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Tag: Ayo Fayose

  • Fayose campaigns against Olujimi on social media

    Former Governor Ayo Fayose has gone digital in his attacks against Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi.

    The battle between the two leaders has polarised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the January 14 visit of the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for a rally in Ado-Ekiti.

    Fayose and Olujimi had on Tuesday set up parallel PDP Presidential Campaign Councils with offices at different locations in Ado-Ekiti with their loyalists queuing up behind them.

    Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, accused Fayose of drawing a list of members contrary to the one agreed by party stakeholders.

    But Fayose, in a video circulated on various social media platforms seen by our reporter on Thursday, called on the people of the state to vote against Olujimi in the February 16 National Assembly polls.

    Olujimi has former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as main opponent in the battle for Ekiti South senatorial chair.

    Fayose, who wore a white long sleeve kaftan over a white pairs of

    trousers with a black cap to match, advised Ekiti electorate to vote

    Atiku and other PDP candidates expect Olujimi.

    The video, which lasts 13 seconds, has gone viral on Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms.

    In the video, Fayose said: “Ekiti Kete o, my name is Ayo Peter Fayose, Osokomole. My beloved teachers, my beloved workers, okada riders and entire people of Ekiti State.

    “I commend to you, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, our President-in-waiting. I commend to you all candidates of PDP in Ekiti except Senator Abiodun Olujimi.

    “That is, we must not return Abiodun Olujimi to the Senate. I know you will do exactly what I ask you to do.

    “I love you and may God bless you, this is Act 1, Scene 1.”

    But Olujimi said: “The right-thinking party leaders and members” are not surprised about Fayose’s latest campaign against a candidate of his party.

    In a telephone chat with our reporter, Olujimi who spoke through the Director General of her Campaign, Chief Bunmi Olugbade, said Fayose has a history of anti-party activities which reached a climax with defeat of the PDP in the 2018 governorship poll in Ekiti State.

    The senator, who described Fayose as a “wounded lion roaring ready to devour anybody he meets on his way,” said her campaign is on course and would not be distracted by the tirades of the ex-governor.

    Olujimi said: “Fayose has a chronicle of anti-party activism since his election in 2014 and you will recall that during the first anniversary of his return to power, he invited (former Osun governor), Rauf Aregbesola, an APC man to deliver the keynote address.

    “Fayose disbanded the state party structure which led to the defection of prominent party stalwarts after he disallowed them from having a say in the affairs of the party.

    “Eighty per cent of the candidates in other parties who contested the last governorship election left PDP due to high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies of Fayose.

    “At the height of the crisis in the party, Fayose vowed to drive the vehicle of the PDP aground and we were not surprised that he lost an election even as an incumbent governor.

    Read Also: APC ready to win February poll, says Akpabio

    “What he (Fayose) is doing is not a surprise to anybody but party

    members are prepared for him. We are not bamboozled by his ranting.

    “Party leaders at the national level and in the Southwest have

    excellent confidence in the ability of Senator Olujimi. She is not a

    person that can be rattled by the ranting of a failure.

    “The glory that was lost under the hegemony of Fayose will be restored under the leadership of Olujimi.”

  • Fayose, Olujimi inaugurate parallel Campaign Council

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti worsened on Tuesday as former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi inaugurated parallel Atiku /Obi Campaign Council.

    While Fayose’s inauguration took place at his former campaign office in Adebayo area of the state capital, Olujimi’s inauguration took place at the Ajilosun area and was attended by party leaders loyal to her.

    But Fayose declared the inauguratio by Olujimi as an effort in futility and action that lacks substance.

    He warned he was not contesting for any elective position, saying that he may mobilise the people to vote against those he described as ‘traitors’.

    “They need me more than I need them. We will ask our people to vote against these betrayers,” he began.

    The infuriated former governor said: “The campaign council was carefully selected to cut across all shades of opinion in the state PDP, wondering what the complaint was all about”.

    He added there were still rooms for others, including those aggrieved to be part of the sub committees that would be set up by the council.

    Chairman of the campaign council for the two camps and former Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola, who distanced himself from Olujimi’s inauguration, said Olujimi’s council was unconstitutional and illegal.

    “There is no alternative campaign council except this one. Any other campaign council where my name appears is illegal,” he said.

