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Tag: Fayose

  • Ekiti PDP suspends Fayose, others

    Ekiti PDP suspends Fayose, others

    Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis deepened yesterday, with the suspension of ex-governor Ayo Fayose and three other executive members for their alleged roles in last week’s bloody clash at the party secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.

    Also suspended are: Secretary of the Party, Dr Tope Aluko, Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Oluwawole and Women Leader, Mrs Busola Oyebode,

    The party has been embroiled in crisis over who will be its torch bearer in next year’s governorship election.

    State party chairman Makanjuola Ogundipe said the State Working Committee took the decision “having found them culpable of anti-party activities and acts of insubordination.”

    Ogundipe explained that “the PDP is a disciplined party and would not tolerate any act of indiscipline from any of its members, no matter how highly placed.”

    According to him, last week’s attack on the PDP Secretariat was “unwarranted, irresponsible and most uncalled-for, looking at the efforts we have made to ensure everyone within the party is given a sense of belonging.” “When President Goodluck Jonathan speaks, it becomes law. Consensus is part of the ways of doing this in democracy. But the consensus is not going to be an imposition. PDP as a party that believes in internal democracy, so we are not going to impose any candidate. The consensus arrangement would be done in such a way that everyone would be carried along and given a sense of belonging”.

    In respect of his suspension by seven members of the SWC for purported “high handedness and corruption”, Ogundipe noted that “those who claimed to have suspended me lack the power to do so according to Section 21(9) of the party’s constitution”, adding that “only the National Executive Council of the party can suspend me.”

    He added: “Anybody sitting in Ado Ekiti and saying he has suspended me must be a huge joker. Only the National Executive Council can suspend me in line with section 21(9) of the PDP

    Constitution.

    “Where did they derive their powers. It is either those people are mischievous or ignorant of the Constitution. Our National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur still recognises me as the authentic Chairman of PDP in Ekiti”.

    Fayose faulted his suspension which he described as “an ignoble news.” Director of Media of the Fayose Campaign Organisation Idowu Adelusi, told reporters on telephone: “you don’t suspend from the top (state level) but from below (ward level).

    He said: “It is news to us. It is an ignorable news. Ogundipe is not a member of Fayose’s ward. He cannot do that.

    “You can only suspend from the ward level. Suspending Fayose from the PDP is like suspending PDP from Ekiti. Ogundipe must learn from the past. Fayose is an institution in Ekiti politics and it will be funny for anybody to suspend him from the party.”

     

  • Fayose in dilemma over PDP ticket

    Fayose in dilemma over PDP ticket

    Until a few days ago, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, carried himself as the man to beat in the contest for the 2014 Ekiti PDP governorship ticket. But with the recent decision by the leadership of the party to concede the ticket to Ekiti North senatorial zone, Ripples gathered confusion of sorts has hit Fayose’s camp.

    Offering the governorship ticket to Ekiti North, in the calculations of PDP power brokers, will erode whatever advantage the incumbent governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi (who also hails from the zone) may have at the polls taking place next year.

    If this decision is adhered to, sources say another governorship aspirant, Ayo Arise, may be the greatest beneficiary.

  • Court adjourns Fayose’s case till June 24

    A  Federal High Court, sitting in Ekiti State, yesterday ruled that a law firm, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and Co., has the power to continue the prosecution of former Governor Ayodele Fayose for alleged mismanagement of N1.2 billion.

    Justice Adamu Hobon ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had the power to hire any lawyer to prosecute its case.

    He said Fayose’s counsel failed to prove why any lawyer could not prosecute the case.

    On March 21, Fayose’s lawyers, led by Ahmed Raji, objected to Jacobs prosecuting the case, arguing that the power to prosecute Fayose rested with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who delegated it to the EFCC.

    Raji said EFCC could not delegate the power to another authority.

    Yesterday, Jacobs presented a letter from the EFCC and his 10-paragraph counter-affidavit to the preliminary objection of Fayose’s counsel as proof that the prosecutorial powers had been transferred to his firm.

    He opposed an adjournment sought by Fayose’s counsel, saying it was aimed at delaying the trial.

    Justice Adamu dismissed Fayose’s preliminary objection for lack of merit and adjourned till June 24.

     

  • Court paves way for Fayose’s trial

    Court paves way for Fayose’s trial

    …Says, ‘EFCC has powers to prosecute ex-Ekiti governor’

    Justice Adamu Hobon on Monday ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) has the powers to continue the prosecution of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose.

    Fayose is facing trial for an alleged N1.2 billion fraud.

