Dr. Fayemi, while speaking at a ceremony in which he handed over two vehicles to the state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for its women and youth wings, lamented that there was so much rumour-mongering in Ekiti, describing the state as the “most prolific rumour mill in Africa.”
Speaking at the ceremony held at the secretariat of the party in Ado Ekiti, the governor said this situation was “antithetical to the high level of education that Ekiti is known for” and charged the people to refrain from this.
He said: “Sometimes ago, somebody called me and when I picked the call, he was surprised that I was the one who personally picked the call because he heard I was sick and that I had been carried by ambulance to the hospital.
“The person, who happened to be our party member told me further that rumour had it that the deputy governor is sick and had tendered her resignation letter.”
Speaking on the sack of his cabinet members, Governor Fayemi said what Ekiti needed currently were those who could deliver the dividends of democracy to their doorsteps, adding that it was also predicated on his resolve to inject “those that would satisfy the yearnings of the people into governance.”
He promised the party that he would feel the pulse of Ekiti people by consulting widely with the party leaders, who are actual representatives of the people, in appointing new set of commissioners and special advisers into his cabinet.
Fayemi was received by the party’s Chairman, Mr Jide Awe, who officially announced the Governor as the Governorship flag-bearer of the party in 2014, saying “it is only a fool that would change the winning team.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has described the comment made by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that Ekiti was the number one rumour mill in Africa as uncharitable and an insult on the collective sensibilities of Ekiti people. The party said the governor must retract the statement and apologise to the Ekiti people.
Fayemi had reportedly said on Friday at the state secretariat of the ACN, Ado-Ekiti, that Ekiti was the number one rumour mill in Africa, adding that rumour-peddling must be discouraged in order to give room for more development in the state.
However, reacting to the statement, Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Kayode Babade, said that it was the height of Fayemi’s arrogance and contempt for Ekiti people for him to have described them as rumour mongers.
The party said rather than blame Ekiti people for what he may regard as rumour about his administration, he should blame his party, which thrives on falsehood and propaganda, himself for running a cult-liked government and his information managers who are obviously not doing their job.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to media reports credited to governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State describing the State as the number one rumour mill in Africa.
“In other words, Fayemi is saying that Ekiti people, including himself, are rumour mongers who do not deserve to be accorded any respect.
“This to us is an insult on the collective sensibilities of Ekiti people who are highly educated and respected for their honesty and sincerity.
“Most importantly, we wish to remind Fayemi and his ilk in the ACN that they should indeed be blamed for whatever rumour that is being peddled about the government because they actually introduced lies and deceit to the politics of Ekiti.
“Was Fayemi not among the ACN people who lied that incisions (gbere) were made on eggs that were being used to feed primary school pupils during the PDP administration of Segun Oni?
“Was Fayemi not part of the ACN people who lied that N3 billion was carried to Ogere Toll Gate where the cash was changed to Dollars and used to bribe Tribunal judges?
“So when Fayemi wanted to be governor at all cost then, in his estimation, it was not ridiculous that N3 billion cash could be changed to dollars at Ogere Toll Gate?
Why is he now troubled about the so-called rumour about his government to the extent that he is now insulting Ekiti people by calling them rumour mongers?
“To us, such a comment coming from a governor is to say the least unfortunate and it is our demand that he must apologise to Ekiti people for labelling them rumour mongers, which they are not.”
TRIBUNE
No comments:
Post a Comment