L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Afro Juju Musician, Sir Sina Peters; and member, Federal House of Representatives, Ekiti South Constituency 2, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, during the Feyemi Re-Election campaign tour of Ode-Ekiti, Aiyekire LGA.
The Onijan of Ijan in Aiyekire Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Samuel Oyewole Fadahunsi, has denied exonerating former Governor Ayo Fayose of complicity in the murder of an illustrious son of the town, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola.
The monarch made the clarification on Wednesday when he received the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in his palace as part of his campaign tour to communities in Aiyekire Local Government Area.
Dr. Daramola was a World Bank consultant and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant before he was murdered in cold blood on August 14, 2006 during the administration of Fayose.
The traditional ruler, who was quoted to have exonerated Fayose from Daramola’s murder, maintained that he couldn’t have made the statement when the case is still in court.
Oba Fadahunsi said: “When the news came, they said I exonerated him (Fayose) but that language was not mine and I didn’t exonerate Fayose because we are still in court.
“I cannot say directly that he is behind Daramola’s death and I cannot say he is not, but it was during his tenure that Daramola was killed”.
The monarch also revealed that some individuals brought money to him on the eve of Daramola’s assassination but he rejected the money.
He said further: “The previous night before Daramola was killed, some people brought money they called ‘kolanut’ and I told them that this is not ‘kolanut’ and they said it was ‘change’ and I told them that I did not buy anything to warrant collecting ‘change’ so I rejected the money”.
Oba Fadahunsi said he was reported out of context by The Nigerian Tribune.
“I only welcomed Fayose as a father to all. I am solidly behind Dr. Fayemi. I admire his good works in Ekiti State. My town has benefited a lot from this administration in the area of 5 kilometre local government road, Ado/Ijan road, the renovation of my palace and many more.”
He added that he suffered a lot of humiliation from the Fayose administration, claiming that Fayose suspended his salary for more than a year and also demoted him to the rank of a Baale.
Oba Onijan urged Governor Fayemi to help apologize to the people of his town who are aggrieved by his rumoured exoneration of Fayose, saying it was a blatant lie.
Dr. Fayemi in his campaign to communities in Aiyekire council area pledged to ensure the continuation of developmental strides being witnessed in the state if he is re-elected by the people of the state in the June 21 poll.
He charged the electorate to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to enjoy more goodies from his administration.
The communities reached by the Governor’s campaign train include Ode, Aisegba, Iluomoba, Ilupeju-Ijan and Ijan town.
Speaking earlier at Ode, the headquarters of local government area, Fayemi described the town as a prime beneficiary of his administration in terms of political patronage and infrastructural development.
The rally at Ode was enlivened by the presence of ace juju musician, Sir Shina Peters who thrilled the crowd with his songs.
The APC candidate told the crowd that attended the rally that the traditional ruler of the community, the Olode, Oba Adara Aderiye, had assured him of victory on the strength of capital projects executed and completed.
The monarch while receiving Fayemi in his palace commended the governor for his various people-oriented policies like free health mission to the grassroots, special medical mission to the palaces and payment of monthly stipends to old people.
Fayemi revealed that the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member and Ode indigene attained the position through his support and that of the then Action Congress (AC) lawmakers.
The governor disclosed that shortly after he came to power on October 16, 2010, the AC lawmakers wanted to install one of them, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, as Speaker but he (Fayemi) prevailed on them not to remove Odeyemi who later became Acting Governor from office.
Fayemi also revealed that one of the reasons why the PDP leadership worked against the emergence of another Ode son, Senator Gbenga Aluko, was that he (Aluko) is not a person that could cause violence and unleash terror at election.
He said, “You know what they had against Senator Gbenga Aluko was that he is not a violent person and that he (Aluko) is somebody like Fayemi and that his chickens will be excreting.
“Those were the issues they (PDP) had against my brother, Gbenga Aluko that made them to work against his emergence as their party’s candidate”.
A retired High Court judge, Justice Akinyede, prayed for the success of the APC candidate at the election.
The retired jurist stressed that although he is not a politician, he is impressed by what Fayemi has done so far and advised Ekiti people to give the governor a second term in office through their votes.
Fayemi visited the grave of an illustrious son of the community, the late Prof. Sam Aluko shortly after he addressed the rally.
Addressing the rally at Aisegba, Fayemi pledged to give attention to the electricity problems being faced by the people noting that although power is a Federal Government matter, the problem will not be allowed to linger.
The APC flag bearer said the threat of the opposition to unseat him from power is an impossible task and a dream that cannot see the light of the day.
He explained that Aisegba township roads now wear new looks noting that he hopes to do more things for the community if he is re-elected.
The Governor urged the people of Aisegba to vote APC and guard their votes.
Last modified: November 24, 2021