    Justice Adamu ruled that the commission has the power to hire any lawyer to defend its case

    According to him, Fayose’s counsel had failed to furnish the court with evidence that only Shittu could prosecute but the EFCC counsel was able to do same.

    It would be recalled that at the 21 March sitting, Fayose’s lawyers led by Ahmed Raji had opposed that Jacobs assume the prosecution of the case, arguing that the powers to prosecute the former governor actually rested with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) who had merely delegated such to EFCC.

    He had then contended that the power of the prosecution was limited, saying: “the motion is a very important one because the Attorney-General of the Federation and any other Attorney-General will not delegate this sacred power to just anybody.’’

    Raji had averred that such powers as delegated to the body (EFCC) could not again be re-delegated to another authority.

    At Monday’s sitting, Jacobs had presented to the court the letter given by the EFCC which was included in his ten-paragraph counter-affidavit to the preliminary objection of Fayose’s counsels as a prove that the prosecutorial powers had been duly transferred to it.

    He (Jacobs) equally opposed another adjournment sought by Fayose’s counsel through a letter he had sent to court requesting such.

    Jacobs had contended that requests for adjournment had become a pattern used by Fayose to delay his trial and make a mess of the ongoing process.

     

  • Ekiti 2014: Unease as PDP leaders fight Fayose’s entry

    Ekiti 2014: Unease as PDP leaders fight Fayose’s entry

    The formal entry of former Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, into the 2014 PDP governorship race is currently causing tension and unease in the party, reports Remi Adelowo

     

    The die seems cast in the race for the governorship ticket of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Indications that the contest for the ticket will be keen emerged last week with the formal declaration of interest by a former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, to contest for governorship position in 2014.

    Political observers agree that the incumbent governor, Dr  Fayemi is a sure bet for a second term ticket of the ruling party in the state, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    But in the last couple of months, Fayose has not hidden his ambition to reclaim the seat he was unceremoniously removed from in 2006.

    Before his impeachment by the state House of Assembly, his tenure had been characterised by several controversies, ranging from his public row with many influential indigenes in the state, including politicians, opinion elders and traditional rulers.

    Fayose’s tenure in office, it would be recalled, was as stormy as it was controversial. The tension prevalent in the state at that period led to the assassination of prominent figures in the state, including a former Consultant of the World Bank, Dr. Ayo Daramola, and Mr. Kehinde Fasuba, the younger brother of a PDP chieftain, Mr. Taye Fasuba.

    The final straw, according to sources, was his open altercations with elder statesman and legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, a close friend of the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Not a few Ekiti indigenes argue that Fayose’s exit from the government house was sanctioned by Obasanjo to protect his friend.

    The Nation reliably gathered that Fayose’s entry into the 2014 governorship race is already causing ripples among members of Ekiti PDP, with many positing that the party needs a clean break from ‘the ugly past’ for it to stand any chance against Fayemi in the election.

    Sources disclosed that some leaders of the party are finalising arrangements to send representation to the national headquarters of the party on the imperative of not fielding Fayose, who, they argued, has remained controversial, years after he was removed as governor.

    While Fayose seems confident of beating all-comers for the PDP ticket, sources revealed that the race may not be a stroll in the park for him. The former governor’s optimism may not be unconnected to his control of the PDP state executive council, with majority of the party officials alleged to be his stooges.

    The election into the PDP executive council was not without its drama and controversies. For many months, a former governor of the state, Olusegun Oni, and Fayose were embroiled in a bitter war over the election of Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe as the state chairman of PDP.

    The controversy was finally resolved by the national headquarters of the party which recognised the Ogundipe-led executive council allegedly loyal to Fayose.

    But sources revealed that Fayose’s opponents are not giving up. As it is now, over ten governorship aspirants are battling for the PDP ticket. They include two former deputy governors of the state, Chief Abiodun Aluko and Mr. Bisi Omoyeni. Others are a former Chairman of the State Basic Education Board, Mr. Yemi Adeyeye (alleged to be backed by the faction loyal to Olusegun Oni), Senator Ayo Arise and a former big player in the aviation industry, Dr. Peter Obafemi, who came a distant fourth in the 2007 primaries.

    However, many independent-minded party members are said to be rooting for Senator Gbenga Aluko, son of late renowned economist, Prof. Sam Aluko. The younger Aluko shot into political reckoning in 1999 when he got elected as the only PDP senator in the whole of South-West then under the firm grip of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    Aluko served for four years in the National Assembly before embarking on a political sabbatical for about eight years. Those supporting his aspiration argue that with his education, cerebral personality and pedigree, he would give the incumbent governor a reasonable challenge in the 2014 election.

