Fayose’s controversial China photo

Fayose’s controversial China photo 2

Dr Olubunmi Muhammed Balogun, Secretary of Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Initiative Forum has challenged the security agencies to caution Mr Ayodele Fayose for his subversive statements and actions.

First, he wrote to the Chinese government not to grant Nigeria a $2 billion loan, saying “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.” He delivered the letter, through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, arguing that the loan being sought was not captured in the 2016 budget.

Fayose wrote: “While conceding that all nations, especially developing ones need support to be able to grow because no nation is an island, I am constrained to inform you that if the future of Nigeria must be protected, the country does not need any loan at this time. The government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.”

However, the same Fayose that condemned his fatherland for seeking a loan that Ekiti could benefit from travelled to Guangzhou, China to attend the 119th China Import and Export Fair otherwise known as the Canton Fair between April 14 and 19. The trip also attracted its own controversy as the photographs his spin doctors posted on social media were like products of computer manipulation at worst or a pose of the governor at the departure lounge of a train station…

Dr Olubunmi Balogun

Balogun also cited the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, containing the Oath of Office of the Governor of a State which states among others, “that I will exercise the authority vested in me as Governor so as not to impede or prejudice the authority lawfully vested in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Fayose’s letter to the Chinese government violated the oath he took and, as Balogun argued, he should be treated as a saboteur.

In the past, Fayose made other controversial statements: He accused Buhari of planning to Islamise Nigeria and that the Chibok girls were not missing.