    Ekiti PDP chairman, Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, noted the Fayose -led council was the legitimate and authentic body.

    He said: “This is the legal and legitimate gathering for the event. This is the centre of the leadership of the party in Ekiti State.

    “Any other gathering is not only illegal but it is also provocative but we shall not be provoked.

    “Wherever the party chairman is the centre and since the state party chairman is here, and it is this only place that this inauguration remain valid.”

    Olujimi condemned Fayose’s council, saying it was a total nullity.

    She stressed injustice breeds impunity and that if the party stakeholders met and selected people,  no individual including Fayose has the right to void same.

    She said: “He was not a party to the selection of the campaign council, they have a right to continue with their assignment. What we said we don’t want is to say that they don’t matter.

    “Those appointed have started work. They have even written letters to the state government for the release of the Stadium.

    “They were supposed to have been inaugurated on January 3rd. Suddenly everything changed and Fayose fiddled with the list.

    “Why we are here is that we are saying that we cannot shift the goalpost in the middle of the game. We are standing by the original list.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fayose, Olujimi fight over Atiku’s campaign council 

    Former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senate Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi have disagreed over the composition of PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s campaign council in Ekiti State.

    The composition of the council sparked a quarrel among loyalists of the two political heavyweights in the party.

    While Ayodele Fayose- led faction endorsed the campaign council, the Olujimi’s group kicked against it.

    Olujimi, who petitioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, called on the National Working Committee to dissolve and reconstitute Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council in Ekiti State.

    The senator told Secondus to compel Fayose to adhere strictly to the resolution reached by stakeholders on how the council should be constituted at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti on December 28, 2018 to forestall cracks and crisis in the party ahead of the forthcoming election.

    She accused Fayose of having hijacked the council and placing his cronies in all strategic positions with the portentous intention to sideline other members of the party from participating in mobilising for the PDP presidential candidate during election.

    In a petition dated January 6, 2018, Olujinmi said: “Only immediate dissolution of the highly ‘lopsided’ campaign council can avert unnecessary division in Ekiti PDP”.

    She warned failure to accede to the request could be deleterious for the party’s chances in the state”.

    According to her: “The original composition had Prof Olusola Kolapo as chairman: Otunba Yinka Akerele as Director General: and Chief Sanya Atofarati as Spokesperson/Director of Media among others while the position of Secretary did not exist in the original composition by the National Directorate,” she said.

    But the composition, which Olujimi is repudiating, has Prof Olusola as chairman; Chief Dipo Anisulowo as DG; Chief Gboyega Oguntuase as Secretary; Jackson Adebayo as spokesperson and Lere Olayinka as Director, Media and Publicity.

    Olujimi warned the PDP might lose the state to APC despite people’s resolve to vote against the ruling party in the presidential poll, if urgent curative action was not taken to rectify the perceived injustice.

    “It should be understood that this is another orchestrated plan of former Governor Ayo Fayose to convert the party’s resources and fortunes to his personal enterprise as usual.

    “He did it during the last governorship election and our party paid dearly for it in spite of my advice, warnings and outcry. Once beaten is twice shy,” she alleged.

    But Director of Media for the council, Lere Olayinka, declared Olujimi’s claim was baseless and holds no water Olujimi.

    Olayinka added she lacks the right to seek dissolution of the campaign council since she was neither the campaign DG nor the Chairman of the council.

    He said: “The question to ask Senator Olujomi on her call for the dissolution of the Atiku/Obi  campaign council n Ekiti is that in what capacity is she asking for such ? What is her status?

    “Secretary of the South west is the chairman of the south west zone, Chief Eddy Olafeso and the chairman of the council is former Deputy governor Olusola Kolapo, the South west Coordinator is former governor Fayose and the Director General of the campaign at the national level is Senator Bukola Saraki. So what is the status of Senator Biodun Olujimi in this arrangement?

    “The truth of the matter is that the PDP in Ekiti State will no longer accommodate dissidents. If she likes, she can be accommodating the dissidents in her own right.

    “That is not how a responsible PDP leader should behave. I tell you, that woman, Senator Olujimi has not behaved responsibly well in the last six months.”

     

  • Fayose turned us to refugees in our land, says Ado-Ekiti indigenes

    Residents of Ijoka Community in Ado-Ekiti have accused former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose of turning them to refugees in their own land through the demolition exercise carried out by his administration.

