5 MILLION EFCC CAN'T STOP ME – FAYOSE
The declaration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission(EFCC) that some alleged corrupt persons would not be allowed to contest elective positions in the next general election has been dismissed as empty threat by former governor Ayo Fayose.
The former Ekiti State governor said in a campaign rally in Efon-Alaaye that the EFCC could not jeopardize his ambition to return to power in the state in 2011, saying the commission lacked the constitutional power to stop him from contesting because he was on trial.
Boasting before the crowd of members and supporters of his party, Labour Party(LP), Fayose said: ' No EFCC can stop me from contesting this election, even five million EFCC cannot stop me except a competent court of law. So, I regard the threat from the agency as the ranting of an ant.'
Charging the people of the community to ensure they stand by their votes during the election to prevent any form of electoral manipulation, the former governor, whose administration terminated prematurely in controversial circumstances, vowed to deal with anyone who might want to steal his vote during the election, noting that he was not ready to go to court after the election.
Reeling out his manifesto, Fayose promised to turn round the education sector and put in place all necessary infrastructure across all the 16 local government areas of the state to enhance industrial development. He added that the welfare of the people would be his priority.
He, however, told the people that he was more qualified to rule the state than any other candidate who had shown interest in the seat of power, saying he would formally declare his ambition in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti on Thursday this week.
According to him, 'to clear all doubts and lay to rest all speculations, I will contest and declare my ambition on September 23, in Ado-Ekiti at 10:00am, for the governorship race of Ekiti State by the grace of God. There, I will tell you my vision and mission. So be a witness.
'I love Dr. Kayode Fayemi, I love Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) but I love Ayo Fayose and the Labour Party(LP) more. If Segun Oni, the incumbent governor, could declare his ambition again, it would be an insult to me and Ekiti people if I fail to rise up to the challenge to wrest power from him.
'I am still part of the Appeal Court struggle but we cannot leave everything for them, so that we will not be caught unawares. If Fayemi wins, good luck to him and if the reverse is the case, Oni will surely surrender to me in the next election.'