Fayose kicks as Olubolade joins Ekiti gov race

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (retd.), on Friday declared his intention to contest the governorship election coming up in Ekiti State in 2014.

The minister gave journalists this hint in Ipoti Ekiti his hometown.

Olubolade, who is from Ijero Local Government in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, scored the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi low, saying development had been very slow in the state since the governor took over, hence his decision to contest.

He said, “In democracy, anybody who is qualified has the right to contest. I am the leader of the PDP in Ekiti State today and I cannot stay in Abuja alone and forget about the politics at the home-front. As far as I am concerned, I want to see changes in Ekiti State.

“I want to see good development in Ekiti State and want to galvanize our people to achieve this. I have no option but to contest the governorship election in the state.”

Olubolade, who is a former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, criticised the N20bn bond raised by the Fayemi administration from the capital market and accused the state government of neglecting agriculture.

The minister, who is tipped to emerge as the candidate of the PDP in some quarters, said he would abide by the result of the screening committee constituted by the party leadership in the state.

But former Governor Ayo Fayose rejected the committee, saying it was constituted to work out the agenda of a particular aspirant, who he did not name.

Fayose said, “I am sure that in the mind of the President, he does not want a process shrouded in secrecy and compromised. It is obvious that some individuals are taking advantage of this advice to cause mischief and disaffection in the party for personal gains which will be resisted.
 

“It is clear by the composition of the committee that there is a clear ‘agenda.’

“I hereby reject the 11-man committee and I will not appear before it or have anything to do with whatever decision they reach because some of them are known supporters of the aspirants and a free and fair selection cannot be guaranteed under the committee.”