FAYEMI TASKS JEGA ON CREDIBLE POLLS IN EKITI

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said the future of Prof. Attahiru Jega, as the nation's number one electoral officer is tied to his handling of the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

Fayemi who stated this Monday night at his monthly media chat, Meet Your Governor, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman to see the two elections as a "serious test" which must not go the way of the similar poll in Anambra State.

The Governor also used the forum to appeal to politicians and political parties to be peaceful in their conduct and carry out their activities within the ambit of the law.

He was of the opinion should INEC bungle the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial polls, "Jega may not be the one to conduct the 2015 general elections."

The Governor argued that it is in the best interest of INEC to get it right this time around starting with the June 21 Ekiti governorship contest noting that the people of the state had witnessed electoral heists in the recent past.

"It is in the best interest of INEC to conduct a credible and transparent election in Ekiti in June.

"Jega should see the Ekiti poll as a serious test because if he fails in Ekiti and Osun, he may not be the one to conduct the 2015 general elections.

"They should ensure that the process is credible, they must demonstrate their readiness to conduct a credible election. You know that Ekiti people are very sensitive.

"We have seen very terrible episodes of election management by INEC in the past in Ekiti State.

"The people of Ekiti State have seen the Ayoka saga, they have seen the Ido/Osi saga but this time around, INEC must demonstrate its seriousness to conduct a credible election."

Fayemi also described as untrue rumour being peddled by the opposition that he would victimize civil servants if he wins a second term in office.

The Governor explained that he had carried out some policies which most first term governors would not want to do like the biometric data of civil servants which, according to him, had helped government to save money that used to go to ghost workers.

Fayemi promised never to be a governor that would victimize civil servants and other sectors of the population if he succeeds in securing a re-election at the June polls.

According to him, he is not surprised that political opponents desperate to win the forthcoming governorship election are spreading rumours that are false because they have nothing to showcase to the electorate.

He noted that he has a record to defend and his achievements can be measured by the electorate whom he had served for over three years in the state

He said, "The difference between an incumbent governor and a putative aspirant is that I have a record to defend. I can be measured in an objective, detached assessment."

Speaking on the forthcoming National Conference, Fayemi stressed that the state has sent a very strong delegation which he believed would represent the interest of Ekiti people.

He urged that dialogue at the confab should be transparent so that critical issues affecting the federation like fiscal federalism are tackled to give Nigeria a new lease of life.