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Tag: Fayose

  • Adebomi: Fayose runs Ekiti PDP like his estate

    Adebomi: Fayose runs Ekiti PDP like his estate

    Sunday Adebomi, a United States Army officer, was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (Pdp) until last month when he defected to the All Progressives Congress (Apc) in his native Ise-Ekiti. In this interview with Odunayo Ogunmola, he says Governor Ayo Fayose’s leadership style has triggered a mass exodus of quality leaders from the Pdp.

    How did you get into politics?

    My name is Sunday Adebomi from Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State. I am a Captain in the United States Army. My mother is from Ikere-Ekiti, where I grew up. I came into politics as an advocate for the younger generation and that is my primary concern. It’s like the youth of this country are losing focus, by allowing elderly politicians to call the shots. But, now, somebody has come to provide quality leadership.

    Leadership is about self conviction; it’s all about what you can give to the people; and it’s all about how many people you can empower. It is quite unfortunate and it makes me laugh anytime I see politicians buying motorcycles, pepper grinders for people, under the pretext of empowering them. Please, tell me, is that empowerment?  Empowerment is what people can enjoy collectively. Besides, these are not local people; they believe in their father’s legacy; they are always proud to face people and tell them that their father has done this or that; I am a son of so and so person. But, the question is, can you do half of what your father can do? They believe in sycophancy and they won’t go to the people to know where the shoe pinches them. I will definitely deliver; they know I am better than them anyway.

    How can Nigeria get out of the recession?

    Thank you! The country needs to focus on the areas of employment, agriculture and education, through quality research. Let’s say what works in one local government may not work in another, because every community has its expectations and needs, where the shoe pinches them. There is short term and long term solutions. Most Nigerians still believe in 1970s technology; they don’t want to advance and there is the need to upgrade their experience in all facets of the economy, for the country to grow.

    What can you achieve when you bring a carpenter to come and govern a local government or a bricklayer to come and serve as Commissioner for Works or a band boy to serve in the House of Assembly? What positive development do you expect from somebody that is not a round peg, but put in a round hole? All we need is to put round pegs into round holes. The Nigeria populace needs to be oriented in terms of birth control, the population is getting bigger everyday; there is the need for birth control. You journalists need an atmosphere to operate freely, but look at it now, opposition is seen as the enemy of the state. But, in the real sense of it, opposition keeps the government on its toes. And that is why I am here to correct the wrongs. It won’t feel comfortable just looking at Ekiti that has been downgraded for whatever reasons that is best known to the whole Ekiti people and I think Ekiti people deserve outstanding leadership and that is what I want to prove right.

    The youth are generally believed to be lazy. How would you go about changing their mindset?

    Leadership is by example. Like I said earlier, I am just an orange seller son and a local man to the core; who was born and bred in Nigeria. But, by the grace of God before coming into politics, I have been advocating for the youths; I have been helping farmers and empowering the youths. In fact, I have helped a lot of people to the United States of America. I have been to over 25 countries; I have seen most of the world and everywhere I meet Nigerians, the younger generations and I always try to mentor them and make sure they are stable. They have what it takes to become somebody in life. But, I have just come to realise that it isn’t enough to have all the experiences, having served in the US Army, I think I have the courage to lead my people, show them the way and make them see the light. I am also a young man in my early 40s. I felt the need to come home and serve my people, especially helping the youths discover themselves.

    At what level of governance do you intend to achieve this and through which political party?

    It’s not all about contesting, but about giving dividends through your own experience. I was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and I love the party, but unfortunately Governor Ayo Fayose is somebody who doesn’t want to believe somebody is better than him; he just believes in himself and he likes to oppress and impress the illiterates, which of course is wrong. To shed more light on what I have said earlier, to provide them direction and let them see how they can better their lives. I call it oppressing by style; that is exactly what Fayose is doing. He knows I am better than him and he is trying to relegate me into oblivion; those are wrongs that must be corrected.

