Group demands apology from Fayemi over alleged uncouth remarks on Afe Babalola

A Group, under the aegis of the Ekiti Patriotic Consultative Forum (EPCF), has demanded a public apology from the former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over the alleged uncouth and disrespectful comments he made against the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola.

According to the group, the public apology is to be published in three major national newspapers and a one-on-one apology. The former governor in his response to Babalola’s comments recently about the performance of former governors of the state was quoted as saying: “Babalola has been relentless in his attack. But I am sorry. I won’t allow him to control the narrative about my time in office. It is important for people to know this is malicious, and not a dispassionate and objective assessment.

“The only thing I brought to public service is my name and I won’t let people take my silence as consent as far as his opinion is concerned.” However, the group said that in doing the one-on-one apology, Fayemi must personally mobilise some respected traditional rulers in the state in the company of the state governor for that purpose.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Oluwagbenga Babawibe, the group said that “Fayemi has crossed the red line and committed a sacrilege for using those derogatory words against Afe Babalola in his uncoordinated media attack against the Aare Bamofin of Yoruba.

“We have noted the recent uncouth and disrespectful comments attributed to a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, regarding the harmless remarks of Aare Afe Babalola, the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, at a private function of the opening of the annex of Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital at Irigrigiri Road, Ado-Ekiti, on March 18, 2024, which was meant to provide access to quality health delivery for the masses in Ekiti State, especially Ado-Ekiti and its environs.

“After a cursory look at the vituperation of the former governor of Ekiti State, a supposedly Omoluabi, we came to the safe conclusion that the Isan-Ekiti-born politician decided to descend on this iconic elder statesman, a man that still contributes immensely to the growth of Nigeria at 94 years old and still invests at least 18 hours of active work daily in the development of education and industrialisation in Nigeria.

“As a group of patriots in Ekiti State, we hereby demand from Kayode Fayemi a public apology to be published in three major national newspapers and a one-on-one apology in which he must personally mobilise some respected traditional rulers in the state in the company of the state governor for that purpose,” the statement stated.

The group, however, appreciated the maturity exhibited by other past governors of Ekiti State for not toeing the alleged “arrogant path of perdition taken by Kayode Fayemi in his response to Baba’s review; you will all grow old and attain ripe age like Baba.”