Ayodele Fayose
By Michael Egbejumi-David
demdem@hotmail.co.uk / Twitter: demdemdem1
I first encountered Ayo Fayose quite a few years ago through a mutual restaurateur friend in South London. I think the man was known as Oluwayose back then, and I think he worked mostly as a cab driver around town. But even then, there was a certain energy, a certain swagger about the chap. He was ambitious and talked big. Sort of reminded me of 50 Cents: Get rich or die trying. The next I heard of Fayose, he has turned up as Governor of Ekiti State – home of the PhD holders.
But things quickly went south for Fayose in Ekiti. He and the PhDs didn’t quite see eye to eye. Fayose seemed more at home in the company of miscreants and thugs. He would sometimes be found in their company tearing through town, wielding a considerable cudgel. He was also accused of being rude and uncouth, a no-no in a place like Ekiti. There quickly followed ugly rumours about mindless corruption and about a killer squad as a few prominent Ekiti people who looked like posing a formidable challenge to Fayose were summarily dispatched to a Tombo bar in the great beyond.
Things began falling apart in 2005 when Obasanjo arrived in Afao, Ekiti to commission a poultry farm. OBJ’s moustache twitched indelicately; the former President, a successful farmer, complained that he couldn’t smell the usual fragrance peculiar to poultry farms the world over. Turned out Fayose was pulling a fast one. Just the day before, Fayose had hurriedly put up a few chicken cages. Then he placed some chikens he had hired from a farm in Ibadan in those cages. Obasanjo, not known for being overly subtle, promptly yelled out that Fayose should check himself and fear God. He also advised Fayose to leave the poultry business entirely to private firms and individuals.
Shortly after that, Fayose’s friend, one Gbenja James, and a former aide, Goke Olatunji were arrested. They were nabbed for their involvement in what was known as the Ekiti State Integrated Poultry Scheme for which over N1.4 billion had been expended. James had brought a proposal to Fayose to setup four poultry farms in the State at a cost of N400 million. The State government was supposed to put up N100 million while James would raise the rest of the money through bank loans. Fayose listened, smiled, and then he personally took charge of the project.
But most of that N1.4 billion got diverted into personal use. The EFCC was to later charge that the monies were diverted through Fayose’s wife, Feyi and through the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Olujimi.
James also confirmed that some of the funds were used to build Fayose a house at Iyaganku, Ibadan, and that part of the money was used to purchase a car for Fayose’s mother. For her troubles, Fayose’s Deputy received 50,000 US Dollars.
Taking his cue from Fayose, James regarded his share of the poultry project money as his own 'dividends of democracy.' He dispatched himself on a shopping spree to Europe and America for exotic vehicles. He bought properties everywhere, and upgraded his farm in Ibadan. Meanwhile, not one chicken was produced from any of the farms in Ekiti.
That was just one case of blatant corruption, but that poultry scam was nothing compared to the fraud Fayose pulled off in Ekiti with local government funds. Despite Obasanjo’s initial reticence, Fayose and his Deputy were impeached and got kicked out of office in 2006. As we speak, EFCC corruption charges are still hanging over Fayose like the Sword of Damocles.
It is incredible therefore that it is this same Fayose that has now been resurrected, dusted off and chosen by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be their candidate in the upcoming Ekiti gubernatorial poll slated for this June. In a Party primary election conducted on Saturday 22nd March 2014 by none other than Peter Odili, Fayose emerged overwhelming winner. It was a PDP-style landslide. Of the available 477 votes, Fayose got a whopping 462. The other three contestants managed to scare-up only 11 votes between them. One contestant, Mrs Ogundipe got just 1 vote. That must hurt. It would appear even Mr Ogundipe wasn’t convinced.
The choice of Fayose is a head-scratcher for me. That he was even allowed to participate in any credible political Party’s primary was a surprise. I fear the PDP could be up to something again. I would have thought that a Party in central government that doesn’t control any State in the Southwest would see the coming governorship election in Ekiti as one in which to put its best foot forward. I thought the PDP would be a little more serious about its ambitions in Ekiti, especially as 2015 looms. What am I missing?
Throughout his time as governor, Fayose exhibited a character and behavioural trait that were unfit and unacceptable for high office. Alas today, a few people in Ekiti look back on Fayose’s three years as productive ones. They weren’t. Those folks should remember that Fayose came immediately after gentleman Niyi Adebayo; a man whose idleness as governor was only surpassed by Lucky Igbinedion’s in Edo.
Rather unfortunately, it has become common practice in Nigeria for all major political Parties to cheat during elections. The biggest rigger always wins unless the courts step in to save democracy’s blushes. The last time around, it took an almighty battle before the usurper governor, Segun Oni was thrown out. Things got so tough, the previous Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo evaporated from her duty post and went on the lam. She claimed that some people (read, Maurice Iwu) wanted her to do things against her will. In the end, Iwu and the PDP had their way. Mama Adebayo was later forced to compromise her integrity, her name and age. Moreover, Jonathan and his friends have since removed Justice Salami from the Court of Appeal. You just never know with the PDP.
Across the track, Iyiola Omisore is getting ready to become the next governor of Osun also on behalf of the PDP. Omisore has done it before: He won an election as a Senator of the Federal Republic whilst on prison remand on a murder charge. Perhaps there’s a method to what ordinarily looks like the PDP madness. After all, this is realpolitik; it is certainly not about some bucket-load of PhDs in one thing or the other.