    Since you love the PDP, can’t you use it as a platform to achieve your mission, rather than the APC?

    The activities of Governor Fayose are a disgrace to the party, because he is too fond of himself; he believes he has the monopoly of knowledge and power. Perhaps, it is too early to say I want to contest for this and that; it is the people that will decide.

    The APC, on the other hand, is strong; it has what I term intellectual power. It also has people’s power, but there is a lot to work to be done and that is why you can’t stay in Abuja or Lagos and say you want to contest for elections in Ekiti. People need to feel your presence. You need to be accessible to the people; it is not only when you need their votes that they will see you. More so, I believe in the administration of President Muhammad Buhari, even though Nigerians are not happy now because of the recession. But, let me say that the recession should be seen as an avenue to correct the wrongs of the past. I think Nigerians should be patient. For example, President Barack Obama contested the US Presidency in 2008 during the economy meltdown, there was high rate of unemployment, no security and everything was bad. However, under his leadership, Americans buckled their belts and worked as if there is no tomorrow and things went back to normal.

    Are you in the APC officially now or you intend to join the party in the future?

    Officially, I joined the APC on Friday, October 28, 2016.  I can’t continue in the PDP, which is solely run by Fayose and his cohorts. He scuttled our ambition and robbed us of our political rights. There is no rule of law in Ekiti PDP; he (Fayose) wants to control everything, as if it is his personal business and his antics should be resisted by well meaning Nigerians.

    You said Fayose robbed you; can you explain that?

    I contested for Senate in 2014 and when they wanted to do their kangaroo primary, I can’t imagine people coming openly and officially to rig the election. One man was writing the names of the candidates. Well, I felt cheated; I had cause to fight the security agents, because I can die for my people. I will never accept cheating; I will always resist it no matter where it is coming from. Although I have international immunity, I don’t carry power around me like Fayose; I control power unlike Governor Fayose who is intoxicated by power. I am a very humble person.

    Can you tell us why you are leaving the PDP?

    I am leaving PDP because of the personality of Fayose. Two, I believe there is nothing good in PDP anymore; we don’t have good people in the party again. How many leaders can you find in Ekiti PDP? Femi Bamisile, Yinka Akerele, Tope Aluko, Ropo Adesanya and a two-term state Chairman of the PDP, under whom he achieved his mission when he newly came into politics, Ayo Arise. Even Dr. Owolabi that I contested against is no longer there. One way or the other, this man called Fayose had stepped on our toes, due to his arrogant way of life. How can you lose a two-term state chairman and still believe you are comfortable; definitely something is wrong with this man. Despite the fact that he robbed all of us of our ambitions and gave it out to people he thinks he can control, he has never called us to even say he is sorry. It’s unfortunate that I can’t continue under such a person and I can’t drag my integrity into the mud, because of Fayose. Governor Ayo Fayose’s personality and his alleged autocratic policy have left me with no other choice but to dump the PDP for the APC. The state PDP is now Fayose’s personal business, the best way I can describe his style of governance is autocratic and that is not my own type of politics. Fayose is seen as everything in the state, politically, award of contracts and even, to worsen the matter, as the sole controller of local government administration, he is always at the centre of attraction and wants to be seen as the  lord of everything. It is quite unfortunate that Fayose now runs the PDP as his personal business, he runs down virtually all those he believes are better than him; such cannot be accepted by well meaning Ekiti people.

  • Fayose meets cattle owners on grazing law

    Fayose meets cattle owners on grazing law

    •MACBAN members now part of patrol teams

    Members of the umbrella body of cattle owners, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), will be part of patrol teams to enforce the law to regulate grazing in Ekiti State, it was learnt.

    Governor Ayo Fayose gave the directive yesterday at a meeting with the leadership of MACBAN where parties resolved “grey” areas in the enforcement of the Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing Act 2016.

    MACBAN leaders had requested to be part of the patrol of Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM), a request Fayose granted.

