Posted by By CHRISTIAN ITA on
The choice of who succeeds Mr. Ayodele Fayose as Ekiti State governor once he is impeached has pitched Aso Rock against Ekiti House of Assembly.
•Over Fayose's successor
•House set to impeach Gov Friday
The choice of who succeeds Mr. Ayodele Fayose as Ekiti State governor once he is impeached has pitched Aso Rock against Ekiti House of Assembly.
Whereas President Olusegun Obasanjo is said to be insisting that the deputy governor, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, succeed her boss, the legislators prefer the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Friday Aderemi, takes over with the Majority Leader, Mr. Babade Kayode, as the new deputy.
This is coming just as the embattled governor now seeks divine intervention over his impending impeachment which Sunday Sun gathered might be carried out on Friday by the lawmakers.
A Presidency source revealed to Sunday Sun that an angry Obasanjo walked out on the lawmakers Friday after the legislators insisted that, having cooperated with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to nail the governor, their own should be the beneficiaries of the outcome.
The meeting which held at Aso Rock, was deadlocked when the Speaker reportedly told the President pointedly that making Olujimi, who was also served impeachment notice, governor was against the understanding the Assembly had with EFCC.
Aso Rock, it was gathered, was uncomfortable with the impeachment notice also served on the deputy governor. Part of the deal being packaged by the president, it was further learnt, is that the panel expected to be consistuted by the Ekiti State Chief Judge would absolve Mrs. Olujimi, thereby smoothening her succession.
But the Speaker, it was understood, insisted on the implementation of the 'understanding" with EFCC, which would see him become governor with the Majority Leader his deputy.
Sunday Sun gathered that the more the Speaker and an influential indigene of the state who led the team of legislators to the Presidential Villa argued on the need to honour the understanding with the EFCC, the more adamant and angrier Obasanjo became.
Obasanjo's idea, it was learnt, is that succession by Olujimi would help minimise the likelihood of instability of the Ekiti polity after Fayose apart from helping the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), retain its stranglehold in the state. Again, the president is said be uncomfortable with the growing romance between the legislators and the opposition parties in the state, fearing it may cost PDP the state in the forthcoming elections.
The presidency source disclosed that Obasanjo also favours Olujimi because, as deputy governor, they were already familiar with each other.
Besides, the President reportedly canvassed that Olujimi's ascension would mean a woman becoming governor for the first time in the nation's history.
Provoked by the Speaker's 'intransigence," the President reportedly walked out of the meeting, thus bringing it to an abrupt end.
Meanwhile, the embattled governor has embarked on a dry fast, seeking God's intervention in the matter.
Expectedly, his family supports him, as he now laces his speeches with verses from the bible, in payers and fast as well.
His travail has become a bond for the family, which suffered siblings' quarrel last year.
Speaking with Sunday Sun, Fayose's younger sister, Ms. Bimpe Sorinolu confirmed the brother to be fasting, but said: 'I only know fasting, I do not know about dry fasting."
Defending the recourse to spiritualism, she said 'fasting to the Almighty is better than visiting ‘Babalawo' (witch doctor)."
Sorinolu likened what her governor brother is going through to the biblical wilderness, which would not only make him a better person but also 'an overcomer."
The socialite-turned pastor said her brother fasting is nothing new, as 'it is recommended by the Christian faith for times like this."
She revealed how pained the family is, that rather than assess the governor on how well he has kept to his campaign promises, he is being hounded for some other reasons.
Sounding philosophical, Bimpe said: 'If you are a child of God, you will take all that is happening as the will of God. He (Fayose) is going through his wilderness. It is to make him better. It gives him time with God."
Insisting that the governor's travails serve to prepare him for greater things, she said nobody becomes a true leader of the people without going through torrid times.
In her opinion, the fact that Fayose is going through 'this does not mean he has lost out." Instead, she sees the brother emerging victorious even though that victory may not necessarily conform to human interpretation.
She contended that 'it is in such crisis that you know who your friends are. It refines you. And it is not what you are going through that is important, what is important is how you come out of it."
On her brother's score card as governor, she said not only has he delivered on his electoral promises, but has even gone beyond the call of duty in serving the people.
'He has delivered on his electoral promises. His work is speaking for him, he has served the people," Sorinolu declared.
She was, however, of the understanding that the brother was, by what he is going through, paying the prize of leadership.
Her words: 'For anyone to be recognised as a true leader, you must pass through times like this. It provides experience for the future."