Ekiti Rebirth Organisation (ERO), the campaign group of leading aspirant
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has
described as “wicked lies from a tormented soul,” the statement by the
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, alleging that
Ojudu masterminded the crisis that marred the APC primary election in
Ekiti yesterday.
ERO Director General, Chief Ranti Adebisi, said that Fayemi’s statement
was nothing but “another tantrums from Fayemi whose political fortune
has taken a deep slide in recent times and whose entire campaign strategy
was built on lies, orchestrated violence and cheap anti-democratic
tricks.”
A statement signed by Fayemi’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode
alluded that Ojudu and another aspirant, Bimbo Daramola masterminded the
violence and destruction of ballot boxes, having realised that the former
governor was already in a clear lead in the four local councils that had
cast their votes.
Adebisi however pointed out that “The entire incident that happened at the
stadium was caught on camera and broadcast on National Television. We
implore the security agents who made several arrests at the scene to make
public the identities of the people arrested and their sponsors. I can
tell you 100 percent that they have no link whatsoever to the Ojudu
campaign.
Adebisi continued: “Fayemi has been the candidate threatening violence
since he joined the race last month. He threatened to cripple the state if
not given the party ticket. He deployed security agents to intimidate
delegates even during the conduct of the primaries.
“He is the aspirant that has been avoiding democratic test of popularity,
the chronology of events that culminated into the stampede at the Oluyemi
Kayode Stadium, is known to the public, as some of them were also
captured on camera. Those videos are everywhere on the social media for
everybody to see.
“Clearly, if there is anyone desperate, that person is Dr. Kayode Fayemi,
the stakes are high for him as a former governor who lost his seat
wholesale and as wobbled as a serving Minister. It is his degree of
desperation that has caused the latest show of shame in Ekiti.
“Ojudu has no reason whatsoever to want the voting disrupted since we were
projected to win. But we are appealing to our delegates and supporters
across the state to remain calm.
“Fayemi came late into this very contest to realise that the boat has left
the shore. He is now looking for any straw to hang unto. He was shocked to
realise that his much advertised hold on the state executive was a fluke.
He was shocked that Ojudu was coasting home with a landslide so he has to
haphazardly change from one rigging strategy to the other but Ekiti people
are not fools.”
“We don’t support violence, our campaign does notuse thugs. We don’t use
self-help. However, Ekiti people have made the statement loud and clear
that they no longer want Fayemi. We are sure of our support base. If this
election is conducted ten times Ojudu will win,” Adebisi concluded.
Gboyega Adeoye
Campaign Coordinator