Groups Protest in Ekiti, Demand Fayose’s Resignation
Workers suspend strike, sign pact
Conference of Nigerian Political Parties and Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), based in Ekiti State, yesterday, protested against Governor Ayodele Fayose’s alleged involvement in the $2.3 billion arms scandal.
Also yesterday, workers in the state suspended their four-week-old strike, following the signing of an agreement with the government.
The protest, according to the coalition, was sequel to startling revelations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly collected N4.7 billion to finance Fayose’s governorship election held on June 21, 2014.
The protesters massed at the popular Fajuyi Park and marched through Ojumose Square to Okeyinmi Junction where their leaders addressed the mammoth crowd about the state of affairs in the state.
The protest was undertaken under the platform of a non-governmental organisation, Be The Change Organisation (BCO).
Addressing the crowd, the Executive Director of BCO, Mrs. Omotunde Fajuyi said Ekiti people were embarrassed by the latest revelation that linked Fayose to the N4.7 billion arms cash, adding that all Nigerians must support any move to recover the people’s commonwealth.
Fajuyi said: "We support President Buhari's anti-corruption
crusade; we have come out to protest looting of our money, corruption in government and scandals digging this government in Ekiti.
"Workers are dying at home, we want Fayose to explain what he has done with allocations he had so far collected because he had received more than N50 billion as allocation since he came to power.
"Fayose claims to be a Christian, he must come out clean and give account to the people of Ekiti State and he must submit himself and all his aides and associates to anticorruption agencies for investigation."
The Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kolawole Olaiya urged the EFCC to probe the whereabouts of the N9.6 billion bailout money released for the payment of workers, pensioners and past political office holders.
Olaiya said: "Corruption is responsible for the inability of Ekiti
State government to pay workers' salaries for six months. With the present revelation that several billions of Naira has been discovered in the sitting governor's account, it is a confirmation that the governor is corrupt.
"Ekiti workers still believe that the N9.6 billion bailout is kept somewhere and we urge the EFCC to institute a probe into this fact so that workers can receive their six months salary arrears and secure their future.”
The state CNPP Publicity Secretary, Ayo Adelabu said: "We are calling on Fayose to resign from office over his failure to live up to expectation he should come out and defend himself in the N4.7 billion arms deal scandal and we also challenge him to explain to Ekiti people how he had spent six months allocation without payment of workers which has grounded the workforce.
"The CNPP warns Fayose to stop abusing Mr. President who has been enjoying the full support of the majority of Ekiti people.”
At a ceremony of the pact with the government in Ado-Ekiti, the state government and the central labour unions agreed to a seven-point deal.
On the government side were the Secretary to the Government, Dr. Mrs. Modupe Alade, the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka and the Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo.
On the side of the labour were the Chairman, Joint Negotiating
Council, Comrade Oladipo Johnson, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ade Adesanmi and State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Odunayo Adesoye.
Among the resolutions agreed to were that the state government should, within seven days, conclude its request with commercial banks to restructure personal loans granted public servants with a view to giving them relief from loan repayment; payment of January 2016 salary immediately and the payment of February salary as soon as Budget Support Fund is available.