The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), yesterday accused
the All Progressives Congress(APC)-led government of Dr. Kayode
Fayemi , had depriving the PDP a venue it requested to hold the
presidential campaign for its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to
frustrate the party .
Atiku ‘s campaign train is to visit Ekiti on Monday, January 14 to
canvass for votes from voters to be able to emerge victorious in the
February 16 election.
Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the PDP State Chairman,
Barr. Gboyega Oguntuase, said it was smacked of disrespect for Fayemi
to have allegedly frustrated the use of Oluyemi Kayode stadium
requested by the party as a venue for the campaign.
Oguntuase said the action had again attested to the widespread fear
by the opposition party that the APC was desperate to rig the poll and
subvert the will of the populace in the 2019 elections.
The government had in its reply dated January 8, 2019 and signed by
Director, Administration and Supplies, Ekiti Sate Sports Council , on
behalf of the General Manager, Mr. Akinola P.A. held that the
stadium was under reconstruction and that it has to be prevented from
vehicular movement at this time.
The letter reads: “I have been directed to refer to your letter
received in January 2 requesting the use of Oluyemi Kayode Stadium for
your presidential campaign.
“However, there was need to let you know that the stadium is under
repair in preparation for the next football season and wetting. The
tracks need to be prevented from vehicular movement and for this
reason, we decline the use of this facility”.
But Fayemi described the allegation as misdirected and spurious ,
saying the civil servants only replied to the letter based on the
prevailing situation and that he never influenced their opinions in
the matter as a governor who believes in due process in the civil
service.
Fayemi, who reacted through his Senior Special Assistant on Public
Communications, Segun Dipe said: “When we came on board, virtually all
the facilities are in a state of disrepair. The Ikogosi warm spring,
the fountain hotel and this stadium are one of them.
“As a responsible government, we must take steps to put them back to
normal shape and Fayemi won’t take any step that would infringe on
the right of anyone as a democrat. Even, the PDP didn’t request for
the facility through the governor and it was wrong for them to have
blamed him in the first instance”, he stated.
The PDP Chairman said it was wrong for the government to have waited
this long before replying to the letter, saying this further
corroborated the party’s fear that the APC was out to truncate the
rally.\
“This is a disrespect to the PDP and the person of Alhaji Atiku. If
the government fails to accede to our request, we will have no option
than to use any major road in the State capital as campaign ground.
Atiku, the next President can’t be stopped by any political juvenile.
“If you look at the violent inclination of the party in Akwa Ibom,
Rivers, Lagos and others, you will see that the APC is hopeless and
helpless and it has no respect for human lives.
“We call on the federal government to prevail on Governor Fayemi to
allow us hold the presidential rally in that stadium. Atiku as a
Nigerian is free to seek the votes of Ekiti voters and it will be
wrong for anyone to stop him under any guise”.
Fayemi said the government is ready to provide alternative venue if
the party makes formal request in this regard.
