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  • Ekiti: Fayose ends tenure in tears, says he will be back

    Outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose bade a tearful farewell to the people of the state as his tenure finally ended on Sunday.

    Fayose shed tears shortly after a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Government House Chapel on Sunday.

    The service was shunned by majority of political office holders who had earlier boycotted the farewell dinner held in Fayose’s honour Friday night.

    The departing governor could not control his emotion as he was about to depart the state for Akure Airport to catch a flight.

    As the thanksgiving service ended at about 11.00 am, tears had welled up in the eyes of the governor as he was about to enter his white Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    The wife of the governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, who noticed that her husband was shedding tears, moved closer to him as said “please take heart, please take heart.”

    After the tears stopped, Fayose bade his wife, few aides and other admirers who were watching the drama bye-bye as the convoy headed for Akure.

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

    The outgoing governor said he was leaving the state number one seat a contented and 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 thank God.”

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

    Fayose 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 entitled, “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 leaves the Government House premises, Fayose displayed a wooden board with the inscription “Ekiti Kete, thank you all and good bye.”

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

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

  • Ekiti: Fayose, Fayemi’s wife, others meet in govt house

    Members of the Inauguration Committee and Transition Committee set up by Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday paid a working visit to the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. The visit was aimed at ensuring the success of the October 16 inauguration and comfort of eminent personalities that will grace the occasion.

    Led by the wife of the governor-elect, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the committee was received by outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose. Fayose, who received the team, restated his readiness to cooperate with the incoming administration. He disclosed that he will officially hand over the Government House on Sunday to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka.

    Mrs. Fayemi commended Fayose for hosting the committee noting that the visit and inspection was part of the committee’s assignment. She expressed delight at the availability of the complex to host some of the guests that will be on ground for Fayemi’s inauguration.Those on Mrs. Fayemi’s entourage included Mr. Deji Ajayi, Mr. Tade Aluko, Mr. Dapo Karonwi, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and Mrs. Bunmi Obanise.

  • Fayose hands over to HOS, presides over last cabinet meeting

    Outgoing Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose Friday evening handed over the instruments of office to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka.

    He surrendered the handover note to Faseluka at a special valedictory State Executive Council meeting at the new Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    Fayose said history would be kind to him the way he managed the resources in trust for the people of the Fountain of Knowledge.

    That would be the last time he would preside over the cabinet meeting in his capacity as the state chief executive.

    The departing governor said he would be available to answer questions on who he ruled the state anytime he is called upon to do so.

    The special cabinet meeting was attended by traditional rulers, legislators, senior government officials and party leaders.

    In an emotion-laden voice, Fayose said: “What has a beginning must have an end. It is not the number of years spent but the quantity and quality of achievements.

    “I thank the people of the state for their cooperation and urge them to extend same to the incoming administration.

    “There should never be a vacuum; our priority in Ekiti must be discharge of our duties.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku picks Peter Obi as running mate

    “I’m a man who came, saw and conquered. I can’t finish all, I have done my best.

    “History will be kind on me as a man who has given his best to the people. I will remember all for your support, I bear no grudges against anyone.”

    Thanking the people of Ekiti for their support, Fayose urged them to cooperate with the incoming administration to take the state to greater heights.

    Earlier, Fayose had inaugurated the new Speaker’s Lodge named after the last occupier of the state number one legislative seat, Kola Oluwawole.

    Oluwawole was removed as Speaker on Thursday by the state lawmakers and was replaced with Adeniran Alagbada.

    Fayose urged the deposed Speaker to see his impeachment as a “price of leadership.”

    He told Oluwawole: “If I were you, in the interest of Ekiti, I will tell them to carry on. Everything works for good.”

  • Ekiti Assembly suspends 12 pro-Fayose lawmakers

    … ELECT APC MAN AS NEW SPEAKER

    …SACKED SPEAKER: MY REMOVAL ILLEGAL

     

    With barely five days to the change of government in Ekiti State, an ally of outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose, Mr. Kola Oluwawole, was impeached as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Oluwawole was on Thursday removed alongside the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Sina Animasaun, by fourteen lawmakers who belong to both People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

    An APC lawmaker, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada, was elected new Speaker while Mr. Segun Adewumi, was returned to his former post of Deputy Speaker.

