Fayose's special adviser resigns allegedly unhappy at being overlooked for deputy governorship slot

EKITI State's forthcoming gubernatorial elections have taken a new dramatic twist after one of Governor Ayo Fayose's close advisers resigned from his administration in what observers believe is connected to him not being selected to be part of the governorship ticket.

Yesterday, Alhaji Ademola Bello, the special adviser to the governor on culture and tourism handed in his resignation, claiming he did so no personal grounds. However, political commentators believe he did so having not been selected as the deputy governorship candidate by Governor Fayose's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On July 14, Ekiti State will go to the polls to elect a new governor with current deputy governor Professor Kolapo Olusola standing as the PDP candidate against minister of mines and steel Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer. Endorsed by Governor Fayose, Professor Olusola has picked the former chairman of the Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Kazeem Deji Ogunsakin, as his running mate.

Not being picked as the running mate is thought to have irked Alhaji Bello, prompting him to hand in his resignation letter dated May 21.  A copy of Alhaji Bello’s resignation letter was acknowledged by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dupe Alade.

Alhaji Bello joins the increasing list of officials quitting the Fayose administration for various reasons as the elections approach. Among those who have recently quit include former pro-chancellor and chairman of the council of the Ekiti State University, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice Owoseni Ajayi and Chief Segun Akinwumi, a former director-general and special adviser for the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement.

In his resignation letter Alhaji Bello said: “I hereby wish to inform Your Excellency of my desire to resign my appointment as a special adviser under your administration forthwith on personal grounds. Permit me to express my profound appreciation for the opportunity given to me to serve in various capacities in the course of this administration and it is my fervent prayer that Allah in His infinite mercies shall continue to direct our noble course.”

Meanwhile, Prince Adeyeye, has denied news on social media that he has joined the APC, describing the claims as deliberate falsehood. It was rumoured that he switched parties after an alleged visit to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta.

Prince Adeyeye said: “There is deliberate falsehood and blackmail trending on social media that Prince Adeyeye and his supporters have defected to APC with a promise of N200m to be sourced by Governor Amosun of Ogun State. The rumours emanated from Prime Reporters, a blog owned and managed by Governor Fayose’s media aide Lere Olayinka, whose life achievement as a journalist is to libel, blackmail and malign the integrity of any person apart from who is presently feeding him.

“We call on the general public to disregard the write up as the figment of the imagination of the author. Prince Adeyeye has the right to any political association of his choice and he knows how to unveil his new platform without recourse to yellow journalism as evidenced from the publication of falsehood to the general public."