Ekiti crisis: Aluko’s confession should be well investigated – Former governor

Adetope Ademiluyi is a prominent politician that benefited from the impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose in his first stint as the governor of Ekiti state. He was made the acting governor of the state when the Ekiti state sole administrator, Brig-Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd) handed power to him on the 18^th of October, 2008.

In a brief chat with Naij.com, the former acting governor bares his mind on allegations by the Speaker of the Ekiti state House of Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole that the federal government’s anti-corruption war is vindictive, the financial situation in the state and the recent revelations by a close ally of Governor Fayose, that the June 21, 2014 election was not fair and credible.

Excerpts:

Naij.com: What do you make of the current anti-corruption war of the present government and do you also believe it is vindictive as the Speaker of the Ekiti state House of Assembly, Hon. Kola Oluwawole alleged?

The anti-corruption war is a war that was long overdue. It should have been waged a couple of years back. Are the revelations we have been inundated with in the last few months imaginable to any sane man before it started reeling out? Would anybody have believed that people would have the temerity to steal our common wealth with such impunity and disregard to the sensibilities and well-being of the rest of us? It has become old fashioned to steal in hundreds of millions.

People now steal in tens of billions, and the amazing thing is that no one alleged so far has come out to say, no, it’s a lie. I didn’t steal or take anything. What we hear are puerile explanations of what was intended. I didn’t know the money was not legitimate. I was not told the source. I used the money for the purpose it was given to me. So, if any dimwit is uncomfortable with the war, ask him or her how much he or she stole. The claim of vindictiveness is hallucinatory in my opinion to say the least. The Ekiti state government has been celebrating the presence of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) officials in the state in relation to some alleged misdeeds by the last All Progressive Congress (APC) and Fayemi administration over the last few days. Is it a retaliation for the alleged vindictiveness of the Federal Government anti-corruption war? I think those who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.

Naij.com: As a leader and former governor of the state, what is your general perception of the leadership qualities that the present Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has brought on board in ensuring that the people of the state enjoy the dividends of democracy?

I have a long standing record of disagreements with the governor. I have therefore always refrained from commenting on his government and its activities. I don’t want to be accused of, or be guilty of passing an uncomplimentary judgement based on a personal bias.

However, I will simply say that given the circumstances we currently are in –poor federal allocations, low Internally Generated Revenue and so on –Ekiti state would have done much better than it is doing now if well administered. It is pathetic that we are been dazzled with cosmetic, supposed pseudo-dividends of democracy.

Naij.com: What is your take on the recent revelations by a close ally of Governor Fayose, Dr Aluko that the election that brought in the current government was not fair and credible? Do you think the people of the state have been short-changed?

I know both the governor and Tope Aluko. They were once like Siamese twins. I know the depths Tope went to ensure that the consensus arrangements the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ekiti were interested in did not work then.

I know for certain that he was the brain behind the kangaroo primary election the governor purportedly won. I can give you a long list of those of us who were tear gassed at the venue of that primary election, and, there were about 3 or 4 governorship aspirants there that day. A primary election where 4 aspirants who obtained nomination forms were year gassed away can’t be said to be credible in my opinion.

So, what am I driving at? The guy has made some very fundamental allegations. He has provided names and telephone numbers of people who he alleged were involved in the scheme. If you juxtapose his allegations with the audio recording of that military officer that went viral, you want to take a deep breath, and ask if the scheme in its grand state is not plausible, especially given the known attributes of the person making the allegations. But I dare to say, that, for a grown up man, a former university lecturer, who knows what it is like to confess to a crime of that magnitude, something is amiss somewhere.

I don’t want to believe that that man would be risking a jail term just to vent his anger at his supposed betrayal by the governor. So, let his claims be thoroughly investigated. I know for certain that the man has enough ingenuity to weave such a complex web of intrigue and mischief as he has claimed. So, were there soldiers with a particular colour of hand band in Ekiti during the election? Were people arrested by the supposed soldiers? Were they detained till after the election? Were they released just after the election? Have they ever been charged to court for any wrong doing since then? Was the cash taken from them returned? If it was not returned, what government account was it paid into?

I know I was on the list for demobilisation in Ekiti West. And I learnt the soldiers were truly in town, but, I can be elusive if I want. But I do know that Mrs. Motunde Fajuyi and Hon Sunday Ibitoye were arrested in Ado and a reasonable sum of money was taken from them. Given all I have stated, I am not one of those who would wish the allegations away with a wave of the hand. It is not beyond Tope Aluko to pull such a stunt, and until he is proved wrong, I may not be able to convince myself that a reasonable part- if not all- of those things happened. Has anybody noticed that nobody is controverting the allegations of Tope Aluko? All we are hearing is the assassination of his character. ‘He is unstable. He has no family life. The Supreme Court has ruled on the matter, so, it can’t be revisited’. All manners of statements meant to make the guy look like the devil, without the real one we yearn to hear.

Naij.com: Talking of IGR, what do you think the government can do to facilitate an increase in the financial fortunes of the state now that the buy made in Nigeria campaign is getting stronger by the day?

There is so much that can be done. But it’s a function of which government wants to do what.

Naij.com: If you are in a position to advice the Ekiti state government on the way out of the dismal financial mess it has found itself where workers (teachers) are being owed salaries, what will the advice be?

Ahahah. I am a Chartered Accountant. A consultant. I will consult for the government if it calls for my services.

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