Ekiti APC Crisis: Buhari’s Aide, Ojudu, Blames Governor Fayemi

By Ayodele Oni

Special Adviser to President Mohamadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has said problems and crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti state are caused by supporters of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Mr Ojudu accompanied the Minister for interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to the State early this week during which they paid courtesy call on Governor Fayemi.

The Presidential Aide, in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, advised that

“Sometime, in the nearest future, I hope we meet to discuss Ekiti, our party and the governorship election coming up next year.

“Whatever may be our differences, we must come together to ensure that the baton is never again passed to a PDP person in Ekiti.

“Ekiti yearns for development. Poverty and ignorance in my home state are alarming. Enough of that. Unity of purpose will help us fast track the process of getting out of the morass we find ourselves.

“To achieve that, therefore, we need fairness, we need equity. Enough of clannish groupings such as Tokan Tokan- the self serving ones who say they are closest to the heart of the Governor even though we know what they say behind him.

“Let us open up the space for every member of our party. Let everyone who has ambition canvass their position and let us provide the free atmosphere for people to make their choice.

“Let us allow for equal opportunity. Let us embrace hope- let us preach unity, faith, peace and progress.”

Ojudu, who was a Senator representing Ekiti central at the red chamber between 2011 and 2015, said the only way forward that could make APC a party to beat in Ekiti is to unite the warring groups within the party saying the interest of the party should be made priority.

The Presidential Aide, has since the Governorship primary of 2019, which he participated and lost, fell out with Governor Fayemi who he accused of buying up the delegates.

He joined forces with others to take the APC in the State to court over the election of its former Executives, which they said were just handpicked by the Governor.

The crisis peaked when the group announced the suspension of Dr Fayemi from the party to counter the earlier suspension clamped on members of the group by the state leadership.

With his claim that he was on a working visit to the state, political observers believe that Ojudu is trying to rejig his political machinery, ahead of next year’s Governorship election.