2018: I’m Better Fit for APC Winning Strategy Than Oni, Fayemi, Says Ex-senator

• Agrees with VP Osinbajo on state police

By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Former senator representing Ekiti North senatorial district, Mr. Ayo Arise, yesterday said he stands a better chance to win the 2018 governorship poll for the All Progressives Congress (APC) than former Governors Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi.

Arise said the two former governors have contributed to the development of the state and that the time has come for a fresh blood to be allowed to rule the state, saying “going by the mood in town, the people prefer a new person than those they have seen in the past.” 

The trio off Oni, Fayemi and Arise were eyeing the state governorship

seat  on the platform of the APC.

On the rising kidnapping and killings being allegedly perpetrated by

herdsmen in the country, Arise said he agreed with Vice President Yemi

Osinbajo on the establishment of state police.

Arise spoke in Oye Ekiti, headquarters of Oye Local Government Area yesterday

after a thanksgiving commemorating his release from kidnappers’

den held at SS, Peter and Paul Catholic Pro Cathedral Church in the town.

Arise was kidnapped last year along Lokoja –Abuja road while returning

to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after visiting Ekiti State and was

held by his captors for six days.

The former Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, said: “APC wants to win the coming election at all cost and they need a popular candidate and they knew I am the best for the job so that our strategy can work.”

 

On whether he would step down for either Oni or Fayemi, who were known

to be his political allies, Arise retorted that; “I am not going to

step down for anybody.

He said the issue of zoning does not applicable to a homogenous state like Ekiti, saying though the south senatorial district has the right to produce the governor but such shouldn’t be realised through zoning of the governorship ticket.

“The APC knew how important the July 14 governorship election is to members. They need to apply the right strategy and they knew who is best fit to be able to defeat the PDP, and that is me.

“Both Oni and Fayemi are my good friends. I contested as a Senator

when Oni vied for the governorship in 2007. The two of them have ruled

Ekiti and now is my own turn.

“Even if I step down for any of them, I can only guarantee them my own vote at the primary, because the delegates are adults who can  take decisions on their own.”

Arise said it will be difficult for the security to tame the marauding

herdsmen and kidnappers because many of them didn’t understand the

terrain where they were operating.

“I agree with the establishment of a state police. They can identify the people and when you allow the community to take charge of their own security, they will be determined to fish out criminals.

“Nigeria is so big that you can’t be controlling security from the centre, it must be decentralised,” he advised.

On the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Arise said he won’t  meddle in the crisis in spite that his bosom friend and

former Minister of Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye was directly

involved.

Adeyeye, a governorship aspirant has been having a running battle with

governor Ayodele Fayose over the governor’s adoption of his deputy,

Prof Kolapo Olusola as the party’s sole candidate.

“Adeyeye is my friend but I can’t dictate to him to return to APC. I am not in position to dictate to him that will have to be his decision.

“But after the PDP primary, if the party fails to do the right think, then we can decide to talk to our friends in PDP to join us in APC.”