by Samuel Ajayi
I watched part of Tope Aluko’s appearance on Channels TV, Sunday, January 31, 2016 and also the last fifteen minutes of the programme. For obvious reasons, those “revelations” will make some people very excited. I can understand.
Secondly, I am NOT in any way saying the guy lied or not. No.
Thirdly, I am from Ekiti and I have the following submissions to make about current Governor Ayo Fayose, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, and the 2014 election in the state.
1. On February 17, 2012, on appointment with then chief of staff to Governor Fayemi, Yemi Adaramodu, I traveled to Ekiti. The first day I could not reach him. Eventually, I got him on phone the following morning and he asked me to meet him in the office by 10am. He came around 2pm and I cancelled the appointment myself when I saw the number of people waiting to see him including a former governor, former minister, and party leaders. And that day was also a state EXCO meeting day. I called a friend and said to him: WHEN YOU CREATE AN ALTERNATE POWER CENTRE WITHIN THE MAIN POWER CENTRE, THE MAIN POWER CENTRE IS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE! Adaramodu created problem for Fayemi from day one. If that friend is reading this, he can attest to this claim. Many APC leaders know this!
2. On February 10, 2014, I went to Ekiti State on assignment as features editor of The Union Newspaper. My mission was to feel the pulse of the people about the election and write about it. I spent four days in the state and I spoke to people across social, economic, and political divides and I concluded that only a miracle could make Fayemi win that election. I still cannot explain it till today, but despite his modest achievements as governor, there was this palpable disconnect between him and the people, his party, and leaders in the state.
3. As at the time I went on my journalist mission in Ekiti, Fayose had NOT even emerged as PDP’s candidate. Opeyemi Bamidele, however, had moved to the Labour Party from the APC, and depleted the ranks of Fayemi in the party.
4. There was a very deep cold war between Bola Tinubu and Tunde Fashola on one side and Fayemi on the other side. Niyi Adebayo was the alleged cause. Tinubu simply refused to get too involved in Fayemi’s re-election campaign. It took a lot of begging and appealing by Babafemi Ojudu for Bola Tinubu to attend the mega rally by APC on Thursday June 19, 2014. I challenge any APC leader to say I am lying. To raise campaign funds, APC governors were each taxed to give certain amount to Fayemi (I will keep the figure to myself) which some of them reluctantly did. One actually completed his after the election had even been lost! Again, let them debunk this!
5. Shortly after I came back from Ekiti, I called my friend, Mallam Jaji (he confirm this if he wishes to) and I told him that I did NOT care who won in Ekiti; all I wanted was peace. But from what I saw on ground, Fayemi would not win.
6. I also heard a report that Fayemi had a friend, an actuarial scientist, who also did field work on the election. This person reported back to Fayemi about the damning situation at the grassroots, which Fayemi’s wife waved away. I am yet to confirm this story.
7. I have a quick question. If the army aided Fayose’s victory in 2014, did the Army also ensure that PDP won the presidential, senatorial, and House of Reps elections in the state last year? Unless they won’t be honest, NO TOP APC LEADER CAN HONESTLY CONTEST THE FACT THAT FAYEMI WAS ROUNDLY DEFEATED IN 2014! They all saw it coming. Some of them even worked for Fayose!
Finally, if Aluko is making these allegations, it means some of those clapping for him and sponsoring him (yes, quote me) don’t know him. Call any top politician in Ekiti and ask them the kind of person he is. Today he is in APC. But know that the moment he doesn’t get what he wants in the party, he would move again and start spilling the beans.
All political parties have their dirty secrets. Including APC!
Samuel Ajayi is a journalist. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the authors.
