Fayose dares FG to stop him from travelling abroad, says; “Governors not Buhari’s appendages”

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has dared the Federal Government to carry out the alleged plot of preventing him from travelling out of the country , saying; “under the federal system of government, State governors are not appendages of the President and as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria, he cannot be cowed by President Mohammadu Buhari and his agents.”

The governor, who reacted to reports that two governors, one from the Southwest and another from the South South have been placed on travel restriction on President Buhari’s order, in a press conference addressed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said; whenever he wished to travel out Nigeria, he will do so in the full glare of the public.

He said; “I am not surprised or disappointed by this latest plot of the Buhari’s government because the President Buhari that we know is a man without any atom of respect for the rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and this he demonstrated as a military dictator and now demonstrating as a democratically elected president.”

The governor said he was however amazed that “this dangerous dimension of compelling a sitting governor that enjoys Constitutional Immunity like the President to obtain clearance from the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) before travelling out of Nigeria can ever be contemplated.”

He said President Buhari and his agents should be mindful of the fact that under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy, with sovereign power formally divided between the national government and the States such that each State retains some degree of control over its internal affairs.
Olayinka, who was flanked by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi said; “Few days ago, when Governor Ayodele Fayose was reliably informed that President Mohammadu Buhari had directed that he should be banned from traveling outside Nigeria, he simply took the information as mere rumour, concluding that disrespect for the constitution of Nigeria and Buhari’s dictatorship would not be extended to the most ridiculous level of preventing a governor elected just as the president from traveling out of the country.

“The thinking of Governor Fayose was that even though the Buhari’s presidency was capable of even attempting to prevent those opposed to the President from breathing the air, it must still be sane enough to be conscious of the consequences of placing any Nigerian under travel ban without an order of the court, not to talk of a sitting governor that enjoys constitutional immunity like the President.

“However, when we read the story titled; “2 govs under watch, face travel ban” published on Sunday by two major national dailies, we have no option than to once again alert the public on President Buhari’s new dictatorial plot to infringe on the constitutional rights of Governor Fayose just because of his critical position on the President’s dictatorial tendencies.

“The question is; if Governor Fayose has become a threat to the security of Nigeria just because he criticises President Buhari and says the truth about his mis-governance of the country, is this  not a confirmation that the President hates dissenting views?

“Section 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that; “Every person shall be entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty,” while Section 41 (1) provides that “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.”

“Article 13 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Nigeria is a signatory provides that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the border of each State’ while Article 13 (2) provides that ‘Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country,’ ditto Article 12 (2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“President Buhari and his agents should also be mindful of the fact that under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy, with sovereign power formally divided between the national government and the States such that each State retains some degree of control over its internal affairs.

“Therefore, the President of Nigeria cannot lord himself over any State governor and President Buhari and his agents should accept this basic reality and stop behaving as if they own Nigeria in totality. 

“President Buhari and his agents, especially his kinsman; Alhaji Lawal Daura of the DSS need to purge themselves of this blood of dictatorship running in their veins and be guided by the Constitution of Nigeria.

“Even ordinary Nigerians do not require clearance from the DSS or any security agency to travel outside Nigeria unless travel restriction is placed by an order of the court, not to talk of State Governors that enjoy immunity just like the President and are not under the control of the President.

“The president and his agents should know that this is not 1984 when General Buhari, as a military dictator prevented late Chief Obafemi Awolowo from travelling outside Nigeria for medical treatment, thereby leading to his (Awolowo) untimely death in 1987!

“They should also be reminded that the same way Buhari humiliated the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; late Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero and late Obi of Onitsha, Ofala Akulalia Alphonsus Ogugua in 1984 by seizing their passports and restricting them to their palaces just because they travelled to Israel for business, he cannot restrict State governors from travelling outside Nigeria under whatever guise.

“I therefore wish to state on behalf of Governor Ayodele Fayose that as an opposition figure, he cannot be cowed by this pettiness from the presidency. Governor Fayose, by this press conference is daring President Buhari and his anti-democratic agents to carry out this evil and shameful plot and let us all see how far it will take them. 

