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bayoeleolaju@yahoo.com USA

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PRODIGALS IN POWER

"I am not afraid of prison…….prison is made for children of men not animals. I was nobody before I became governor, if they get me, I will only be back to being nobody" --Ayodele Fayose.

bout two thousand years ago in Palestine, a young man asked his father to give him his portion of the family's estate. Immediately he got this, he went to another land and squandered everything. He could not even afford to feed himself and had to feed on pods of the swine he was employed to feed. This was an ageless parable from Jesus Christ. Nigeria is like a big family with a big wealth. This national wealth is monthly allocated (shared) by the federal government, which is like father to the states. Elected and selected officials of governments are responsible for sharing and spending the national wealth on behalf of the people of the federal, states and local government areas. They are therefore held accountable and responsible for peace, security and good governance or wellbeing of the people on behalf of whom they collect and spend this money.

Today, Ekiti state is ruled by the PDP, which to me simply means PRODIGALS DESCENDANTS PARTY. This is in view of the prodigality the party has displayed from the presidency to the smallest local government under their rule in Nigeria. Like in most states under PDP, we have a prodigal son who appropriates or misappropriates the wealth of Ekiti state, which is our collective family. Fayose's ambition is not to contribute to the wealth of Ekiti but to ruin it. No wonder, Yoruba calls such people "omo rungun-rungun" or omo oninakuna, that is, a child who destroys or ruins inheritance, or a prodigal child.

Ekiti state is about 78% dependent on the federal statutory allocations. This means that should this money stop from coming today, Ekiti state, like many other states in Nigeria cannot survive. Workers salaries will not be paid and people will be starved and maybe turning to the dustbins to scavenge food to eat. Ask our prodigal son governor what he has done to create job, wealth, establish factories and increase the internally generated revenue of the state; I don't know what he would say. Yes, he established the Poultry project so that he and his family, friends and other prodigals in power who are now defending him to their marrows would be richer. They all have good reasons to defend Fayose, having made them multi millionaire at the expense of the people. So, let them continue to stand by him and I hope they will stand behind bars together some day.

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As governor, Ayodele Fayose received about N90billion as federal allocations to Ekiti state from May 2003 to August 2006; a period of 39 months. By the time we add the internally generated revenue this may hit about N110bn. With this amount of money compared with the level of poverty of the people and the state, we can now imagine the extent of the prodigality of Fayose and those who has assisted him in turning Ekiti State Government into a den of thieves. Like the biblical prodigal son, Fayose's goal is to squander every kobo in the coffers of Ekiti state. Let us review some of his deeds, I mean the ruthless prodigality and profligacy that have pervaded his government and our state under this man whom accident of history has foisted on us as governor since 2003.

Barely six months into the government of the Prodigals Descendants Party (PDP), in Ekiti, the prodigal son governor, celebrating the best Christmas of his life, spent N280 million on Christmas gifts in December 2004 alone. Top on the list of the recipients were the leaders of the PDP, most of who were outside Ekiti, as a way of saying thank you to those who brought him to power. Today, Fayose has forgotten his humble beginning sitting at the Orilonise Bookshop, his father's shop in Ibadan, fighting with his sib over guguru and epa. Today, they fight over billions of the state money. How time flies!!!

Within the first year in office, Fayose spent about N.5billion on means of transportation including the N11million he paid monthly on hired helicopter as a status symbol to show that yes, Ayo has actually arrived home (Ayodele). Then, because he had to move among perceived enemies, and because of his grandiose plan to loot the state and create more enemies, he had to buy a Bullet Proof Mercedes Benz Jeep. Being a prodigal indeed and in words, the said Jeep cost Ekiti state and people the sum of N35 million instead of the comparable contemporary market price of N12 million. Yet, he never had a bike as a kid.