    His supporters further posit that it would be political suicidal for PDP to field a candidate perceived to have links with either Oni or Fayose.

    The Nation reliably gathered that some of the PDP governorship aspirants, particularly those loyal to Oni, are working on a Plan B in the event that Fayose wins the party ticket.

    One of the options is to prosecute their aspiration on an alternative political platform preferably the Labour Party (LP).

  • Fayose redefines politics

    Fayose redefines politics

    Mr Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, may be a little subdued now, but when he was governor, he was a boisterous and easily excitable politician. His innate populism, everyone recalls, drove him to extremes of hyperactivity, even if the activities were specious and misdirected. He talked loudly when gentle talk would do; he jumped on any bandwagon because he lacked the sophistication to draw a distinction between nobility and plebeianism; and he showed absolutely no depth on the few occasions he attempted to grapple with issues. Some six years ago, he was untidily impeached by his own party for acts incompatible with his oath of office. Now he is back attempting to regain the office he lost in October 2006. He believes the same populist credentials that brought him into office in 2003 will serve him well when Ekiti goes to the poll in 2014. And he is back talking political and philosophical shop, posturing as an intellectual, pinpointing historical significances where there are none, and interpreting and redefining the science of politics.

    According to an interview he granted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Fayose said he would be the next governor of Ekiti in 2014. He is entitled to dream. However, he anchors this dream on two things. The first is that the former governor has casually stringed together a group of dates on his Ouija board to achieve a desired outcome; and the second is that he has clumsily redefined the meaning of politics by simply ignoring common dictionary definitions and embracing his own self-generated, streetwise understanding of politics. He had apparently been asked what his agenda for 2014 was. “There is no agenda for 2014,” he shot back, “I am the next governor of Ekiti State.” The reason Fayose is so cocksure is because “…the State House of Assembly sent (me) packing on October 15, 2006, and Segun Oni was also sacked by the courts on October 15, 2010, while the incumbent Kayode Fayemi was sworn in on October 16, 2010. So the issues are very clear. The historic importance is very clear: my exit date marks the end of every government in Ekiti State.” Consequently, he romanticised, Fayemi would leave office on October 15, 2014 and a new government by him (Fayose) would start on October 16, 2014, “exactly eight years, after I left office.”

    In Fayose’s vast, tempestuous and superstitious mind, the dates he mentioned carried “historic importance.” Were all of us to begin harvesting coincidences to underscore our messages, policies and meaning in life, where would that leave science? But much more galling is Fayose’s definition of politics. Said he in reference to the crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): “Forever, there will be internal problems, it will never end, that is the hallmark of politics; that is why we call it politics, it is a game of interest and intrigues.” Now, we definitely understand how the fatalistic Fayose got the licence for ruthless machinations. And there are obviously many more like him in Nigeria. For them, politics is essentially about intrigues, about fomenting problems, about crises, about the kind of bitter infighting tearing the PDP apart everywhere. Now that it is clear he defines politics in terms of its worst connotations, and has set out what seems to him to be an intellectual foundation for his brand of politics, if he regains office, he will intrigue far worse than he did between 2003 and 2006, when he almost wrecked the state.

     

  • The return of Fayose

    Ex–Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose is not only controversial; he loves and revels in controversy. Ekiti people will never forget him in a hurry. Not so pleasant memories of his truncated reign linger in Ekiti today. As governor between 2003 and 2006, he did many strange things alien to Ekiti. Ekitis are so full of integrity and cherish the Omoluabi credo. An Ekitiman for instance would not imagine his governor passing under a barbed wire fence at an international airport; a governor to personally storm the venue of a rally by the opposition with roughnecks; a governor to torment and humiliate a first class traditional ruler and even contemplate removing him.

    He was accused of ordering the beating to death of an opposition member, one Tunde Omojola in Ifaki-Ekiti during a local government election in April 2004 but nothing has been done about this till date. Prominent Ekiti citizens tasted a dose of his reign at that period. Femi Falana was threatened with summary execution if he ventured out on Election Day at his Ilawe home while a prominent legal luminary was not spared as his posters filled town portraying him as contesting for governor of Ekiti State by Fayose’s loyalists. The legal luminary had to cry to Abuja for protection from the rampaging governor. A former Military Administrator now a serving minister was beaten to a state of pulp while ex-Gov Segun Oni was not only beaten blue and black but also dragged on the floor. To make his reign more dreadful, it was at that time that Ayo Daramola an aspirant for the 2007 gubernatorial elections was felled by assassin’s bullets. The murder remained unresolved till date.

