Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described his current travails in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), over the N4.7 billion arms scam, as a plot orchestrated by President Muhammadu Buhari to settle political scores.
The governor also said the allegation by the agency that he procured N1.5 billion multi-billion property using phoney companies was masterminded by the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the purpose of dimming the chances of his party during the 2018 governorship poll.
Speaking at a well-attended rally organized by a newly formed Ekiti State Private Sector Union, an amalgamation of all informal unions in the state, Fayose denied collecting any money from the Office of National Security Adviser.
The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW), Mr Clement Adekola, his counterpart in the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria(RTEAN), Mr Samuel Agbede, and the leader of Okada Riders Association of Nigeria, Mr Dahunsi Olaniyi, were inaugurated as the Chairman, Secretary and Vice Chairman respectively, among other executive members.
While inaugurating the executive of the newly formed association, Fayose said the Buhari’s government will crumble if it wages war against him under the guise of anti-corruption war.
In his words, “They said I collected a sum of N1.3 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki to fund my election. Some even said I collected it through Mr Musiliu Obanikoro.
“Let me put it on records that I did not know Col Dasuki and Obanikoro has not come out openly to indict me, because he has not returned from abroad .
“They said similar thing in 2006. It was all about second term then , because they didn’t want me to contest for second term. They said the N1.3b project which I initiated was a scam, but God brought me back.The APC and EFCC conspirators took me before a Judge and I got justice.
“When God says yes, nobody can say no. God has given me uncommon favour over my enemies. I am presently using the mandate of God and Ekiti people and they are ready to defend the mandate and that is why you proudly came out today to express support for me.
“Nigerians have never had it so bad like this. People are suffering and hungry and President Buhari says he is fighting corruption.
“How can the FG increase fuel from N86 to N145? The price of kerosene is now over N200.
“No act of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth. I will continue to talk about national issues”, he said.
Fayose added that “Somebody from Ekiti gave President Buhari N1.5b for campaign, but today he is being seen as a saint. When you want to campaign or do marriage , people will give you money and my own can’t be an exemption. I am not afraid of incarceration or death.
“APC problem is 2018 and as the God liveth, they are going nowhere. We will stand up and defend our state and the money they said they have gotten through anti-corruption should be spent for Nigerians”, Fayose stated.
The union, which declared support for Fayose warned APC and EFCC against pursuing political vendetta against the governor.
The union, with over 80,000 membership across 40 unions , said coming under one umbrella was conceived as a way of increasing members’ access to good governance and to offer useful advice to the government on how best to run the state .
Addressing the crowd , the union’s Chairman, Mr Adekola and Secretary, Com. Agbede, warned the All Progressives Congress against destabilizing Ekiti over the lost it suffered during the June 21, 2014 governorship poll.
Agbede asserted that the alleged conspiracy between the federal government and the opposition will fail and won’t materialize, just as he condemned alleged use of federal might to rattle the governor.
He said: “It is our view that in every election, the choice remains that of the people and Ekiti people made their choice on June 21, 2014 and that choice must be respected. Those who have formed the habit of causing political instability whenever they lose election are hereby warned to desist from collaborating with external forces to cause
crisis.
“Freedom of thought and expression is guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in exercising these rights, Governor Fayose won’t be intimidated by any agency of the federal government”, Agbede stated.
