EkitiGate: Nigerians should ignore Falana’s self-interests induced comments – Fayose

The governor of Ekiti state has appealed to Nigerians to ingnore the self-induced comments of Human Rights lawyer Femil Falana over the current rumours surrounding the supposed rigging and emergence of Governor Fayose of Ekiti state.The Governor described the Femi Falana as someone whose comments on national issues, especially the ones involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State are self interest induced, saying; “a lawyer of his standing should be concerned about his credibility and be consistent on issues, rather than speaking from both sides of his
mouth just to satisfy his stomach.”

He said Falana should purge himself of his personal hatred for him and stop crying about over his failed attempts to govern Ekiti State, adding that; “Even in his Ilawe-Ekiti polling unit, he could not convince his own people to vote for the APC during the election. Was it because he was prevented from voting by anyone?”

Falana was reported to have said that the June 21, 2014 governorship election won by Governor Fayose was fraudulent and that the governor had no immunity against criminal prosecution.

However, speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “It is obvious that because of the present political expedient and the demand from his stomach, which is obviously insatiable, Falana has forgotten what he said in the interview he granted The Punch
newspaper, which was published on July 15, 2014.

“Therefore, since he has allowed his memory to be taking over by ‘chop-I-chop’ political hypocrisy, it is necessary to remind him that he said categorically in July 2014 that the governorship election was
not rigged.

“When he was asked by Olusola Fabiyi of The Punch newspaper that; 'do you think the Ekiti election was actually rigged?' Falana responded thus; ‘The election in Ekiti was not rigged. I witnessed it. I spoke to people before and after the election. Fayemi gave a good concession speech. But the APC has raised the possibility of photo-chromic ballot papers being used in favour of the PDP. I have been told by many APC members that photo-chromic ballot papers were used. I think the allegation is bunkum. Unless the party is ready to confront the reality of the election it is not going to draw the vital lessons from it. There were protest votes against the government. Instead of
questioning the credibility of the election the APC should engage in a critical review of the verdict of the electorate.’

“When asked whether he was surprised with the outcome of the election, Falana said; ‘…I never knew of the decision of the vital stakeholders in the state to vote him (Fayemi) out of office. …On a critical analysis of the political situation in Ekiti State, Fayemi is a victim of the ideological crisis of his party, the APC. Of course, the arrogance of some of the governor's aides who were allowed to wield enormous powers equally contributed to the loss of the election.’

“It is therefore important that Falana be told in clear Yoruba language that; ‘Falana gbo ti e’ (Falana face your own business) and he should look for elsewhere to satisfy his personal political interests because Ekiti will never fall into the hands of hypocrites like him.”