The
testimony of former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro in the
custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears
to be rattling Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.
Obanikoro claimed that he gave Fayose
N2.3 billion, which came from the former National Security Adviser
(NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in the run-up to the June 21, 2014
governorship election in Ekiti State.
Apparently troubled by Obanikoro’s
evidence, Fayose, in a statement made available to reporters yesterday,
alleged that the ex-minister’s return from the United States was
“arranged and compromised” in a bid to nail him (Fayose).
The governor also described Obanikoro’s
surrender to the EFCC as part of “Fayose-Must-Be-Implicated-At-All-Cost”
project, urging the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal
Government to channel its energy towards providing food for hungry
Nigerians.
Dismissing the claim that Obanikoro had
confessed to the EFCC on the receipt of funds from Dasuki to sponsor his
2014 governorship campaign, Fayose said he was only reacting just to
fulfil all righteousness because Nigerians are more interested in having
food on their tables.
He claimed that the APC and the EFCC
were conducting a media trial, urging them to halt all salvos being
fired at him and wait for him to present his defence.
He said: “We have gone beyond this stage
of media trial. EFCC should rather keep its gun powder dry. When we get
to the bridge, we will cross it. They said more than this in the 2006
poultry scam blackmail. Despite that, I am the governor today.”
Fayose added: “Those who arranged the
dramatic and compromised return of Senator Obanikoro to Nigeria
obviously did so in continuation of their project ‘Fayose must be
implicated at all cost’ but I am not bothered because my election was
legitimately funded.
“However, if this is why they are
intimidating judges and the judiciary, it won’t work as far as my own
matter is concerned as no one can play God.
“As far as I am concerned, I am busy here in Ekiti attending to the welfare and well-being of my people. I won’t be distracted.”
Fayose challenged the EFCC to also
investigate the funding of APC elections, expressing outrage that
“financial assistance from Nigerians is now criminalised”.
He said: “Since we are now in the era in
which financial assistance from Nigerians to fund elections is being
criminalised, the international community, especially those funding
EFCC, must insist that the commission probes the funding of
APC elections before further funds are released to the commission.
Also yesterday, Fayose dispelled the
rumour that he had shut down the Ado-Ekiti branch of Access Bank Plc
following last Monday’s attempt by agents of the EFCC to arrest Mrs
Precious Chikwendu Fani-Kayode, the wife of former Minister of Aviation
Femi Fani-Kayode, in the bank premises.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief
Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said it had nothing against the
bank and there was no reason whatsoever to shut down the financial
institution.
He said: “The attention of the state
government has been drawn to rumours making the round, especially on
social media, that Ekiti State Government has shut downý a branch of
Access Bank in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
“This is definitely coming from the
warped minds of opposition elements, whose mouths have been locked by
the sterling performance of Fayose and the unprecedented support he is
enjoying from the people of the state.
“For the sake of clarity, Ekiti State
Government has no axe to grind with the management of Access Bank. Also,
the state government does not license banks and can’t withdraw same.
“We enjoin the good people of Ekiti State and Nigerians in general to disregard such unfounded rumours.
“They should not let themselves
be dragged to the level of the unintelligent like the opposition
people have shown by embarking on this type of insinuation they
probably brought from the pit of hell.”
No comments:
Post a Comment