Bola Ige’s fate must not befall me, Fayose decries removal of cap at rally

• You’re pursued by inner demon, Lagos PDP replies him

FORMER Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has condemned the attack on him by some hoodlums about two days ago at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Ondo State.

Fayose, who said he must not be killed the way Bola Ige was murdered, said he would take necessary steps to protect himself.

Bola Ige a former attorney general of the federation, was murdered in the comfort of his house about 19 years ago.

Shortly before he was killed on December 23, 2001, Ige was attacked by hoodlums and his cap was removed at an event at the palace of the Ooni of Ife.

On Wednesday, Fayose was attacked in a similar manner at a rally of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship election in Ondo state.

As he walked towards the podium at the PDP campaign ground, suspected hoodlums charged towards him and removed his cap.

The incident led to a clash between the suspects and the former governor’s security operatives.

In a statement Lere Olayinka, his media aide, issued on his behalf, Fayose added that the “popularity of his brand” can never be ridiculed.

The former governor said he would “make a formal report to the security agencies and relevant authorities in the party.”

He added that the attack must not be handled with levity “as security agencies will have to unravel all the thugs brought to the event and their sponsors”.

He said newcomers and old members who aim to tarnish the image of the party will not be successful.

“That’s how late Chief Bola Ige’s cap was removed in Ile-Ife, Osun State then and we all know what happened later,” he said.

“So this one will not be ignored and treated as one of those things. The masterminds had it all planned and they followed it up by celebrating what they saw as the success of their plot. They even capped it up by circulating the video.

“So it was not an accident, it was planned. But those who planned it only succeeded in advertising their political ‘myopism’ because the popularity of the brand Ayo Fayose, Osokomole cannot be rubbished by such a childish act.

“That they must have seen in the reaction of the people at the rally and I am sure they know that they can’t get such loud ovation even if they spend all the money in this world.

“As for me, I am unperturbed and I must say it clearly that those newcomers to the PDP and their old allies, who won’t mind soiling the image of the party to achieve their aims, will not be allowed to succeed.”

But in a swift reaction to Fayose’s allegation, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, PDP Democrats, yesterday, berated Fayose, over the alleged removal of his cap at the grand finale of the PDP rally in Akure, Ondo State.

In a statement by its chairman, Tajudeen Abinuwaiye, the PDP group faulted Fayose’s claim describing him as a confused dreamer.

The statement reads, “Mr Ayodele Fayose, the controversial former governor of Ekiti state is at it again. In an unguarded and unthoughtful outburst, he hurriedly jumped into conclusion, whipping up emotion about his encounter with some youths in Ondo state who allegedly removed his cap at the grand finale of the PDP rally.

“Fayose openly apologised to all the people he had wronged some people at the podium in his very brief remarks. It is rather shocking and outrageous for this same person to change swiftly and started pointing accusing fingers at his phantom enemies.

“Fayose is known to have been reckless and abusive towards elders. He had once maligned and openly abused former President Obasanjo, Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Bode George and even President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Fayose has constantly displayed an attitude of a man pursued by some inner demon. He needs a definite purgation. His careless, indifferent outbursts should be discountenanced.”