Ekiti 2014: US Group Urges PDP To Drop Aspirants Facing Corruption Trial
A United States of America (USA) based group, Justice For All Nations (JFAN) has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to proof wrong, the US State Department's 2013 Annual Report on Nigeria, which accused the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government of frustrating anti-corruption efforts in the country by making sure that anyone standing corruption trials is not cleared to contest the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election and subsequent elections.
The group said in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, that allowing the likes of former governor, Ayodele Fayose who is facing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecution for allegedly withdrawing N855 million from the state government's account on the pretext of establishing an integrated poultry farm in the state and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo's Personal Assistant, Mr Bodunde Adeyanju, who is standing trial before an Abuja High Court on the Halliburton scandal to contest the PDP governorship primary in Ekiti State will show where the party belongs in terms of anti-corruption.
JFAN said; "allowing the duo of Fayose and Adeyanju to contest the PDP primary will amount to lending credence to the US State Department report, which accused the Federal Government of frustrating the EFCC anti-corruption efforts. That they were even allowed to obtain the party's nomination form is an insult on Nigerians."
The group, which called on President Jonathan to come with clean hands on corruption in the country, added that; "You cannot claim that you are fighting corruption while your party keeps promoting people that are being tried for corruption."
We are following events on the Ekiti State governorship election because Fayose and Adeyanju are being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged fraud, and the two of them are contesting the PDP governorship ticket for Ekiti State.
We in JFAN are waiting to see whether or not the party will further demonstrate to the whole world that it is indeed frustrating anti-corruption efforts in the country as claimed by the United States Government.
We also not unmindful of the fact that there could be argument that Fayose and Adeyanju have not been convicted in a law court, but we are more concerned about the morality of a man standing trial for fraud becoming governor, thereby stalling the fraud case because he will have immunity against criminal trials for four years.
Will the PDP led federal government prove the US State Department wrong by shutting its doors against those standing corruption trial, and wait until they are exonerated of their corruption charges before presenting them as the party candidates? Nigerians and the whole world is watching.