lady to the NWFL Annual General Assembly (AGA) holding on 5th October, 2023 as a special guest of honour in recognition of her contribution to female football in the state.
Dr. Oyebanji who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, said she was impressed by the Women Football Right Strategy which was unveiled by the NWFL boss noting that Ekiti was ready to key into the blueprint to give a lift to female football in the state.
According to her, the Oyebanji Administration places much premium on human capital development noting that the state government was ready to join hands with the NWFL in ensuring that the vision as contained in the Strategy is actualized to the benefit of all stakeholders.
The First Lady also commended the Ekiti State House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill for the establishment of the Ekiti State Sports Commission to ensure that sports gets adequate attention its deserves and also serves as a springboard for empowerment and to be driven as business and not as a leisure only.
She said: “Sports development is central in Ekiti development agenda and for us in Ekiti, sports is a very big business. I also want to appeal to parents to encourage our female children to participate in sports especially football.
“Football is a good avenue to empower girls and so parents must support their girl child in ensuring that they are not discouraged at that. We know that traditionally football is a male dominated sport but things are changing and eyes are opening.”
The First Lady restated her readiness to always give maximum support to Ekiti Queens Football Club and make it a recognized brand in sports and an instrument to empower Ekiti girls economically and socially.
She urged players, coaches, administrators and other officials of the Club to always work together as a team to realize the state government’s ambition of making it a number one female football club in the country.
Earlier in her remarks, NWFL Chairman, Ms. Obi said the Board came to Ekiti to share its vision and agenda for development of female football league because of the recognition of the roles of the First Lady and other stakeholders in female football.
She equally noted that since majority of football clubs in Nigeria are owned by state governments, they are in the state to acquaint them with the right steps to take to broaden the scope of female football league as it concerns stakeholders like players, coaches referees, administrators, among others.
Ms. Obi unveiled the initiatives to include capacity development, more media presence for female clubs on digital media, sponsorship packages, mentoring and twinning with clubs in Spain, Italy, Germany, among others and discovery of more talents for national teams.
The NWFL chair disclosed that the league has been redesigned from next season into a 16-team Premier League, 20-team Championship and State Leagues for players between age 14 and 19 while a coaching development programme is coming up in February.
She added: “For all these to happen, we need the support of all of you stakeholders and we want to tap into the generosity of the First Lady for Ekiti to benefit from all these programmes we have outlined.”
The event was attended by Chairman, Ekiti State Football Association, Chief Olu Oloworemo; former Chairman, Ekiti State Sports Council, Hon. Ade Adetola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Bamidele Arowosola; Chairman, Ekiti Assembly Committee on Sports, Hon. Idowu Odebunmi; serving and retired referees, sports administrators, players and officials of Ekiti Queens.
