Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of Ekiti State, says President Muhammadu Buhari is using a "corrupt" Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to fight corruption.
As contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 6, by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka,
the Governor said the said the President must start his anti-corruption
from his inner circle - the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The
EFCC leaders’ opinions remain their opinions and if they are so sure of
whatever information they have, they should go to court and stop
subjecting Nigerians to media trial and that no amount of media trial
from the same elements that orchestrated my removal in 2006 can erode my
popularity among Ekiti people,” Fayose said.
On
the various properties linked to him, he said he legitimately bought
them and duly declared them in his assets declaration form, stressing
that the properties were not purchased with illicit funds.
Contrary to allegations that his election was funded by the Office of the National Security Adviser headed by Sambo Dasuki, he maintained that Zenith bank, plus friends and associates funded his election.
“As
a promising candidate of my party, I cannot stop Nigerians from
supporting my election like every other candidate of other political
parties, including President Buhari,” he said.
Fayose
said since the money used in sponsoring his election was not from
illegitimate sources, how it spent it is his prerogative and no one's
business.
Also addressing the EFCC allegation that
he received bribes from some Ekiti contractors, the Governor said the
anti-graft agency is just desperate to nail him.
He said: “If they have anything against me, they
should keep their gun powder dry, because in 2006 when they took me to
court, their allegations crumbled like a pack of cards because court
decisions are founded on facts and law, and not on media trial as
currently being done by the EFCC as tele-guided by the APC leaders in
their desperation to set the people against me knowing fully that they
are not on the ground.
“Having failed to
buy the conscience of the Ekiti House of Assembly members, the APC
people have become increasingly afraid of 2018 and the agencies of the
Federal Government should know that no matter how hard they try, Ekiti
electorate will not be deceived by their blackmail and media trial.
“The
EFCC should be told in clear terms that this is 2016 and not 2006 when
impeachment notices against governors were signed on the table of the
EFCC operatives. Those who are tele-guiding the EFCC now should also be
reminded that they did more than what they are doing now in 2006, yet I
was overwhelmingly voted for by the Ekiti people eight years after the
orchestrated impeachment which the Supreme Court declared illegal.
“Should
Nigerians now conclude that the EFCC is an appendage of the APC? Is the
EFCC for investigation of corrupt practices among all Nigerians or
members of opposition parties alone?” Fayose queried.
He insisted that nobody can shut him up, as he will continue to speak out against the Buhari administration and its antics.