Transport workers, artisans, traders hold pro-Fayose rally in Ekiti

…Warn President Buhari, EFCC against harassing governor

Pro-Fayose rally in Ado Ekiti yesterday Photo: MUYIWA ADEYEMI

For several hours, commercial and social activities in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital came to a stand-still as traders, artisans and commercial drivers closed their businesses to hold a rally in support of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The various groups under the aegis of a newly formed Ekiti State Private Sector Union (EKSPSU), which was an amalgamation of all informal unions in the state warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass the governor. The rally which halted business activities in the state capital saw many commuters stranded as the commercial motorcyclists and drivers withdrew their services while the rally lasted.

Apparently, the pro-Fayose rally was a reaction to the Thursday’s protest organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Conference of Nigerians Political Party (CNPP) where they expressed support for anti-corruption war of the President and condemned alleged ‘kleptocracy’ in Ekiti. They also described the frozen of Fayose’s accounts with Zenith Bank Plc by the anti-graft agency as “a right step”.

But while addressing the mammoth crowd that participated in the yesterday’s protest, Fayose warned President Buhari that any attempt to fight him is tantamount to fighting God, and the consequence will be unbearable for the President and his party. The governor said his current travails in the hands of the EFCC and alleged startling revelations by the agency that he procured N1.5 billion  property using phoney companies was masterminded  by the APC for the purpose of dimming the chances of the PDP during the 2018 governorship poll.

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Clement Adekola, his counterpart in the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr. Samuel Agbede, and the leader  of Okada Riders Association of  Nigeria (ORAN), Mr Dahunsi Olaniyi, were inaugurated as the Chairman,  Secretary  and Vice Chairman respectively, among other executive members of the EKSPSU. Fayose, who inaugurated the executive of the newly formed association, said the Buhari’s government will crumble if it wages war against him under the guise of anti-corruption war. He said, “They told the public that I collected a sum of N1.3 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki to fund my election. Some even said I collected it through Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro. Let me put it on records that I did not know Col Dasuki and Obanikoro has not come out openly to indict me, because he has not returned from abroad. “They said similar thing in 2006. It was all about second term then, because they didn’t want me to contest for second term. They said the N1.3b project which I initiated was a scam, but God brought me back.

“The APC and  EFCC conspirators took me before a Judge and I  got justice. When God says yes, nobody can say no. God has given me uncommon favour over my enemies. I am presently using the mandate of God and Ekiti people and they are ready to defend the mandate and that is why you proudly came out today to express support for me.

“Nigerians have never had it so bad like this. People are suffering and hungry and President Buhari says he is fighting corruption. How can the Federal Government increase fuel from N86 to N145? The price of kerosene is now over N200 per litre.

“No act of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth. I will continue to talk about national issues”, he said. Fayose disclosed that “Somebody from Ekiti gave President Buhari N1.5b for campaign, but today he is being seen as a saint. When you want to campaign or do marriage, people will give you money and my own can’t be an exemption. I am not afraid of incarceration or death. “APC’s  problem is 2018  and as the God liveth, they are going nowhere. “We will stand up and defend our state and the money they said they have gotten through anti-corruption should be spent for Nigerians”, Fayose stated.

The union, which declared support for Fayose  warned  APC and EFCC against pursuing political vendetta against the  governor . The  union, with over 80,000 membership across 40 unions, said coming under one umbrella was conceived as a way  of increasing members’ access to good governance and to offer useful advice to the government on how best to run the state. Addressing  the crowd , the union’s  Chairman, Mr Adekola and Secretary, Com.  Agbede, warned  the APC against destabilizing Ekiti State over the lost it suffered during  the June 21, 2014 governorship poll. Agbede said that the alleged conspiracy between the federal government and the opposition will fail and won’t materialize, just as he condemned alleged use of federal might  to rattle the governor.

He said: “It  is our view that in every election, the  choice remains that of the people and Ekiti people made their choice on June 21, 2014 and that choice must be respected. Those who have formed the habit of causing political instability whenever they lose election are hereby warned to desist from collaborating with external forces to cause crisis.“Freedom of thought and expression is guaranteed by the constitution of the  Federal Republic  of Nigeria, and in exercising these rights, Governor Fayose should not be intimidated by any agency of the federal government”, Agbede stated. Culled from  TheGuardian Nigeria