Why I didn’t pick Aluko as my CoS – Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said the allegation by the former Ekiti State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tope Aluko, that the military was used to influence the outcome of the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state, is another ploy by the All Progressives Congress to rubbish the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state.

He claimed the such a wild allegation could only come from Aluko, who he refused to appoint as his Chief of Staff “because he could not be entrusted with such a sensitive position.”

Fayose, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, wondered when the opposition would stop licking their wounds when the election conducted about 20 months ago had been adjudged as free and fair and applauded by the election observers and the international community.

Fayose said, “All these steps are being taken by the APC to silence me because of my criticism of obnoxious policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, but I cannot be silenced. If I, Ayo Fayose, remains the last man standing to put Buhari administration on its toes, I will not look back. Strong opposition is an ingredient of a virile democracy. I don’t have any skeleton in my cupboard. If the APC has any concrete evidence against me, it should give it to the EFCC.”

Fayose added that he felt sorry for Aluko because he had allowed those who rented him to do the dirty job to destroy him therefore bringing shame upon himself and his family.

The governor said, “ It is very obvious that those who rented him will keep him at an arms length believing that what he did to me, he will do same to them.

“From Aluko’s ranting, one could see that he wants to poison our waters because he did not get the position he expected in our administration. He complained that he was not made the Chief of Staff, how could somebody with great lust for money and insatiable drive to jump from one camp to the other be trusted with such a sensitive post? I was advised by well-meaning Ekiti people not to trust him with sensitive positions because of his greed.”

PUNCH NEWSPAPER