Ekiti: Ikere Group Calls For Calm Over Deputy Governor’s Certificate Saga

By Joseph Sunday 

The Ikere Ekiti Development Initiative group, IEDI, has called for calm and a total end over the Ekiti State Deputy Governor certificate’s saga, warning those living in glasses house to stop throwing stones. 

The Convener of the above named group, Mr Temitope Ajayi, based in Victoria Island, Lagos made the call through a press statement made available to the newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Saturday. 

Ajayi in the press statement, said “the members of the Ikere Ekiti Development Initiative, IEDI, has kept an eye on the move by some individuals in Ekiti State whose aim is to truncate the new BAO/MCA gubernatorial ticket. 

The group added that, “it has watched with keen interest, the activities of some  notable men and women in the State, who have continued to employ all kinds of diabolical means to throw spanners into the good relationship between the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and his deputy, Mrs Monisola Christianah Afuye. 

Continuing, IEDI stated further, the reasons why it has refused to respond and even mention the names of those fanning the embers of discord in the public”.

Ajayi went on to describe the group’s decision not to act before now, as not an act of cowardice or admittance of the concocted stories of certificate forgery.

Citing reasons, Ajayi said IEDI only refrained from jumping into the fray because its mission and vision transcend the mundane and unprogressive behavior exhibited by the promoters of the certificate saga. 

“Our silence overtime was to give the attackers the opportunity to retrace their steps in the interest of all that is good for Ikere community.

Every discerning mind in Ekiti already knew that the current war of attrition against the deputy governor has gone beyond the issue of her academic records or qualification”. 

The group reminded the public that the certificate issue has already been raised and resolved after several investigations during the 2022 governorship struggles.

The group also reminded the public about the two judgements of the Supreme Court which laid the matter to rest, most especially the baseless arguments about the academic qualifications of Mrs Afuye. 

The group however credited the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Afuye who demonstrated a true and practical meaning of education to the world through her sterling performance in office. 

“The latest actions of some politicians and individuals in the State to truncate the tenure of the Deputy Governor and replace her with a green horn or a lackey will not only fail but expose those behind it as retrogressive elements in future. 

We know where this one is coming from. We know that the sponsors of this attack are the same people who are promoting the ambition of an individual to become the deputy governor so that he can pursue a gubernatorial ambition. 

At this point, we can only say that If anyone is interested in becoming the governor of Ekiti State, such person should come out openly to ask for support and not through blackmail or propaganda. 

We always believe as evidences abound, that a governorship ambition could be achieved without necessarily serving as deputy governor as a precursor. For instance, none of the past and present governors of Ekiti State ever served as deputies before their respective governorship elections. 

Logically, the action and strategy of these over ambitious elements obviously portend a great danger and Governor Oyebanji should be wary of them. 

Again, why must they dislike Mrs Afuye for not challenging the authority and decisions of Mr Governor?

The critics of Mrs Afuye must be completely oblivious of the constitutional limitations of a deputy governor.

Mrs Afuye has proven to be a reliable and dependable ally of the governor. She had, through her dedication, commitment and absolute loyalty earned the confidence of her boss. 

Governor Oyebanji has not made a mistake by picking a tested and trusted ally as running mate for the second term contest. One good term deserves another.

Inasmuch as we are not against anybody’s ambition, we shall not watch and allow some individuals to tarnish the image of the deputy governor through blackmail and false accusations. 

It is advisable and wise they stop bickering over the deputy governorship ticket that has been given to Mrs Afuye,  otherwise they will be exposed, and we shall equally stand tall against their political ambition in the near future.

We will continue to monitor closely the political development, including the surreptitious maneuvering of the over ambitious ones. Those who live in the glass house should stop throwing stone. A word is enough for the wise”.