Fayemi to Sambo: Your comments on Ekiti elections unbecoming of a vice president

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has come down heavily on Vice President Namadi Sambo for his comments on the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States saying the statement was unfortunate and it reduces the importance of the office of the vice president.

Fayemi who gave the reaction while speaking with newsmen over the weekend, said Sambo’s statement that the two states have become war fronts due to the election, was unpatriotic and can only be compared in terms of severity, with the do-or-die politics of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sambo had while inaugurating the campaign committee for Ekiti and Osun States in Abuja, described the two states as war fronts that offer the PDP opportunities to recapture the states.

Fayemi said only a retraction of the statement by the Vice President, would assure Nigerians that the presidency is not all out to use every means to manipulate the election in favour of the PDP.

“The Vice President has every right to push for his party in any election. That is his legitimate right but to have said what the media reported him to have purportedly said was quite unfortunate, because we are not at war in Ekiti.

“We have seen three and a half years of peace - one of the most peaceful states in this country today. So for somebody who occupies one of the highest offices in the land as our Vice President, to reduce the importance of his office and promote insecurity - either directly or by subterfuge, I think the Vice President really ought to withdraw the statement and reassure Nigerians that the agenda for Ekiti election is not going to be determined in Aso Rock but by Ekiti people.”

The Governor also condemned the alleged role played by minister of state for defence, Musliu Obanikoro in the recent by election in Ondo State.

“All of us also saw what happened at Ilaje - Ese Odo and the role played by a minister of government who does not even come from the state, has no responsibility in the state. In any decent government Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro would have been asked to leave by now. Because if you do anything that flies flagrantly in the eyes of the law - the INEC law is very clear,” he said.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to send ‘very strong signal’ to President Goodluck Jonathan that it would not take kindly to such interferences by ministers.

The governor advised against any attempt to rig the Ekiti guber election saying the history of the state has shown that the consequences are not always palatable.