TheCable

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti, says the non-payment of N11 billion to the state by federal government is the “wickedness” of Kayode Fayemi, minister of mines and steel development.

Fayemi is the predecessor of Fayose.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Fayose said Fayemi instituted a case against the state at a court in Abeokuta, seeking an order to stop the payment of N11 billion due to Ekiti as refund for construction and rehabilitation of federal roads.

He described the alleged action of Fayemi as wickedness taken too far on Ekiti people.

The governor wondered if it was by this means the All Progressives Congress (APC) “intend to realise their tall dream of taking over Ekiti state by force.”

“When I said that I won’t leave office as a debtor of salary, going by the efforts I have made, I was sure that the over N12 billion owed the state by the federal government on construction and rehabilitation of federal roads will be paid to Ekiti like other states this month,” Fayose said.

“However, I am shocked that in their usual characteristics of working against every effort to alleviate the sufferings of the people, Dr Fayemi, through his former commissioner for Finance, Dapo Kolawole, instituted a case against Ekiti state at Abeokuta, seeking an order to stop the payment of N11 billion due to Ekiti as refund for construction and rehabilitation of federal roads.

“One wonders why a case involving Ekiti was instituted in Abeokuta when we have a Federal High Court here. It is clear that this is an attempt at shopping for court order to prevent Ekiti people from getting the refund due to the state.

“Sadly, the N11 billion refund that should have been paid to Ekiti state this month is said to have been stopped by the federal government, relying on the court action.

“My question is; must Ekiti people, especially the workers be made to suffer just because of desperation of the coming governorship election? I consider this as wickedness taken too far against one’s own people.

“My salary as a governor is under one million naira, now imagine those workers that will suffer from this wickedness all in the name of opposition politics. They believe that when they strangulate this state in terms of finances, they will be able to have an inroad into the state.”

He said it was the APC government of Fayemi that plunged the state into huge debt which led to irregular payment of salary.

“It is equally unfortunate that despite being in charge of the ministry of solid minerals, his office has not benefitted Ekiti regarding the available minerals resources in the state. No single road project has been done in this state since the beginning of the APC federal government,” Fayose said.

“It is my belief that the well-being of the people should be the utmost concern of all of us irrespective of our political affiliation. Ekiti people must not be made to suffer just because anyone has political issues with me.

“Even though I remain undaunted, I just have to place it on record that once again, the collective interest of Ekiti and its people is being sacrificed on the altar selfish political interest.

“However, I wish to assure our workers that I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the evil plans of these political desperadoes in the APC do not materialise. I will use all legal means to stop this wicked plot to deny our state its legitimate entitlements.”