A Non Governmental Organisation, The Ekiti Patriots (TEP) has berated the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for disowning the impeached former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose at the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti, describing Fayemi’s action as the height of treachery and betrayal.
Fayemi, had said under cross examination at the ongoing election tribunal that Fayose was not his friend and that he contributed heavily to his (Fayose) removal from office.
Mr. N. N. O Oke (SAN), counsel to 5th and 6th respondent had asked Fayemi that; “Will I be right to say Fayose is your political friend?
Fayemi said instantly that; “He is not my friend.”
Oke further asked; I will be right to say he (Fayose) worked for your candidacy during the rerun election, to which Fayemi replied; “It is not a statement of fact; it is a conjecture that you could say that is my friend and that he worked for my candidacy. It is on record that I contributed heavily to his impeachment in this State.
Reacting to the position maintained by Fayemi at the tribunal, TEP said in a release signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Kayode Adekunle, and made available to journalists that he (Fayemi) has once again demonstrated that he is not a trustworthy person.
“This is the height of treachery and betrayal and do condemn
“It would have been better if he had simply told the court that Fayose is not my enemy. Then we would know he was being diplomatic. But by out-rightly saying Fayose is not his friend, tells a lot about the kind of person Fayemi is.
“This same Fayose was the one who stuck out his neck and committed political hara-kiri because of Fayemi. Fayose was everywhere campaigning was everywhere; including taking dangerous and ridiculous ride on okada to sell Fayemi’s candidature. Fayose even turned his father’s funeral to a campaign rally for Fayemi. It is indeed so unfortunate that Fayemi could disown Fayemi openly,” the group said.
The group further said that it was even more saddening that Fayemi denied Fayose in the full glare of his (Fayose) close allies, whose defection to the AC shortly before the rerun election gave Fayemi the votes he was able to garner at Ido/Osi Local government.
“Some of our members, who were in the court on Thursday watched with disbelief as close allies of Fayose like Prince Akin Olayisade, Tope Longe and others were embarrassed by Fayemi’s position.
“It is classical case of ‘use and dump’ and it is our belief that people would learn from this show of political brinksmanship and realise that some people are ready to use anyone to achieve their political goals and dump them when they are no longer useful.
“Fayemi, by disowning Fayose has once again demonstrated his desperation for power and aversion for politics of truth and honesty. He has shown that he cannot be trusted with power and Nigerians should be mindful of his likes,” Adekunle said.
The group urged politicians in Nigeria to congregate on ideology and principle, adding that: “When strange bed-fellows unite just to purchase power, the quality of development will always be the worse for it.”