Jonathan, IGP petitioned over state security outfit
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State yesterday said that it has streamlined its aspirants for the 2014 governorship election from 29 to nine. PDP State Chairman, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, said the review of the party's aspirants "is an ongoing process" to give room for "nine aspirants that are verified to be eligible, viable and capable of defeating the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the 2014 election."
Ogundipe said in a statement by his Media Aide, Mr. Femi Omolusi that the party's State Working Committee (SWC) during its meeting last week, ratified only nine governorship aspirants that have the prescribed qualification to aspire for the party's ticket in view of their record within the party and their pedigree to win the election.
Although, the party did not disclose the aspirants, a source who expressed confidence that the step would not tear the party apart, said the nine aspirants would be unveiled at a meeting of the SWC with the aspirants in Ado Ekiti next week.
Among the 29 aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket are the former Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko; former Deputy Governor, Bisi Omoyeni; former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi and a former envoy, Ambassador Dare Bejide.
The others are; former National Assembly member, Senator Gbenga Aluko; Afenifere chieftain, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former Minister, Chief Bode Olowoporoku; former Speaker, Mr. Femi Bamisile; Mr. Bimbo Owolabi; and Hon. Oluropo Ogunbolude. Others still are; Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade rtd; former Governor Ayodele Fayose; former President Olusegun Obasanjo's aide, Mr. Bodunde Adeyanju; Otunba Reuben Famuyibo; Senator Ayo Arise; businessman, Dr Peter Obafemi; a former Commissioner, Mr. Segun Olanrewaju and Mr. Davies Olaosebikan.
It will be recalled that the consensus option mooted months ago for the selection of the party's candidate caused a lot of uproar, following which it was suspended by the party. But Ogundipe, who said only the party's national secretariat has the final say on who becomes the party's candidate, said the PDP "needs a person who can win election, a grassroots politician, somebody who is well respected and who has the total pedigree and mental capability to govern Ekiti."
Meanwhile, Afenifere chieftain and PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly, the Inspector- General of Police and others over the establishment of a security outfit, The Peace Corps, in the state. Adeyeye, in the petition entitled: "Establishment of State Police in Ekiti State Under the Guise of Peace Corps," dated October 20, 2013, implored the President and other concerned agencies to call the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to order, to prevent anarchy from being fostered on the state.
He said; "Apart from the illegality of the establishment of the Peace Corps, its composition is a clear demonstration of the sinister purpose it was set up to serve, which is political."
In the petition signed by the Director-General of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Hon. Bisi Kolawole, the PDP chieftain said; "The establishment of the Peace Corps was in contravention of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which placed security matters in the exclusive list that only the National Assembly is empowered to legislate on."
He added that Governor Fayemi's statement while inaugurating the Peace Corps on October 9 that it "is empowered to arrest and detain people for not more than two hours within which the arrested person(s) must be turned in to the police," implied that the security outfit "will maintain detention camps across the state."