R ecently, Mr. Femi Falana SAN had called on the federal government
to investigate the illegal use of armed soldiers and the criminal
diversion of N4.8 billion for the Ekiti state governorship election of
June 21, 2014 for the 'victory' of Mr. Ayo Fayose, the candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.
The call by the respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria was based on the
report of a Nigerian army panel which has recommended the trial of
the soldiers who were involved in the manipulation of the election;
the investigation by the EFCC of a former minister of defence who
collected the sum of N4.8 billion for the election; and the
corroboration of the allegations of massive electoral fraud by the
secretary of the Ekiti state PDP, Dr. Tope K. Aluko.
Governor Fayose has characteristically and carelessly accused Mr
Falana of inconsistency because he had last year said the election
was free and fair. Like Mr Falana, many of also believed at the time
that Mr Fayose was legally elected by the Ekiti people. But, like
several registered voters who took part in the election, we have since
had cogent reasons to change my mind. Any decent person would
have changed his mind given the serious allegations questioning the
legitimacy of that election. In fact, both Messers Fayose and his
mouthpiece, Mr Olalere Olayinka, have confirmed the allegations of
the electoral fraud. When Captain Sagir Koli exposed the "Ekitigate"
last year via a recorded tape in 2014, Mr. Fayose admitted that he
was in the meeting attended by Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, who
"commanded" the armed soldiers who were used for the election. At
an encounter on the Channels Television, when Mr. Olayinka was
confronted with the allegation that $37 million (N4.8 billion) from the
arms procurement fund was released for the Ekiti governorship
election he said that he could not disclose the sources of the fund
used for Governor Fayose's election!
Since Mr. Fayose has no defence to the allegations of electoral fraud,
he has rushed to obtain a black market injunction from an Ado-Ekiti
based Magistrate to restrain Dr. Aluko from further exposing the
fraud. Even though the alleged "perjury" was committed by Dr. Aluko
in Lagos during the Channels Television encounter, any law student
knows that a magistrate court in Ekiti has no jurisdiction over the
matter of an office committed in Lagos. It is, therefore, illogical, to
accuse Mr. Falana of inconsistency having regard to the evidence of
electoral fraud and criminal diversion of public funds which have been
confirmed by the Nigerian Army and the EFCC. On our part, we thank
Mr. Falana for insisting that the 'military coup' which produced
Governor Fayose be investigated.
Up till now, Mr. Fayose's lawyers have not been able to challenge the
ingenious submission of Mr. Falana that the immunity of a governor
cannot save Mr. Fayose from prosecution for grave electoral offences.
Happily, the State Security Service is reported to have commenced an
investigation into the matter as the use of armed soldiers for
elections borders on treasonable felony.
Finally, it is laughable that Messrs Ayo Fayose and Olalere Olayinka
can accuse anyone of inconsistency concerning the politics of the
country.
For the benefit of those who are not aware of the political prostitution
of the both characters, we are compelled to recall that from
2011-2014, Mr. Fayose left the PDP for Labour Party, fraternised
severally with ACN and then shamelessly returned to the PDP. He is
currently talking to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to facilitate his
movement to APC. Olayinka's story of inconsistency is much worse
than that of his boss. He was the editor of Barrister Morakinyo
Ogele's newspaper called "The Class" which consistently accused Mr.
Fayose of being responsible for the politically-motivated killings in
Ekiti State during Fayose's first tenure. From Mr. Ogele, he moved on
to work with former Governor Segun Oni.
Upon the removal of Mr Oni from office, he decided to work with
Governor Kayode Fayemi. From there, he emerged in Dayo Adeyeye's
campaign structure. Ever on the move, he joined the regime of Mr.
Fayose after the "election". Once the game is over, Olayinka will
undoubtedly move to whoever is in power in Ekiti State after the
imminent exit of Mr. Fayose.
source sahara reporters
Language & Culture The Ekiti is a sub-group of the Yoruba , and indeed their ancestors migrated from Ile-Ife, the spiritual home of all Yoruba . The local dialect is spoken with slight variations in the different communities, but this does not prevent Ekiti indigenes from understanding each other. Christianity, Islam and traditional religions are all practiced. The people of Ekiti are culturally homogenous and speak a special dialect of Yoruba language known as Ekiti. The dialect however varies across locations, e.g. Otun people (in Moba land) speak a dialect close to that of the Igbominas in Kwara and Osun States; the Oke-Ako, Irele and Omu-Oke people speak a dialect similar to that spoken by the Ijumus in Kogi State. The people of Efon Alaaye also speak a similar dialect to that of the Ijesas of Osun State. Although slight (and in very few locations, somewhat wide) variations exist in the local dialects, the Ekiti people understand each other and communicate pretty well. Poli...
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