The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abiodun Aluko

  • Ekiti 2018: I remain Accord candidate, says Aluko

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has declared that he remains the candidate of Accord Party for the July 14 governorship election.

    Aluko said the party structures are still intact despite the exit of some of its members who have entered into an alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The Accord flag bearer said the action of the party leaders and members who have pledged to work for Olusola’s victory was borne out of greed.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti, Aluko said a former governorship aspirant in the party, Akogun Banji Ojo and the State Chairman, Chief Matthew Odeoba who are behind the alliance with the PDP do not enjoy the support of majority party members.

    Aluko said they gave gone to dupe Governor Ayo Fayose because they have found a willing buyer who was ready to pay for their services.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Aluko gets Accord governorship flag

    He said: “I have a strong belief that these people only took the action to dupe Governor Fayose. They got a willing buyer in Fayose and they believe they have got somebody they can suck,” he said.

    Backing his argument with documentary evidence, Aluko said the crisis was sparked by Ojo’s demand for N65 million he (Ojo) had allegedly spent as expenses on the party before Aluko’s arrival.

    Aluko said he rejected the request based on conviction that it was meant to extort him, since the party has no verifiable structure in the state to buttress Ojo’s claim.

    “After my initial refusal, the national body said I should give him a sum of N5m, but he rejected. Rather than paying such huge money, I would rather spend in building structures for Accord and that I have been doing.

    “Being a former Deputy Governor, they though I have a mint machine at home whom they thought they could suck.

    “So, their opposition to my candidacy has nothing to do with my capability or financial wherewithal, but some people are out to make money from the governor, that was why they have been raising all manners of false allegations to justify their pay.

    “We are just trying to build structures at the wards and local governments so that it can be on ground to win election.

    “I may not have the whole money to prosecute this election, but I have the goodwill among friends and well-wishers who believed in our ability to make a change in the lives of Ekiti, they too shall contribute to our campaign.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Departed accord members want to dupe Fayose, says Aluko

    Says exit from party driven by greed

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has declared that he is determined to win the July 14 governorship ambition on the platform of Accord Party.

    Aluko said the party structures are still intact despite the exit of some of its members who have entered into an alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate,, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The Accord flag bearer said the action of the party leaders and members who have pledged to work for Olusola’s victory was borne out of greed.

    Aluko said they gave gone to dupe Governor Ayo Fayose because they have found a willing buyer who was ready to pay for their services.

    “I have a strong belief that these people only took the action to dupe Governor Fayose. They got a willing buyer in Fayose and they believe they have got somebody they can suck,” he said.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Aluko said a former governorship aspirant in the party, Akogun Banji Ojo and the State Chairman, Chief Matthew Odeoba who engineered the move do not enjoy the support of majority party members.

    Backing his argument with documentary evidence, Aluko said the crisis was sparked by Ojo’s demand for N65 million he (Ojo) had allegedly spent as expenses on the party before Aluko’s arrival.

    Read Also: My plan for Ekiti, by Olusola

    Aluko said he rejected the request based on conviction that it was meant to extort him, since the party has no verifiable structure in the state to buttress Ojo’s claim.

    “After my initial refusal, the national body said I should give him a sum of N5m, but he rejected. Rather than paying such huge money, I would rather spend in building structures for Accord and that I have been doing.

    “Being a former Deputy Governor, they though I have a mint machine at home whom they thought they could suck.

    “So, their opposition to my candidacy has nothing to do with my capability or financial wherewithal, but some people are out to make money from the governor, that was why they have been raising all manners of false allegations to justify their pay.

    “We are just trying to build structures at the wards and local governments so that it can be on ground to win election.

    “I may not have the whole money to prosecute this election, but I have the goodwill among friends and well wishers who believed in our ability to make a change in the lives of Ekiti, they too shall contribute to our campaign.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Aluko gets Accord governorship flag

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has been handed the governorship flag of Accord ahead of the July 14 election.

    The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado, led the national executives to welcome Aluko and declared readiness to win the governorship poll.

    They pledged to give maximum support to Aluko to woodland Ekiti voters to the side of the party at a ceremony held at the National secretariat in Abuja.

    According to a statement on Tuesday by ACCORD Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State,  Deacon Joseph Anifowose, said the flag presentation was consequent upon Aluko’s victory at the primary.

    Speaking on the occasion, the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji  Nalado  extols the Values and integrity of Aluko.

    Other Speakers also spoke in the same direction and gave kudos to Ekiti state Leader of the party,  Akogun Banji Ojo for standing solidly behind the party in her trying periods.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: Battle for governor’s seat heats up

    The state Executives headed by Chief Samuel Ode Oba were also commended for the peaceful conducts of the state political activities.

    The flag presentation was like a relay race where Barton’s were exchanged. The National Chairman Alhaji Nalado presented the Party’s Flag to the National Vice Chairman South West Mr.  Babarinde who handed it over to Ekiti state Chairman, Chief Samuel Abiola Ode Oba.

    Chief Samuel Abiola Ode Oba handed over the Party’s flag to Aluko as the official Flag bearer for Accord in the forthcoming Ekiti 2018 Governorship Election.

  • ‘I wasn’t bribed to support Fayose’

    ‘I wasn’t bribed to support Fayose’

    Former Ekiti State Deputy Governor Abiodun Aluko has said none of the 13 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants was induced to support the candidacy of the ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Aluko said he decided of his own volition to support Fayose being a loyal member of the party and the enormous respect he had for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Speaking yesterday at a rally he organised to drum support for Fayose, Aluko said neither the party nor the Presidency offered him money for supporting Fayose.

    He noted: “What I did was to show that I am a loyal party man. I am too politically conscious to know that it is better to be in the PDP, a party that controls the centre and that can be of advantage to the state and my supporters than to defect to APC.”

    He explained that while he was earlier opposed to Fayose’s candidacy, the thought of a greater need to strengthen the party at the state made him set aside all misgivings about the party primaries.

    Urging all his supporters to rally round the PDP candidate for the victory of the PDP at the June 21 election, Aluko assured them that “their interests will be well and adequately protected”.

    He said: “I have no choice than to work for the success of the PDP in the election. I have to work with former Governor Ayodele Fayose to win the election.

    “As a loyal party man, I don’t have to believe that the whole house must collapse because I didn’t get the ticket. I was not desperate for it and whatever grievances I had had been put to rest.”

    Fayose praised Aluko for what he described as “uncommon show of sportsmanship and statesmanship”, promising that “I would offer leadership that would represent all interests in our great party if elected governor again in this coming election”.

    The former governor berated Governor Kayode Fayemi for what he called “dwindling fortunes of education in the state”.

    According to him, the state now ranked 35th in public examinations in the country as against the 6th during his time.

    Said he: “How did Ekiti lose education this much? Why are the teachers being asked to do exam when there are other ways to motivate them?

    “My 11 years out of power has made me better experienced, responsible and responsive. I will employ people, even if for social reasons. This coming election, PDP must win. Teachers, workers, civil servants, they are all crying Fayose.”