Former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja on Tuesday, on the commission’s invitation, is still in its custody.
But, the commission has declined comment on the issue, preferring the media await developments on it.
Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwajeren, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that there was “nothing to report at the moment”.
“If there is anything, I will get across to you,” he said.
While reporting at the EFCC on Tuesday, Fayose had said that he was there to keep his promise to honour the commission’s invitation and to respond to any allegation against him.
The former governor, whose tenure ended on Monday, was accompanied to the EFCC by Rivers Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
He had at the commission’s office said
“I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the 16th of October.”
A senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had told NAN on Thursday that the EFCC had no right to keep Fayose beyond 24 hours without charging him.
He said that it was either that the commission charged the former governor to court or free him so as not to foul the law.
According to the human rights lawyer, the EFCC has no right to keep him for over 24 hours.
He said
“If they have done that by obtaining a Magistrate Court’s order that will be in the form of a holding charge, which has been declared unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court.
“Holding charge is illegal. It is unconstitutional.’’
Ozekhome said that the section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) permitting a magistrate to detain a suspect for 14 days was illegal.
He explained that any action outside the provisions of Section 35 of the Constitution, which specifically provided for 24 hours, was illegal and unconstitutional.
He said that the ACJA allowed for detention of a suspect for 14 days, but that Section 35 of the Constitution made it clear that a person could only be detained for 24 hours.
“So, when there is a clash between the statute, like the ACJA, and the Constitution, the Constitution prevails by virtue of Section 1(3).
“If they have gotten an order for two weeks from the magistrate court, it is unconstitutional,” Ozekhome stressed.
He, however, disclosed that efforts had begun to secure the release of Fayose.
According to Ozekhome, Fayose’s lawyers are already taking steps to enforce his fundamental human rights by getting him released.
“Yes, his lawyers will go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights.”
NAN
The outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said he is ready to face the investigation team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to a media report, the EFCC had already set up a special team to grill the governor for allegedly receiving over N1.2bn from a former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.) through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Fayose, who said he had a clear conscience, told the commission to expect him in its office on October 16, a day after the expiration of his tenure.
“He who has clear conscience fears no foe. The EFCC should still expect me at 1pm next Tuesday,” he said.
Fayose spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of a new school he built in his Afao-Ekiti home country as part of his legacies projects in the state.
At the event, he asked workers to collect their outstanding four months’ salaries from the incoming governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. He said the funds he could have used to pay them as expected had been withheld by the Federal Government ahead of Fayemi’s resumption.
“They paid other states Paris Refund, they didn’t pay Ekiti; Fayemi should help me pay the money.
“They didn’t pay Ekiti N2.2bn Budget Support Fund; my promise is fulfilled but the money is in the hands of the government, they should help me to pay.”
The governor told the gathering that he did not borrow money from anywhere to fund any of the projects.
“With all these legacy projects, I didn’t borrow any dime. I do not owe any debt, if they say I owe, they should show evidence of the transaction.
“Besides, no governor can borrow without the knowledge of the Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office.”
Fayose urged the incoming administration not to neglect the school or abandon any legacy project. He said the school named Gifted Academy International would receive students from Ekiti and outside on 50:50 ratio.
“The school is equipped with modern equipment, laboratories, furniture and Closed-Circuit Television for surveillance,” he said.
Gov. Ayodele Fayose said on Tuesday said that all the ongoing capital projects will be completed and inaugurated before vacating office on Oct. 16.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the governor, made the promise while speaking at 2018 edition of the Annual Udiroko Festival in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The governor said he had resolved to complete all ongoing projects in consonance with his promise while being sworn-in for a second term in office not to abandon any project embarked upon.
According to him, his critics who were allegedly saying he embarked on employment of new hands into the state public service at the tail end of his tenure should also have asked him not to continue with projects he started.
He listed the capital projects so far completed and ongoing to include the One-Kilometre overhead bridge in Ado Ekiti, the new state High Court complex, the new Governor’s office and the new Ministry of Finance complex.
