Why Buhari Must Step Down Fayemi For Trial, Group Agitates

A group of Ekiti State Indigenes under the aegis of Ekiti Youth Movement for Change (EYMC), has strongly called on President Mohammadu Buhari to expressly without delay step down his Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for trial over his alleged misappropriation of N852.9 million State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterpart fund, adding that, any attempt by the president to protect him (Fayemi) from prosecution shall amount to the president committing aiding and abetting.

According to the group, the
misappropriation of N852.9 million State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterpart fund by the immediate past All
Progressives Congress (APC) government of Dr Kayode Fayemi has made the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) to blacklist the State, making it impossible for the State to access
2013, 2014 and 2015 Matching Grant running to over N2.8 billion.

Speaking on behalf of the group on Monday, its Proteme Secretary, Com. Ajaja Atolagbe described the act as fraudulent and executive looting by conspiracy. He added that no wonder Dr. Fayemi refused to relieve the then SUBEB Chairperson, Professor Mrs Modupe Adelabu of her duty after her appointment as the deputy governor.

“We were all insinuating conspiracy and looting when Prof. Adelabu remained the SUBEB Chairperson even after she was appointed as the deputy governor following the death of Mrs Adunni Olayinka.

“An average Ekiti person queried that why was she holding two powerful posts in a state filled up with brilliant brains, experts and academic giants. But no one answered, not even Fayemi.

“Their hidden agenda had been blown off now. Where is even Prof. Adelabu since after June 21, 2014 guber election? She must have gone into exile for reasons well known to her.

“With all humility, we enjoin President Buhari to start and continue his anti-corruption fight with this case. He should not shield Fayemi from prosecution on this criminal act,” Atolagbe posited.

Meanwhile, last Wednesday, UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Gambo told the Senate Committee on Finance’s Budget Defence that Dr Fayemi, who is now the Minister of Solid Minerals used the N852.9 million counterpart funds dedicated for education by the federal government through the UBEC for other purposes.

Reacting, the SUBEB Chairman, Senator Bode Ola said it was painful that Ekiti State and its people were suffering for the sin committed by the APC government of Fayemi, adding that “it is even more embarrassing and ridiculous that Fayemi’s
commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole could defend this clear criminal act perpetrated against
the people of Ekiti State by saying there was no law forbidding States from borrowing counterpart funds to support states capital development operations.”

Senator Ola said; “A sum of N852, 936,713.92 was paid into the SUBEB Access Bank account
on January 14, 2014 as counterpart fund for 2012 UBEC projects and on this premise, UBEC
released its Matching Grant of N852, 936,793.12 on January 3, 2013.

“On October 8, 2014, eight days to the end of Fayemi’s tenure, the same amount of N852, 936,713.92 was transferred from the account of SUBEB, leaving a sum of N9, 139,691.40 as credit balance in the account.

“This was done without the knowledge and approval of UBEC and because of this misappropriation, UBEC blacklisted Ekiti State and this has made it impossible for us to access Matching Grant for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

“UBEC, in a letter dated April 16, 2015, with Reference Number; UBEC/FA/SUBEB/EK/183/
Vol.II/162 described the withdrawal as criminal act that violated Section 11(2) of UBE Act 2004 and conveyed its suspension of Ekiti State from accessing any further FGN-UBE Intervention
Fund.

“For this reason, all UBEC/SUBEB 2012 ongoing projects have been halted, payment for all 2012
projects cannot be made to contractors, fund for special education; teachers capacity building etc for 2013, 2014 and 2015 cannot be accessed,
infrastructures in our schools are neglected, in fact, SUBEB in Ekiti State is totally grounded!”

Speaking further, the SUBEB Chairman said; “Our Governor, Ayodele Fayose responded to UBEC letter on the illegal withdrawal on April 22, 2015,
stating that the illegal withdrawal was carried out by Fayemi’s administration. He also pleaded
with UBEC to rescind its decision to suspend Ekiti State from accessing FGN-UBE Intervention Fund while allowing him to investigate the matter.

