Reactions Trail Appointment Of Ekiti Indigene As Member, Tinubu Inauguration Committee

By Ayodele Oni

There is discordant tune in Ekiti state over the appointment of an indigene, Makinde Araoye as a member of the Presidential Inauguration Transition Committee of President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Araoye, who had earlier served as member of the Campaign Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is among those whose names were announced last week.

However, a group of youths in the state under the name, Ekiti-Kete APC Youths Frontier (EYF), said Araoye does not deserve the appointment.

Rising from its meeting in Ado Ekiti, it stated that “as a group with membership of over 500,000, the nominee is not recognized by us and as such can’t represent Ekiti youth population in such a sensitive committee.

“And neither has he at any point contributed anything meaningful to the development of Ekiti youths and we challenge him to come forward with proofs to the contrary.

“That the nominee was a known arch-antagonist of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before and during the campaign as clearly instructed by former Governor Kayode Fayemi, his boss who he served as Special Adviser on Federal Matters until recently.

“That the nominee at no time during the stretch of the presidential campaign came out to openly make pro-Tinubu statements or contributions on his behalf either in Ekiti or his Ilawe Ekiti hometown.

“If he has any evidence of videos or audiovisual tapes of meetings he held with Ekiti youths during the campaign to promote Asiwaju’s candidature; he should bring them forward without further delay. Arsoye appt

“That Araoye in his four years in office as Special Adviser to Fayemi on Federal Matters while his former boss was serving as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum couldn’t attract a single federal project to Ekiti.

“It is on record that this is so despite that the nominee was one of the youngest political appointees of all time in Ekiti.

“That Araoye’s nomination into such a critical Committee is likened to robbing Peter to pay Paul and a slap on the collective intelligence of Ekiti youths who worked day and night to ensure the victory of the President-elect in their respective our domains.

“That for the avoidance of doubts, those saddled with the responsibilities of drafting names for appointments and sundry national assignments should know that Ekiti parades an array of credible and committed youths who can represent the state in various capacities instead of settling for those who want to reap where they did not sow and hustlers of name dropping.”

A statement, signed on behalf of the group by Bayou Ajayi, President and Ige Famuyiwa, secretary, it claimed that Araoye is a political godson of both Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi who have not hidden their disdain against Tinubu at any given opportunity, and as such his consideration for further national responsibilities will amount to a serious political risk.

“That henceforth, background checks and due diligence must be carried out on future nominees from Ekiti through the genuine leaders of constituted Tinubu campaign chapter in the state for adequate knowledge of such persons and their characters.”

In another statement, Ekiti State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) congratulated Araoye on his appointment as member of the presidential transition committee by the President Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the organization, Hon. Famuyibo Oluwasegun described the appointment of Hon. Makinde Araoye is a round peg in a round hole.

According to him, those who are against his appointment are mere political enemies and selfish individuals who does not see anything good in others.

The statement reads: ”We congratulate our own, a youthful and useful Youth leader in Ekiti State, he has contributed immensely to the growth of Ekiti and that of the youths in particular, his appointment is well deserve and we shall support him to succeed at all time.”