Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters has said the citizens are daily losing interest in the ruling All Progressives Congress-led government in Ekiti State, calling on the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to address the yearnings of the people before next year’s gubernatorial election.
He clarified that his constant criticism of the lapses in the administration of Dr Fayemi in Ekiti was borne out of his love for the state and not meant to embarrass the government.
Ojudu noted that the governor should listen to the people in the streets and show more commitment to the development of the state in the interest of the party, adding that it would be calamitous for the APC to be defeated in the June 18, 2021 governorship poll.
The presidential aide had last week, called the attention of the governor to the dangerous and life-threatening conditions of Ekiti roads, which generated series of reactions especially from the governor’s supporters who blamed him for coming out publicly to criticize the governor on the poor condition of the roads, describing it as “insult and unpatriotic to Ekiti.”
However, Ojudu in a statement on Sunday by his political assistant, Ahmed Lawal noted that as a citizen of Ekiti, he is passionate about the development of the state, hence his periodic interventions for the administration to adjust and remained focus in addressing the concerns and welfare of the people.
According to him, “The governor should do the needful by paying attention to governance, exhibit financial prudency, be more committed, stay more at home and see himself as servant, rather than a master and give Ekiti good governance. Time is running out for our party and what the people there are saying about us less than a year to election is not encouraging at all.
“In case they didn’t know, he was only amplifying what the commoners, whose voices can’t be heard were saying on the streets and I advise the government to apply common sense and redirect governance, before these unheard citizens would vent their angers on election day and that would be disastrous for our party.”
According to Lawal, his principal’s own brand of politics is anchored on development, good life for the people and, “not the spreading of hatred against any personality or government. He will continue to defend Ekiti not minding who temporarily holds the lever of power.
“We cannot all be silent, we cannot all be dumb, we cannot all be hungry and therefore susceptible to being manipulated while our people are depressed, hopeless and helpless.”
Shedding light on why Ojudu decided to publicly condemn the deplorable condition of Ekiti roads, Lawal stated that the situation of the state infrastructure is responsible for the increasing cases of kidnappings and armed robbery on the roads.
He said, “If you travel round the three Senatorial districts, you would know that our roads are gradually becoming booby traps. From Ayetoro-Ewu , Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki, Ifaki-Aaye-Usi, Ido-Ijero, Ikere-Ise-Emure, Ise-Ijan, Ode-Ijesa Isu, Oye-Ayede-Iye, Igogo-Ikosun-Ikun, Ikere-Igbara Odo, Ijero-Ara , Igede-Awo-Iropora-Ara and many others are now posing danger to the lives of our people.
“On these deplorable portions of the aforementioned roads, people had been killed, kidnapped or shot by bandits and it would be great disservice to Ekiti people, who hold him in high esteem to keep quiet.
“His speaking out despite that his party is in charge of Ekiti buttressed the fact that he is patriotic. He is one of those who fought hard, risked their lives and deployed their networks to bring progressive government to Ekiti and he won’t stand aloof and allow the house he joined others to build to collapse and go into ruin due to inefficiency, and lack of requisite political will to effect positive changes in the life of the people.”
Credit: tribuneonlineng.com