“Consequent upon the Governor’s directive, a 5- Man Panel headed by the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba
Ademola Ajakaiye was set up and the panel established the withdrawal of the N852,
936,713.92 from SUBEB account domiciled at Access Bank, Ado-Ekiti branch consequent upon
which Ekiti State was suspended from accessing FGN-UBE fund and also went further to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the matter if the fund was not returned.

“Report of the panel has been forwarded to
UBEC.”

While describing Fayemi’s justification of the illegal withdrawal as ridiculous, Senator Bode Ola said; “Even UBEC, in its letter said the withdrawal constitutes a serious financial crime and also violates Section 11(2) of the UBE Act, 2004.”

Buhari Traces 2016 Budget Scam to ACN Camp •••Osinbajo, Tinubu, Others meet in Aso Villa

Three years after the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC), President Mohammadu Buhari has on Wednesday reportedly accused some members from the  defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the party (APC) of budget manipulation and padding, affirming that those to whom the budget racketeering might be traced shall never go scot free.

APC as a political party which was formed on 6th February, 2013 in anticipation of the 2015 elections, comprised of Nigeria’s three biggest opposition parties- the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

In similar development, some leaders of the defunct ACN were in the Aso Villa on Wednesday where issues relating to their hands in the controversial 2016 budget and the incoming congress of the APC among others were discussed.

According to sources, the leadership of the defunct ACN berated President Buhari over their alleged involvement in budget manipulation and overloading, saying it was uncalled for and at the same a calculated attempt to terminate the mutual relationship that has long time existed among the unified party, APC; adding that, “the diplomatic moves by the president’s kinsmen to hijack the structure of the party in totality at the forthcoming congress shall not only be resisted but rejected.

“I want to believe we’ve not travelled too far as a party. Therefore, those inciting the president against factions in the progressives should entertain a rethink before their actions and inaction boomerang.”

It was learnt that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had in Lagos on February 19 said, “Let me make it clear that nobody can ever accuse this government of padding any budget. The total of all ministries put together has not exceeded N6.08 trillion that was submitted. It is factually incorrect to say that the budget was padded.”

In a counter claim which has started generating controversy within the progressives, President Buhari in Saudi Arabia on February 23, said, “My budget is not what is being debated at the National Assembly. What they have was heavily padded. Never heard of budget padding all my life. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpublished.”

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,  who led other party leaders to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Villa, has vowed to continue supporting the present federal government administration until he’s either directly or indirectly prevented from doing so.

He said; “Ever since the formation of APC three years ago, there has never been a moment of regret for me or my men. Therefore I want to believe the president was quoted out of context. He has no moral right to describe us as budget scammers.

“Again, since Lai Mohammed has been appointed the Minister of Information, it has been noted that the image of our party hasn’t been well painted in the public as it used to be. We need another able hand to relieve him, and we can’t afford zoning such a sensitive post among others to the academically retarded region in the country.”

He pleaded with his men not to dwell on the accusation and assured them of transparent processes in the election of the party’s executives.

C-O-N-F-E-S-S-I-O-N: Most Electioneering Promises Were Not Mine, Buhari Confesses

Severe agitations of Nigerians about some promises made during the presidential electioneering campaign, most especially the making of N1 (1 Naira) equals $1 (1 Dollar) by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and which have reportedly not been fulfilled, had prompted President Mohammadu Buhari to make a confessional statement over the weekend, saying “most of the promises Nigerians were claiming unfulfilled never originated from me but from those who prepared my campaign speeches under the able supervision of the national leadership of our party.”

President Buhari, who called on Nigerians to be reasonable in their agitations and criticisms, said no amount of distractions from the opposition can divert his attention from the fight against corruption which his administration had started.

He said this in Abuja on Sunday as he prepared leaving the country tomorrow for Saudi Arabia and Qatar to engage officials of both countries in talks for the stability of oil prices.

