Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State was rocked by protest on Friday as many interest groups stormed the streets to condemn the non-payment of workers’ salaries due to alleged looting of the state treasury by Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The protest which was organized by a non-governmental organization, Be The Change Organization (BCO) also saw labour unions, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), artisans, market women, youth organizations and student bodies participating.
Executive Director of BCO, Mrs. Omotunde Fajuyi, said Ekiti people were embarrassed by the latest revelation of Fayose’s link with N4.7 billion arms cash, adding that all Nigerians must support all moves to recover the peoples commonwealth from looters.
She said Ekiti people are people of honour and integrity but expressed dismay that Fayose’s conduct in power has brought shame and odium on all Ekitis both at home and abroad.
Mrs. Fajuyi said: “We support President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, we have come out to protest looting of our money, corruption in government and scandals digging this government in Ekiti.
“Workers are dying at home, we want Fayose to explain what he has done with allocations he had so far collected because he had received more than N50 billion as allocation since he came to power.
“Fayose claims to be a Christian, he must come out clean and give account to the people of Ekiti State and he must submit himself and all his aides and associates to anti-corruption agencies for investigation .”
A youth leader, Adeoye Aribasoye, challenged Fayose to explain what he did with ecological funds and N9.6 billion bailout funds he received from the Federal Government.
Aribasoye said: “We have a governor who is richer than the state, a governor who has over N4 billion in his account he is the only one who can exp,a in what he has done with all the funds he had received from federal authorities.
“He must explain the N2.4 billion ecological funds because we don’t know what has happened to the money, he must answer for the revelations of Ekitigate.
“Pupils and students of public schools have been at home for over four weeks due to the strike embarked upon by civil servants and teachers.”
On its part, the state CNPP through its spokesman, Ayo Adelabu demanded resignation of Fayose from office in the face of new evidence of alleged corruption, calling on the management of Zenith Bank to come out and explain their role in the alleged funding of his campaign.
In the words of Adelabu, “We are calling on Fayose to sign from office over his failure to live up to expectation. He should come out and defend himself in the N4.7 billion arms deal scandal and we also challenge him to explain to Ekiti people how he had spent six months allocation without payment of workers which has grounded the workforce.
“The CNPP warns Fayose to stop abusing Mr. President who has been enjoying the full support of the majority of Ekiti people.
“The CNPP strongly condemns Ekiti State legislators who have turned themselves to political slaves in the hand of Fayose. The governor should also come out and explain the N2.3 billion loan he took from bank.
“The CNPP advises Governor Fayose to immediately stop the flyover bridge project and caution his political thugs against the attack of innocent people in the state.”
Meanwhile, dismissing the protest, an tagging it as the making of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Governor’s media aide, Lere Olayinka told DAILY POST that, “What you see in that protest are remnants of the APC. They just gathered there, took photographs and under few minutes they have dispersed. They cannot be saying the governor looted the treasury since the APC government he succeeded left behind an empty treasury.”
“The CNPP advises Governor Fayose to immediately stop the flyover bridge project and caution his political thugs against the attack of innocent people in the state.”
“Pupils and students of public schools have been at home for over four weeks due to the strike embarked upon by civil servants and teachers.”