    Minority Leader, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogan, was elected as the new House Leader of Business while former Chief Whip, Mr. Sunday Akinniyi, emerged as the new Minority Leader.

    Mr. Ojo-Ade Fajana emerged as Deputy House Leader, Mrs. Cecilia Dada as Chief Whip and Mr. Musa Arogundade as Deputy Chief Whip.

    The Assembly also suspended Oluwawole and eleven other lawmakers for 125 legislative days.

    Other lawmakers slammed with the hammer of suspension are Animasaun, Samuel Omotoso, Wale Onigiobi, Wale Ayeni, Dare Pelemo, Samuel Jeje, Dayo Akinleye, Delete Fajemilehin, Tope Fasanmi, Tunji Akinyele and Sanya Aladeyelu.

    The leadership change was effected by three APC members and eleven PDP members at a plenary attended by the Clerk, Mr. Told Esan.

    Speaking with reporters after plenary, Aribisogan, the new Leader of Business, said Oluwawole and other PDP lawmakers were suspended over alleged complicity in the disappearance of N60 million in the House.

    He also added that they were also slammed with suspension for ineptitude, saying they allegedly allowed the reputation of the Assembly to be destroyed by the governor with their attitudes.

    Aribisogan also stated that the assembly under Oluwawole was poorly funded , became practically a subservient of the executive and the speakership position was hijacked by powerful members, owing to their closeness to the governor.

    He also accused the former speaker of betraying Ekiti populace by holding a secret plenary last month with other suspended members to approve N10 billion supplementary budget sent by Fayose.

    “Today, we held a plenary session which was a follow up to the parliamentary we held yesterday and we carried out changes in the leadership of the House.

    “When the PDP members were busy doing the presidential primary in Port Harcourt, we were busy here strategizing on how best to make Ekiti governance for the incoming government, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    Read Also: Fayose must account for over N100b loans – CNPP

    “14 members sat to carry out these changes out of which 11 are addressing this press conference. We have 26 members in this Assembly, and we needed just nine to form quorum.

    “Our actions were guided by the standing orders of this Assembly and we didn’t deviate from it, so the quorum was formed and our actions were legal and constitutional”, he added.

    He added that the PDP still remains the majority party in the Assembly and that those who carried out the removal did so in the overriding interest of Ekiti people.

    The new Speaker, Hon Alagbada , in his acceptance speech, appreciated the members for reposing confidence in him, saying he won’t betray the confidence the trust .

    “You are aware that the House has since inception of the present administration becomes the property of the governor rather than an arm of government. Ekiti State is yearning for a purposeful legislature that would be truly committed and independent to discharge its constitutional duties.

    “We will no longer allow a situation whereby legislature will be pocketed or caged by the executive. Let me assure all and sundry that that we will cooperate with the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi to move Ekiti forward.

    “You will recall that the fourth assembly changed its leadership in 2014 when sme members of APC defected to PDP to facilitate the smooth take off of Mr. Fayose. So, history is only repeating itself and there is nothing extra ordinary in what we have done”

    The new Speaker announced the dissolution of all statutory and standing committees of the House, urging the chairmen to hand over to their respective secretaries.

    But the deposed Speaker, Oluwawole, accused the Police of colluding with the new leadership and suspected political thugs to invade the Assembly and carry out the act.

    He described his ompeachment today as a rape on democracy and an a descent to lowest level of lawlessness and illegality.

    Addressing reporters at the new Speaker’s Lodge, Oluwawole said the lawmakers who removed him did not meet the two-third majority.

    “This is bizarre! In a democracy? This is the height of illegality and it can never stand. As the Speaker of the House, I supervised over the last adjournment of the House, which was carried out according to laws and laid down rules.

    “I retain the power to reconvene the House and i have not done that yet. How then can some people say the House sat? This is totally illegal.

