Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose

In an interview with the presidential candidate for the post of president for the Federation of Ekiti  State Students Union,  he asserted his goals for contesting.

Cyrus: Can we meet you?

Aare of peace: I'm Akomolafe Jide-Petkoff by name, fondly called Aare of Peace.

I am a Part 3 student of the Department of Critical Thinking which is popularly addressed as Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

An Igede Ekiti indigene of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Ekiti State.

An aspirant hopeful that I will be elected as 2018 National President of Federation of Ekiti State Students' Union

Cyrus: Let me start from your name,  why do people call you Aare of peace?

Aare of peace: The name Aare of Peace is a historical name but I will be succinct.

Hmm, I contested for Igede Ekiti Students' Union National Presidency in year 2015 and from all indications before the election was disrupted by some unknown persons, winning was certain.

The disruption of the election caused chaos in my community then which caught the attention of the King and relevant stakeholders of the town.

I as an aspirant and my opponent was invited to a reconciliation meeting and way forwards by the Oba-in-Council as represented by the then Igede-Heritage Progressive Association National President and other important stakeholders of the Union.

After series of consultations and discussion, I stepped down my ambition for peace to reign.

My supporters were annoyed but I had to calm them and lead them to the swearing in ceremony personally.

Prior to this, some persons started calling me Agent of Peace, some Ambassador of Peace, some Aare Alaafia, some Aare of Peace but I found the Aare of Peace has the most suitable and thus, adopted it as my political name.

So people gave it to me.. Smiles

Cyrus: How did you imbibe the spirit of unionism to the extense of contesting for the Apex post of president?

Aare of Peace :  I have been in students' unionism for over six years, as a matter of fact I had my first elective position as a Town Senator representing my Hometown at the Local Government Students' Union in 2014.

If Unionism was to be an enterprise I have served as his driver, messenger and Chief servant.

Recently, that's on 1st April, 2018 I handed over as National President of Igede Ekiti Students' Union.

I have imbibe the spirit of Unionism all along well given various positions I have served. If I should start recounting leadership position I have held in the Union, it is over 15 that is to tell anyone out there that I am not a newcomer to unionism particularly FESSU National.

I am not an opportunist who sees FESSU NATIONAL Presidency as a position to compensate myself but I have seen apex position of Presidency as a position of call to service.

I am running on a well built personality and good human inter personal relationship which I have built.

Cyrus: Ok

Cyrus: In all this your commitments, can you tell us some of your past achievements succinctly?

Aare of peace: I have always tried making impacts in positions I hold, that's why when I list my achievements, people will always see something like first of its kind.

When I had my first elective position in Union as a Senator then, I wondered why our Students' Union legislators don't think about having a life impacting program as a means of giving back to the forces that sent them there. Then, I organized a life impacting program for students of my constituency with major focus on those secondary school students. We had that program on February 15th 2015 and it was the first of its kind in our Local government students union and even in my town.

As Igede Ekiti Students' Union National President, I was able to facilitate disbursement of bursary awards to over 120students; 25 beneficiaries benefitted from a bursary scheme which is 100% more than the State Government's bursary.

There are still other achievements but your request of being succinct will make me stop here.. Smiles

Cyrus: It is well understood that  FESSU  national body is a minute association,  what prompted you to go for that enormous post... As in the whole post of president

Aare of peace: Smiles... Let me quickly correct a notion that FESSU National is a minute association, it is the National body of the over one million Ekiti State students both at home and diaspora.

Yeah, to your question... Senators, students have been asking me that question, so Press too will ask me... Smiles.

It is humbly to inform you that why Aare of Peace is contesting cannot be disconnected from the reason that:

"I want to play an active role in building a better Federation of Ekiti State Students' Union."

Aare of peace: In the best traditions of our Union, I am determined to set things right, restoring the vital center. The problem of communication network has affected active participation of our various chapters, a well restructured FESSU National with coordinating axis will be restored by me as I will definitely replace outmoded ideologies with a new vision anchored in basic, enduring values: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, a National President of all Ekiti Students.

Aare of peace :  When I said I want to play an active role in building a better FESSU National, I mean it.