“Anytime Governor Fayose wishes to travel out of Nigeria, he will do so in the full glare of the public and we await how he will be prevented from exercising his rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“We also wish to inform the President and his DSS men that as they were disgraced when they invaded Ekiti State House of Assembly, arresting members of the House indiscriminately, they will be put to shame this time too.

“Also, the National Assembly is being alerted of this new threat to the Constitution of Nigeria by those who swore to protect it. Members of the National Assembly should by now begin to imagine what will be their fate if attempt is now being made to place travel restriction on State Governors.

“It is our considered view that President Buhari should rather concern himself with the growing insecurity in the country and charge the security agencies, especially the DSS to perform their functions as enshrined in the constitution instead of running after petty issues.

“The President should focus his attention on the economy of Nigeria that is almost collapsing and stop using his position to oppress other Nigerians. He should know that Nigerians are only interested in having food on their tables, not the number of people their President hounds into detention or oppress with his powers.” 

In one year, Buhari/APC ruined Nigeria’s economy – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has lamented that in just one year of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Mohammadu Buhari, the country’s economy was ruined so much that States could no longer pay workers’ salaries, millions of jobs were lost, prices of essential commodities skyrocketed to the extent that Nigerians could no longer afford common tomato to cook and the middle class wiped away completely.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “Despite President Buhari’s electoral promise to reduce petrol pump price from the N87 per litre that he met it and make life more bearable for Nigerians, he increased the price of petrol to N145, increased electricity tariff in spite of lack of power supply.”

He said; “food scarcity last experienced when Buhari was military Head of State between 1983 and 1985 has returned to the country, with Nigerians being unable to feed.”

The governor who said Nigerians should remove party, ethnic and religious sentiments and ask themselves what they have benefitted in the last one year, reminded Nigerians that “Foreign Reserve was $28.6 billion, Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $2.07 billion, dollars was less than N200, petrol was N87 per litre and most importantly, one bag of rice was N8, 500 and power generation was over 5,000MW when Buhari assumed office.

The statement read in part; “Today, power generation is less than 1,400, Foreign Reserve has reduced to $26.5 billion, dollar is now over N350, petrol has increased to N145 per litre and one bag of rice is now over N15, 000!”

“I read the president’s speech and all that I saw was a president still sounding like he was campaigning for votes more than one year after winning election. It is disappointing that the President’s speech was once again about promises, not about what has been done.

“Not even a mention of one kilometre of road tarred by this administration, no single job was created except the ones created in Central Bank of Nigeria for their cronnies and children, not a single megawatt of electricity generated. This is shameful.

“The reward Buhari gave to Nigerians for electing as president was to increase petrol pump price by N58.50 and get the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to justify the increment by saying Nigeria was broke!

“In other words, President Buhari increased petrol pump price because the country was broke and it needed to shore up its revenue base. The N58.50 added to the previous pump price of N86.50 was an Indirect Tax imposed on each litre of petrol purchased by Nigerians.

“It is even more worrisome that we have a presidency that is not coordinated. The president says one thing; his vice says another while his ministers also singing  discordant tunes. This is a clear sign of cluelessness and unpreparedness for governance.

“I cannot but agree with the position of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Obiageli Ezekwesili and others that President Buhari has no clue economically. The situation of Nigeria today is like the visually impaired leading those who can see. But I warned Nigerians, and I am still warning Nigerians now that as it happened in 1984 when our President was a military Head of State, the economy of Nigeria may collapse!

“Therefore, as we look forward to the end of the honeymoon of Buhari’s presidency, I wish to state that if supposed men of honour are going underground because of possible harassment and intimidation, I, Peter Ayodele Fayose will not; because this is our fatherland.

“Most importantly, those regarding President Buhari as a saint should know that he is not. The president is not also the Almighty God that cannot be questioned. After all, the beauty of democracy is in credible opposition.

“Today, I have expressed my mind concerning the one year of Buhari’s presidency as I did before the election. This I have done basically to remind Nigerians that I told them then, and it is happening now.

“May God be with the President and bless Nigeria.”

I can’t Stop Workers From Going on Strike – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose yesterday in an interview session with press men spoke on salient issues affecting the state, top of which is the inability of the government to meet its obligation in the area of salary payment. Excerpts…

His reaction to the possibility of Ekiti workers going on strike any moment from now:

I want to make some clarification particularly on issues that affects the welfare of our workers. I want to say very expressly that workers are the engine room of government and they deserve all the encouragement but currently we are in crisis financially, the average wage bill in terms of payment of workers is between 2.5 to 2.6billion which includes parastatals, university, college of education and all that.

