I Am Ready For EFCC, ICPC Probe, Says Fayose

EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday said he is ready to be probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in the way he has been awarding contracts, insisting he has been following due process in all his financial dealings.

Speaking during the flag-off of the proposed ultra-modern Oja Oba Market, which was demolished in November last year, Fayose assured that the market, which he said would be a replica of Tejuoso Market in Lagos, would be ready in 18 months.

He said: “I have no skeleton in my cupboard; I am ready to be probed by the EFCC and ICPC on all my financial and contract transactions. A man with good intention fears no foe.”

He lamented the way some indigenes of the state have been criticising some of his projects, saying: “It is only in Ekiti State that people pull down or discredit any good work.”

Fayose also declared that he was not bothered by the rumoured intentions of some bigwigs in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Apparently reacting to the speculation making the rounds that the former Acting Governor, Mr. Tope Ademiluyi, ex-envoy to Republic of Congo, Princess Jolaade Onipede, and over 30 aggrieved PDP stalwarts were planning to decamp to APC, Fayose said: “I am not scared by these defection threats. If you want to go, you better leave now.

“I always rely on the masses, rather than politicians, because they don’t betray leaders, like politicians.“Politics is a game and we shall play it for them in 2018. When you make the people your pillar, you will never fail. “I am confident that I will defeat them if election is held here 20 times, because I make the masses the pillar of support.”

He called on the EFCC and ICPC to scrutinise the financial dealings of his government, because of his experience in the past, where he had been detained for 45 days and charged to court in a case that lasted eight years.

“I know that I have so many enemies and that is why I have been following due process in all my dealings. There are enemies for me when I sleep and when I wake up, so I have to be careful. I don’t want my enemies to latch on technicality to get at me,” he said.

He promised that all the market men and women, who had suffered as a result of the demolition, would have cause to rejoice with him after the completion of the project.

“It is always very difficult when structures like this were being demolished. But it takes a leader with great heart to take a bold step like this. What Ekiti needs is a bold leader and not a weakling.

“They are criticising my government on daily basis; they are free to do so. But I want to emphasise that I won’t be distracted by their criticisms, no matter how tempting,” Fayose stated.