Outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday reiterated his pledge to submit himself at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by 1pm today, saying he is not a coward. Fayose who declared that he has no apologies to anybody for his actions while in government, also said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not a match to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in 2019 presidential election.
This comes as PDP yesterday alleged that the Presidency has directed the EFCC to indefinitely incarcerate Fayose. Fayose whose tenure as governor expires today after his two-tenure in office, had repeatedly boasted that he would report to the anti-graft agency immediately his tenure expires today.
However speaking at a send-off banquet organised in his honour by PDP governors on Sunday in Abuja, Fayose said, “Tell them at the villa, my name is Ayodele Fayose, Peter the Rock. By the grace of God, I will be at the EFCC tomorrow (Tuesday) by 1pm. I am not a coward.
“I will not run away, they will rather run away. They took me to court 13 years ago, I won after 8 years. They harassed my family and I got judgement three times against them. “This time will not be an exception. Those who wait for me will wait in vain. EFCC is no court. This country belongs to all of us,” he noted. He promised to talk more than he has been talking as soon as he is through with his EFCC case.
While dismissing any fears of repercussions over his actions in office, “I have no apology to any authority for any of my actions in government. You can never trace me to APC. The option is not a dying party like APC. “If you trace their ways, you can never trace me to APC. Recently I was not happy with certain things (in PDP). I cannot deceive you. “We will stay and fight this battle. Despite the fact that we do not have the VP slot, we will win the South West. We will not throw the baby away with the bath water,” he promised.
Fayose was confident that Atiku and Peter Obi would win the 2019 presidential election, noting that Buhari is not match to Atiku.
“Put two of them side by side, comment by comment, clarity to clarity, Nigerians will not vote for APC. “Atiku will be president of this country, Obi will be vice president of this country. I want to tell you that it is very easy to inherit your father, but what you do with that inheritance is what matters. They got power by deceit but they gave no solution,” he added.
On his part, the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus advised the EFCC to follow the rule of law and the constitution in trying Fayose after he leaves office, and warned against tampering with Fayose’s human rights. “Let me say here that there are threats of intimidation and frame up waiting for our brother who has performed very well in Ekiti State. “The world is watching, international communities are also watching what will happen to this gentleman that has performed well in Ekiti,” Secondus said. He described Governor Fayose as “senior advocate of the common people of Nigeria” who has been advocating for peace and security of the country.
The PDP national chairman also expressed confident that the party would win the 2019 presidential election. “I believe that PDP has come to a stage that the entire country is waiting very anxious to vote in our president in waiting. We ask those in authority now to know that one day you will leave your office and you will be held accountable. “We are also proud of one of our leaders that has been chosen as our presidential candidate running mate, every other thing will be discussed.”
Vice presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogora, praised Fayose’s courage and doggedness, and urged him not to relent. Apart from Obi and Dogara, other PDP leaders who graced the occasion were Senator Walid Jibrin, Governors Emmanuel Udom, David Umahi, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa, Seriake Dickson, Darius Ishiaku and Aminu Tambuwal.