Dr Kayode Fayemi, the governor of Ekiti State has cried out alleging that some powerful members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are plotting to launch a smear campaign against his personality.
The governor, who did not mention the brains behind the alleged plot, described the plotters as people who are uncomfortable with his rising profile.
He said party chieftains resorted to what he called cheap blackmail to de-market him.
A statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Yinka Oyebode, reads: “The general public is hereby alerted to a fresh plot by some political interests to activate a spate of negative media campaigns against Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“The plot, as uncovered, is to use some faceless political groups and political jobbers from different parts of the country to defame the Ekiti State governor.
“Specifically, the plan is to use the faceless groups to discredit Governor Fayemi and portray him as unacceptable to the generality of the people across the six geo-political zones of the country. This plot is part of their game plan for the 2023 presidential contest.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Fayemi has not told anyone that he is in the race for the Presidency of Nigeria. He has always maintained that he is on duty in Ekiti and would like to concentrate on that assignment. What he does afterwards is in the hands of God and he will cross that bridge at the appropriate time. He restated this position during his most recent interview on Arise TV on January 1, 2022.
“Some entrenched interests within the ruling APC, however, seem uncomfortable with the rising profile of the NGF Chairman and have resorted to cheap blackmail aimed at de-marketing him.”
The statement urged the public to disregard “the lies and cheap blackmail” that could be released in the coming days.
It advised those behind the alleged plot to concentrate on marketing their aspirations without recourse to defamation or character assassination of perceived competitors.
“The Nigerian Constitution states clearly the qualifications for the position of the President of the country. Every qualified adult has the right to aspire to the number one position.
“Therefore, we do not believe it is proper, decent or strategic for any aspirant to think his campaign can only gather momentum when he destroys the reputation of a fellow citizen who is perceived as a possible opponent,”
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
