Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on
Wednesday, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of using an equally corrupt
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stamp out corruption in
Nigeria, insisting that the President must start the corruption fight from his
party and immediate aides since charity begins from home. Fayose Fayose
Governor Fayose said: “EFCC opinions remain their opinions and if they are so
sure of whatever information they have, they should go to court and stop
subjecting Nigerians to media trial and that no amount of media trial from the
same elements that orchestrated my removal in 2006 can erode my popularity
among Ekiti people.”
He said any property that may be
linked to him or his company was bought legitimately and his properties were
duly declared in his assets declaration form and sources of such funds were not
illicit. In a release issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose maintained that
his election was funded by Zenith Bank, as well as donations from friends and
associates, adding that “As a promising candidate of my party, I cannot stop
Nigerians from supporting my election like every other candidates of other
political, including President Buhari.”
He said since the money he got for
his election was from legitimate sources and not from the Office of the
National Security Adviser (ONSA) as being concocted, how the money was spent
remained his own business and not that of anyone.
The governor also debunked the
reported allegation by the EFCC that he received bribe from any contractor in
Ekiti; saying; “if they have anything against me, they should keep their gun
powder dry. “Because in 2006 when they took me to court, their allegations
crumbled like pack of cards because court decisions are founded on facts and
law, and not on media trial as currently being done by the EFCC as teleguided
by the APC in their desperation to set the people against me knowing fully that
they are not on ground.” He continued, “having failed to buy the conscience of
Ekiti House of Assembly members, the APC people have become increasingly afraid
of 2018 and that the agencies of the Federal Government should know that no
matter how hard they try, Ekiti electorate will not be deceived by their
blackmail and media trial. Governor Fayose said
“The EFCC should be told in clear
terms that this is 2016 and not 2006 when impeachment notices against governors
were signed on the table of EFCC operatives. Those who are teleguiding the EFCC
now should also be reminded that they did more than what they are doing now in
2006, yet I was overwhelmingly voted for by the Ekiti people eight years after
the orchestrated impeachment which the Supreme Court declared illegal.” The
governor asked; “Should Nigerians now conclude that EFCC is an appendage of
APC? Is the EFCC for investigation of corrupt practices among all Nigerians or
members of opposition parties alone?”
The governor said; “As at today, I
have not been accused of stealing a dime from Ekiti treasury. EFCC has not also
said that Ekiti money was stolen and that my election was funded with Ekiti
State money.” Accusing the EFCC of carrying out the APC agenda to force him out
of office as was done in 2006, the governor said; “It is sad that some
politicians from Ekiti State now resume and close in EFCC offices in Lagos and
Abuja and we wonder whether those politicians have now taken over the job of
EFCC.” He maintained that he will continue to speak his mind on issues
affecting Nigerians and can never be cowed, saying; “Nigerians are suffering.
States can no longer pay workers salary, a litre of kerosene is now N220, a bag
of rice is now N20,000 and some people will sit in Presidential Villa and
expect that all of us should keep silent? That’s not possible! “No amount of
media trial by agents of the Buhari-led APC government will make me to stop
baring my mind on the cluelessness of the Federal Government
Vanguard News
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