Another major source and enabler of prodigality is camouflaging under various contracts. Profligacy came through over invoicing, and multiple payments for the same work done or even undone in some cases. We are all aware of the popular Poultry Project. There is this story that after erecting the poultry cages in Ekiti, Fayose brought grown or mature table-ready live chickens from poultry in Osun State to show to President Obasanjo when he visited Ekiti. However, insiders said that the President; a seasoned Poultry farmer himself was not fooled. On inspecting the poultry cages, Obasanjo mockingly asked Fayose to teach him how to raise chickens without droppings and the foul odor. Reports added that when Fayose was at a loss for response, the President was alleged to have said: "Se oo mo gbe ole niwo omo yi" "This boy, I hope you know that you're a thief." It is this fake poultry project alone that our prodigals in power used to steal about N1.5bn of our money. One of the tragedies of these prodigal contracts and other perfected means of siphoning the peoples' money is that just like their ancestor in Palestine; the family wealth is taken to other states like Osun and Oyo, and countries like India, UK and US.

According to the report from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), virtually all government officials have been indicted by the Commission. In particular the following names were listed: Ayodele Fayose and Biodun Olujimi, the governor and deputy-governor respectively; the Commissioners for Finance, Agriculture, and Works. Others include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and members of the state legislature. They seem to have a solid team to facilitate all their nefarious acts and to perfect their cover ups. They have a contractor, Mr. Biodun Fari-Arole. The name reminds one of a character called Fari-Oro in those days that was so dubious that there is nobody he could not dupe. There is a consultant, Gbenga James who is a personal friend of Fayose; Abiodun Agboola a banker to facilitate currency exchange and transfer of money in and out of the country. There is Olatunji Goke a fresh university graduate turned errand boy, officially called the Personal Assistance to the governor, he always pick and drop off loots at designated points for Fayose. Then to crown it all, they have two companies under which they hide their loots; the Biological Concept and Avian Specialties Limited. Maybe these companies were set for this purpose.

By December 2005, Fayose, without recourse to or regards for morality and legality, had withdrawn the sum of N855million using Gbenga James his friend and their company the Biological Concept as fronts. Out of this, N58million went to debt owed Prudent Bank; Fayose received N17million in dollars and pounds sent through Biodun Olujimi his deputy; N156 million was sent to India's account of Gbenga James; he received another N100milliom as pocket money; N150million for acquisition of property for him and Fayose. One Mr. Lawal, an architect, collected N40milliom for a house for Fayose in Ibadan and another N25million house for him at Are-Afao; N20million for another house at Ibadan. Fayose also received another N42million for incidental pocket money expenses. Then Poultry Project with a budget of N1.5billion, received about N73 million.

Another N1billion of our money was squandered through Mr. Fari-Oro, oh am sorry, I mean Fari-Arole through the construction of the Governor House, Banquet Hall and Ekiti State Hotel. This same contract was executed by the previous government of Niyi Adebayo and was almost completed when Fayose took over. But because they are prodigals; Fayose and his team re-awarded the same contract for N1billion without tender to their man. Fayose put his banker friend to use in 2004 when he wired the sum of $100,000 from our money to one Orubuloye in US through the Standard Trust Bank.

Since members of the Prodigals Descendants Party (PDP) control the state assembly, the prodigality of the Fayose executive council like cancer spread to the legislative arm of the government. Fayose bought 19 members for N38million to impeach Abiodun Aluko the former deputy governor. No wonder the dishonorable members went out of their constitutional mandate to say that they passed a vote of confidence on Fayose as if that would be enough to safe changing his agabda to the prison uniform later.

Now, hear this; between January 2004 and June 2006, the sum of about N18billion was paid through the federal statutory allocations into the Ekiti State Joint Local Government Account for the 16 local government councils in the State. But Fayose and his fellow prodigals in power could only account for the sum of N6 billion being salaries and other statutory deductions. Ekiti people need to know from Fayose, what he did with the remaining N11.8billion? But N500million went to Ayo Fayose Foundation. Yet, some ninnies and nincompoops are pledging their loyalty to Fayose who cannot account for N11.8billion of the state local government money. Anyway, it is only those who are part of the prodigals in power in Ekiti who can do that. I think Mr. Segun Onaade, President of the National Association of Local Government Employees in Ekiti, should ask Ayodele Fayose and Dayo Okondo, the state Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission what they did with N11.8billion of their money. I heard that Major Okondo is the commander-in-chief of Ayodele Fayose Armed Forces in Ekiti State. Eku ise sir.