    The meeting, which took place at the Government House, was attended by MACBAN state executives and representatives from local governments.

    The governor said: “I have nothing against you or any other ethnic group. Nobody should bring politics into this matter. If a Yoruba person destroys your property, I will defend you too.

    “Leaders are not to discriminate, and as a leader I don’t discriminate. The law is not against anyone who obeys it but those who flout it. It is people destroying other people’s farms who are causing this problem.

    “We have given lands to people to farm and they have paid and when somebody destroys their means of livelihood and make them suffer, we won’t allow that.

    “It is bad people who make others suffer. If anybody says Fayose is after Hausa or Fulani people, that person has no sense. During my first term, I appointed a man from Malumfashi as a special adviser. This term too, I appointed Musa Kanga into the Pilgrims Welfare Board.

    “In Oke Ako-Ekiti last May, two persons were killed, people’s wives raped by those hiding under the guise of rearing cattle. I have 83 cows too and I have told the person taking care of them that if he goes against the law and any of them is seized, he will be responsible.”

    The governor cautioned against rearing cows on major roads and town centres, saying it had caused fatal accidents in the past.

    He explained: “If you have not been to the United Kingdom or United States, I guess some of you have been to Mecca, did you see herdsmen leading their cattle across city centres and major roads, with the cows defecating everywhere?

    “This is not done and it is not that the people in those places don’t breed cows.”

    On the demand by MACBAN leaders to be part of the patrol teams to enforce the law, the governor acceded and commended their effort to support his administration.

    The state MACBAN Chairman, Muhammad Nasamu, praised the governor for his frankness.

    Nasamu said the meeting disabused minds about the governor and the government.

    He said: “Hearing from you has quelled all strange stories we hear. Leaders from across the federation have been calling me that they have been hearing funny stories from the state, but now we know the truth. Ekiti is my home and anybody who spoils the name of Ekiti is spoiling my name.

    “We are suggesting that farmers and herdsmen be part of the marshalls who will patrol across the state. When that is done, there will no longer be any trouble. Those in the office don’t know what is happening in the bush and we will try and bridge the communication gap.”

  • Blackout: Youths send SOS to Fayose

    Blackout: Youths send SOS to Fayose

    The youth of Gbonyin Local Government of Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Ayodele Fayose to help restore electricity to the eight towns in the local government.

    The eight towns, which include Ijan-Ekiti, Iluomoba, Aisegba, Agbado, Ode, Imesi, Iro and Egbe-Ekiti, have been without electricity for two years.

    In a statement by Akinlolu Ogundana (Coordinator) and Adeniyi Oguntuase, the youth said lack of electricity has paralysed economic activities in the local government.

    “Thousands of artisans, welders, barbers, fashion designers and saw millers etc. have been rendered jobless. The youth are idle.  That is why we are appealing to the action governor to come to our aid in restoring electricity to the communities.”

    The youth said if the government should come to the aid of the communities, they would be able to contribute their own quota to the state’s economic development.

  • Herdsmen: Fayose raises alarm as Presidency urges calm

    Herdsmen: Fayose raises alarm as Presidency urges calm

    THE Presidency yesterday appealed to cattle owners and Ekiti people to seek a common ground in finding a solution to the festering row between herdsmen and farmers.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Senator Babafemi  Ojudu, made the appeal yesterday when he met with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

    At the meeting, MACBAN spokesman Baba Othman Ngelzarma said his group was not opposed to the new Ekiti grazing law but rejects a situation where Governor Ayo Fayose deliberately leads the constant attacks and killings of their cows.

    He said his group may stop the supply of cattle and goats to Ekiti State.

    “We are in support of the law stopping grazing from 6pm to 6am but oppose a situation where armed men shoot and kill our cattles during the day.

    Ojudu thanked the association for the meeting.

    He said in a democracy every opportunity for dialogue should be explored.