While responding to newsmen on why his led administration has never fulfilled most of the promises made to Nigerians ahead the 2015 presidential election, the president frankly confessed that those acclaimed promises were written by his speech writers and that if anything was delaying their fulfillment, it must have been the present economic situation the country found herself.

“Let me categorically tell you that those promises you people were talking about were not written by myself. They were words I read out in my campaign speech as written and supervised by our party leaders.

“So Nigerians should stop accusing me wrongly that I’ve never fulfilled my promises. The major programme before my administration is the fight against corruption and the corrupt people in our country. We must sanitise the system and make it friendly for foreign investors.

“Those of us who have been to several foreign countries can tell how Nigerians were been humiliated and rejected because of our corrupt attitude. We are bad people. We need to redeem our image in those foreign countries,” President Buhari explained.

He explained further that he will be jetting out of the country for a week in company of high-powered Federal Government delegation, including the Minister of State (Petroleum) and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

He assured those who were yet to return the looted fund in their custody of severe punishment and international embarrassment, saying “I won’t spare any of those wicked looters whose activities have resulted to the recent economic crisis rocking the country. I will soon start mentioning their names in every country I visit. They are the rotten eggs amidst Nigerians and they have succeeded in given us bad names.”

President Buhari in a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, told the House Committee in charge of the 2016 budget to expedite actions on the budget, adding that all errors therein which may be of minimal implications should be ignored.

Fayemi Boycotts Parley With MOB, Gives Excuse For Absence

The immediate past governor of Ekiti State and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, was on Tuesday absent at the peace meeting convened by the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Engr. Segun Oni, held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, due to personal grudge against his one time opponent, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.

Fayemi, who was learnt to have deliberately ignored the parley due to the political differences that existed between him and his opponent from the Labour Party (LP) in the June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB), was however claimed to have used an official assignment in the National Assembly as an excuse.

“I want to tell you that Dr. Kayode Fayemi sent his apologies noting that he was meeting with members of the National Assembly with regards to issues bordering on the 2016 budget of his ministry,” former governor Adeniyi Adebayo explained to newsmen.

However, an inside source who pleaded anonymity said the minister had vowed never to have anything to do with MOB for now until he withdraws the case his Bibire Coalition platform filed against Hon. Kehinde Boluwade, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly from Emure Constituency under his administration, over the death of one Mr. Foluso Ogundare in Emure-Ekiti.

“The truth is sacred. We are all aware that the House Committee on Budget had suspended everything about the controversial 2016 budget  for now. So the question remains that, where was our Minister during the parley that lasted four hours within the Abuja premises?

“Dr. Fayemi wouldn’t have loved to miss such first of its kind meeting after he lost the 2014 guber poll if not because his diehard opponent would be invited and discussed.

“He deliberately stayed away from the meeting and I understood his plight as a mortal being. What MOB did to Fayemi and our party ahead the 2014 election in Ekiti was suicidal and condemnable.

“Forgiving him truly will take the grace of God and strong determination, because he was the brain behind every division that rocks the party today in Ekiti,” our source confided.

Ekiti 2014: Fayemi Must Answer For the Killings in Ekiti – Opeyemi Bamidele

Has Fayemi Ever Answered MOB on the killings or those killed during Fayemi’s led administration as Ekiti State governor have resurrected? Let MOB be called upon to answer the questions he raised.

MOB said: “…In October last year, Otunba Niyi Adebayo invited me to Lagos and I went to see him and he said there was this rumour that I was interested in the governorship, that’s why there was dissension within the party and that he and the governor had already spoken.

He needed me to address a press conference and I said to say what? He said for me to deny. I said I was interested in the governorship race and that the only thing I had not decided on was whether I would run in 2014 and that there was no way I would go and address a press conference.

And Otunba said if you would agree to address that press conference and work with the governor to have a second term, I would concede to you the senatorial seat that the governor had given to me. I asked which senatorial seat because I knew Ojudu wanted to go for a second term and by 2018, to come and run for governorship in Ekiti.

