Ekiti : Political Sledgehammer On Mines Minister, Fayemi; Gets 10 Yr Ban from contesting elections
The Oasis Reporters
January 16, 2018
The Ekiti State Executive Council handed a shocker on Monday to former state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi who is currently the minister of Mines and Steel Development by barring him from holding any public office in Ekiti state and Nigeria for the next 10 years, just as he will no longer be eligible to contest elections in the country.
The decision followed the acceptance of the report of the white paper on the Judicial Panel of Inquiry by the Ekiti State Executive Council.
Former commissioner of Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole was also barred for 10 years.
“Their disrespect to the constituted authority and the undignified roles they played in the whole contracts saga were obviously against the interest of the state they were supposed to protect. They are banned from holding public office in Ekiti and any part of Nigeria, said Commissioner for Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi.
“Ekiti State is a pacesetter when it comes to the management of finances. ”
“Government views accountability and probity as hallmarks of good governance. Therefore the government decided to set up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in line with its law enacted in 2012.
“The government viewed seriously the report and it intends to carry out all the recommendations in the report.
” Other highlights of the white paper are : The government has mandated Fayemi and his Finance Commissioner to refund N2.7 billion which was allegedly allocated for the execution of the contract for the ultra-modern market but was never executed.
The government further directed the Ministry of Justice to institute appropriate legal actions to this effect.
“His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole should be made to account for the difference of N340 million from the N1.5 billion earmarked from the bond proceeds for the upgrade of infrastructure at Ikogosi Warm Spring which could not be accounted for.
” The former governor and his Finance Commissioner were to also pay other monies running to billions of Naira to the state government’s coffers.
The ban was predicated on the refusal of the duo to appear before the commission even after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the commission of Inquiry before the Ekiti State High Court.
Fayemi had filed a suit, with number HAD/57/2017 against the panel, seeking an injunction to restrain the state government and the judicial panel from going ahead with the exercise.
The suit was dismissed by an Ekiti State High Court.
The former governor rejected the constitution of the panel, headed by Justice Silas Oyewole, and alleged that its members were card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party.
Dr. Fayemi was a one term governor of Ekiti State who lost his reelection bid to the popular sweep of Ayo Fayose, the current governor whose tenure ends in 2018. He is on his last tenure having served a previous one and not eligible to run as governor anymore.
Ekiti State often uses the stick of legal backed bans to bar it’s politicians from running for office.
Chance occurrences and popular appeal helped Ayo Fayose to overcome his political hurdles.
But can Fayemi overcome his?
Pundits are asking in Ado Ekiti the state capital. And with state elections just six months away, it will be a long road to travel for the former NADECO (National Democratic Coalition) pro democracy activist.
