INEC issues certificate of return to Fayemi

INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega (R) presenting certificate of return to Gov Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in Abuja on Monday

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday in Abuja issued a certificate of return to the new governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

Congratulating Mr. Fayemi, the commissions’ chairman, Attahiru Jega, said the decision was in compliance with the rule of law, adding that the commission was determined to respect court judgments.

``I congratulate you on behalf of the commission and we pray that the Almighty God will guide you appropriately,’’ Mr. Jega said.

Mr. Fayemi was sworn in on Saturday amidst funfair in a ceremony well attended by members of Action Congress of Nigeria and Labour Party and others.

The Justice Ayo Salami led five panel of the Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state last Friday declared Mr. Fayemi the true winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election and the May 2009 re-run election and also ordered the immediate swearing in of Mr. Fayemi as duly elected governor.

Mr. Fayemi, described his victory as one not just for himself and the people of Ekiti State, but for democracy and urged Nigerians never to give up on the struggle for the ‘’new Nigeria we are hoping for’’.

‘’For me, this is a victory for democracy, victory for justice, and an indication that a new Nigeria is possible. Therefore we must always do what we can to advance our democracy, no matter how delicate and fragile it may look now,” he added.

Be alert

In a press statement issued by, Yemi Adaramodu, an aide of the new governor, the Ekiti state government alerted the public and security agencies to an alleged mass looting of government property at the 16 local government areas.

Alleging that the lootings were perpetrated throughout the weekend, Mr. Adaramodu said that all security agencies have been directed to take necessary measures ``to prevent further looting in the councils headquarters and treasury cash offices’’.

The governor had on Friday frozen all government accounts, including those of local governments.

‘Shun distraction’

An Abuja lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, challenged Mr. Fayemi to get to work and shun the usual distraction of people and activities set out to make him feel more than occupied and possibly taint his attention to good governance.

Mr. Ajulo said in a statement that Mr. Fayemi, should “immediately, with less jubilation and pomp, get to work, constitute men of integrity and intellect.”

However describing most of the decision taken so far by the new administration as confusing, the former Ekiti State former Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Taiwo Olatunbosun has said that “matching Segun Oni’s achievements is going to be a very herculean task for Fayemi.”

“Since Friday Ekiti appears to have been placed under siege and this has been made manifest by the heavy presence of armed policemen in the state capital.”
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5631967-147/inec_issues_certificate_of_return_to.csp