.Berate Fayemi’s attempt to politicize scheme
Beneficiaries of the federal government N-Power scheme in Ekiti State on Saturday, March 17, 2018, walked the streets of Ado Ekiti to express their support for the Deputy Governor, Prof. Olusola Kolapo Eleka ahead of the July 14, 2018 governorship election.
The N-Power beneficiaries, who were initially invited to a walk from Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to a popular event centre at Adebayo area of the town where a programme to be attended by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, was scheduled, were led by former Senior Special Assistant to Fayemi on Mobilisation, Tope Osatoyinbo.
As early as 8:30am on Saturday, beneficiaries of the N-Power who were over 3,000 gathered in front of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital along Adebayo Road, for the Pro-Buhari and Pro-Fayose rallies.
While a greater number of the N-Power beneficiaries displayed placards campaigning for Governor Ayodele Fayose and his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola, a few others displayed two banners supporting President Buhari.
Security men were however on ground to ensure that the walk was without rancor.
Drama however occurred at a popular event centre where accreditation for the programme was done when officials of N-Power tried to prevent those loyal to Governor Fayose from entering the venue, but they were overwhelmed by the huge crowd in support of Fayose and they eventually forced their way in while the security officials ensured there was no exchange of physical assaults from either party.
Explaining why the beneficiaries loyal to Fayose joined in the rally, Ajibade Segun, a beneficiary who was among the Pro-Fayose and Prof Olusola beneficiaries said: “A few months ago, Mr. Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose invited us to the government house and promised those of us who are N-Power beneficiaries in Ekiti that we would get permanent employment from the state government. This is why we are happy and we are now coming out to campaign for the Deputy Governor Olusola Kolapo.
“We are here supporting the continuity agenda of Governor Fayose and supporting Prof Olusola for governor in July 14.
“To the president we are saying that we don’t want just a temporary relief in the name of N-Power from massive unemployment in Nigeria, we want permanent employment.
“We also want the number of beneficiaries of the N-Power in Ekiti to be more than what we have presently. But most importantly, we want a
permanent job like the governor has promised to give a good number of us.
“While we appreciate the gesture of the President, we want to make it clear that it is not right for former Governor Fayemi to turn the scheme to a political instrument as he tried to do today because we know that today’s event was organized to boost his political image.
“Fayemi’s former Senior Special Assistant on Mobilization, Tope Osatoyinbo, is here leading the walk and we ask, is he an official of N-Power? We have demonstrated to him today that he cannot use N-Power to deceive Ekiti people. We are for Govenor Fayose and his continuity.”