And since I became governor I have always put this before the leadership of labour, each time they give us a figure from Abuja, I give the paper to them for them to share and bring it for signature.

obviously at some point we all realized that there was nothing to share or probably for what we earn when you are to pay 2.5 or 2.6 billion as wage bill and you now get 1billion, you get 800million, you get 1.2billion, there is nothing to share.

So rotating an alternating payment in terms of paying the university, the college of education, higher institution and so on, we pay them this month and pay the major work force next month.

That has been the practice and we work with a technical committee of labour and government, we meet monthly to disburse. I want to tell u very expressly that it has not been easy.

As it is, last month I got about 850million, the month before which was the month of March I got 1.1billion, February I got about 1.2billion and in December I got about 1.3billion, it has not been easy and I want to say very expressly that I am owing four months salary and with the month of May it will be five months.

This is not about Ekiti alone, all states reasonably are affected by this development irrespective of which governor, which party controls that state. So as it is, I am doing my best within the ambits of availability.

You will recall that I took over a debt profile of commercial loan of over 31billion where deductions are made from source and apart from the commercial loan we have the bond by the last administration as a result, it is difficult for me to sustain the salaries. Ekiti has the least in Nigeria in terms of IGR(internally generated revenue) and most of the times if you don’t pay, if you pay the basic it means you don’t expect tax next month, that has been the style, that has been the situation.

Right now I am helpless and that is the fact. Yesterday, the 25th of this month, the commissioner for finance called me that we got 751million which is one third or one quarter of the wage bill. So I need to set this record straight, I have been guided and being careful and that is why most of the time when workers doesn’t come to work, I don’t have the morals to go and stop them from coming late or not coming to work because when you don’t pay wages you are handicapped to enforce discipline in the people.

As it is, I am doing my best on the needful but it is difficult for me to sell myself or my wife or sell my property, it is a trying time for our state and for Nigeria, I can only deploy what I get from Abuja within available resources, we are trying our best to improve on the internally generated revenue. You will discover that it is very difficult to squeeze water from a dry tissue paper.

You can’t get money when people don’t get wages, when the money doesn’t circulate, when business are not running, taking IGR from them will be a bit difficult. As it is, this is the position, I just want the public, the workers to understand that it’s in my priority to make them very comfortable, apart from wages, it is the responsibility of government to provide electricity,it is the responsibility of government to provide security, to provide for the less privileged, water among others. This has been very difficult, even in government house most of the times we don’t have diesel to power generators, so we have to move to the office during office hours and when we move home, we use generator for the government house.

It’s been very tough and that’s the position but I can’t stop workers from going on strike, if you want to go on strike I can’t stop you, I can only give explanation which I have given and the best I could do is what I can do. So I sympathise with them but I am helpless, if you want to go on strike, we will be waiting when they will come back.

On his message for the Labour leaders who were threatening to strike:

It is not about threatening, what you have is what you can give, we do this meeting together Technical Committee every month, they have facts more than myself but I don’t want to join issues, I appreciate their patience, I appreciate their situation, the same situation they are in is the same situation I am in. So I want to say very clearly, even if you hate the labor force, will you hate the political leaders and political class, No!

His plea to them:

The plea is to all see reasons with the present situation, it is a situation beyond anybody and everybody. If you go to Osun State, go to Ogun, go to Oyo, most states don’t even have commissioners, they don’t have means, so I won’t blame anybody, the financial situation I have said it long ago that this time shall come, this are very perilous times, difficult times, I share the pains of the common people in our society, it is not right time to be governor I must confess to you.

Capital projects despite paucity of funds:

Some ask me, but you are doing some capital project like the fly over, and the new market, yes! I said it, I made it public a year ago that the federal government arranged a loan for each state for 10billion which must be attached to capital project in each state. I made it public in one of ‘The Governor Speaks’, and I have attached the flyover, the new market and one other project, I have attached that money to them. The money goes to them from source, so this is to clarify the misrepresentation regarding the projects, it is not as if we have the money in our coffers, the money is with the banks and they pay contractors directly. In fact, there are a lot of agreements signed by contractors that won the projects before they can get the money and it is being regulated by the bank with our approval.