I want to be the FESSU National President who puts our Union back at the heart of all students. This will see us going back to basics. Getting the simple things right that really matters to students and taking us to core of what our UNION was founded on; getting every students a quality education. This will see my Presidency and National Leadership agitating for more educational benefits for teeming Ekiti students.

Cyrus: Hmm...  There's a rumor going around that you are not a student at all, what do you say concerning that?

Aare of peace: It is very funny when I hear people spreading rumors against a fellow aspirant. Our campaigns should be devoid of attacks, this thing for crying loud sake is not do or die.

Someone said something the last time I wrote against one of their propaganda, he said someone above you will never spread propaganda against you it is only someone below you trying to attain what you have that will try such.

Let me state it categorically, that I am a Part three student of Department of Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University,  Ile Ife.

Will the Head of Department of Philosophy or the Division of Students'  Affairs sign my form for me if I am not a student.

Where they are mixing it up is that they might have presumably thought that when I contested for FESSU National General Secretary I was in Part three but surprisingly, I contested as a Part One student then.

The Electoral Commission will definitely verify the credentials I submitted with my election nomination form.

*Aare of peace* :To an extent I  can say I am prepared for a free and fair election devoid of any tactical manipulation.

I have a confidence which is rooted in God and trust in the distinguished Senators that I will emerge Insha Allah.

I can boldly assert that I have communicated with everyone concerned and I am optimistic that they will take the wise decision.

There is no better auspicious time than now to make our Union continuously great. Together, we shall rebrand and make FESSU National great.

Cyrus: Do you have any other comment to make?

Cyrus
: Thanks for your time so far Mr Aare of Peace

Aare of peace : Most definitely, I have and it centers on aspirants spreading propaganda that I am the anointed candidate of the State Government endorsed through the outgoing National President.

Let it be noted that I am a student of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and my unionism ideology has been rooted in the Great ideological belief.

My ambition has not planned by any leader, I am a product of my thoughts not any leader.

It is expected just like any other aspirant that I make consultations and seek for support.

I am not an anointed candidate which ambition was stage planned, I have been the architect of my ambition.

I humbly solicit for the support of the Senators, it is humbly to expect them to support

They should believe in actions and not words. This is why I don't promise much but I can assure them that they won't regret supporting me.

That's is an assurance.

That's is a pledge.

Aare of peace : I really appreciate the wonderful moment with you Sir

_The song - Kosobabire is a spirit lifting worship composed and sang by Msongz who is currently a student of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State._

_Msong is a worshipper, song writer, music director in several churches and gospel; an instrumentalist with a skill as an amazing vocalist._

_Kosobabire is his first official single which has gone viral and gained massive air play._

_If you are looking for a song to lift your spirit, Kosobabire is the song for you - it a song everyone should listen to and sing aloud in reverence to God of the universe._
Click Here to Download

Five students of Obafemi Awolowo. University have been charged to court today after opposing the eviction of students from hostel, as reported by this News outfit  yesterday.

    Gbenga Oloniran alongside Four students; Oyedeji Samson, Olajide Adedamola, Jimoh Oladipupo and Adeniji John, were present at the Ife Magistrate court this morning.

    Meanwhile, students and journalists, were denied access to the court room by the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police. The team led by ASKME MOSES was instructed by the Area Commander (AC) of the force.

    "The AC said; no student or journalist should enter the court room." Officer Moses said.

    OAUKILONSHELE learnt from Opeyemi Oprah, the acting. Students' Union security Officer present, that the arraigned students were granted bail. The bail terms for each of the students include; 500,000 Naira fine and provision of two sureties, who are civil servants, level 11 and tax payers.

    Speaking with our correspondent, one of the defense counsels of the arraigned students,  Barrister Philip, the bail application is the only step they can push before further court proceedings.

    Afterwards, students protested outside the court premises against the bail terms by raising placards and chanting songs.

    Samuel Dunnex, a student and a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), stated that the bail conditions are too much and anti-students.
  "How do they expect the students to get 500,000 "

   It should be recollected that OAUKILONSHELE  reported the detainment of the students for alleged assault and harassment of Moremi hall officers during the eviction process.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National New Media Group (PDP-NNMG) has described the abduction and release of 76 out of the 110 Dapchi School Girls as a means of raising fund for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection, demanding from the federal government how much was paid as ransom for the release of the girls.