    Many opposition leaders had to flee Ekiti for their lives. When Ekiti people could no longer bear his suffocating reign, they formed a common front to truncate his tenure. It became a shame to be identified as an Ekiti person at that time because the question that would follow is, ‘as educated as you are, why are you people so careless as to allow this character emerge as your governor’?

    Eventually, providence, rather than any other thing swept Fayose off the seat of power and Ekitis heaved a sigh of relief even if momentarily. Though he was impeached in rather controversial circumstances, he went underground immediately; he hibernated and occasionally threw jibes from hiding. The re-run election of 2009 between Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni gave him an opportunity to launch himself back into reckoning. He was clever, he pitched his tent with the popular Action Congress (AC) and the people temporarily forgot his painful reign because he joined them in demanding for justice. But because of his nature of always trying to dominate his environment, he couldn’t wait for the justice he fought for to be realised before he abandoned the people’s ship again and went solo. Before the 2007 elections, he joined the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and during the gubernatorial re-run election in 2009, he claimed he remained a member of the PDP while working for the ACN after which he joined Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) from where he joined Labour Party (LP) and finally he came back recently to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under which he originally contested and won as governor in 2003. The period after Fayose’s ouster from 2006-2010 was not better in terms of instability and violence.

    When Dr. Fayemi eventually mounted the saddle, peace which had eluded Ekiti returned. Armed robbery incidents drastically reduced, kidnappers were kept at bay and Ekiti became too hot for criminals. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blues, news of violence filled the dailies in the last one month and this is not unconnected with the rumoured gubernatorial ambition of the ex-governor who had been readmitted into the PDP for the purpose of winning the state back for the PDP in 2014. But before that, a member of his party and his loyalist who was an ex-Deputy Speaker cried out on television with a heavily bandaged neck accusing Fayose’s thugs of nearly strangulating him during the PDP congresses. Recently, he was said to have started a one-man gubernatorial campaign by embarking on tour of local governments to counter a similar tour embarked by the governor few days earlier. His first call was Ilejemeje where youths in the area reportedly prevented him from passing through the newly resurfaced Iludun,-Obada-Iye-Ikosun-Igogo-Otun road by Fayemi government and was reminded of how he boasted during his reign that he would not fix the road because they didn’t vote for him and the road was left undone. The youths prevented his vehicle from passing through. Next, he was in Oye-Ekiti where he reportedly went with about 60 policemen fully armed. He was again met with resistance by the people of the town including his party members who believed he was wrongly favoured by Abuja. He erected huge loud speakers where he declared his intention to be governor and was condemning the present government as having done nothing. Violence broke out, some members were injured, and vehicles were damaged while police fired teargas to disperse the crowd. The following day, against security advice, he ventured to Ilawe-Ekiti but the town was too hot for him to enter as youths numbering over 5,000 mobilised and warned him never to enter the town. The intimidating presence of over 100 anti-riot policemen who were deployed to the town to facilitate his entry did not dissuade the youths who were battle ready. At the end, Fayose could not enter the town. He tried the following day to go to Ikere Ekiti, he met the same resistance though he succeeded in entering the town and addressed an almost empty hall, and he did so amid tight security and a hail of bullets. A passer-by was hit by a stray bullet while many others were injured. He was eventually ferried out of the town by policemen. He has since stopped further campaign tour. But he was bent on reinventing his dark days of violence and last week, the dailies reported he hid under the pretence of celebrating his birthday while his roughnecks attacked innocent Ado Ekiti citizens with machetes in their houses.

    What this tells discerning observers is that never again would Ekiti people allow an Ayo Fayose or any other element in his image come back to power at any level. They demonstrated this during the 2011 general elections when he was roundly beaten as the senatorial candidate of the Labour Party. If he was once so popular to win an election as governor and eight years after, he has become so unpopular to lose a senatorial election which is one third of the state he governed, the message should be clear that he is not wanted by the people again. But Fayose is such a personality that never gives up. He believes anything is possible in Nigeria and one cannot blame him. He has gotten away with so many things in the past including very grave allegations. The one billion naira poultry fraud case with the EFCC is almost forgotten. Also the state government has not had the courage to prosecute him on the alleged beating to death of Tunde Omojola in Ifaki Ekiti on his orders and in his presence. If he is going about like loose cannon, it is the fault of the agencies of government responsible for law enforcement. He has not given up; he is only hibernating and would soon come out to cause more violence as it becomes increasingly clearer to him that he has been declared a persona non-grata by the people who have refused to be taken back to his dark inglorious days.