    The special adviser said the symbiotic relationship between the herdsmen and the people should be explored.

    Governor Ayo Fayose has alerted communities to the threat by MACBAN.

    MACBAN, in a statement at the weekend, claimed that the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals (EGEM) on October 21, killed five cows.

    Ngelzarma urged the Federal Government to intervene “before this macabre incident develops into a feud involving our members and the Ekiti State government”.

    At a briefing at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, Fayose dismissed MACBAN’s claim that five cows were killed on Friday.

    He said the cows are alive and in the government’s custody.

    The governor accused the Federal Government of backing the herdsmen to attack communities.

    Fayose said: “Four days after this threat was issued, the Federal Government is yet to act.

    “The silence of the Federal Government has  further confirmed the insinuation that there is a plot to support the herdsmen to invade some boundary towns and villages in Ekiti State.”

    The governor continued: “I am therefore using this opportunity to put Ekiti people, especially residents of boundary towns, on red alert. Ekiti people must be prepared to defend their land against these Philistines, whose attributes and characters are extremism, violence, bloodshed and destruction.”

    The governor said: “Why didn’t Miyetti Allah warn its members when they were killing Nigerians and destroying farmlands?

    “Are their cows more important than human lives?

    “To us in Ekiti, 5000 cows cannot be equated to human beings who are being killed daily by herdsmen across the country.

    “MACBAN should know that cattle farmers are not different from other farmers.

    “If they want to rear cows in Ekiti, they should do so in accordance with the laws of the state.

    “After all, law prohibiting sale and consumption of alcohol was made in Kano State and the law is being enforced while Sharia Law made in some states in the North is also being enforced.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Prohibition of Cattle and other Ruminants Grazing in Ekiti State Bill that was signed into law on August 29 remains in force.

    “MACBAN should tell its members to comply with this law by seeking from the government designated land for grazing, which the government is always willing to give.

    “It is strange that the association kept silent when its members killed two people and injured several others in Oke-Ako in Ekiti State.”

     

  • APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    APC flays Fayose’s call for political violence

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s call for violence if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loses the November 26 governorship election as unfortunate.

    It said the statement was unbecoming of a governor and a supposed Chief Security Officer (CSO).

    Fayose, at the PDP rally held in Akure on Wednesday,  said there would be a repeat of the 1983 violence in Ondo State if PDP loses the election.

    A statement by APC spokesman in Ondo Central, Charles Titiloye, noted that the statement had exposed the evil plot of PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.

    APC said Fayose and Jegede are now frustrated that the multi ethnic and peaceful Akure people have refused to be deceived into a third term agenda under the guise of “Akure Agenda”.

    It urged the PDP to focus  on its intra-party crisis of choice of candidate and not drag the state into any form of electoral crisis.

    The party urged Fayose to face his war against cattle farmers and nomads in Ekiti and continue to arrest cows, saying “We are not cows in Ondo State and nobody can push us into violence and barbaric criminal killings”.

    The party’s deputy chairman, Ade Adetimehin, said the PDP is indirectly encouraging its members, particularly the youth, to protest if the party loses.

    He wondered why Jegede, who he claimed used the word “no gentlemen approach on the election” would ask the youth to raise their hands.

    The APC chieftain asked if the purpose was to encourage the youth to take up arms if the PDP loses.

    Adetimehin urged security operatives to caution the PDP leaders on their utterances, saying at times utterances may lead to crisis.

    He urged the PDP to always accept defeat, saying when APC lost in Balyesa State despite the violence that greeted the event, the party did not incite its members to violence but approached the court to seek redress.

    Adetimehin said: “Ondo PDP has accepted defeat and Jegede is aware that there is no way he can convince the people because it is clear that he is only playing the game for Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s third term agenda.

    “Our people have made up their minds to reject Mimiko and Jegede because there are no legacies which the outgoing governor laid that his anointed boy wants to build upon.”