The PDP-NNMG, which said “those who facilitated the abduction of the girls simply facilitated their return’ alleged that about $20 million, was paid for the release of the girls, saying that it was painful that those placed in authority in the country had become so heartless to the extent of framing abduction of innocent school girls to raise fund for the reelection of president Buhari as well as for their own personal use.

Reacting to reported release of girls, PDP-NNMG in a release signed by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Edoko Wilson Edoko, demanded from the federal government the actual amount paid to the Boko Haram insurgents to secure the release of the girls and how much the facilitators got.

The group sympathized with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died and congratulated parents of those that returned alive.

The statement read in part; “The reported release of the abducted Dapchi School Girls, as gladdening as it is still leaves much to be desired as there are more questions than answers.

“Even though we sympathize with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died and congratulate parents of the other girls that returned alive, we wish to ask the APC led federal government how anyone could be so sure that girls purportedly abducted by Boko Haram will be released at a particular time if not that such a person was working hand-in-hand with the adductors. 

“Nigerians should be reminded that the Governor Yobe state Governor, Ibrahim Geidam said publicly that military checkpoints were withdrawn from Dapchi and other towns days before the abduction of the 110 students of Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi. 

“Also, Human Rights Group, Amnesty International said in its report that security forces failed to act on advance warnings that a convoy of Boko Haram fighters was heading to Dapchi town and that the military failed to respond while the insurgents carried out the abduction of the school girls.

“Furthermore, while fielding questions on Dateline Abuja, a Channels Television’s programme which aired on Saturday, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said the abducted school girls will be released this week and true to his words, the girls were released.

“What all these point to is that that there is complicity in high places as to the abduction and release of the girls and it should be clear to discerning minds that the abduction of the girls was only used to enrich some heartless Nigerians and also justify the looting of our treasury for the funding of President Buhari’s reelection. 

“We therefore call on the international community, especially the Transparency International (TI) to help Nigerians in further exposure of the looting of their collective wealth under the guise of fighting Boko Haram insurgency.”

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has congratulated parents of the abducted Dapchi Girls that were released today and sympathized with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died, describing the abduction of the girls as an indictment on the federal government and their release as “drama scripted by the government and its agents to swindle Nigerians.”

Fayose, while reacting to the release of the abducted school girls, said; “This appears like an arranged abduction and an arranged release, but we thank God that the innocent girls have returned home and we condole with parents of those that died.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said it was strange that the girls could be brought back to Dapchi by their abductors without the security agents knowing when they were returned and who returned them.
He said; “Curiously, the same spirit who made sure that all military checkpoints in Dapchi and other surrounding towns were removed to pave way for abduction of the girls also made sure that the girls were returned without any security agent seeing them.

“One can only be hopeful that the real script writers behind this drama will be exposed one day.
“Nigerians should recall that the Governor of Yobe state, Ibrahim Geidam said that military checkpoints were withdrawn from Dapchi and other communi

A room in Awolowo hall (Block III, Room 305) got burnt yesterday night around 10:30pm.

Awolowo hall serving as the biggest Male hall of Residence in Obafemi Awolowo University.Awolowo Hall is remarkably the most populated hostel in Obafemi Awolowo University with a maximum capacity of 2,032 legal occupants (students). 

It could be gathered that the fire outbreak occured due to faulty electrical Connection. Which results to damage of books, wears, and a laptop.The fire outbreak was able to be quenched due to the efforts of students in the hall of residence with the use of water and detergent.

Men from Obafemi Awolowo University fire service (QRS) arrived shortly after the fire was put out.

Majority of the students staying in the room have already left after the completion of the Academic year leaving a part four student of pharmacy and one Adekanbi Moses around . 

The pharmacy roomate was not around as at the time of incident due to his ongoing examination. It was learnt that Mr moses got injured as at the time he was trying to save the laptop from the fire outbreak.

At the time of gathering the report,  no casualty was involved. The fire service has called upon Mr Moses for questioning about the incident.