The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ekiti State chapter chairman, Chief Jide Awe, yesterday praised Governor Ayodele Fayose over the withdrawal of murder charges against him, saying this has made his stay in the ‘wilderness’ to be cut short .
Awe, who resumed office after over three years in exile, also thanked the party’s State Working Committee (SWC) for not impeaching him during his travail.
Awe, who was discharged and acquitted by the court last week, due to the state government’s decision to discontinue the case, had fled the state in 2014 after the state government moved to prosecute him over alleged murder of Mrs Julianah Adewumi and one Mr Ayo Jeje at Erinjiyan Ekiti in Ekiti West Local government prior to the 2014 governorship election.
Mrs Adewumi, mother of the Ekiti State Deputy Speaker, Hon. Segun Adewumi, alongside other party members, were attacked in the town while planning to defect from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The State government subsequently declared him wanted with a N5 million bounty for whoever could facilitate his arrest.
Speaking on the preparedness of the party for the July 14 governorship election in the state, Awe said the State Executive Council (SEC) had sought the help of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Zonal leadership of the party to intervene to be able to appeal to the 37 aspirants to allow civility after the primary.
Speaking at a reception organized for him at the party’s State Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, Awe said he expected the worst during his time in the wilderness, thanking the party for being honourable enough to tolerate him.
Praising his party for standing by him, Awe said: “I expected my impeachment when I was away and impeachment is an ingredient of politics. But this party is populated by honourable people.
“With this, you have spurred me into action to be able to do more. The people of Ekiti are yearning for APC. They have realized that the stomach infrastructure promised them was no longer forthcoming, so we must work hard and win the coming election.
“That is why we must listen to the people before picking our candidate, because not APC members alone are the ones to decide who win the election. I want to warn our delegates not to collect money from aspirants, if you want to collect, let it be a legitimate offer.
Awe said the party will conduct free, fair and credible primary that will appeal to all the aspirants and make them to back whoever emerges.