  • Fayose: Obanikoro’s return planned to nail me

    Fayose: Obanikoro’s return planned to nail me

    The testimony of former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to be rattling Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Obanikoro claimed that he gave Fayose N2.3 billion, which came from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in the run-up to the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Apparently troubled by Obanikoro’s evidence, Fayose, in a statement made available to reporters yesterday, alleged that the ex-minister’s return from the United States was “arranged and compromised” in a bid to nail him (Fayose).

    The governor also described Obanikoro’s surrender to the EFCC as part of “Fayose-Must-Be-Implicated-At-All-Cost” project, urging the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to channel its energy towards providing food for hungry Nigerians.

    Dismissing the claim that Obanikoro had confessed to the EFCC on the receipt of funds from Dasuki to sponsor his 2014 governorship campaign, Fayose said he was only reacting just to fulfil all righteousness because Nigerians are more interested in having food on their tables.

    He claimed that the APC and the EFCC were conducting a media trial, urging them to halt all salvos being fired at him and wait for him to present his defence.

    He said: “We have gone beyond this stage of media trial. EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. They said more than this in the 2006 poultry scam blackmail. Despite that, I am the governor today.”

    Fayose added: “Those who arranged the dramatic and compromised return of Senator Obanikoro to Nigeria obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be implicated at all cost’ but I am not bothered because my election was legitimately funded.

    “However, if this is why they are intimidating judges and the judiciary, it won’t work as far as my own matter is concerned as no one can play God.

    “As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted.”

    Fayose challenged the EFCC to also investigate the funding of APC elections, expressing outrage that “financial assistance from Nigerians is now criminalised”.

    He said: “Since we are now in the era in which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being criminalised, the international community, especially those funding EFCC, must insist that the commission probes the funding of APC elections before further funds are released to the commission.

    Also yesterday, Fayose dispelled the rumour that he had shut down the Ado-Ekiti branch of Access Bank Plc following last Monday’s attempt by agents of the EFCC to arrest Mrs Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode, the wife of former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, in the bank premises.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said it had nothing against the bank and there was no reason whatsoever to shut down the financial institution.

    He said: “The attention of the state government has been drawn to rumours making the round, especially on social media, that Ekiti State Government has shut downý a branch of Access Bank in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    “This is definitely coming from the warped minds of opposition elements, whose mouths have been locked by the sterling performance of Fayose and the unprecedented support he is enjoying from the people of the state.

    “For the sake of clarity, Ekiti State Government has no axe to grind with the management of Access Bank. Also, the state government does not license banks and can’t withdraw same.

    “We enjoin the good people of Ekiti State and Nigerians in general to disregard such unfounded rumours.

    “They should not let themselves be dragged to the level of the unintelligent like the opposition people have shown by embarking on this type of insinuation they probably brought from the pit of hell.”

  • Fayose, Omisore got N3.8b arms cash, says Obanikoro

    Fayose, Omisore got N3.8b arms cash, says Obanikoro

    DETAINED former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday made more revelations on how the N4.745billion wired to a company linked to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was shared.

    The money comprised N4.685billon transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited and N60million ($5.77m) cash personally given to Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose by the ex-Minister.

    Fayose issued a statement yesterday, saying Obanikoro’s return from overseas was planned to nail him. He did not deny receiving money from the former minister.

    Obanikoro told Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives that N3.880billion was allocated to Fayose and Sen. Iyiola Omisore out of the cash.

    He also said he handed over $5.377m cash to Fayose at Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti in the presence of the former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko, and other party stalwarts.

    He reportedly demonstrated how Fayose collected the cash and put it “in the room next to where we were seated”.

    The ex-minister, who made the disclosures during another round of grilling, said there were heaps of bank transfers to buttress his statement.

    He said: “Out of N4.685billon transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, N3.880billion was transferred to both Ayodele Fayose and Senator Omisore through cash and bank transfers.