He listed others to include the new Ultra-Modern Kings Market in Ado Ekiti and the Amphi Theatre, the Banquet Hall at the Ewi’s palace and the dualization of virtually all the 16 Local Government Headquarters among others.
NAN reports that he had, at about 3:00p.m arrived the venue into the waiting hands of cheering crowd of residents singing his praises.
Fayose said there was no known law in the country that says a sitting governor must stop performing the functions attached to his office once his party has an election decided against it.
He told the gathering that the about 200- lock up shops at the new Kings market would be shared to willing traders before the end of the week.
He pledged that those traders initially displaced as a result of the fire incident that razed the old market would be given preferential treatment.
NAN reports that the governor appreciated the people of Ado Ekiti for standing by his party during the last governorship poll, regretting, however, that certain forces allegedly did not allow their votes to count.
He assured them that the ruling party in the state led him would use all normal and legal means to reclaim the stolen mandate.
In his response, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe thanked the governor for what he termed as “sudden turn around” of the state capital, saying close to 80 per cent of the projects carried out by Fayose during his second term in office were concentrated in Ado Ekiti, thereby making his reign memorable.
Also speaking, legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola, who is also a leading son of the ancient city, expressed delight at the volume of the people that trooped out to celebrate the festival.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the Ado Ekiti Progressive Union, Chief Bayo Ogunmodimu said the Udiroko Festival marked the beginning of another traditional year for the sons and daughters of Ado Ekiti.
He said that it was also being used as a rallying point and unifying factor for all age groups and all local associations and clubs in the town.
He thanked the state government for the modern structures erected in the palace and wished the outgoing governor well in his future endeavors.
NAN
The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has described Saturday’s by-election in Rivers State for Port Harcourt Constituency III State Assembly seat as “another sad reality that votes of Nigerians will not be allowed to count at the 2019 election as the elections will be held at gun-point to achieve predetermined results”.
INEC has suspended the election, citing “widespread violence”.
According to the Governor, despite the legacy of free, fair and credible conduct of elections bequeathed to the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria is in a state of anarchy, because of the desperation of a few people to retain power.
“Even INEC could not but point it out in its press statement announcing suspension of the election that miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily armed security personnel in uniform stormed polling units, destroying and carting away electoral materials as well as holding electoral officers hostage.
“We thought that we have gone past this era of manipulated electoral process after the 2015 general elections, which brought the APC and President Buhari to power, the country has been taken back to the Stone Age by merging APC with INEC, police, military and other security agencies.”
The Ekiti Governor called for the arrest and prosecution of the policemen that took part in the shootings and snatching of election materials in Rivers State, saying
“there are pictorial evidence of the policemen on the social media, the police authority must not sweep this under the carpet as usual.”
He said if an election in just 142 polling units was so militarized, with gunshots everywhere,
“time has come for Nigerians to rise up to this challenge of making sure that the democracy that they fought for is not destroyed by those whose only interest is to retain power in 2019.”
The Governor said;
“I warned Nigerians in 2015 and when this reign of tyranny started, I kept warning. Now; free, fair and credible election is dead in Nigeria and election has become what the ruling party must ‘win’ at gun-point.”
He challenged President Buhari to stop pretending as if he knew nothing about the electoral malfeasance going on under his watch, adding that
“It is the interest of the President that is being protected and it is a disservice to a man who is close to 80 years to allow his country to be turned to a war zone just because he is seeking reelection.”
Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have said they have confidence in the State governor, Ayodele Fayose.
The lawmakers also distanced themselves from the alleged plot to impeach the governor following the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the July 14 governorship election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The Speaker of the House, Kola Oluwawole, had on Thursday raised the alarm over an alleged invasion of the Assembly premises by riot policemen in order to pave the way for the three APC members of the House to reconvene a week after the members had gone on recess.
He accused the APC lawmakers of forging the signature of the clerk, Mr. Tola Esan, in a letter purportedly written to request police protection.
But speaking after paying a solidarity visit to the governor on Friday, the Spokesperson for the Assembly, Dr. Samuel Omotoso, on behalf of the 23 members said they remained loyal to Fayose.