    They claimed that their houses were demolished without prior notice while majority of them were not paid compensation while the few compensated were given peanuts not up to the value of the structures pulled down.

    According to them, the former governor allegedly destroyed their ancestral buildings where certain traditional rites were performed in Ado Ekiti which they claimed had negative effect on their tradition and custom.

    They Ijoka elders and other residents, who were led by the Elejoka, Chief Lawrence Omodara, made the revelations during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.

    The community leaders said some of the house owners died as a result of their inability to recover from the shock that resulted from the demolition.

    They, however, sought the assistance of the state government for their compensation to be paid adding that their demands for compensation from Fayose did materialise before he left office on October 15.

    One of the community leaders, Mr. Joseph Fagbuaro, said Fayose gave them several appointments to meet on the issue of compensation which the ex-governor did not honour until the expiration of his tenure.

    He complained that the demolition of the buildings had rendered many members of the community, especially the aged despondent and destitute as they now move from one rented apartment to the other.

    Fagbuaro said: “Truly what happened to us in Ijoka in the last administration was not proper, it was about 5 O’clock in the evening that the former Governor Fayose started demolishing our houses, destroyed our properties and our ancestral homes; where we used to perform traditional rites during some festivals in Ado Ekiti, without notifying us, without discussing it with anyone what he (Fayose) wanted to use the houses or the land to do.

    “We appreciate you (the Deputy Governor) for granting us audience, all attempts to make our plight known to the government during Fayose regime were unsuccessful, he gave us appointments several times but failed to attend to us.

    Read Also: I leave Fayose to God, Says Fayemi

    “Our houses were demolished without prior notice alongside with our belongings inside the houses.

    “Some of us went to the farm before we returned, our buildings had been pulled down.

    “Please help us, some of us died because they had nowhere to go, when their houses were demolished because it is not all of us that have children that built houses.

    “Some keep renting houses about, imagine somebody of my age, 73 years just going about to rent house.

    “This is why we are here, please help us, some of us are now refugees in own native land.

    “Also, majority of us were not compensated at all while those who were compensated got peanuts compared to the value of what was destroyed.

    “The whole Ijoka community was about going to extinction; all our buildings and lands had been demolished and cleared for road by the past administration.

    “We plead for the intervention of the State government, we want the restoration of our ancestral home, we don’t want our community to vanish like that and we want our people to be properly compensated as well.”

    Responding, Deputy Governor Egbeyemi who expressed surprise over the claim that majority of the people who houses were demolished had not been compensated assured them that the government would investigate the matter.

    The deputy governor appealed to them to exercise patience and also stand on the truth always.

    Egbeyemi said: “My boss, Governor Kayode Fayemi, like people to be straightforward because he upholds the virtue of integrity and truthfulness.”

  • EFCC seizes houses, radio station allegedly owned by Fayose

    Ex-gov denies ownership of sealed property

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday stormed Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital and seized some choice properties allegedly owned by former Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Some of the properties allegedly owned by Fayose and sealed by EFCC operatives include a hotel and event centre at Fajuyi area, two houses located at government Reservation Area (GRA) and a radio station People’s 104.1 FM and a two-storey building in Okesa area of the town.

    The EFCC officials decked in their red jackets were seen at about 10.35 am placing a sealing order on the properties at Okesa/Fajuyi area.

    The official seal pasted on the said properties read: “Order from EFCC: This structure is under investigation, keep off”.

    It will be recalled that two houses allegedly belonging to Fayose were sealed about one month ago by the state Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning for not having approved plan.

    Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Society also staged a public protest against Fayose at the weekend accusing him of illegally acquiring a parcel of land belonging to the group to build a filling station for his son.

    Fayose is presently standing trial before a Federal High Court in Lagos where he is facing a charge of money laundering on the alleged receipt of about N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The cash was allegedly received from the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to finance Fayose’s 2014 governorship campaign.

    Read Also: Ekiti: Fayose sacked as PDP leader

    But Fayose has accused the EFCC of sealing houses belonging to innocent people in the State, under the guise that the houses were linked to him.

    Fayose in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, claimed that he is not the owners of the properties seized by the EFCC accusing the agency of “blackmail and media trial.”

    The statement read: “Just been informed that operatives of the EFCC in collaboration with the APC government in Ekiti are going about sealing houses of innocent people in the state, under the guise that the houses are linked to me.