Fayose bans cattle grazing in Ekiti, says; “cattle farmers must own ranch”

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has banned grazing and rearing of cattle in the State, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranch and that a bill to make movement of cattle from one location to another criminal in the State will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly.

Governor Fayose, who made this known when he visited Oke-Ako in Ikole local government area of the State that was invaded last Friday by Fulani herdsmen that killed two residents of the town and injured others, warned that government will henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the State apart from ranch created for them by their owners.

He described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.”

The governor said; “We will not leave our lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed, we will have no option than to defend ourselves by whatever means.”

He said; “I have come here to commiserate with the people of Oke-Ako over the murder of two of our people by these evil Fulani herdsmen.

“I am also here to assure that this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise.

“I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in cattle farming should henceforth do so in their own cattle ranch.

“No more movement of cattle from one location to another in the State and any cattle seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from the ranch created for them by their owners will be confiscated by the government and their owners will be prosecuted.

“A bill to this effect will be sent to House of Assembly for passage into law to criminalise cattle owners whose cattle are found moving from one location the other in the State.

“If President Mohammadu Buhari, who is the patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refused to call the herdsmen to order, we in Ekiti will no longer harbour herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and raping our women.

“If the same President Buhari that was so concerned about the killing of Fulani herdsmen in in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of Oyo State such that he, as a private citizen led Arewa to Ibadan on October 13, 2000, to confront the then Governor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lam Adesina is now keeping silent when the same herdsmen are killing our people, we must rise and defend ourselves.”

“It is our duty to protect our people and we are going to do that without fear or favour.

The governor reiterated that activities of the Fulani Herdsmen was inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country saying; “one wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.”

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday resolved the crisis rocking the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti over the‎ death of some doctors from the hospital few weeks ago.

At a meeting of stakeholders consisting  representatives of  all medical and non-medical workers, traditional rulers from across the state and the Chief Medical Director, Dr Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, the governor pleaded with parties to sheath their swords and allow peace reign.

In a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the ‎governor said it was unfortunate that since the death of some medical doctors in a car crash few weeks ago while going for a meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto State, peace had eluded the hospital

Listing the grievances of the wor‎kers, their spokesman, Mr Efe Asagba, said the workers, both senior and junior staff were angered by the insensitivity of Ayodele concerning some issues chief among which was the manner he handled the death of some of the  doctors.

“‎Since the death of three medical doctors who were on their way to attend the NMA congress, our Chief Medical Director has not called the families of the deceased, he was not around when the victims were buried and has not been sympathetic to our plight. You can imagine that he was not around when the corpses were brought from Kaduna to Ekiti and did not send representatives,” he said.

Ayodele, while explaining himself, said he was already in Sokoto for the NMA meeting when he heard about ‎the accident and that he took permission from the Minister of Health to come down to Ekiti State.

He added that he however got security reports that some people were after his life and that it was based on that that he did not attend the ceremonies.

Governor Fayose, in his remarks, faulted Ayodele for not attending the ceremonies in spite of whatever security reports he was given.

He pleaded with the workers to forgive whatever mistakes they felt the CMD had made. He said the accident that c‎laimed the lives of the medical doctors was unfortunate.

He ur‎ged the workers and their boss to mend fence and allow peace reign. The governor appealed to Ayodele to also make concession to the workers and deal with them with humility.

Traditional rulers in attendance including  the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, the Olujudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Adebayo‎ among others, appealed to the workers and the CMD to allow peace  reign in the hospital.

Doctors’ Death: Fayose Settles FETHI Crisis

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday resolved the crisis rocking the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti over the‎ death of some doctors from the hospital few weeks ago.

At a meeting of stakeholders consisting  representatives of  all medical and non-medical workers, traditional rulers from across the state and the Chief Medical Director, Dr Lawrence Majekodunmi Ayodele at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, the governor pleaded with parties to sheath their swords and allow peace reign.

In a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the ‎governor said it was unfortunate that since the death of some medical doctors in a car crash few weeks ago while going for a meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Sokoto State, peace had eluded the hospital.

