Did Jonathan Influence Fayose’s Victory?

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of foisting a former Governor Ayo Fayose on the Peoples Democratic Party as its governorship candidate with the aim of using him to unleash violence on the state ahead of the June 21 governorship poll.

The governor, who spoke in a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson of his campaign organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, said that the opposition party wanted to prepare the ground for rigging through violence.

Fayemi said that the President would be held responsible for any act of violence by his party’s governorship candidate.

The governor, however, warned Fayose against violating the law saying he would face the wrath of the people if he caused violence in the state.

The statement read, “masterminding the emergence of the former Governor Ayo Fayose as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ekiti State shows clearly that the Jonathan presidency has no strategy other than violence for the June 21 governorship election in the state.

“Fayose was made to win the PDP primaries because of his anti-democratic credentials of violence, a clear pointer that the Presidency and the PDP have perfected strategies to rig the June 21 governorship election.

“What this means is that the Jonathan presidency and the PDP have no sense of history regarding Ekiti people. Ekiti people have been known to resist shady characters. This same man was sent packing with his tails between his legs by Ekiti people when it became apparent that he had no respect for human dignity.

“By throwing up Fayose again in a race that should involve decent people, the PDP is clearly spitting on the grave of Tunde Omojola, who on 28 May, 2005 was mowed down in Ifaki-Ekiti.

“The PDP is also spitting on the graves of Ijan Ekiti-born Dr. Ayo Daramola who was ruthlessly killed on 14 August 2006 because of his governorship ambition and the students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti whose lives were cut short on March 16, 2004.”

Fayemi noted that with the case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Fayose still in court, it would not be a surprise if Fayose eventually ran between his campaign office and various courtrooms where he was facing the charges of murder and corruption.

The governor also reacted to the allegation levelled against him by Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, and described him as an inconsistent person who should be ignored.

But Fayose said that the governor was attacking him because his emergence was causing confusion in the camp of the ruling party.

The former governor said that he remained unperturbed by allegations from Fayemi’s camp adding that he would do the talking during the election.