    The question remains, is the PDP bereft of good candidates? The people have played their part in rejecting him but why have EFCC, the previous and the present governments in Ekiti unable to prosecute Fayose? Why is he given loads of anti-riot policemen to shepherd him about as if he is a serving governor?

    • Ajibola writes from Iye-Ekiti

  • PDP and Fayose’s unholy alliance

    PDP and Fayose’s unholy alliance

    What kind of human being returns to his or her own vomit? Because even a dog does not… But, obviously, some people, for whatever reasons seem to be comfortable around puke, whether it is theirs or that of others. I’m pointedly referring to how the elite Nigerian political class as personified by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As it is, the party continually gains notoriety for infamous acts of some of its high profile members across the length and breadth of the country. And this trend does seem to abating anytime soon.

    The latest is the re-arraigning of one of its recently re-admitted members, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, for embezzlement of N1.2billion while in office, at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti. Even on that occasion, the high-handedness exhibited by security cohorts of the former governor spoke volumes of the brigandage associated with the PDP. At the court premises, it was reported that ‘loyal’ policemen to Fayose initially barred journalists from covering the court proceedings. It took the intervention of the state’s police public relations officer before journalists were allowed access. Now, that sends dangerous signals.

    Yet, the same Fayose still aspires to hold public office. In saner societies, such ambitions would be a no-go after being arraigned on a 27 count charge bordering on mis-appriopriation of state funds. I find it also sad that Fayose is resorting to cheap legalese to buy time and perhaps a further lease of life for himself. Owoseni Ajayi, counsel representing Fayose had reportedly tried to stall the former governor’s re-arraignment. In a bid to frustrate the proceedings, Ajayi had sought to dismiss the EFCC’s counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, saying it was only Rotimi Jacobs that had fiat to prosecute the case. It was a relief that Justice Adamu Hobon ruled in Adeniyi’s favour.

    Fayose definitely lacks the stuff good leaders are made of. But, this is just my take.

    It must be recalled that Fayose was first arraigned for the offence in Lagos in 2007 while he was still governor. The biggest challenge lawyers of the former governor could offer then came in the form of ‘lack of jurisdiction’ as it was pointed out that the offence was not committed in Lagos. Hence, it was back to Ekiti State. Well-known for his frolicking lifestyle, around Fayose, there was never a lack of the best comforts life offered. He explored them and it seemed that to him, cost was no restrain. As governor, there were various ways to pay for such a flamboyant lifestyle as long as Ekiti State coffer was still liquid. And seemingly, for his profligacy, he found ways to explore the state’s till.

    I have often wondered why associations continue to adopt certain individuals despite allegations of treasury looting, stealing, and subsequent public disgrace labelled on such individuals. The PDP would do good to begin to renounce some of such individuals; rather it seems to make a penchant of rubber-stamping them.

    Bode George, after being ferried off to prison was given a hero’s welcome by the party. Also, former chairman of the PDP Board of trustees, and former minister of works, Tony Annenih was recently asked by the House of Representatives concerning how N2.3bn that was awarded for road contract in 2001. These are examples of the sort of individuals sensible political parties should sever alliance with. Why does the PDP continue to swell its folds with characters like Fayose? Perhaps, the major reason why this severance may not be possible may be because birds of a feather flock together.

    While in law, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. In the eyes of the public, it is a different game. In the public glare, a suspect is presumed guilty should any accusation be levelled against him or her. And responsible politicians do the honourable thing of hiding their face in shame. In some climes, Fayose would have been ashamed for rubbishing the party’s name by such accusation of theft. But, sadly, this is Nigeria and the party concerned is the PDP, widely acclaimed as Africa’s biggest political party by its members.

    However, with so much recklessness, the people of Fayose’s party plundered state funds, and like smart ‘crooks’ which most of them are, they covered their tracks. But, one can only cover his or her tracks well for so long. There comes a time when a wrong step is taken and a wide opening comes up. That crack for Fayose came with the allegation of theft in 2007. As it is now, the law machinery is grinding for Fayose who has another set date in court for January 24th 2013. I wish him well. And he had better be prepared to face judgment.

    Lastly, while I do not speak for the entire Ekiti indigenes, I believe I can stick out my neck, that apart from the few crooks and PDP apologists in the state, the people are tired of the brigandage which the state was hitherto held by both Fayose and the PDP cabal. And for this, Fayose must not count on support from Ekiti people. Already, 31 witnesses are ready to testify against him. Interpreted in another way, Ekiti people no longer want to tolerate non-performers like him. Fayose may not know now but being accused of theft has proved he is a good example of a bad leader in the public square already.

    • Akinbayo writes from Ado-Ekiti