    “The role of the police in this siege is clear. It was enemies of democracy that purported the House sat. Ekiti State House of Assembly has not been reconvened by its speaker.”

    FAYOSE: I WON’T DABBLE INTO ASSEMBLY AFFAIRS

    Governor Ayo Fayose in his immediate reaction to the change of leadership of the House has advised the lawmakers to put the interest of state first.

    Fayose during a press conference on the State of the State said the welfare of Ekiti people should be paramount to the legislators.

    He said: “The well-being and the welfare of Ekiti people is important to them whether or is Oluwawole or Alagbada.

    “What is important to Ekiri people is their welfare. In the next 72 hours, I will leave and whatever it is, they are all members of Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    “Whoever that they agree among themselves to be Speaker, they should work with him. Honourable members should work together for the good of Ekiti State.

    “I enjoin them to cooperate with the incoming governor, Ekiti State is bigger than all of us. I won’t dabble into their affairs because whatever they sow today, they will reap tomorrow.”

  • Breaking: APC takes over Ekiti Assembly

    APC LAWMAKERS TAKE OVER EKITI ASSEMBLY

    FAYOSE’S MAN, REMOVED AS SPEAKER

    ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA,
    ADO-EKITI

    Some members of Ekiti State House of Assembly have impeached the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole.

    They also sacked the Deputy Speaker, Sina Animasaun.

    Both Oluwawole and Animasaun are members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Oluwawole, a staunch loyalist of Governor Ayo Fayose, was removed at about 11.00 am behind closed doors.

    The lawmakers elected the former Deputy Leader, Adeniran Alagbada while the Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan, was elected as new House Leader of Business.

    Former Deputy Speaker, Segun Adewumi, was returned to his post by the lawmakers.

    Read Also: Fayose must account for over N100b loans – CNPP

    He was removed by Fayose’s loyalists earlier in the year.

    Sunday Akinniyi was elected Minority Leader.

    The new principal officers were sworn in immediately after being elected.

    Alagbada defected defected from PDP to APC in June alongside his political mentor, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

    The minority APC lawmakers were joined by their PDP counterparts who will soon defect to the broom party.

    The change in leadership was believed to have been effected in anticipation of the change of government.

    Outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose will make way for the incoming Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who will be inaugurated on Tuesday.

     

     

     

    Details  later…

  • Fayose sues EFCC for N20b over security watch list

    Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has made good his threat to sue the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for placing him on its watch list.

    The anti-graft agency wrote an advisory to key security agencies, demanding that Fayose be arrested if he attempts to flee the country through land, sea and air borders to escape justice.

    Fayose, on September 3, threatened to sue the EFCC if it failed to withdraw the advisory within 72 hours.

    The governor said the action “not only breached his constitutional immunity, it also exposed him to public opium and ridicule”.

    He also demanded the publication of a written apology to all security agencies in Nigeria, three national newspapers and the social media.

    It was gathered yesterday that Fayose, through his counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, filed the suit last Friday, following the failure of the EFCC to meet the governor’s demands.

    The EFCC, through its official twitter handle @officialEFCC on July 16, tweeted: “The parri is over, the cloak of immunity is torn apart and the staff broken, Ekiti Integrated Poultry/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3 billion fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.”

    Fayose is seeking, among other things, an order of the court mandating the EFCC to pay N20 billion as general damages to him for what he called “flagrant, deliberate, pre-meditated and reckless libel and unprovoked attack on his character and reputation and the breach of his constitutional right/immunity as an incumbent governor”.

    He demanded that the EFCC should tender a written apology, which should be circulated to all security agencies in Nigeria and same should be published in at least three widely read national newspapers and through the social media.

    The governor is also seeking a declaration that the statements contained in the EFCC letter, dated September 12, and addressed to all security agencies in Nigeria, portrayed him as a criminal, a fugitive and a run-away from the law.

    According to him, the statements are not    true, but are malicious and unfair.

