Fayemi, Fayose’s feud deepens over inauguration

Fayemi and Fayose

The feud between the outgoing Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, is affecting the plans for the October 16 inauguration, it was learnt on Monday.

On September 15, Fayemi inaugurated a 19-member transition committee, comprising members from his administration and those nominated by Fayose.

But since the inaugural meeting of September 15, the transition committee has yet to meet.

There had been counter-accusations between the administration and the Peoples Democratic Party on the running of government after the June 21 governorship election won by Fayose.

The head of Fayose’s nominees, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, who was named as co-chairman of the committee, has expressed concerns over the attitude of the government’s team.

In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, Anisulowo said, “We are leaving in an abnormal time. Transition is supposed to be done by the two parties but this time around we are just on our own.”

He alleged that the government’s team had been evasive on plans for the inauguration.

He said, “The outgoing administration is not cooperating with us at all. The only time we met was the inaugural meeting. Since then, there has been no meeting.We have written several letters to them to make inquiry but they are not forthcoming.

“We ask for the state of account, plans for the inauguration, the logistics and useful information that will aid our preparation but there has yet to be any response. What they keep saying is that they will provide information in the handover note.”

However, Anisulowo, who was the Director-General of the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, was optimistic that the inauguration would hold on October 16,

“The inauguration will hold by the grace of God, it cannot be scuttled. We are communicating with the Chief Judge, so we are confident the inauguration will hold,” he said.

Despite the non-cooperation of the outgoing administration, Anisulowo said the PDP would continue with its own plan no matter what.

“We would hold a reception in honour of the Governor-elect tomorrow (Tuesday). He is expected to come to Ado-Ekiti. We would also organise same for our guests who are coming to town on Wednesday,” he added.

Efforts to speak with the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi, who is the chairman of the transition committee, proved abortive.

He neither answered his calls nor responded to a text message from our correspondent as of press time.

During the committee’s inaugural meeting, Owolabi, who stood in for Fayemi, had declared that the governor would continue to take actions and decisions till his last day in office.

“There cannot be a vacuum in governance and it must be known that the present government has a mandate of four years during which it is expected to provide leadership without fail,” he said.