“My Third Term Will Be Through My Successor” – Fayemi; Group Accuse Him Of Extorting Appointees

By Ayodele Oni

A Group within the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), in Ekiti state, that is championing the zoning of the Governorship candidate to the South Senatorial District, has alleged that political office holders in the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi are being levied to fund the ambition of one of the Aides of the Governor.

The Aide, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, former Secretary to the State Government resigned recently to contest the 2022 election as a Governor.

There has been insinuation that Mr Oyebanji is an annoited candidate of Governor Fayemi, but this has been denied.

Dr Fayemi had said at a get together for political office holders from the State, which was held in Abuja, that he would show interest in his successor as being done in Lagos State.

Dr Fayemi hinted of his intention to pick a candidate that would continue with some of his programmes after his exit in October 2022, expressing hope that his successor would be from his party in order to continue some of his projects.

“I hope I am able to do my third term through whoever that would be coming. That is the magic of Lagos,” he said.

Soon after the resignation of Mr Oyebanji, he went to Abuja to pick the nomination form to contest for the Governorship.

On his return, political office holders from local government councilors to appointees in the state were through a directive instructed to receive him at the boundary between Ekiti and Ondo state from where he drove in a convoy to the APC secretariat in Ado Ekiti.

He has been touring Local Governments in the State for consultations with leaders of APC during which political appointees in area visited are being rallied to meet him.

Apart from this, State Government facilities including State Media and vehicles have been deployed to be used for movements and other campaign activities of the former Government scribe.

Ekiti South Development Agenda has, however, flayed these, especially compelling councilors, supervisor and advisers to pay a sum of N30,000 and  N20,000 respectively to welcome the aspirant popularly called BAO, to their Local Governments.

The Coordinator of the Group, Mr Afuye stated that “We have reliable information that some Local Government functionaries, Supervisor, Councilors, Advisers are compelled to pay a certain amount to welcome BAO.

“Welcoming BAO should not be an Avenue of extortion of the People, if the anointed BAO doesn’t have enough support why is he contesting?

“The person who anointed him should have enough in stock for him, why extorting Councilors, Supervisor and the Advisers ?

“it’s very bad and I want you to know that no matter what, they’ll fail.  People should desist from the act of extortion.

“The Ekiti South LG/LCDA supervisors, councilors and advisers should not pay the money if they are being forced.

“No matter what they do, the people will vote for the candidate of their choice, which is a Southerner, no matter how they constrain them to do anything for their anointed candidate.”