Ekiti People Must Take Our Destiny in Our Own Hands

October 6, 2006

Over the past three years, we undersigned members of  EKITI-PAG (Ekiti Political Action Group, a Diaspora-based group), in a number of prior publications, have joined other groups and individuals inside and outside Ekiti State to warn the nation that the administration of Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose will and has proved to be a blight to the sensibilities and reputation of all Ekiti people both at home and abroad.  It has been an all-round embarrassment and worse since the administration came on board on May 29, 2003.   The recent dastardly assassination on August 14, 2006, of Dr. Ayo Daramola - a man in his prime whose murder is yet unsolved - unfortunately provided a deadly re-inforcement to those warnings.

It was therefore welcome news that on Friday September 29 or thereabout,  impeachment notices involving a total of nine serious charges were served on both Governor Fayose and his Deputy Abiodun Olujinmi.  It was about time.   

The thoroughness with which the EFCC under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has for some time now been investigating the cases against the duo is very commendable.  The courage of the 24 Ekiti legislators under the leadership of Speaker Hon. Friday Aderemi who served the notice is to be praised.  The unrelenting watch-dog role that various individuals such as Chief Afe Babalola and Mr. Femi Falana,  activist groups such as ours (Ekiti-Pag),  E-11 (under the leadership of Mr. Femi Ojudu), Ekiti Justice and Equity Movement (led by Mr. Morakinyo Ogele), Ekiti Agenda (under the leadership of Chief Odeyemi), Ekiti Rescue Mission ERM (led by Dr. Kayode Fayemi), political groups such as the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Egbe Majeobaje (a progressive faction of the PDP),  and others that have been on the case of this administration since its inception has been vindicated.

Following these impeachment notices, which have now been acknowledged to be received and impeachment proceedings going on smoothly, we expect constitutional due process to be scrupulously followed. The dual cases of the Governor and his Deputy should be dealt with with wisdom consistent with the need for order and stability in our state. With courage of the Legislature, cooperation by the Judiciary (under the leadership of Chief Judge Kayode Bamisile) and commitment of all Ekiti citizens and friends,  we are confident that all necessary actions will be wrapped up within the few weeks, and that a new and inclusive set of leadership will be installed at the helm of affairs in Ekiti State. 

We warn all political merchants and jobbers, particularly those from outside of Ekiti State, to steer clear of our state, because we are DETERMINED to choose our own leaders ourselves henceforth and ensure that they are accountable to us and to no one else.  In particular, we demand that certain well-known individuals who are reported to be trying to intervene to help Fayose in his self-inflicted ordeal to understand that their interference will not be tolerated, and that they should mind their own domains.   "Oko o le je ti baba ati ti omo  ki o ma ni ala" is a deep proverb of our great Yoruba people, implying that there are limits to interference even among close family members.   Any untoward outcome of their continued insistence of interfering will not be quickly forgotten by the long-suffering people of Ekiti State.

At this time when we should be truly celebrating ten years of the creation of our state, unfortunately we are saddened by the kind of leadership that we do not deserve.  However,  we now have a golden opportunity to start afresh in a transition period that is bound to begin soon, and we must seize it with both hands and minds.  That transition period must see to the installation of an inclusive Government with integrity, accountability and transparency at its watchwords, whose two main tasks should be to clean up the finanncial and moral mess created by the Fayose regime, and to create a level playing field in preparation for elections in 2007.

We call for vigilance in Ekiti State. All hands must be on deck.  Opportunists must be avoided, and only those committed to rescuing Ekitiland from its recent past and creating a new and proud Ekiti State must be engaged.

Ekiti a gbe a o !

Released by EKITI-PAG

Akin Michael Adebayo

Gbenga Adesokan, MD

Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD

Adebayo Arowolaju Sr., PhD

Anthony Ayodele

Samuel Ayodele

Emmanuel Abiodun Dada, PhD

Titus Bodunde Folayan

Paul Olatoye

Samuel Oladimeji Rotimi

Robot  Villager

# 1 The thoroughness with which the EFCC under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has for some time now been investig...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 06.10.2006 12:49

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 2 Where is this Ekiti-PAG when Fayose was all powerful before the EFCC came to the rescue. You only hear about Aboleja (cowards) coming out of the woodwork when the war is over to come sakara for NVS. Posted by Exxcuzme| 06.10.2006 14:50

Bolaji Aluko  Villager

# 3 Exxcuseme: Please check, for example: http://www.nigerialinks.com/Articles/mobolaji_aluko/2005/06/enough-is-enough-governor-fayose.html "Enough is Enough, Fayose!" Advert by Ekiti-Pag June 11, 2005 Ekiti-PAG has always endeavored to work closely with the other Ekiti organizations inside Nigeria, and is the ONLY overtly political organization of Ekiti indigenes abroad. It is not socio-cultural, and hence is FREE to intervene directly in political issues without apologies from its members. That does not mean other organizations don't intervene in politics in Ekiti State, but they constantly have to watch not to cross their broader remit. Posted by Bolaji Aluko| 06.10.2006 23:38

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 4 ___________________________________________________________________ http://www.nigerialinks.com...or-fayose.html "Enough is Enough, Fayose!" Advert by Ekiti-Pag June 11, 2005 ___________________________________________________________________ Good prof, my bad. I came late to NVS and I am rescinding my earlier post. Posted by Exxcuzme| 07.10.2006 00:11