• Ekiti’s N4bn hangs in UBEC over N850m diversion
From Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 28 Edo State governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu contested against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose described APC’s victory as “victory only made possible by the use of Federal Government agencies to subvert the will of the people.”
The governor the win-at-all cost attitude of the APC.
Speaking on the outcome of the election through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said it was unfortunate that “those whose change was made possible because the then PDP government allowed the people the freedom to make a choice have now eroded INEC’s independence.
He said it should be obvious to all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and the international community that the APC-led federal government will never allow free and fair election in the country as the PDP and other opposition parties now contest elections against INEC.
“The power of the people to choose their governor was upturned in Edo State. Unfortunately too, these elements have even murdered the rights of Nigerians to protest against the subversion of their will and it is now obvious that only the insistence of Nigerians can save democracy in the country.
Elsewhere, Fayose said the state cannot access over N4 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) because of the diversion of N850 million by the previous administration in 2012.
He said the diversion led to the suspension of the state from UBEC activities, leading to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) lacking resources to execute its projects.
The governor said this during a meeting with members and leaders of Ekiti State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, yesterday, the governor also said a Parents’ Summit would soon be held in the state to further sensitise parents on their roles in the provision of quality education for their children.
He described parents and teachers as the two most critical stakeholders in the sector and said he would ensure regular interactive session with members of the association.
In his speech, Ekiti State Chairman of NAPPS, Alhaji Saka Adeleye, commended Fayose for turning around the sector which led to the state coming first in the recent examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
“We will continue to partner with the government to lift education and help the state sustain the glory