The chairman, House Committee on Information, said the Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers were fully in support of the move by the party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, to reclaim his mandate.
He said,
“We are here on a solidarity visit to the Governor and to show our displeasure to the stealing of the mandate freely given to Prof kolapo Olusola. We also want to use this medium to register our displeasure to the illegality being perpetrated by security agencies threatening to make the state ungovernable.
“As you can see, we are 23 members and 21 is present here. Mrs. Titi Owolabi is not here because she is bereaved, and one of us travelled overseas. We are 26 members; three are on the other side. We are united and irrevocably committed to the cause of Fayose.
“We are solidly behind him and our party the PDP. We support the decision of the party to go to court to retrieve the stolen mandate and also to tell the whole world that if 23 members are on the same page, we want to see how they want to use three members to perpetuate illegality in the state.
Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, hinted that his administration would probe the financial records of outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose when he assumes office.
Fayemi, while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari behind-closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also said contrary to reports, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), never engaged in vote-buying in the July 14 governorship election in the state.
He explained that the essence of looking into the financial records of the state was not targeted at the out-going administration of Governor Fayose, but to find out why the government was unable to pay salaries of workers.
He said it was not about an individual but about the government so as to not make the mistakes of the outgoing administration.
According to him, “Well, l think we need to remove this election from personalities. This was an election that we fought on issues and it will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years in the manner of government.
“What was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period, why were we not able to pay salaries in the state. These issues should be examined in the interest of good governance.
“It is not about probing Fayose, probing Eleka etc, it is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good government. So, we will also involve in looking at what transpired in the last four years.”
The former minister of Mines and Steel, said his transitional committee were already working on how his administration will hit the ground running by looking at the assets and liabilities of the state.
According to Fayemi, “We are in the business of putting the government together. We are in the transition stage we beginning to look into the record of the state, its assets and liabilities and we expect the outgoing government to extend its hands of cooperation to us.
“We will engage also all of our professionals to ensure that we deliver good governance to Ekiti people. That is what they voted for and that is what we intend to give. So, basically, this three months will be used for this purpose.”
On why the APC the Ekiti polls, Fayemi said, “What sold us to the people is really the track records of our commitments to social investment, good government, transparency in government, extensive infrastructure and community involvement. These were the things.
“Everywhere we went during the campaign, we were able to show what we did for each community. All of our 132 communities, there were projects in all of them and they knew that our government was regular in payment of salaries, support to a range of the weak and vulnerable in the society and that was really what sold us.
“We have always been interested in seeing that our people live a decent life, a life without hunger, with social support and that is why we were paying social security benefits to the elderly. We provided youths graduate scheme for the recent graduates, provided support for the communities.
“For us, we never saw stomach infrastructure from any pedestrian manner that the current administration has lived it up to. For us, it is about total development of our people, human and capital development in education, health care, in social services and infrastructure development.
“It is total service we focused in. We increased salaries three times so that people could put food on their table in four years. That was why we provided range of allowances for the workers.
“There was a huge difference between what we did and the present administration with lack of salaries, heartless, despair and despondency. We are restoring the values and reclaiming our mandate.”
On the alleged vote-buying by the APC, he said, “I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote buying and intimidation. In the place where l voted, there was no vote buying anywhere.
“As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that, it is not our style. We won the election fair and square and it was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote buying. So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience.”
Also speaking, the Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu said that the Ekiti State governorship election was free, fair and credible.
He said, “Our party leaders, including President Muhamamdu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National leaders, stakeholders have all done their jobs including the Ekiti people themselves.
“We had a vey successful election, it was quite peaceful and Ekiti on the day the election results were declared, there was jubilation and we congratulate them. We thank INEC and the security despite the misconstrued reports, they provided their best. I have seen many who said this is the most peaceful election we have had.
“Let people campaign on issues and here we have a candidate who was humble and despite what happened before, he was humble to say in 2014 that if that was the wishes of Ekiti people, I will not go to court. Ekiti people have once again delivered their wishes and anyone who loves Ekiti should respect their wishes.”
