The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party-led Caretaker Committee in the state of plotting to destabilise the government of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The ruling party in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Sam Oluwalana, said the activities of the caretaker committee since it came to the state had shown clearly that members of the committee were on a mission to cause chaos and destabilise the government.
Oluwalade said the opposition party had through the caretaker committee been playing “irresponsible” politics aimed at destroying the peace of the state but he said their plans would fail because the people of the state were aware of PDP’s antics.
However, the Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in the state, Mr Diran Odeyemi, while responding to the allegation said the APC’s allegation was a ‘misdirected venom.’
Odeyemi, who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP said the party should face the opposition within the ruling party and allow the governor to respond to the issues raised by the PDP.
He said the opposition party had been performing its roles and putting the government on its toes to make it responsible and accountable to the people of the state.
The APC statement read, “From available records, since the imposition of caretaker committee on the PDP in the state, it has continued to move from grace to disgrace with the committee members rather than facing their assignment, are only interested in causing trouble in the state by dishing out lies of high magnitude to the general public.
“This is a committee that has not seen anything good in the administration of Dr Kayode Fayemi and APC and rather than embarking on constructive criticisms expected of a formidable opposition, it has been tales of lies upon lies.
“The APC in the state, for the umpteenth time encourages and counsels the opposition PDP, especially members of the caretaker committee to first remove the logs in their eyes before they attempt to remove the pecks in other’s eyes. Enough of the lies.
“It is not unusual for political party to be out of government as no condition is permanent, but when such a party now turns its period of interregnum to embark on things that may likely jeopardize the future of its members calls for concern.
“Or how can one describe a situation whereby the national headquarters of the party sends a bunch of misfits into the state? From day one, the committee was dis-jointed and has no clear-cut agenda except to abuse the state government whose character and workings they know nothing about.
“Just weeks after their arrival, they started a war amongst themselves with the Chairman disowning his Secretary publicly. The national secretariat in a strange twist decided that in order to settle the matter, sent another set of four “strangers” to diffuse tension among its juveniles.”
But Odeyemi said,” If you look at all the issues we raised against the government, beginning from N770m demolished Abuja Governor’s Lodge; the government’s extortionate recruitment exercise and the 15 per cent to be signed off by pensioners to get their gratuities, all are true and verifiable.
“Even the government has not debunked any of these issues raised up till now. The government should come out and debunk them if they are lies. We challenge them to do so. They have always been dishing out lies to justify their actions but we have been giving facts and figures and the people of the state can verify these.
“Our coming to Ekiti has been a blessing to this government and the good people of Ekiti State. We are here to serve the people responsibly and not to destabilise the government as a responsible opposition party. But tell the, to address the issues raised and to stop this allegation aimed at distracting the people from the real issues.”
The immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its erstwhile acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to learn from Thursday’s ruling of the Lagos Federal High Court, which ordered the return of two houses he temporarily forfeited to the anti-graft agency in 2019.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the said court had dismissed an application filed by the EFCC, seeking final forfeiture of the properties.
Aikawa, who had ordered the interim forfeiture last year, said the EFCC failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant final forfeiture of the properties.
The judge consequently ordered the anti-corruption agency to return the properties to the former Kwara State governor.
Reacting, Saraki said he always knew that Magu had launched a “personal vendetta” against him because the 8th Senate which he led rejected his (Magu’s) confirmation as EFCC chairman.
He said, “I have endured and defeated one false allegation and malicious litigation after another, in an ill-motivated persecution, intimidation and harassment, through which some vested interests sought to damage my name and label me with charges of corruption but with the grace of Allah, I have always been victorious.
“I know that the Senate under my leadership only followed the due and normal procedure during the confirmation process and we never executed any personal agenda against Magu. The records of the Senate are there for the perusal of all Nigerians interested in the truth.
“I hope that with the outcome of today’s case, EFCC learns that a serious issue like the fight against corruption should not be reduced to a forum-shopping means to execute a personal vendetta or prosecute a parochial agenda.
“With the decision of the Court, it is my expectation that EFCC, which has played significant roles in the various court cases against me from the CCT to the Supreme Court and back at the Federal High Court with the consequent media trial and malicious campaigns will now leave me alone to live my life, and enjoy my unfettered rights to freedom of thought, expression, association, occupation and dignity, as a private citizen and focus on serious issues of national development,” the statement read.
