Fayose packs beddings and bibles in his suitcase as he heads to EFCC office expecting indefinite detention

EKITI State governor Ayo Fayose has revealed that he is ready to be detained for a lengthy period by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) so has packed a suitcase full of personal belongings ahead of his visit to their offices today.

At 12 noon today, Governor Fayose's tenure in office and his immunity from prosecution will end as the governor-elect Kayode Fayemi will be sworn-in. Considered a thorn in the side of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, Governor Fayose has been the de facto leader of the opposition over the last three and a half years.

Over the last few weeks, governor Fayose and the EFCC have been ending each other letters about when he should come and visit then and he agreed to go to the commission's Abuja office today. Absent from the handing over ceremony in Ado Ekiti, Governor Fayose said that he would be going to the EFCC offices with his bedclothes, pillowcase, English and Yoruba bibles.

While at the EFCC offices, Governor Fayose will be answering allegations that he received about N1.3bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser, through the then minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. Saying he has nothing to fear, Governor Fayose has said he is prepared for a long haul.

Governor Fayose said: "I am not begging for any bail. It is up to them, if they want me, they should just give me a bed.

“I have done my bed bedclothes, I have done my pillowcase and I have my English and Yoruba bibles. I am prepared for them, so nobody should worry about me. Only cowards die many times before their deaths.”

Already, Governor Fayose's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the presidency has directed the EFCC to detain him indefinitely. PDP publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, said information at the party’s disposal indicated that the presidency had put the EFCC on alert to arrest the governor and detain him.

He said that the alleged directive by the presidency was not unconnected with the plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari government. Mr Ologbondiyan added that this is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.

“The uncompromising stand of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election. Nigerians can recall that it was the governor who offered to submit himself to the EFCC, despite the commission’s clear display of bias and partisanship, as demonstrated in its various actions, especially its tweets and putting the governor on security watch-list.

“It is now beyond dispute that Governor Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever the EFCC, APC, and the presidency’s spin doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC,” Mr Ologbondiyan added.