    “The dollars contents were handed over to Fayose personally by me in the presence of some party leaders and he collected it and took it to the room next to where we were all seated.

    “The location where I gave the dollars to him is called Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti. One of the party leaders that was present is Dr. Tope Aluko, who was then the secretary of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “I transferred N1.7 billion to Omisore. The money was paid into his account and companies nominated by him. He gave the list of companies for the transfer of the N1.7billion that was released by the NSA to him.

    “The funds were therefore transferred as prescribed by Omisore in full. That is to the account of the companies he provided. Details can be obtained from the bank that transferred the money.

    “I, Musiliu Obanikoro, did not buy or sell any landed property from Sen. Omisore. The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) did not disclose to me what the funds were meant for and neither did I ask or I did not know the source of the funds.”

    The former Minister however claimed that the balance of N785milion was used to wage war against Boko Haram in Lagos.

    He added: “The balance of N785milion was used to prosecute the following: 1. procurement of souvenirs for the promotion of anti-Boko Haram insurgency in Lagos; 2. N200million for surveillance activities; 3. N200million and other remaining funds were for operations managed by Taiwo Kareem.

    “Taiwo Kareem impressed the former NSA with his management of pre and post-election funds. To God be the glory, the two elections were carried out without any loss of life

    “When bomb blast occurred in Lagos on the 25th of June 2014, the NSA was disturbed and told me of his commitment to ensure that such doesn’t reoccur.

    “He expressed the grave consequence that the reoccurrence will have not only on Lagos but the economy of the entire country. He emphasized the need for local input to complement the activities of security agencies. This is how Sylvan McNamara was introduced.”

    The EFCC obtained yesterday a court warrant to detain Obanikoro.

    The anti-graft agency has also seized his passport to restrict his movement to the country.

    A source said: “We have a valid warrant from the court to detain the ex-minister pending the conclusion of his interrogation by our team. He has a lot to tell us and we are keeping him in safe custody with comfort to enable him respond to the issues we have isolated for him.

    “We have also seized his passport to restrict his movement to the country pending the conclusion of the ongoing probe.”

    Aluko is believed to have made a statement to the EFCC.

    Aluko had last year claimed that Obanikoro and Fayose clashed when the money ferried to Akure Airport was short of N80million.

    He said: “The Presidency gave us security and money; the money was sent from a Diamond Bank branch through an account run by Sylvan MacNamara, a company owned by Obanikoro.

    “My boss (Fayose) said he wanted to get his own in cash and that was why such a huge amount was ferried by plane. Obanikoro cannot claim not to have brought the money.

    “He (Fayose) chose his man, Abiodun Agbele, to keep the money in a bank account. The transaction was not recorded and it got to a stage when it was discovered that the money was short by N80 million.

    “This caused a crisis between Fayose and Obanikoro, who brought the money. He (Obanikoro) brought other things, apart from money, which I won’t disclose now..

     ”The cash carried in the plane was not entered into the manifest. It was delivered to a bank at 4.30 am in Ekiti. The remaining from the cash received for the election was used to buy a house in Abuja and the house belongs to Fayose.”

  • Obanikoro: I gave Fayose $5.37m cash for Ekiti poll

    Obanikoro: I gave Fayose $5.37m cash for Ekiti poll

    ‘Dasuki ordered release
    of N2.2b to governor’

    Ex-minister defends action

    DETAINED former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro has implicated Governor Ayodele Fayose in the probe of the N4.745billion wired to a company by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

    The cash was wired to Sylva Mcnamara, which has been linked to Obanikoro within seven months in 2014.

    Sen. Obanikoro said of the cash, N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose.

    He handed Fayose $5,377,000 in cash and N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

    Obanikoro admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.

    The money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms purchase at the ONSA.

    Obanikoro told Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) detectives that he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.

    But he defended why the money was remitted to Mcnamara. Part of the reason is the warding off of a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos, he claimed.

    Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja(SAN), the ex-minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015.

