Former governor of old Ondo State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, has said that his current romance with Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was for political reasons only.
Olumilua said that he was only interested in wooing the controversial Ekiti governor over to the ruling APC.
The former governor, who expressed the belief that his romance with Fayose could influence his defection to the ruling party, said his closeness to the incumbent Ekiti governor should, however, not be misconstrued for a ploy to make pecuniary gains from him.
He said that if his current moves to woo Fayose to the APC succeeded, it would be a worthwhile venture for the benefit of the ruling party.
Olumilua disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Point in his home town, Ikere Ekiti, in Ekiti State. He stressed that the objective of his frequent meeting with Fayose had always been about how the Ekiti governor could leave his current party, the Peoples Democratic Party, for the APC.
The octogenarian politician, who dismissed speculations that he was rather being lured by Fayose into the PDP, said that he had been the one that had been on the neck of the Ekiti governor to join the APC.
He said that the defection of a personality like Governor Fayose to the APC would further boost the acceptability and popularity of the ruling party, “because Fayose is a grassroots man to the core and he is popular.
“I like Fayose because he is bold, full of action, he’s man of the people, he knows how best to make the people feel his impact positively, and he has warmed himself to the heart of the common man with his style of government and programme, particularly, his stomach infrastructure programme in Ekiti,” Olumilua said.
The former governor of old Ondo State noted that though he was not comfortable with some of Fayose’s policies and style of governance, “I like him because he is a very courageous man, and the people’s delight. We will do everything possible to bring him to APC because he would boost our acceptability the more.
“In fact, I don’t see anything wrong in conceding governorship slot to him for the third term, if such a person could come and join our party now.
“I have on several occasions spoken to Fayose to join the progressives, to come and use his God-given talents in our party, where it could best be appreciated. Although he is yet to say yes or no, I’m optimistic that Fayose will come.” Olumilua added.
The former governor, who also lamented that corruption had eaten deep into all the sectors, described the arrest of some judges as a step in the right direction, but which should not be politicised.
“In fact President Buhari should be commended for daring to probe those believed to be untouchable. This will go a long way to show that the Buhari administration really means business with the vigorous implementation of his anti-corruption war.
“The judges should be allowed to face the wrath of the law, if found guilty. The Bible says judgment follows the judge. The time and manner of the arrest was what people condemned but left to me, I will say there is no time one cannot be arrested, once the due process is followed.
“Look, we are setting the standards here. If politicians bribe judges, then what is the future of this country? So, the Buhari administration is on the right track,” he said.
According to him, the President should be encouraged to flush corruption out of the country with whatever means possible” he added.
