My ban a joke of the century – Fayemi

My ban a joke of the century – Fayemi

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the recommendation of the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry banning him from holding public office for 10 years “as a joke taken too far.”

He told his supporters not to be disturbed by the recommendation which was contained in a White Paper adopted by the state executive council at Monday’s emergency meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Fayemi, who maintained that the state governor, Ayo Fayose and his agents lack the constitutional power to ban anybody from political participation, described the process as “discredited from the beginning.”

In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, the former governor said the probe was not carried out in the interest of Ekiti people but to rubbish his public service record.

Fayemi said although he believes it is part of the state government’s responsibilities to look into the finances at any point in time, “such action must be done in a very responsible manner devoid of prejudice, witch-hunt and a calculated attempt to victimize a citizen.”

The statement reads: “In this particular case, the entire process is discredited right from the beginning, as the only agenda of the panel was to rubbish Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s public service record.

“One is therefore not surprised at the recommendations of the White Paper: It only goes to confirm our initial position that the panel was compromised right from inception and targeted against Dr. Fayemi.

“In his desperation, Governor Fayose chose the crude and ignoble path towards hitting a perceived political foe.

“In the process, they ignored the rule of law and behaved as if the court does not matter. Thus, making their actions subjudice to the court.

“Fayose was however misguided into believing that he could pass a death sentence on Dr. Fayemi’s public service with the white paper.

“This is not only laughable, but ridiculous, as neither Governor Fayose nor his paid agents has the power to bar anyone from political participation.

“The entire process and the character personae involved are discredited and since it is impossible to build something on nothing, legally speaking, their recommendation is not only null and void, it is ultra vires.

“We urge the teeming supporters of Dr. Fayemi, the good people of Ekiti State and the general public not to be disturbed by the development.

“It is simply another act of illegality, from an administration that has elevated political debauchery to statecraft.

“It shall not stand. It is nothing but a joke taken too far, perhaps joke of the century.”