    The petition is titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval”.

    He said having gone through the petition, he discovered that Sylva Mcnamara was No. 78 on the list of firms being investigated, having “collected the aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014.

    A source quoted Obanikoro as saying that “N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    “The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.

    “In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale, who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.

    “I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”

    On how the cash was transferred to Fayose, the source said Obanikoro told investigators that “two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos”.

    The ex-minister said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money. The second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person,” he was quoted as saying.

    The source said Obanikoro however maintained that part of the cash was used to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the Southwest.

    The source added: “He told us that he is not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo, to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.

    He said the government wanted to “incorporate local  input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the Southwest”.

    The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

    The company, which was incorporated in November 2011, has the following as its directors: the ex-Minister’s aide, Ikenna Ezekwe(700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi(299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi(1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.

    Ezekwe has had his accounts defrozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

    The Nation stumbled on a document on the investigation. t states: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 7, 2012  passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms. Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr. Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.

    “The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

    According to EFCC, when it was time to draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as a war chest for the Ekiti governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.

    The breakdown of the disbursement is as follows:

    • N N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through Bureau de change;
    • N160million used to purchase cars through Balmoral International Limited;
    • N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to Akure and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; and
    • balance of about N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

    Some of the bureau de change involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them include  A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas  (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);  Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureau De Change (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

     

  • ‘Fayose needs to invest in agric’

    ‘Fayose needs to invest in agric’

    EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has been advised to invest in agriculture to boost food production, tackle hunger and create jobs for youths.

    A socio-cultural organisation, the Achievers Group, which made the call, said: “It is not acceptable that Ekiti people should complain of hunger when the state is capable of providing enough food to feed the nation.”

    A statement yesterday by its President, Femi Jegede and Publicity Secretary, Raphael Adeyanju, noted that government should replicate the success in education by devoting same time and energy it gave education to agriculture.

    “We are confident  Governor Fayose can use agriculture as a tool for tackling the  food crisis facing our nation, using Ekiti State as a starting point.

  • Release diversionary, says Fayose

    Release diversionary, says Fayose

    To Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, yesterday’s release of 21 out of the more than the 200 abducted schoolgirls was diversionary.

    The governor described the release as a “tactic employed by the Federal Government to divert the attention of Nigerians from the hunger and outrage generated by crackdown on judges.”

    Fayose once faulted the claim that the pupils were abducted by insurgents, saying it was all politic to discredit the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government by the opposition.

    The governor yesterday urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to soft-pedal on its anti-graft war, saying “Nigerians have had enough of anti-corruption war.”

    He said it was high time the President addressed massive hunger that is killing many people in the country.

    Fayose spoke at the inauguration of a three-block of classrooms built at the Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area as part of activities marking his second year in office.

     Reacting to the report of the release of 21 Chibok girls by Boko Haram, Fayose accused the Buhari administration of resorting to propaganda to deceive Nigerians, whom he said, “urgently need food on their tables. “Food security is number one, they should stop fooling us; our economy must be urgently addressed because Nigerians voted for the government in power so that they can enjoy better lives.

    “There is hunger everywhere. Many husbands had turned to wives in their families. Nigeria is hard to live in and we pray that God will change this change for us.

    “It is not good for a government to be catching thieves and kidnappers every day while its citizens are hungry. Everybody is now a thief in Nigeria, we need prayer in Nigeria and we need divine intervention.

    “Our people are suffering under the APC government, I am not afraid of what man can do to me. They have taken our rights away from us but I am not afraid because if you want to catch me you must slaughter God.

    “We have had enough of diversionary tactics. They are using the report of Chibok girls’ release to cover up the undue arrest of our judges. Trampling on our rights is trampling on the Constitution.

    “We want food on our table because propaganda does not amount to food on the table of our citizens. Let them continue to conspire. I will continue to rule them.

    “Those waiting for me, tell them that they will continue to wait in vain. I am