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that what he called ‘the Edo State rigging template’ which the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, who is a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, plans to use during the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State would fail.
The governor, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, also dismissed a statement credited to Oshiomhole, that the PDP is jittery about the coming election.
“Oshiomole’s secret plan to use his fraudulent Edo template in Ekiti will never work and it will attract injurious consequences. This is because Ekiti people are resolutely determined to resist rigging right on the spot.
He also dismissed the APC’s allegation that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rigged out the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in 2014, noting that the election was free and fair as attested to by both local and international observers.
He said,
“If Adams Oshiomhole still has problems with that election, he should address his misgivings to the US and the international community. Besides, the APC challenged the election up to the Supreme Court but lost. Is Adams Oshiomhole disputing and despising the highest court of the land? It must be noted that he himself became governor by the supreme court judgment”, he said.
Fayose added,
“The PDP is raising the alarm because of tell-tale signs that the APC and Fayemi are plotting to rig the election. The statements by top APC leaders including its former chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun that they must capture Ekiti, by all means, are very instructive in this regard.
“Nigerians witnessed the blatant rigging of Ondo and Edo governorship elections by the APC. In Ondo, it was shameless vote buying. In Edo, they stopped vote counting when it was clear PDP was winning and changed the results overnight. Seeing these, who will ask us to stay stupid?
“Adams Oshiomhole was the mastermind of Edo rigging. He is only calling Fayose the name that rightly belongs to him (Oshiomhole),” he said and accused Oshiomhole of double standards and colluding with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to enrich himself at the expense of Nigerian workers, while he was President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
“In case Adams Osh- iomhole does not know, his records of double-dealing and collusion with ex-President Obasanjo, as NLC President while deceiving workers and the suffering masses are in the public domain.
“This fake comrade hobnobbed with Obasanjo in the night but came out in the day to deceive workers with empty rhetoric. In the end, Obasanjo hiked fuel price many times under Adams Oshiomhole’s nose.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the poor widow, he told to go and die. This contrasts sharply with Fayose’s empathy for the poor and the down-trodden. Has Oshiomhole at any time spoken against the murderous herdsmen even when they killed his people in Edo state?”
Fayose also vowed that the Ekiti State Anti Open Grazing Act has come to stay, saying,
“We sound it loud and clear that we will not abrogate our anti-grazing law, the same way we will resist APC agenda to take Ekiti by force by manipulating the coming election.
“APC is factionalized right under Oshiomhole’s nose. If he does not consider that enough trouble, he will meet his Waterloo in Ekiti come July 14 when Ekiti people will seal his running mouth for him”, Fayose said.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said Nigeria does not need President Muhammadu Buhari as her leader in 2019, noting that Monday’s declaration of reelection bid by the President was an ambition dead on arrival.
The Ekiti State governor also noted that if President Buhari is re-elected, he would kill the country.
Governor Fayose spoke to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday on the President’s intention, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi.
He said if President Buhari was unable to read the handwriting on the wall and know when to call it quit, Nigerians would show him the exit door in 2019 by voting him out of office.
Fayose opined that the president was not only too old to lead the country well, he had bungled the opportunity given him by his woeful performance.
“That ambition is dead on arrival. We don’t want grandpa as president anymore. Nigeria does not deserve a Buhari as president in 2019. Buhari is old and tired. When people don’t know when to take their leave and say bye, Nigerians will show them the exit door.
“He has done more harm to this country. His ambition is a means by which Nigerians will tell him good riddance to bad rubbish when they boot him out of office. He is an easy candidate to defeat in the poll for he has failed woefully.
“He has failed in all fronts. He has failed in his so-called fight against corruption, he has failed in the economic front. He has not done well in term of security. People are being killed in large number daily and Nigerians have no confidence in him.
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the federal government of deliberately causing the current scarcity of fuel in the country so as to justify the planned increment of petrol pump price from N145 to N185 per litre.
The governor, who said the federal government, was being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, added that “petrol is scarce across the country because the federal government deliberately reduced supply since it is only the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that is importing the product.”