    Fayose urged the court to further declare “that the EFCC’s letter placing him on a watch list and directing his arrest on sight, even while a sitting governor, is unconstitutional, as same offends the clear provision of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which clothes him with immunity against arrest and prosecution as an incumbent governor”

  • Fayose not wanted in our party, says Ekiti APC

    PDP GROUP: FAYOSE SHOULD NOT TRADE OLUSOLA’S ‘MANDATE’ WITH APC

     

    Less than twenty four hours after he threatened to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said Governor Ayo Fayose is not wanted in its fold.

    The state APC Chairman, Mr. Paul Omotoso and party chairmen in all wards in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government, where the governor hails from and all wards in Ado-Ekiti, where he lives and has businesses that he is not welcomed in the party.

    The party chieftains have told the governor to forget his plans to dump PDP to join APC “until he clears himself of several criminal cases hanging on his neck.”

    The warning came on the heels of reports that Fayose had concluded plans to dump PDP following the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate as against Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal who was supported by Fayose.

    In a statement on Tuesday by the APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ade Ajayi, said the party leaders advised the outgoing governor to conclude his court cases bordering on sundry alleged crimes before contemplating to join APC.

    He said: “We want to prove to the world that APC will not provide sanctuary for criminal suspects, political prostitutes and lepers. We will never admit such character to this party and we advise Fayose to play his politics of destruction somewhere else.

    “Fayose’s criminal prosecution on 2005 poultry project fraud resumes on November 4, 2018. Fayose cannot turn Ekiti APC to a haven and sanctuary for criminal suspects and we advise him to forget any plan to smear Ekiti APC with criminal records.”

    In a statement, Omotoso told Fayose that APC “is a political party bounded by common ideals of integrity, openness, discipline and commitment to common goal of progressive governance, which Fayose does not possess or believe as can be seen from his style of politics and governance”.

    Read Also: Fayose threatens to leave PDP over Atiku’s emergence

    He added: “Fayose over the years abused, disrespected and openly denigrated President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of our party who is also the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “Fayose is coming to destroy our party and ensure President Buhari does not get a second term in 2019 and we won’t allow Fayose’s evil plan to materialise”.

    Omotoso vowed that on no account would Fayose be admitted into the APC.

    He advised Fayose to look elsewhere for a political party that he will destroy after destroying three national political parties when he found it difficult to control the parties.

    “Fayose said many times that he would destroy APC. He destroyed Labour Party (LP), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) People’s Progressive
    Alliance (PPA) and at a time he also destroyed PDP before his current activities that led to the present sorry state of PDP in Ekiti State.

    “APC is looking for builders and not destroyers in its fold. We will not accept this destroyer in our great party APC and we advise Fayose
    to look elsewhere towards his promoters outside the state so that he can destroy the cohesion of the party in the backyards of those promoters.”

    He warned all ward chairmen where Fayose lives and runs his businesses against accepting him to the party.

    He added: “Our party is not a sanctuary for criminal suspects, political lepers and serial destroyers of the parties they once belonged.

    “We hereby warn ward chairmen where Fayose lives or runs his business against admitting him to our great party.

    “We hereby state clearly that no ward chairman must open talks with Fayose until such ward chairman clears with the party leadership at the state level.”

    Meanwhile, an interest group in Ekiti PDP, Bring Back our Mandate (BBOM) has warned Fayose against negotiating what it called “the mandate given to Prof Kolapo Olusola by the Ekiti electorate with the ruling APC as a soft landing following his latest threat to leave the PDP.”

    BBOM in a statement on Tuesday by its Coordinator, Gbenga Ogedengbe, said that the mandate given to Olusola by Ekiti PDP in the last governorship election in the state is not for sales and that the mandate of the people which he claimed was stolen by the APC will be retrieved at the election petition tribunal.

    The statement read: “It is important to note that Fayose’s deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, who doubled as the PDP candidate in July 18, 2018 Ekiti governorship election is currently seeking judicial redress at the Ekiti election petition tribunal holding in Abuja over series of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the poll which returned Dr Kayode Fayemi of the APC as the governor-elect.