That’s why it amazes me when people say ‘oh, Opeyemi is desperate, Opeyemi can wait for another four years.’ No, Fayemi has his own succession plan.

Ojudu is interested in the race in 2018 and Fayemi himself has his succession plan which does not even include Ojudu.

So, he has somebody he’s grooming; Otunba Adebayo has somebody he’s grooming, so I’m not even part of their succession plans. Some of the leaders of the party who don’t know how terrible the situation is are genuinely asking me to wait till 2018.

So I asked Otunba about the senatorial seat, how about Ojudu who is there? He said ‘no, I should know that the governor is only tolerating Ojudu, he prefers you in the Senate.’ It’s okay, everybody has his own plan. I say for the record that part of the reason Otunba Adebayo, who is from my hometown, is opposed to my governorship plans today is because he sees me as a possible threat to his own ambition…”

Are you trying to say that Dr. Fayemi is a killer?

All I’m saying is that Governor Fayemi will need to offer an explanation to the people of Ekiti as to why in the three years of his administration,seven people have been killed in Ekiti State. The last one was my supporter who was killed in Emure Ekiti. He was killed in broad daylight. And they want me to join in celebrating the achievements of Dr. Fayemi which is also part of the issue.

To begin with, I concede to Dr. Fayemi that he has tried his best. The best that any human can give is his best, whether your best is good enough for the people is another issue.

That’s why you should allow democracy to take effect. If your best is good enough for these people, you don’t need to worry about second term or oppose free and fair primaries, it would come naturally.

I’m not going to fight anybody; I’m ready to work with anybody, that’s why I will not sit here and call Dr. Fayemi names because I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Fayemi as an ex-governor because as far as I’m concerned, he’s an outgoing governor. I look forward to working with him as a former governor from October 16, 2014.

Fayose Sets to Lay Foundation of New Ultramodern Market in Ado

‎The foundation laying ceremony of Erekesan Market in Ado Ekiti,  otherwise known as Oja Oba, comes up on Friday February 12, 2016.

A press statement  by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, indicated that the ceremony which will be performed by the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, will hold by 11am at the market site.

The Governor has therefore invited all Iyalojas, Babalojas, PDP leaders, top government functionaries and traditional rulers to the ceremony.

Ekiti 2018: Group Tells Fayemi to Invest on Bimbo Daramola Not TKO Aluko

Youths under the aegis of an Ekiti based group called “Ekiti Youth Vanguard Change Agents”, have raised their voices above fear of leadership intimidation and sanction, as they clamoured for realistic change which they claimed could only be achieved if the All Progressive Congress (APC) can present Hon. Bimbo Daramola, former member of the House of Representatives Abuja, as the party’s flag bearer in the 2018 governorship election, advising Dr. Kayode Fayemi on rightful and profitable investment.

In an article titled, “Why Not Bimbo Daramola?”, the group posited as follows: “At a time like this, it is more important to talk about one quintessential leader whom the youth wink of Ekiti indigenes both home and in diaspora have tipped to be the next Governor of Ekiti State to foster speedy growth and development.

“Though, the man in the saddle, Hon Bimbo Daramola might be so reluctant to key into this agenda for ‘obvious reasons’ but one thing stays sacrosanct, even if he says no and God says yes, what can he do?”

The Youths, who further accused the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of misplacement of priority for given a total sum of N50million to a single person at the expense of other party members who were labouring day and night for the sustenance of the party, charged the minister to rightly invest on the candidature of Hon. Bimbo Daramola instead of ungrateful expenses on TKO Aluko.

They described the minister’s sense of largesse on Mr. TKO Aluko as unthinkable, unwise and unacceptable by the party in the state. Adding that, when next the ministerial largesse is coming to the state, the target should be on how the party will win the 2018 guber election and not on how the party will purchase a contradictory stale stories from a fraudster like Aluko.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that Ekiti 2014 guber poll was rigged, we don’t further need to purchase any witness for that. What Aluko was doing was because he was reportedly betrayed. And if the trusted could have turned out to be this ‘parrotic’ because he was not given the bargained, our fear as youths remains that he (Aluko) will do the same to this party in due course,” the group frankly opined.