Listing the grievances of the wor‎kers, their spokesman, Mr Efe Asagba, said the workers, both senior and junior staff were angered by the insensitivity of Ayodele concerning some issues chief among which was the manner he handled the death of some of the  doctors.

“‎Since the death of three medical doctors who were on their way to attend the NMA congress, our Chief Medical Director has not called the families of the deceased, he was not around when the victims were buried and has not been sympathetic to our plight. You can imagine that he was not around when the corpses were brought from Kaduna to Ekiti and did not send representatives,” he said.

Ayodele, while explaining himself, said he was already in Sokoto for the NMA meeting when he heard about ‎the accident and that he took permission from the Minister of Health to come down to Ekiti State.

He added that he however got security reports that some people were after his life and that it was based on that that he did not attend the ceremonies.

Governor Fayose, in his remarks, faulted Ayodele for not attending the ceremonies in spite of whatever security reports he was given.

He pleaded with the workers to forgive whatever mistakes they felt the CMD had made. He said the accident that c‎laimed the lives of the medical doctors was unfortunate.

He ur‎ged the workers and their boss to mend fence and allow peace reign. The governor appealed to Ayodele to also make concession to the workers and deal with them with humility.

Traditional rulers in attendance including  the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, the Olujudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Adebayo‎ among others, appealed to the workers and the CMD to allow peace  reign in the hospital

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has frowned at the persistent harassment of Nigerians by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the continued detention without trial of Mr. Warimopei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and invasion of the Abuja residence of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as irresponsible, barbaric and undemocratic.

Governor Fayose said it was the height of executive rascality for the EFCC to have held occupants of Fani-Kayode’s residence hostage for eight hours despite that he was only invited to come to the EFCC office on Monday and there was no evidence that Fani-Kayode refused to honour the EFCC invitation.

According to the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, “EFCC under President Mohammadu Buhari is acting as if it is above the law and Nigerians and the international community must remind the commission that we are in a democracy where rule of law is sacrosanct.”

The governor said actions of the EFCC have shown clearly that it is an instrument of victimisation against oppositions in the country, adding the anti-graft agency should go and study how other anti-corruption agencies in other countries behave.

He said; “the EFCC must be reminded of the judgement delivered in March, this year by Justice Yusuf Haliru of the Federal High Court in Nicholas Arinse Vs EFCC & Nigerian Army where the judge held that the EFCC did not behave as if we were in a civilised society and that the anti-graft commission was behaving as if we were in a military dictatorship, where they arrest and release person at will.

“In the case of the former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan, no one is saying those suspected of corrupt practices should not be investigated and tried, but it is wrong for Warimopei Dudafa to have been kept in EFCC custody for over two weeks without trial.

“Also, it is a demonstration of barbarism for the same EFCC that invited Fani-Kayode to its office on Monday to have invaded his house yesterday, holding the occupants hostage for eight hours when there is no evidence that Fani-Kayode refused to honour EFCC invitation.

“Why the show of barbarism by the EFCC as if Nigeria is now back to 1984 when Buhari was a military dictator?”

While calling on the international community to pay attention to the abuse of rights of Nigerians and threat to democracy under President Buhari, Fayose said; “It is obvious that democracy in Nigeria is becoming unsafe in the hands of Buhari’s government.”

He said Nigerians must begin to ask the EFCC what happened to the several petitions written against APC leaders and financiers of President Buhari’s election, including former governors, adding that it was worrisome that the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS) have become President Buhari’s instrument of political victimisation.

Lere Olayinka, a fearless journalist, is currently the Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media.

He worked as Media Aide to Chief Segun Oni when he was the PDP National Vice Chairman (South West) and was responsible for the vibrancy that was brought to the media of the Southwest PDP between 2012 and 2013. 

Olayinka was  before then, the Media Assistant to Chief Segun Oni between 2007 and 2010 when he was the governor of Ekiti State. 

His love and commitment to democracy and the party, PDP made him to remain in the party when  Chief Segun Oni moved to the APC.

He contributed particularly in shaping narratives on social media which saw to the emergence of Gov. Fayose as Governor of the state in 2014. 