    “We are not unaware of Governor Ayodele Fayose romance with the APC and his several unrealistic demands with the aim of paving way for a make believe excuse that would enable him save his face while he goes by the way of Akpabio.

    “Fayose is afraid of being persecuted by APC attack dogs after leaving office. While wishing the outgoing Ekiti governor a safe trip to APC we are warning APC to avoid being fooled by Fayose as any promise to stop or frustrate the ongoing tribunal by Fayose is simply an empty promise.

    “Fayose cannot give what he doesn’t have. The process of retrieving Eleka’s mandate from APC is beyond Fayose. Fayose can’t sell or negotiate with what does not belong to him.”

  • Fayose sues EFCC for N20b over security watch list

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has made good his threat to drag the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to court for placing him on watch list.

    The anti-graft agency wrote an advisory to key security agencies demanding that Fayose be arrested if he attempts to flee the country through land, sea and air borders to escape justice.

    Fayose had on September 3 threatened to sue the EFCC if it fails to withdraw the advisory within 72 hours saying the action “not only breached his constitutional immunity, it also exposed him to public opium and ridicule.”

    He also demanded the publication of a written apology to all Security Agencies in Nigeria, three national newspapers and the social media.

    It was gathered on Tuesday that Fayose, through his counsel, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, filed the suit last Friday consequent upon the failure of the EFCC to meet the governor’s demands.

    It should be recalled that EFCC had tweeted on July 16, 2018 through its official twitter handle @officialEFCC concerning Fayose that “The parri is over, the cloak of immunity is torn apart and the staff broken, Ekiti Integrated Poultry/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.”

    In the suit marked FJC/ABJ/CS/1087/2018, Fayose is seeking among other things; an order of the Court mandating the EFCC to pay the sum of N20 billion as general damages to the for what he called “flagrant, deliberate, pre-meditated and reckless libel and unprovoked attack on his character and reputation and the breach of his constitutional right/immunity as an incumbent Governor.”

    Read Also: 84 ‘thugs’ held for attempt to disrupt primaries

    He demanded that the EFCC should tender a written apology, which should be circulated to all Security Agencies in Nigeria and same should be published in at least three widely read National Newspapers and through the social media.

    The governor is also seeking a declaration that the statements contained in the EFCC letter dated September 12, 2018, and addressed to all Security Agencies in Nigeria portrayed him as a criminal, a fugitive and a run-away from the law, and that the statements are not true, are malicious, are not fair statements.

    He wants the court to further declare; “that the EFCC letter placing him on watch-list anddirecting his arrest on sight even while a sitting Governor is unconstitutional as same offends the clear provision of Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which clothes the him with immunity against arrest and prosecution as an incumbent Governor.”

    “That the tweet by the Defendant (EFCC) through its official twitter handle, which was widely circulated through social media and published on Punch Newspaper (online) of 16th July, 2018, with the particulars wordings pleaded in the Statement of Claim filed along with this Writ
    is not true, is malicious, is not a fair statement and presents the Plaintiff as a fraudster thereby ridiculing him and reducing him in the eyes of reasonable and right-thinking members of the society.”

  • Lawyer writes Fayose, demands unpaid N600m fee

    A lawyer based in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, has urged Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose to pay him professional fee amounting to N600 million for legal services rendered in the past.

    Ajayi, who was Fayose’s personal lawyer for many years before he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice twice, listed thirteen high profile cases handled for the governor which had not been paid for.

    In a letter he wrote to Fayose which was made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Ajayi said he made a moderate demand of a sum of N600 million at the rate of N50 million per each of the cases listed subject to accruable interest.

    Ajayi said the cases were not handled free but were not paid for by Fayose because he was financially handicapped then noting that the governor is now buoyant enough to pay for the services rendered.

    The cases include a defamation case: Ayo Fayose v Independent Communications Network Limited with suit number HAD/8/2004 and the appeal case emanating from the same suit marked CA/AE/58/2010.