In Ekiti state, Fayose as the head of the prodigals, supervised the monthly deduction of N100million from the peoples' money and shared same among government official, members of the state assemblies and the Prodigals Descendants Party (PDP) officials in the state and maybe beyond. Out of the sum of N265million kept for infrastructural maintenance so called Ekroma, the Project Manager claimed that he only received N33million. What did our prodigal son governor and his loyalists do with the balance of N232million. The investigation by the EFCC that revealed all the above is on going and does not cover contracts for the road construction and purchase of vehicles by the prodigals in power.

Here is my verdict. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a comprehensive investigation, has therefore found reasonable cause to prosecute Ayodele Fayose and Biodun Olujimi, governor and deputy governor respectively. The same indictment went for some members of the Ekiti state executive, members of the state House of Assembly and the Chairmen of the 16 local government councils. All these people are members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), I mean, Prodigals Descendants Party. These people have betrayed the trust and confidence of the Ekiti people in them by stealing our money. They have abused and misused their positions of power, authority and influence. None of them deserves our respect again and a single vote in the next elections, if they are shameless enough to stand for another election.

The biblical prodigal son later realized his folly and was penitent. Admitting his fault and talking of his father he said: "I have sinned against God and you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Just make me one of your hired servants." But that is not the case with the prodigals in power in Ekiti. Like Adam and Eve in them they are blaming every other person but themselves. They are now claiming that the blind can see their good work; blaming their political enemies for the political and moral abyss into which they have pushed themselves. What they have forgotten to say is that the blind can also see their prodigality, dissipation and licentiousness. The blind can see the mansions, hotels and gas stations they are building with our money when the people they claim to represent have no water to drink and cannot afford two regular meals.

When will politicians learn? The Ekiti prodigals should read the Bible and learn from it rather than organizing prayers to mock God to whom the prayer of the wicked is an abomination. God does not answer prayers from wicked unrepentant sinners like them. King David killed Uriah and took his wife Beersheba. Later, the child from the murderous and adulterous relationship was sick; David including his household fasted and prayed for seven days for God to safe the child but on the seventh day, the child died. We are serving the same God today. He will not answer the prayers of Fayose and his prodigals in power. Like the biblical prodigal son, the Ekiti prodigals at all levels of government led by Fayose and his deputy have sinned against God and Ekiti people and they are therefore not worthy of holding any positions of power, authority, influence, privilege and honor in any part of Ekitiland at any level. They are not fit to be entrusted with any public office again. We still love them but hate their prodigious ways.

The saddest part of this shameful saga, is the shamelessness of Fayose, who instead of burying his head in shame, has the temerity of boasting about and cursing the gallant patriots in Ekiti, who started this war against prodigality and profligacy in office. Fayose, lacking any moral sensibility could go to his paid crowds in orchestrated rallies saying that the EFCC cannot remove him from office or prevent him from having the second term. This smacks delusion. He must be fast loosing his mind or senses if he has any. Yes, it is truth, the dog, which the gods wants to destroyed, he first made mad. Fayose is on fast track to self-destruction. He may be representing the PDP well but surely not the Ekiti people. If the Presidency can save him from imprisonment, he cannot be saved from the Ekiti people. Fayose and his prodigals in power lack the character, etiquette, honor, dignity and morality and other such qualities that true and authentic Ekiti people are known of, all over the world. I was born and bread in Omuo-Ekiti where my father always told me; "Bayo, aini isole, oni jale nibomoje." "Bayo, a poor person is not a thief; it is he who steals that ruins his personality and integrity.

Character is like smoke, it cannot be hidden for long; not even being a governor can cover it. Fayose did not exhibit good conduct and character as a cab driver in London. Reports have it that he was always hijacking (stealing) passengers of fellow drivers. If Fayose wants to boast, he should boast of everything he did outside Nigeria, including all his businesses when 419 began. The true Fayose is coming out gradually. Reacting to the EFCC reports in his own word he declared: "I am not afraid of prison and I say that again, they should not threaten me with it," noting that prison is made for children of men not animals. That is not the words of a true Ekiti man. Only a bastard in Ekiti will be proud of imprisonment. But reacting to the news that some of his close aides are being arrested for the death of Dr. Ayodeji Daramola, he said: "well, I know they have closed in on me, I was nobody before I became governor, if they get me, I will only be back to being nobody, but I hate to go to prison." But since that is what he has actually labored for as a governor, there he will go. His fellow prodigals will join him, so he will not be lonely. But not many Ekiti people will miss them. We will be relieved and start restoring and rebuilding our good name, pride and honor already tainted by the prodigals in power.

