Fayose Pays 19 APC Lawmakers’ Salaries

There are indications that the embattled 19 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly of the All Progressives Congress extraction have been paid their outstanding salaries and allowances by the state government.
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SUNDAY PUNCH investigations revealed that the lawmakers led by the embattled Speaker, Dr. Adewale Ominrin were paid the said allowances sometime last week.
The development, sources told SUNDAY PUNCH, was a fallout of the peace meeting the lawmakers held with Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The agreement between the warring parties according to sources is that once the lawmakers are paid their outstanding allowances, they will sheathe their sword and jettison their plan to impeach the governor.
The struggle for the soul of the state by the two parties had nearly paralysed the state with both of them threatening to deal with each other.
However, sources disclosed to SUNDAY PUNCH that there is apprehension that the truce may suffer a setback with the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
There are concerns that the party might want to use federal might to unseat the governor who was a pain in the neck during campaigns for the president, who was the APC candidate though a court had earlier ordered the warring parties to maintain the status quo.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, has yet to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations of impunity, violence, stalking and other constitutional breaches raised against the duo.
Omirin, had in an April 9 letter directed the CJ to raise a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations within seven days of receipt of the letter.
But barely six days to the end of the life of the Assembly, the CJ has yet to raise the panel as directed.
Checks by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the APC lawmakers had decided to keep mum on their next line of action with the transition of power to Buhari.
Fayose was accused of spearheading a hate campaign against Buhari in favour of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28 presidential election.
Both parties have, however, refused to comment on the development. It was learnt that both parties had agreed not to speak to the press on the matter so as to keep it from the public domain.
When contacted on Saturday, Omirin refused to reply to inquiries from our correspondent on the impeachment saga.
However, one of the lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was a directive from the party’s national leadership not to speak to journalists about the development.
He, however, said the legislators did not believe that the governor was seeking a genuine reconciliation with them based on the outcome of the peace meeting held in Akure last week.
Asked to comment on insinuations that they have been paid, he said, “That is a lie. You don’t know Ayo (governor)? Do you think he is ready to pay anybody?”
When contacted on Friday, Fayose said he was not afraid of impeachment as the people of Ekiti were solidly behind him.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said, “The APC lawmakers should be asked if we have been faithful so far. As for us, we are fulfilling our own part of the bargain.”
The governor also denied bribing anybody, saying he was seeking a true reconciliation in the interest of the state.
“We did not bribe anybody. We are for peace and that is why the governor honoured their invitation to attend a meeting in Akure. It is the APC lawmakers that should be asked if they will reciprocate the gesture.”
The state’s APC chapter refused to speak about the development on Saturday.
The Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, did not answer calls placed to his telephones.
But his counterpart in the PDP, Mr. Joseph Adaraniwon, said the governor had no impeachment proceedings against him by law.
“Omirin has for long ceased to be the Speaker. Hon. Dele Olugbemi is the Speaker of the Assembly. So, Omirin lacked the authority to commence anything on behalf of the lawmakers.
“In a Nigeria where the constitution and law operate, the governor has no fears at all because the plot against him is illegal and unconstitutional.”