    “This is another wild goose chase and the usual media campaign against my person.

    “It is only in our country that an anti-corruption agency will first go about sealing houses before determining the ownership, which can be done so easily by visiting relevant agencies.

    “I am therefore informing the public ahead of their usual blackmail and media trial.

    “None of the properties in question is owned by me and the records are there for anyone that is interested to see.

    “The EFCC is advised to stop going about looking for ways to malign my person just because of their hatred as a result of my uncompromising stands on national issues.

    “Even if the commission is being pressured from ‘above’ to persecute Fayose at all cost, it should at least, do its job diligently to save itself from persistent embarrassment.”

  • Ekiti APC slams Fayose for supervising ‘decay’ of utilities

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has criticized former Governor Ayo Fayose for allegedly supervising over the decay of public infrastructures during his last tenure.

    Reacting to the latest revelation of neglect of many revenue generating public utilities under Fayose’s watch the party described the regime as a “disaster to Ekiti people.”

    In a statement on Thursday signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ade Ajayi, the Ekiti APC regretted that the PDP government was a waste that never added value to Ekiti People.

    Ajayi lamented that Fayose abandoned all the viable projects of Fayemi that could be boosting the economy of the State for his own white elephant projects which consumed billions of Naira.

    The APC spokesman also lampooned Fayose for allegedly running a “prodigal government” which destroyed the Ekiti heritage and Commonwealth.

    Read Also: Ekiti: Fayose sacked as PDP leader

    This, he said, rendered Ekiti poor and unrecognized in the comity of states and also impoverished its people.

    He lamented the poor and horrible condition of Ikogosi Warm Spring resort, Gossy Water Company, Fountain Hotels, Civic Centre, Ire Burnt Bricks Limited, among others.

    Ajayi wondered why the Fayose led administration could have abandoned projects that could have improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to assist the government in paying the salary of workers, improve the Infrastructural development of the state and better the lots of Ekiti people.

    Ajayi also condemned the alleged waste of scarce resources on what he described as white elephant projects that have no impact on the generality of Ekiti people.

    He explained further that Fayose had nothing on ground to show the ecological funds, Paris Club refund cash, Budget Support Fund and monthly allocations for four years.

    He added: “The PDP government constructed bridge that had no beginning and end,no water underneath it and just placed on dry land which has  turned the State and its people to laughing stock.

    “We want to assure Ekiti people that Governor Fayemi has come to give them succour to alleviate the hardship unleashed on them in the last four years.”

  • Empty-handed

    It never rains but it pours. Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose is experiencing the potency of this proverb. Since his tenure ended on October 16, he has experienced bad situation after bad situation.

    First, his succession plan failed.  Fayose’s personal choice, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, the former deputy governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, was defeated by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Second, Fayose had questions to answer at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after he left office. He was detained over alleged corruption.

    Now Fayose has been removed as PDP leader in the state. On November 3, PDP stakeholders in Ekiti State chose a new leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi. She is also the party’s new leader in the Southwest. Olujimi tried to paint a picture of normalcy when she spoke to reporters after the meeting that endorsed her leadership. But it was clear that things had changed in the party.

    Olujimi was quoted as saying: “We knew what he might have passed through by staying in detention and we know it might not be easy for him to attend this meeting, so there is no faction at all in our party. My being appointed the Leader does not mean there is crisis.”

    She added: “The very day he left office was the day he was summoned by EFCC and we knew the rigour he had passed through. We are going to work together, I mean with former Governor Fayose. What we are doing is that we don’t want to allow his exit from office to mean the end of PDP in Ekiti. So, let me assure our supporters that we are on the same page with former Governor Fayose and other stakeholders.”

    Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South in the Senate, was just being diplomatic. She was among those that opposed Fayose’s move to impose his deputy on the party ahead of the governorship election.  She had said:  ”Whoever says we are politicians that can be wished away will blame themselves, the result will be grievous. We don’t want to lose Ekiti but Governor Fayose is messing up the whole process… Prof Olusola was only a beneficiary of our sweat, he didn’t contribute anything and now he wants to be adopted against the party’s constitution, this we will not accept.”

    Fayose is now empty-handed.