Governor Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted him as saying in a release issued on Sunday, that “Allowing fuel scarcity to persist for over two weeks when Nigerians are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year is the height of wickedness on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government.
“Funny enough, instead of directing its anger to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Minister of Petroleum, on December 7, 2017, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) choose to give the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu seven days ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity. Today is December 17, exactly ten days after the misplaced ultimatum was given, the situation has even gotten worse.”
He said “By the time the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) goes on strike as being threatened, the whole country will be shut down and one wonders what will become of Nigerians that desire to move around during the festive season.”
Governor Fayose, who said it was necessary for the federal government to tell Nigerians the truth about the situation of fuel supply in the country, noted that it was the restriction of supply of petrol to NNPC alone that has put Nigerians into hardship.
He said, “It is only the NNPC that is bringing products in; and the result is the scarcity being experienced now. The thinking is that by the time the scarcity persists for like one month, with Nigerians already buying at N200 per litre, the people will jump at it if petrol is increased from N145 to N185 per litre.
“This time, Nigerians will resist any attempt to further impoverish them by increasing the pump price of petrol.”
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has congratulated Anambra Governor Willie Obiano for his landmark victory in Saturday’s election.
He said that the results clearly showed that connection to the people was key to winning an election.
Fayose also hailed the conduct of the poll, describing the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies as above average and a sign that the electoral umpire was listening to the cries of Nigerians for a return to the legacy of free, fair and credible elections inherited by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
In a statement by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said;
“Even though there were reports of malfunctioning of card readers, number of votes exceeding number of accredited voters and pockets of violence as well as buying of votes, the Anambra governorship election was better than others conducted by INEC under the present government of APC.”
The governor, who urged INEC to pay more attention to the malfunctioning of card readers, said,
“By now, INEC ought to have resolved all issues on card readers because it does not augur well for the electoral process and INEC itself if we are still being faced with failure of card readers on election day.”
The governor hailed observers, both local and international for ensuring that the election was relatively credible, urging them to focus more attention on the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti and Osun States.
“Particularly, we will be having governorship election here in Ekiti on July 14, 2018. I want both local and international observers to be involved before and during the election because what the people of Ekiti State desire is freedom to choose their governor.
“In 2018, we should no longer be talking about failure of card readers, late arrival of electoral materials at polling units and other problems identified during the Anambra election,” he said.
Describing credible electoral process as the only way democracy can be sustained in the country, Governor Fayose said
“even elected public officers will have no option than to deliver democracy dividends to the people if there is assurance that votes will count.”
Governor of Ekiti State and Presidential aspirant, Ayo Fayose, has announced that he is gifting brand new cars to 3 outstanding teachers in the state.
In a Facebook post by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he revealed the governor will be awarding the best primary school teacher, the best secondary school teacher, and the “headmaster general” with new cars.
Both the best primary and secondary school teachers will get Hyundai Xcents, while the headmaster general will receive a Kia Rio.
See photos of the cars below:
Photo Credit: Lere Olayinka
It is still a full year and five months to the 2019 elections, but some politicians eyeing the highest office in the land are already positioning themselves to run.
One of such is the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who has not hidden his desire to contest the presidency, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Today in Abuja the Federal Capital, Governor Fayose formally declared his ambition to run at a gathering of party faithful including former Aviation Minister Femi Fani- Kayode and a former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore.
Governor Fayose in his declaration said that he is the Nigerian man to watch out for as the nation moves into another decade.
He referred to the coming back of President Muhammadu Buhari as a sign of him attaining the seat of the President.
“Nobody like me can take out the President from his office, twice I defeated the incumbents to become governor of Ekiti State.
“I am confident with your support as my party leaders and supporters, I will defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari in a free and fair election”.
He further noted that if elected he will ensure workers salaries are paid, exchange rate fixed at a normal rate, reduce the rate of kidnapping by herdsmen, security, the unity of the country, ensuring schools are in international standard and stop molestation of judges.