Speaking further on why their agitations were based on Daramola and describing the personality they’ve found in him, the youths said: “Hon. Daramola should again remember that vox populi vox dei.

“For clarity, our dearest Congressman, pride of Ekiti modern politics, Hon. Bimbo Daramola’s persona is derived from the sterner stuff of life, the compulsive need to weave enduring strands or legacies that would out-live one and the desire to be a change agent in the discharge of the social contract. A man of great patience and tolerance, his scruples border on the fundamental assumption that life is a selfless service in which there is more to gain in giving of one’s time, energy and resources than in being a docile recipient of its offerings.

“Spurred by this, Bimbo Daramola is not only detribalized in the true sense of it but believes in the Nigerian enterprise and strives within acceptable codes to uphold the sacredness of the country’s values. His visions are ennobled by his belief that the progress of society is predicated on qualitative leadership that aspires to enthrone enduring change through quantum developmental leaps, which are being profoundly demonstrated by him in every office he occupies.”

They maintained that Ekiti needs a man with flawless track records and reputation; a man with vision, character, competence and exposure. Adding that the list of aspirants as at today in the party, including the newly signed former Commissioner for Health under Engr. Segun Oni led administration, Dr. Femi Thomas, was filled with people of very questionable characters; those who have in one way or the other tarnished their reputations in public places.

“That Dr. Femi Thomas will even be contesting for governor under our party (APC) is a great national embarrassment. No one can dispute the fact that he deliberately joined APC to safe his head from avoidable mess. But eyeing the number one seat in the state under this party is refuge seeking too far. He should drop the ambition or face wrath of the youths in the party,” the youths warned.

While giving their closing remarks, they said, “If not Bimbo Daramola then who? The youths are the drivers of true change for progress and the good of the society. Be part of this paradigm shift as we present Hon. Bimbo Daramola for governor in 2018 under the leading National Party, the APC.”

2016 Budget: Minister Denies Figures, Says His Ministry’s Budget Largely Distorted

Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole yesterday shocked members of the Senate Committee on Health when he informed the committee that the original budget
of his ministry had been largely distorted.

He claimed that strange figures were smuggled into the
budget.

The minister’s revelation might have reinforced the Senate’s claim that the 2016 budget had been tampered with.

The minister urged the committee to discard the budget proposal before it and await a new estimate to be re-submitted today.

He assured members of the committee that the new proposal would reflect the programmes of
the health sector for the year.

Adewole’s revelation forced Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, to convene a closed door session with the minister apparently to discuss the development.

The minister told the committee that there were some health issues on which conclusions had not been made by the ministry and yet allocations were made on them without the ministry’s knowledge.

Adewole insisted that the provisions of the budget before
the National Assembly was in contrast with the priorities of the health sector as contained in the original budget it prepared and submitted to the budget office.

He noted that some of the votes earmarked by the ministry for some activities had been re-distributed while some important areas in the sector had been excluded.

He said: “In the revised budget as re-submitted, N15.7billion for capital allocation has been moved to other areas. Some allocations made are not in keeping with
our priorities. There is nothing allocated to public health and family health. Over the last two years, nothing has been done on HIV.

“We have to look into the details of the budget and re-submit it to the committee. This was not what we
submitted. We’ll submit another one. We don’t want anything foreign to creep into that budget. What we submitted is not there. We have not reached that stage
and we find the money there.”

The committee chairman noted that given the submission of the minister, the budget before the
committee was not the proposal of the Health Ministry.

He added that it would be out of place to work on a budget that had already been disowned by the minister.

He said:  “Honourable minister, we need to have an executive session. You said about this budget that public health is not there. Obviously, the budget we are looking at now is not your own.”