Lere Olayinka led a virile media opposition against the APC government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, contributing immensely to the victory of PDP in the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

His media opposition to the APC-led government of Fayemi led to his attack, arrest, detention and trial on October 12, 2012. He was accused of inciting over 22,000 teachers in Ekiti State against the APC government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. 

His residence in Ado Ekiti had earlier been broken into through the roof by agents of of the APC government with only his laptop taken away.

Despite several threats to his life, he was undeterred. The very day he was released from detention, he granted press interviews castigating the APC government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. 

On his arrest, detention and trial, a renowned Canada-based Professor and public commentator, Prof. Pius Adesanmi wrote; 

“…Lere Olayinka has been consistent with his opposition to Mr Fayemi’s government. He has led a very successive Facebook campaign which I follow closely.”

Adesanmi further opined: “I have followed Mr. Olayinka long enough to be able to offer a considered assessment of his methods. 

You may hate the fact that he works for the degenerate PDP establishment (I do) but you cannot take away the empirical thoroughness of his critiques. 

He is unrelenting. He deploys facts, moves thoughts, supplies details and statistics (and frequent pictorial evidence) to support his position. 

He wants you to see that the ACN system in his southwest corner of Nigeria, is turning out to be just as deleterious – if not more deleterious – than the PDP system we collectively hate and vilify. 

His campaign is social media-based but sometimes he also hits the trenches.”

Dating back to the pre-2015 election period, Governor Fayose had always broken the super-information highway by his press releases issued through Lere Olayinka, especially those taking critical stance against Buhari. 

It is to the credit of Lere Olayinka and Governor Fayose that the Buhari’s administration has been set on its toes especially in the area of national issues and economic policies.

Lere is a talented individual that is blessed with:

1. The knowledge of the theory and practice of effective public communication through proper data probing.

2. Cutting-edge journalistic acumen; the ability to analyse facts for media relevance and spartial control, and formulate them accordingly.

 3. Wide knowledge of local, national and, where applicable, international media.

 4. The ability to tackle specific fields of communication including corporate public identity, internal communication, crisis/risk communication, media/relations, online communication, personnel communication, lobbying, product PR, sponsoring, amongst others.

 5. Experience with various support tools, such as creativity, planning and evaluation techniques, as well as political market and opinion research.

 6. Knowledge of, and skills in professions related to communication, such as public affairs, lobbying, political marketing, advertising, brand management, direct marketing, to mention but few.

 7. Superb knowledge of contemporary methods in print and electronic media.

 8. Knowledge of communication technologies for communicating politics, for coaching, moderation, presentations, negotiations and communication skills.

 9. Extensive knowledge of political systems and processes within the Nigerian immediate and remote publics’ geographical spaces.

 10. Professional handling of team work, communication in the context of (party) political activities.

 11. The ability to communicate emphatically with staff and voluntary supporters.

In conclusion, Lere Olayinka possesses excellent communication skills. He is deeply committed to a carefully-chosen cause, able to work under pressure, a team player, one with an amiable social skills, able to act and think flexibly, responsible and highly creative.

There is no doubt that having someone like him as the next National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, will be of immense benefits to members and the entire public both remote and public.

Why PDP needs Lere Olayinka as National Publicity Secretary

By Gboyega Adejumo

I can say for a fact that I know Lere Olayinka more than most people do.
And without a shadow of a doubt, I will support him for this job.

In terms of job credentials, experience, exposure to the job and loyalty to the party, no one among the contenders, has it more than Lere.

Diran Odeyemi, I know also and Segun Sowunmi. These are fine gentlemen with a whole lot of pedigree too.
Diran was twice a special assistant to Gov Akala, my personal and close friend, who even was my tenant for a period of four years, and people will wonder why I will prefer Lere over above him.

And this is the reason why.
Between 1999 and 2001, I worked with the then minister of Education, Professor Adeniran, and that was where fate Will link me up with Asiwaju Segun Oni and Lere Olayinka.

By the time, Asiwaju Segun Oni became a governor of Ekiti, Lere also became one of his Media aides… It was a very hostile environment, but the energy, talent and Forthrightness of Lere shone through like a million rays….

Ena is right, Lere is a man fitted for strategic planning.
But he has not the opportunity of observing the Lere I know.