  • Ekiti debts: DMO, Fayose bicker over state liability

    The Debt Management Office ( DMO ) has said that the immediate past administration of Mr Ayo Fayose had a debt profile of about N120 billion as at June.

    The revelation about the financial records of Ekiti was contained in a document submitted to the DMO office in Abuja by officials of the state government in July, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

    NAN, however, reports that the DMO document was contrary to claims by the former governor that his administration left behind a debt profile of less than N60 billion.

    The DMO is an agency saddled with the statutory responsibility of coordinating debt profile of all the governments in the country.

    NAN reports that Fayose had claimed that Dr Kayode Fayemi’s first tenure as governor plunged the state into a debt burden that would not be paid off until 2036.

    The DMO documents, however, revealed that the bond taken by the Fayemi’s administration was almost completely paid off with the first tranche of N20 billion to be completed in October 2018, and the second tranche of N5 billion bond due for payment in 2020.

    NAN, further, reports that Fayemi had on Oct. 16, during his inauguration announced that his predecessor left behind a N170 billion debt, with a promise to make available the financial situation of the state within his first 100 days in office.

    Reacting to the DMO documents, Fayose through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, claimed that the state’s debt profile was below N60 billion, saying that the new governor was being “economical with the truth.’’

    Olayinka, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, titled “Ekiti debt not N120 billion, Fayemi preparing grounds for impending failure”, claimed that Fayose did not commit the state to any financial institution in form of bonds and commercial loans.

    He said that the debt was either directly incurred during Fayemi’s first tenure or as a result of the loans restructuring done at the instance of the Federal Government and the National Economic Council.

    In the document forwarded to the DMO Office by officials of the state government in July, the components of the N120 billion debt by the Fayose administration as at June 31 include Commercial Bank Loans of N2.08 billion received from Wema Bank in 2016 and the balance of N18.23 billion received from the FGN Bond by his government in 2015.

    Others are: Budget Support Facility of N16.9billion received in 2016 and 2017, Salary Bail-Out of N9.08 billion received in 2015, Commercial Bank Loan against funds due to Ekiti State in the FGN Excess Crude Account of N9.55 billion received in 2016.

    The document also showed Contractors Arrears of N2.09billion, Pension and Gratuity Arrears of N22.16 billion, Salaries arrears and other staff claims of N8.37 billion and judgment debt of N95.05 million.

    Read Also: Ekiti Muslims reject Fayemi’s appointments

    The documents also revealed that the domestic debt of Ekiti increased from N117 billion to N120 billion between March and June, 2018, making the debt since Fayose assumed office as the governor to increase from N31 billion in 2014 to N120 billion as at June 31, 2018.

    The report also comprised the commercial agriculture loan of N163.45 million and N3.48 billion outstanding balance of the Bond taken by the Fayemi administration during his first tenure.

    It will be recalled that the former governor got the approval of Ekiti House of Assembly to further incur expenditure of N10 billion barely 30 days to the end of his tenure.

    The debt figure of N120 billion submitted to the DMO office in July 2018, by the state officials does not include outstanding subventions due to tertiary institutions.

    The institutions are the Ekiti State University, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti and College of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, which is in excess of between N5 billion and N4.8 billion.

    Also, the eight months arrears of salaries and allowances due to the local government workers in the state and other contractual obligations not reported since end of the second quarter of this year is also not included.

    Meanwhile, Fayose’s spokesman gave the breakdown of the debts left behind as follows; Commercial Bank Loan, N2.08 billion, Central Bank of Nigeria Grant for Water Project N163.45 million; Excess Crude Account backed Loan, N9.55 billion, Bailout, N9.08 million; FGN Bonds, N18.23 billion; State Bonds, N3.48 billion and Budget Support, N16.87 billion.

    “Fayemi should publish the Debt Management Office (DMO), Ekiti State Executive Council and House of Assembly approvals for the loans since no loan can be taken without these approvals,” Olayinka said.

    An official of the DMO, who said he was not authorised to speak officially on the matter, in a chat with NAN, expressed dismay at the statement by Fayose’s media aide.

    “It is obvious that all is not well within their camp. The state officials, who have not even given us the latest figures, as at last week, have submitted documents that showed that the state debt profile was in excess of N120 billion and now a close aide of the former governor is denying the figure in a public statement.

    “We are going to work with what we have at our disposal, but it is funny that the former governor’s aide will undermine his administration,” he said.