Adewole responded: “Yes, it’s not. We’ll submit the revised document tomorrow (today). It will be an
updated version of what you have.”

The minister also said State House Clinic to which N3.9 billion had been allocated in the budget at the expense of other hospitals put together which got far less
allocations, is not under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.

He explained that the clinic is under the Presidency.

Adewole said the figure might not have been the original allocation to the clinic by State House, noting that the original allocation might have been inflated by the same
forces, which, he said, had distorted his ministry’s original estimates.

Tejuosho noted that since the minister said that State House Clinic was not under the watch of the Health Ministry, it also implied that the Health Committee’s
oversight function did not extend to the clinic.

He added that it is the responsibility of the Special Duties’ Committee to engage the State House on the budget for the clinic.

The minister allayed the fears of Nigerians about Zika virus that is ravaging some countries.

He noted that the virus had been in the country since 1954, but had been unable to harm citizens because Nigerians had developed strong resistance to it.

The minister said the virus should be ignored.

Ekiti APC Action Group Demands Explanations From Fayemi Over N50M Given Aluko

Action Group (AG) faction of Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has accused the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of given a sum of N50 million to the former State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti, Dr. Temitope Aluko, saying the largesse was too much for a single person at the expense of thousand of supporters walloping in poverty in the state.

The group, which sent out Short Message Service (SMS) on Monday evening, alleged the minister of spending ungratefully on Aluko; maintaining that the former PDP scribe was only protecting his interest and bargain with Governor Ayodele Fayose and not either that of Fayemi or even the APC as a party.

The message read; “Fayemi must explain how he was able to give TKO Aluko N50m. How can u give just one person N50m while we members of APC wallop in poverty? Enough is enough!”

Fayemi, who was said to have assured Mr. TKO Aluko of soft landing should plans go otherwise on Ekitigate, was cautioned by the Action Group APC not to harbour a political chameleon all in the name of struggle.

The APC Action Group faction being led by Special Adviser (Political) to the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, is also alleged that the duo of Aluko and former Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Hon Femi Bamisile were on Fayemi’s payroll when he was governor, asking; “of what benefit was the monthly payments made to Aluko and Bamisile when Fayemi was governor?

“Most importantly, of what political benefit was the payment of N16 million to Bamisile to rent his house in GRA, Ado Ekiti for the former Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University?

“When many of our members were suffering, Fayemi was lavishing millions on Aluko and Bamisile and he is doing the same now with N50 million given to Aluko on an election that he (Fayemi) made us lose woefully.

“Is the honourable minister saying he is not aware that many of our supporters and loyalists are traders, artisans and some even jobless, that could be empowered with the N50 million freely given to Aluko, a known traitor?”

Speaking further on the revelation according to Aluko, the group opined that Aluko should have approached the court of law and not the party involved in the case, saying he was only after the monetary gain and undeserved recognition the party may eventually accorded him.

“Honestly speaking, Aluko has achieved his aim of given those controversial statements on air. You asked why? He has already!

“Firstly, he wanted to be tipped before saying anything and Fayemi has done that earlier before now. The N50 million recently given to Aluko was just his balance for a job well done according to our inside source and which most of us in the system are not in any form happy about. The reason cannot be far-fetched; it was like reaping where one did not sow.

“Again, Aluko wanted to be recognised by the APC, and with the look of things, evidences abound that he has equally achieved that. The question now remains, what becomes our fate as party stalwarts in the state when Aluko has suddenly turned the beneficiary of the ministerial largesse?

“This question and several others are begging for answers from our leaders at both state and national levels before we start loosing our loyalists to the oppositions in the state,” the group said.

SHOCK: Fayemi Scraps USTI, TUNEDIK For Good Reasons -Segun Oni

Former governor of Ekiti State and Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Engr. Segun Oni, has over the weekend in an exclusive interview with Kate Ani, maintained that he was in support of scrapping of the Universities he created while in government by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, his successor, saying the action was to the benefit of the state and apolitical.