Lere could churn out 15 press releases in a day from his rich repertoire of well researched experiences… For every ACN propaganda then, Lere simply has an answer, even from the historical angle with facts and figures…

Little wonder then that when the ACN came to power in Ekiti, Lere was picked up, locked up by the police, beaten, charged to court.

I remember rushing back to Ekiti on one of such occasions when the ACN trying to kill his voice, just a day or so after he was released.

Rather than keep quiet, bath his wounds, Lere was granting interviews and issuing statements….

When eventually Asiwaju Segun Oni moved to the APC, only Lere stayed back in the PDP among his aides.
So I called him. What he said to me I will never forget!

If there is anyone loyal to a cause, and he is ready to die for it, you only need to look at Lere.

Little wonder then that Asiwaju Segun Oni’s arch enemy, Gov Fayose, personally sought for the services of Lere Olayinka upon his return back to the PDP from ACN and Labour parties….

And when he, Fayose became governor, he promptly made Lere Olayinka the man to head both the Ekiti Radio and TV stations…

Trust me on this, most of the ideas you hear from Governor Fayose are Lere’s. Yet Lere is not the governor’s chief press officer.

Lere is simply resourceful!
A bundle of Talents…
A compound of words…
And a walking encyclopedia of Nigeria’s political history.
And he speaks well too.
He thinks on his feet and is the engine room of the Ayo Fayose’s Ekiti movement, governance and revolution.
Lere does not sleep.
He does not party.
He likes his beer, but drinks moderately.

Trust me my friends….
I should know.
With all the big grammar of Fayemi, Lere simply cut him to size with, cleanly incisive well researched points.
PDP needs Lere Now!
The journey to dislodge the APC from Yoruba Land is not with velvet tones, the struggle to dislodge Buhari from Aso is not to be delivered in Queens English like Kemi does and yet our economy is in tatters..
This job should be given to one that has the Passion, the Knowledge, the fearless nature of a freedom fighter!!

I have looked round and only one man that I find that fits into all of these and more!

And on this I stand with Lere Olayinka!!!!!!

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the United States of America (USA) have declared support for the aspiration of Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

In a letter dated May 4 and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sherrif, the USA party members said; “Lere Olayinka’s loyalty to the party is highly commendable and for these reasons and many more, PDP-USA is endorsing him for the position of Publicity Secretary to PDP-Nigeria.”

The letter was endorsed by the Chairman, Harold Molokwu; Deputy Chairman, Isaac Adelugbugbe; Secretary, Muharija Gadah; Deputy Secretary, Adebayo Babawande; Treasurer, Ibrahim Dango; Publicity Secretary; Patrick Utin, Woman Leader, Comfort Balogun; Organizing Secretary, Evans Wilcox; Youth Leader, Paul Frank Ogedegbe and Deputy Youth Leader, Emmanuel Akorede.

It reads; “We PDP-USA members observed the dedication of Hon. Lere Olayinka to PDP as he seeks what is best for our great party. He is a man of high integrity and an outstanding public servant.

“As the Special Adviser on Public Communications and News Media Several of His Excellency Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, Hon. Olayinka was responsible for the publicity that alerted the world on the invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the DSS. His technology and media skills have ensured consistent information through various media outlet (social and print), creating awareness of the various causes of our great party and promoting the accomplishments of the state. PDP-USA has benefited from the outstanding talents Hon. Olayinka and the quality of work produced.

“Hon. Lere Olayinka’s loyalty to the party is highly commendable and for these reasons and many more, PDP-USA is endorsing him for the position of Publicity Secretary to PDP-Nigeria.

“We are confident that he will excel in this capacity and enhance our party outreach programs. We remain loyal and committed to the cause of our great party. Thank you for the great job.”
It should be recalled that members of the PDP in Germany had earlier endorsed Olayinka for the office of the National Publicity Secretary of the party.

In a communique issued after what was described as a crucial meeting held in Hamburg, Germany, and signed by the Coordinator of the party in Germany, Engineer Charles Njoku, the chapter said it based its decision to support Olayinka on his proven political and communicative skills.

The communique said: “With Lere Olayinka as the National Publicity Secretary, the repositioning of our great party ahead of 2019 to kick mediocrity out of Aso Rock has started!”