Politicians jostle to replace ailing Ekiti deputy gov

Politicians in the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti State have allegedly begun an intense struggle to replace ailing Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.

The alleged plot was brought to the fore by the deputy governor's family, which described as 'callous' the struggle by politicians to replace Olayinka, who applied for a sick leave to attend to her health some days ago.

An elder brother of the deputy governor, Chief Olusegun Famuwagun, said he was shocked when Governor Kayode Fayemi told him that some politicians had started lobbying to replace her.

Famuagun, who is a lawyer, said this while speaking with some journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday evening.

Famuagun said, 'Her health matters to us than the office she is occupying. And to confirm our fears, for how many weeks has she been sick that they have started presenting another candidate to the governor? Governor Kayode Fayemi told me that some politicians had started struggling to replace her and you can quote me.

'We are all in this country. The wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, was ill, she even said she died seven times, she survived it. It was the case with some state governors, so her case is not different. But I can assure you she will bounce back and those wishing her dead should stop playing God.'

He said that the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, was worried about her indisposition and had called on chiefs and elders of the town to pray for her quick recovery.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo, had on Monday said that Olayinka applied for a sick leave.

The statement reads, 'Ekiti State Government wishes to inform members of the public that the deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, has taken leave to attend to issues relating to her health.

'We urge all well -meaning citizens of the state to remember her in their prayers.'

The deputy governor was rumoured to be in a coma last December and allegedly resigned her position. But this was swiftly denied by the state government.

She resumed her official duties although she did not say anything about her health.