University of Science and Technology Ifaki (USTI) and The University of Education Ikere (TUNEDIK), which were created by Engr. Olusegun Oni between 2007 and 2011 when he was the Executive Governor of Ekiti State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were scrapped by Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressive Party (APC) in 2011 after Court of Appeal verdict by Mr. Ayo Salami (SAN) sacked Oni from office.

Excerpts:

Until 2014, it would have sounded incredible that you would join the then ACN. Dr Kayode Fayemi, who was the governor then, rubbished your policies, scrapped the universities created by your led administration and even refused to address you as one of his predecessors. You were humiliated during the Ayo Salami saga. Why did you eventually dump the PDP and pitch tent with the people that called you election rigger?

I made it very clear that in the quest to make Nigeria better, I must be able to identify the better alternative in any circumstances. I don’t mind flying an aircraft with an insane person but the moment I am told that the insane man is going to be the pilot of the aircraft, before he enters the cockpit, I will disembark. There are people I don’t want to see as leading me, people that I can’t point to my children as their role models. Any sane person looking at Dr Kayode Fayemi and Governor Fayose will be able to say very clearly who they prefer as their leader. I chose Dr Kayode Fayemi and I have no regrets and will choose him 10 times over.

On scrapping of the universities I created when I was the governor, I must be factual with you. I support the action of Dr. Kayode Fayemi because it was for the benefit of our dear state. As at the time I was leaving office as governor, the state was almost grounded financially, and you don’t expect an incoming government to complicate issues for itself. This is outside politics, Ifaki people, my kinsmen may pick me up with this but I must say again that what Fayemi did about USTI and TUNEDIK was expected, brilliant and apolitical. After all a faculty and school of part-time programmes of the state university were later relocated to Ifaki.

But you claimed leaving billions of naira in the coffers of the state while leaving office, how come another version of claim now?

Whatever I tell you now is nothing but the truth. PDP may claim I left trillions in Ekiti while leaving. Fayemi himself may deny meeting a dine on arrival. But my point remains that Ekiti was almost grounded when I left office and that I strongly believed necessitated the scrapping of the universities my administration established.

Again, if as you claimed that Dr. Fayemi refused to address me as former governor, I’m sure Ekiti people believed I once governed the state. And I don’t even believe in name callings of “Your Excellency”, I’m an Engineer. Dr. Fayemi may decide to address me as Engineer Segun Oni, it’s no crime.

We learnt it was Governor Ayodele Fayose that reinstated your status as former governor of Ekiti State and even returned your portrait to where it should be in the governor’s office. How true was that?

You learnt and I also learnt same story. Anybody can do anything to win sympathy, but I don’t think I can fall prey of such. I was once governor of the state either someone removed my portrait for any reason or somebody else later replaced it for reasons well known to him. I must say it’s none of my business. Ekiti belongs to all and no single person’s own.

But the duo of Dr Fayemi and Senator Bola Tinubu frustrated you out of office, what is your relationship with them now?

I battled everybody but I don’t see any battle beyond its conclusion. A politician must not look backwards too much, but forward because it is forward that development is. Whatever battle I fought in the past, I fought it relentlessly because I believed in those battles. But those ones are now in the past. I don’t look backwards and we are now friends. I find myself very comfortable in their company.

Let me tell you, I don’t have any personal grouse against Governor Fayose. If he did not want to be governor of Ekiti State, our relationship would have been as good as it should be. But I will always say this: I cannot accept him as the image of the Ekiti person. I cannot show him to my children as a role model.

It was alleged that you collected N200 million to join the APC…
From whom?

From the leaders of the party…
N200 million? Am I that cheap? I am not a rich man but by all means, N200 million cannot swing me in any political direction. How much do they gave me before I joined PDP in 2006? Those are lies. I’m today in APC because I believe the party stands for truth, honesty, peace and progress.

Ekiti must move forward. I don’t dwell on past issues. Thank you.