…promises to build a bigger Centre next year 

In support of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s significant investment in the welfare of children with disabilities in Ekiti State, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has donated two mini-buses, two motorcycles, and 25 wheelchairs to the Therapy Centre for Children with Disabilities in Ado-Ekiti. 

Senator Bamidele made the donation during a visit to the Therapy Centre alongside Governor Oyebanji on Friday. The items were received by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, who also guided the Governor and the Senator around the facility.

Senator Bamidele praised Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to the welfare of children with disabilities, noting that the therapy centre is the first state-owned facility of its kind in the country. He promised to facilitate the construction of a bigger  therapy centre as part of his constituency project next year.

Expressing his satisfaction with the cordial relationship between Governor Oyebanji and members of the Ekiti State caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Bamidele assured the Governor that caucus members would continue to support his people-oriented programmes and policies aimed at improving the living standards of Ekiti people. 

“Let me begin by thanking His Excellency, our Governor, for bringing me here to see what’s happening. I also want to thank the state government for conceptualizing this initiative. I extend my gratitude to the workers, the volunteer parents, the professionals, and all the interveners here. I am glad to be here, and I believe we need to attract all the encouragement we can from the Federal Government.

“The Governor has made a specific request. I always describe our relationship as a partnership that is working for the people of our state. By the grace of God, I will prioritize this as my number one constituency project for 2026. From my budget of N1.5 billion for construction, I will take it on, and by God’s grace, we will commence work here next year. In the meantime, let us see how we can maintain the current facilities and explore corporate social responsibility interventions until the new building is ready”.

Governor Oyebanji had earlier asked Senator Bamidele to facilitate the construction of a bigger structure that could accommodate all the children simultaneously, allowing them to attend the Centre daily.

The Governor stated, “Distinguished Senator, the reason I brought you here is that we currently have 70 children, but due to a lack of space, we must attend to them in batches. Premium Trust Bank has renovated this facility for us, and with our limited resources, we have been able to keep it operating. I brought you here to see the need for a bigger structure that can accommodate more children at once.”

In her remarks, Princess Adetoun Agboola affirmed that the Centre serves children with cerebral palsy, autism, and other disabilities, particularly those who cannot fit into traditional schools due to the severity of their conditions. She commended Governor Oyebanji for providing a facility where children requiring physical, occupational, and speech therapy can receive assistance until they can return to school.

Mrs Agboola noted that the Centre had designed a timetable allowing no more than 20 children to be transported from their homes each day using the bus provided by the Governor, as their population has grown to around 70. She also expressed gratitude to the Senate Leader for the donated vehicles, motorcycles, and wheelchairs, stating that these will greatly enhance their work at the Centre.

National Executive Council ,NEC, of Labour Party has passed a vote of confidence in the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee.

This was part of the resolutions at the party’s NEC meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

In a communique read out by the National Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar-Farouk,, the NEC expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court decision which, it said, had returned the power, glory and supremacy of political parties.

“The court asserted the supremacy of the party over its internal affairs and that leadership of a political party is not for any court to decide, as it is a no-go area for the court, and so the court did not sack the NWC leadership.

“Accordingly, NEC in session reaffirmed the Nnewi National Convention held on the 27th of March, 2024 that produced the current National Working Committee ,NWC, members, under the chairmanship of Barrister Julius Abure.

“NEC-in-session notes the various anti-party activities of Gov. Alex Otti, including calling for unauthorised stakeholders’ meeting and usurping the powers of NEC.

“He , Otti, also conducted LGA election, using another political party.

“The governor has also intensified his effort to factionalise the party leadership by calling an illegal NEC scheduled to hold on Wednesday.

“His anti-party activities are unbecoming of a highly respected personality and this is no longer acceptable”, the communique read.

The LP NEC said that it would not hesitate to discipline the governor, in line with Article 19 of the party’s constitution”.

It also threatened to discipline any member who violated the party’s constitution, regardless of how big or powerful such individuals might be.

“NEC-in-session, in exercise of its duties, hereby cautions the former presidential candidate of our great party not to participate in any action capable of undermining the peace unity and integrity of the party, as the NEC will not hesitate to issue stiffer penalty if found culpable”, it said.

The NEC equally condemned the activities of the party’s House of Representatives caucus leader, Hon. Victor Ogene, saying that he had consequently been replaced with Mr Ben Etanabene.

On the Nov. 8 governorship election in Anambra and the 2027 general elections, Julius Abure said that the party was working to resolve the challenges.

He, however, said that the party would only field candidates who would be ready to promote its programmes.

Abure also said that the party was not opposed to coalition with other parties that would promote good governance.

“What the party is against is subversive activities that promote divisions in the party”, he said.

NAN reports that the meeting was attended by members of NWC, national officers of the party, state chairmen and secretaries, stakeholders and co-opted NEC members.