ADO EKITI, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has held out an olive branch to the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers plotting to impeach him, requesting dialogue with them in the interest of the state.
Fayose, who spoke on Friday at a special prayer session organized for him by the Ansarudeen Mosque, Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti, to celebrate his recent electoral victory at the Supreme Court, said he believed party differences should not tear Ekiti people apart. He said: “Anything that can bring peace cannot be wished away. For me, I’m ready to accommodate everybody. Whatever they want, we can sit down and talk.
“There is no perfect man. They should allow peace to reign. All I want is peace that will energise development.” But reacting to the overture from the governor, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, said: “We are also ready for dialogue, if Fayose is ready to toe the path of peace.
He is the one causing trouble. He is the one that has brought inconvenience to our families and us. “He has stopped our salaries and other entitlements.
It is not that we don’t want to work with him, but he is the one refusing to allow peace to reign in the state.” Fayose said he was waving an olive branch in the overall interest of Ekiti people as well as restoration of peace.
He explained that several calls and appeals for amicable solution to the lingering crisis by eminent leaders, religious leaders, as well as traditional rulers, informed his latest stance.
He also apologized to anyone he might have offended in the course of carrying out his duties as governor. He regretted that activities of the 19 APC lawmakers had taken a toll on the legitimate businesses of innocent people of the state, with one life lost in the process. Earlier, before leading the prayers for the governor, the State Missioner of the Ansarudeen Movement, Alhaji Liadi Adebayo, called on Fayose and the APC lawmakers to bury the hatchet.
He called for peaceful co-existence among the people of Ekiti state, irrespective of political differences. The cleric also urged residents to live in harmony, saying politics is not supposed to be a do or die affair. Fayose said: “If they say someone has enemies, I’m number in the world.
But God has been merciful and has been helping me to overcome my challenges. “I need your prayers because it will strengthen me more. I’m here in the mosque to thank God. All I want is peace. I have a constitutionally guaranteed tenure.
A governor is judged by his achievements in office. All I’m interested in is bringing development to my people. My opponents know that if I have rest of mind, I will achieve my objectives.
“All those I have offended should forgive me, for the sake of the masses and orphans. They should know that people gave me the mandate. Nobody is above mistakes; they should forgive me. “A lot of our people, before the judgment, had been under palpable fear of the unknown. We are here to thank God and pray for peace. I’m appealing, please allow peace to reign.”
Credit: The Guardian (Nigeria)