    Federal Republic of Nigeria v Ayo Fayose with charge number FHC/C/179C/2006 which was a criminal case heard both in Lagos and Ado-Ekiti Federal High Courts until he (Fayose) was discharged and acquitted in October 2014 in which Ajayi appeared in all the cases.

    Another case was Peter Ayodele Fayose v Comptroller General of Prisons Suit Number: FHC/AK/CS/08/2008, which was about Fayose’s ‘controversial’ release from Ikoyi Prisons to face murder charge in Ekiti.

    Other cases listed by Ajayi include Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC appeal marked CA/I/144/2011, Peter Ayodele Fayose v the State marked HAD/16/2007 to stop his arraignment for murder by the Segun Oni administration, the appeal case that arose from it marked CA/14C14/2007 and the Supreme Court that emanated from it still pending marked SC449/2011.

    Ajayi listed Peter Ayodele Fayose v EFCC and Inspector General of Police with Suit No: FHC/A14CS/85/2006 following his illegal removal from office and the appeal case that followed it IGP & AG Federation v Peter Ayodele Fayose marked CA/B/44/2007.

    The last case mentioned by Ajayi, who is also a former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch, was E-Eleven v Peter Ayodele Fayose and 2 Ors filed to frustrate his swearing-in to office after winning the 2014 governorship election.

    Ajayi said: “You will recall that you never paid our chamber, Owoseni Ajayi & Associates for the services rendered throughout the time because of your financial incapacitation despite numerous demands because you were already out of office at the material time.

    “It should be stressed that we never acted free because we are legal practitioners working for our legal fee nor offered you “pro bono” service because you were not a pauper to be qualified for such a service.

    “We merely showed understanding up till now because of the prevalent circumstances verily known to you. And now that you have served another term as Governor of Ekiti State, you are financially strong enough to pay the said sum as demanded.

    “Sir, you will agree with us that a labourer deserves his wages. We thank you for your patronage and we also deserve commendation for having discharged our professional responsibility with diligence and without compromise.

    “And also for saving Your Excellency from several legal embarrassments.”

  • Fayose asks DMO, banks to publish Ekiti debt profile

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has challenged the Debt Management Office (DMO), commercial banks and All Progressives Congress (APC) to publish any debt he owes since coming to power.

     

    Contrary to the claims of the opposition, Fayose insisted that he has not committed the state to any debt by means of bond from capital market or loans from commercial banks.

     

    Speaking with reporters on Sunday at the Governor’s Office, Ado Ekiti, Fayose  justified the purchase of a N75 million Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle for himself as a “parting gift.”

     

    Reacting to the claim of the Transition Committee set up by the governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, that record from DMO showed that Ekiti debt profile under him has ballooned to N117 million,  Fayose described the allegation as a “cheap blackmail and lie from the pit of hell.”

     

    Fayose said: “When Fayemi was leaving as governor in 2014, he left with  a car and so did other governors before him. So, you can’t expect me also not to have a befitting car when I am leaving office.

     

    ” Fayemi himself ordered a Jeep of almost N7 million for me when l was still Governor-elect in 2014, but he didn’t pay for it. I had also bought a Jeep for former Governor Niyi Adebayo to honour him. That is how it is done every four years.

     

    ” If Fayemi’s government wants to probe me, I will present myself and would not behave like a coward like he did.  I have served Ekiti, l have given my best. Relevant documents will be handled over to the in-coming administration at the appropriate time.

     

    “I have not committed Ekiti to one Naira since I assumed office as governor for the second term. I haven’t borrowed from any financial institutions.

     

    “They should stop just saying it and publish any record of debt from any bank or the Debt Management Office (DMO) as evidence. I did not borrow or take any bond or borrow from any financial bank.

     

    “In my first tenure, I left N10.4 billion in the covers of government but I started this administration on October 16, 2014 meeting huge debt incurred by my predecessor.

     

    “The last administration of Fayemj brought Ekiti to N25 billion million bond and N32 billion commercial loan and the state will pay the bond until year 2022. The commercial loan was restructured like it was done for other states, Fayemi stated.