To say that he cannot be impeached is calling the Ekiti people fools whereas he is the big fool. Who are those in the state assembly who has the character and morality to bring charges on him? Maybe Fayose does not understand the Nigerian Constitution, which clearly states that the procedure to remove a governor and the deputy can only start by "a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the House of Assembly stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified." The same constitution defines gross misconduct as "a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct". Those who could impeach him are birds of the same feather, the same prodigals in power. We cannot be fooled.

As to his boast that the EFCC cannot prevent him from his second term as governor, Fayose has just exhibited his true quality as an ignoramus. That is not the agency's responsibility. It is set up to investigate and expose those who abuse and misuse the public trust like him and then recommend prosecution like it has done in his case and fellow prodigals in Ekiti. Fayose, your boast is just "Sakara Oloje". It cannot change what you have designed for yourself. Everyone is the architect of his fortune or misfortune. This is your political suicide. You are finished though you may not believe or like it but this time, there is nothing you can do about it. Like most criminals, you can deny but your guilt or otherwise will be proved later but then you will no longer be our governor. Mark it. You better stop deceiving yourself and your followers with your prayers. To still have followers does not surprise me. You have enough money to pay them and feed them to come to rallies. That was what you when you spent N20million for the rally to welcome your PDP leaders to Ekiti last week. Secondly, even Satan among the angels had his followers. Do not be deceived or deceive others with your prayers, God is not mocked it is what you sow you will reap (Galatians 6:7). You have sown the wind and will reap the whirl wind. The prayer of the wicked and atrocious people like you is an abomination before God. It will never be answered by a just and righteous God. The EFCC is commissioned by God for the rebuilding of Nigeria as King Cyrus; a pagan king was commissioned by God for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, if you read your Bible.

Ekiti people will embrace change and resolve now that no member of the PDP would be elected into any public office in the forthcoming elections. We will resolve that never will any stranger or those who do not know and appreciate our values, our honor, our dignity and our pride rule over us again. We will resolve to educate our people never to mortgage their future for momentary monetary gains or of rice, water or salt again. We will resolve to educate our people not to sell their votes, which is their conscience for N50 or N100 to those who will come later to steal and rob them of $50million or $100million. Above all, we will resolve and educate our people that whoever they vote for today will determine their future and those of their children. Therefore, we will educate them to ask questions on the past and present of those asking for their votes. A person without a good past may not have a good future.

We will stop the selling and buying of votes in Ekiti. I am not unmindful of the reasons for this ugly and unfortunate trend. One is the avoidable poverty of the average voter who can easily be pushed to the polling station with N100.00, which he/she cannot make in a day. Second, is the lack of sincere performance on the part of our politicians. We have history of politicians with broken promises. How will the people trust politicians again? Consequently, we have the electorates with the belief that their only benefit from election is the money received before voting. Unfortunately the same electorates live in the same community where the elected officials float their stolen money in a way that those who are meant to serve are the ones being served and worshiped. All these will change.

Our preparation towards 2007 will include campaign and election education and monitoring. If we will have to ask for help from the Carter Foundation specifically for Ekiti election, let us do that now. If we will have to plant agents at wards and constituency levels to stop the selling and buying of votes, let it be. Let us not just 'sit down look' or complain without doing something, especially with the current experience with the cash and carry politics of Fayose. To people like him, politics is a great investment with expected great returns. No wonder, he turned governance into big time enterprise. We have now seen the corporate shame and disgrace that the greed and avarice of his fellow prodigals have brought not only on themselves but also painfully on us all. Our actions to stop this ugly and unacceptable trend must start today, as tomorrow might be too late. Our greatest resolve should be that NEVER AGAIN WILL EKITI PEOPLE ALLOW PRODIGALS IN POWER.