Recently, Mr. Femi Falana SAN has called on the federal government to investigate the illegal use of armed soldiers and the criminal diversion of N4.8 billion for the Ekiti state governorship election of June 21, 2014 for the ‘victory’ of Mr. Ayo Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election. The call of the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria was based on the report of an army panel which has recommended the trial of the soldiers who were involved in the manipulation of the election; the investigation by the efcc of a former minister of defence who collected the sum of N4.8 billion for the election; and the corroboration of the allegations of massive electoral fraud by the secretary of the ekiti state PDP, Dr. T.K. Aluko.
Governor Fayose has characteristically and carelessly accussed Mr. Falana of inconsistency because he had last year said the election was free and fair. Like Mr. Falana, many of also believed at the time that Mr. Fayose was legally elected by the Ekiti people. But, like several registered voters who took part in the election, we have since had cogent reasons to change my mind. Any decent person would have changed his mind in view of the serious allegations questioning the legitimacy of that election. In fact, both Messers Fayose and his mouth piece, Mr. Olalere Olayinka, have confirmed the allegations of the electoral fraud. When Captain Sagir Koli exposed the ekitigate last year via a recorded tape in 2014, Mr. Fayose admitted that he was in the meeting attended by General Aliyu Momoh who “commanded” the armed soldiers who were used for the election. At an encounter on the Channels Television, when Mr. Olayinka was confronted with the allegation that $37 million (N4.8 billon) from the arms procurement fund was released for the Ekiti governorship election he said that he could not disclose the sources of the fund used for Governor’s election!
Since Mr. Fayose has no defence to the allegations of electoral fraud, he has rushed to obtain a black market injunction from an Ado Ekiti based magistrate to restrain Dr. Aluko from further exposing the fraud. Even though the alleged “perjury” was committed by Dr. Aluko in Lagos during the Channels Television encounter, any law student knows that a magistrate court in Ekiti has no jurisdiction over the matter of an office committed in Lagos. It is therefore illogical, to accuse Mr. Falana of inconsistency having regard to the evidence of electoral fraud and criminal diversion of public funds which have been confirmed by the Nigerian Army and the EFCC. On our own part we thank Mr. Falana for insisting that the ‘military coup’ which produced Governor Fayose be investigated.
Up till now, Mr. Fayose’s lawyers have not been able to challenge the ingenuous submission of Mr. Falana that the immunity of a governor cannot save Mr. Fayose from prosecution for grave electoral offences. Happily, the State Security Service is reported to have commenced investigation into the matter as the use of armed soldiers for elections borders on treasonable felony.
Finally, it is laughable that Messrs Ayo Fayose and Olalere Olayinka can accuse anyone of inconsistency with respect to the politics of the country. For the benefit of those who are not aware of the political prostitution of the both characters, we are compelled to recall that from 2011-2014, Mr. Fayose left the PDP for Labour Party, fraternised severally with ACN and then returned to the PDP shamelessly. He is currently talking to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to facilitate his movement to APC. Olayinka’s story of inconsistency is much worse than that of his boss. He was the editor of Barrister Morakinyo Ogele’s newspaper called “The Class” which consistently accused Mr. Fayose of being responsible for the politically motivated killings in Ekiti State. From Mr. Ogele he moved on to work with former Governor Segun Oni. Upon the removal of Mr Oni from office, he decided to work with Governor Kayode Fayemi. From there, he emerged in Mr. Dayo Adeyeye’s campaign structure. Ever on the move, he joined the regime of Mr. Fayose after the “election”. Once the game is over, Olayinka will certainly move to whoever is in power in Ekiti State after the imminent exit of Mr. Fayose.
. Being a statement by Sina Odugbemi, the Coordinator of Value and Integrity Group.
Trending
- Three electrocuted in Ogun market
- Correctional service to publicly display fleeing inmates’ details
- Flights diverted as fire breaks out at Lagos International Airport
- 118 inmates escape as Suleja custodial centre fence collapses
- How FRSC reduced Road Traffic Crashes by 42% – Corps Marshal
- FCCPC uncovers prices in Yen as it grills Chinese supermarket owners + Photos
- Reporters detained for airing music, taking calls from girls
- German police arrest 11 Nigerians laundering money made from dating scam