In his words, “I am the man already destined by God to take Nigeria out of its present political and economic stagnation”.
Fayose had earlier said in a Press statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, M. Lere Olayinka expressed optimism of winning the coming presidential election when Nigerians elect a new president in 2019.
“I have a penchant for taking powers; that one in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hand, I will take it.”
He, however, said in a letter addressed to leaders of the PDP that his ambition to be president was without prejudice to the party’s position, but in the overall interest of the party and the country.
The letter read; “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my intention to seek the ticket/mandate of our party to contest the 2019 presidential election.
“Considering your support and commitment towards our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it becomes imperative to keep you informed and seek your support.
“This ambition, however, is without prejudice to our party’s position but in the overall interest of the party and our country.
“I urge that all hands should be on deck to ensure victory at the 2019 presidential election.
“Accept the assurances of my highest regards as a determined presidential hopeful.”
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Peter Fayose running for President in 2019 under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shared another campaign photo on Twitter with the caption; "Onyeisi Oche ala Nigeria 2019 - nike nke Chukwu".
This has been interpreted as a direct appeal to the South-easterners who are currently campaigning for a secession from Nigeria.
Fayose whose tenure as governor expires in the year 2018 has not only identified with Biafra separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu but he has also declared Ekiti State a part of Biafra.
The 2019 electoral process is close and Fayose might be testing the water to ascertain if it's safe to dive in.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has commended the National Assembly for its passage of the bill to reduce the age limits for elective positions, calling for total removal of age barrier from eligibility to contest elections in the country.
He said;
“If a Nigerian who is 18 years can vote, such a person should also be qualified to be voted for and whether or not such person can be elected should be left in the hands of the electorate. Most importantly, age is not a barrier to intellectual capability and that has been in most countries led by young people. Here in Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon was Head of State at 32.”
The governor, who assured that the Ekiti State House of Assembly will endorse the bill when presented to it, called on other States Houses of Assembly to endorse the bill, saying; “There is no nation that can develop without giving its youths opportunity to serve.”
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said: “There is nothing wrong in a 30 year old contesting for President not to even talk of 35 year old because the future of Nigeria belongs to the youths.”
The governor also declared that he was already putting into practice provisions of the bill in Ekiti State, explaining that it was in
recognition of the importance of youth’s involvement in governance that he restricted the age anyone can contest for councilor to between 18 and 40 years and those above 50 from contesting chairmanship election.
“I salute the National Assembly for passing this very important bill that will enable young Nigerians to contest for President at 35, governor at 30 and House of Representative or State Assemblies at 25. But the National Assembly should have removed the age barrier completely,” the governor said.
The governor, who reiterated his resolve to enforce age limit for local government positions, said;
“This bill passed by the National Assembly has reinforced my position on age limit for local council positions in Ekiti State.
“It is my position that our youths must be allowed to participate in governance since they are the ones who provide the largest votes during elections.
“Most importantly, the future belongs to the youths and I believe that they should be giving prominent roles in structuring that future which belongs to them.”
The senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the Senate, Buruji Kashamu, has said nobody can send him out of the Peoples Democratic Party. He also said that he had no plan to defect to another political party as being speculated in some quarters.
He said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday.
Kashamu was responding to the defection of some members of the PDP, who were considered to be his loyalists, to the Mega Party of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State, four days ago.
He alleged that the reports linking him to the alleged defection were being spread by one of the aides of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.
“I wish to state without mincing words that the misleading report linking me with the move was concocted and spread on social media by Mr. Lere Olayinka, who is an aide of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose,” he said.
He said that since the Supreme Court had settled the leadership crisis in the party that lasted for 14 months, he had congratulated the Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and other members of the NCC.
He, therefore, urged all aggrieved party members to unite and work with them in the overall interest of the party.
He said he was surprised that Fayose could criticise the olive branch extended by the party’s national leadership to some members of the party who played prominent roles during the crisis.
Fayose, according to reports, had said that the “amnesty” being offered to such people as announced by the spokesman for the party, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye, was a “mere political slogan.”
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