Crisis Hits PDP as Fayose’s Aide Resigns over Deputy Gov’s Slot  

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Barely two months to the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State,
the Special Adviser to Governor Ayo Fayose on Culture and Tourism, Alhaji
Ademola Bello,  has resigned from the cabinet.

Bello in his resignation letter dated May 21, 2018 said he was
quitting Fayose’s government “on personal grounds.”
It was however, gathered that he actually resigned due to inability to
clinch the deputy governorship ticket ceded to Ado Ekiti and given to
former council boss in Ado Ekiti Local Government, Kazeem Deji
Ogunsakin, being a Muslim.

Ogunsakin was given the ticket by Fayose last week to run with the PDP
candidate, Prof Kolapo Olusola in the election.
Bello, according to findings, thought he would get the ticket but was
disappointed as it was given to a much younger Ogunsakin by the
governor and this was said to have got the former adviser angry.

A copy of Bello’s resignation letter was acknowledged by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dupe Alade
He joined the increasing list of officials quitting the Fayose administration for various reasons.

They include former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ekiti
State University, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; former Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi;  former Director
General/Special Adviser Bureau of Public Procurement, Chief Segun
Akinwumi; former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Deji Adesua;
former Board member representing Ekiti at Odua Investment, Dr. Sikiru
Lawal, just to mention a few.

Bello was Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters where
he wielded enormous influence and was at a time the highest ranking
Muslim in the administration.

He was later moved to Bureau of Culture and Tourism. Bello was among
the Muslims in government considered as the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) deputy governorship candidate but the lot fell on fellow Ado
indigene, Mr. Deji Ogunsakin.

His resignation letter read: “I hereby wish to inform Your Excellency
of my desire to resign my appointment as a Special Adviser under your
administration forthwith on personal grounds.
“Permit me to express my profound appreciation for the opportunity
given to me to serve in various capacities in the course of this
administration.
“It is my fervent prayer that Allah in His infinite mercies shall continue to direct our noble course.”

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