    Fayose is in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged financial impropriety during his tenure.

  • Fayose in tearful departure from Ekiti

    Outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday bade a tearful farewell to the people after a thanksgiving service at the Government House Chapel in Ado Ekiti, the statecapital.

    The service was shunned by many political office holders, who similarly boycotted Friday night’s farewell dinner. The governor’s tenure ends tomorrow when governor-elect Kayode Fayemi will take office.

    The departing governor could not control his emotion as he made to depart for Akure Airport to catch a flight to Abuja.

    As the thanksgiving service ended at about 11am, tears welled up in the eyes of the governor as he made his way to his white Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    “Please take heart, please take heart,”said Fayose’s wife Feyisetan, who noticed that her husband was shedding tears.

    Fayose bade his wife, few aides and other admirers, farewell as his convoy headed for the Akure airport.

    Throughout the service, Fayose was in pensive mood, his voice was laden with emotion as he addressed the congregation.

    The outgoing governor told the congregation he was leaving the number one seat a fulfilled man.

    Fayose said: “I’m contented, I’m happy and I say thank you. Don’t be disparaged, don’t worry about me, I will come back. I will rise to the glory of God. I have enjoyed uncommon grace; I will never complain but only thank God.”

    Turning to former Speaker Kola Oluwawole who was removed by 14 lawmakers on Thursday, Fayose urged him to take his sack in good faith.

    He said: “I don’t want you to trouble your mind; there won’t be testimonies without battles. Go and concede defeat in the overall interest of Ekiti. You were removed illegally, but let God fight for you.”

    Mrs. Fayose assured that her husband would come back to Ekiti a triumphant man.

    She said: “We are coming back, I don’t know how, but I have 200 per

    cent assurances.”

    In his sermon titled: “Affliction shall not rise the second time,”

    the Chaplain of Government House, Pastor Seyi Olusola, said a man must be ready to face affliction, if he must rise.

    Olusola said: “Don’t allow anything to trouble your mind, always come to God.”

    As he left the Government House premises, Fayose displayed a wooden board with the inscription: “Ekiti Kete, thank you all and good bye.”

    The service was attended by royal fathers led by Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Obas and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

    Outgoing Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola and his wife, Janet; Chief of Staff Dipo Anisulowo; Head of Service, Gbenga Faseluka and Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Modupe Alade also attended the service.

  • Judgement time 

    What has a beginning must have an end,” outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose reportedly said as he gave handover notes to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, at a ceremony on October 12. He added: “History will be kind to me as a man who has given his best to the people.”

    It is noteworthy that among the first appointments Fayose announced when he became governor in 2014 was “personal adviser to the governor on special duties and stomach infrastructure.” By creating this curious office, Fayose had sent a signal that his tenure would be marked by curiosities

    Well, Fayose is free to say positive things about his four-year tenure, which ends today. Tomorrow, a new governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will be sworn in. It is interesting that Fayose will not be at Fayemi’s inauguration. “I have to be in EFCC office in Abuja on Tuesday,” he told journalists at a valedictory event.  Fayose has questions to answer at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    It remains to be seen whether History will be kind to Fayose. This is the character that reportedly went on the air to declare Prof Kolapo Olusola as the winner of the governorship election of July 14. Olusola, the deputy governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, was Fayose’s personal choice, but he needed to win the election.

    While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepared to officially announce the election result, Fayose announced on the Ekiti State Broadcasting Service (EKBS) that his choice had won the election. Olusola didn’t win. Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election. Fayose’s radio broadcast was illegal. He knew it was illegal. The information was wrong.  He knew it was wrong.

    This is the character that, on December 8, 2015, made a fashion statement as well as a power statement at the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Fayose appeared at the House of Assembly to present the Appropriation bill dressed in a pair of Jeans trousers and a T-shirt. Maybe that was his idea of dressing down. But only those who don’t understand the idea of “dressing properly for the occasion” considered Fayose’s informal dressing appropriate for such a formal ceremony.

    On the same occasion, Fayose reportedly grabbed the gavel and employed it to “pass” the budget he presented into law, which was an absurd violation of the concept and practice of separation of powers.

    Now it is time for Fayose to leave office.  History will judge him by the things he did while he was in power, and the things he did with power. It’s judgement time.