The thick political cloud that has gathered over Ekiti state may this week give way to heavy naira rain as three leading governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have promised each of the 177 wards in the state heavy financial “thank you handshake” in this Thursday primary. The APC had opted for a direct primary to choose the party’s governorship candidate.
Three leading aspirants had initially promised delegates one million naira each if they voted for them in the primary this Thursday when it was believed that delegates would determine the fate of the aspirants. Reliable sources in the camp of some of the aspirants and the APC controlled state government revealed that at least three leading aspirants who had earlier promised delegates the sum of N1m each should they vote for them had upped the stake when the party decided that all registered party members would vote in the election. Investigations revealed that initially two aspirants had offered the delegates the juicy incentive until some days ago when a leader of the party based in Lagos state promised another aspirant a blank cheque promising to match others “naira for naira.” This development, New National Star gathered, informed the sudden visit of the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to the home of the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some days ago. Chief Press Secretary to the governor,Mr. Yinka Olabode, issued a statement after the visit explaining that the governor’s visit had nothing to do with the 2023 presidential elections as speculated by spin doctors.
Informed political sources said the governor had to consult with the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when it became clear that some of the aspirants had extremely deep pockets which even the state government, should it decide to sponsor a candidate, might not be able to match. Specifically, the governor allegedly learnt from security sources that two of the aspirants had promised each delegate one million each and this was the information he took to Asiwaju Tinubu. Competent political sources informed New National Star that immediately Tinubu learned of the budget of the aspirants, he allegedly called his associate in Ekiti state who is one of the leading aspirants in the primary that he too should promise over one million naira. A source said Tinubu’s endorsement of the aspirant who is currently holding a political office in Abuja, triggered the outburst of one of Asiwaju’s associates recently. The associate, in various social media, said Tinubu did not make him and that he would not support his aspiration for the nation’s highest political office.
A source said the associate felt Tinubu should have left all his associates to “ fight for the jersey” before supporting whoever emerged as the candidate among them. But New National Star learnt that Tinubu was learning from experience. It was learnt that some years ago, Tinubu gave his favourite aspirant in Ondo state a reasonable financial backing to fight for the party’s flag but rather than spend all the money, the aspirant changed his mind, shared part of the money but was “dusted” the following day during the primary, as Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, gave the delegates more than Asiwaju’s associate. Asiwaju, according to a source, allegedly told his defeated associates,’’ I gave you money to go and share and win, not to return money to me”. Political pundits in Ekiti informed New National Star that four years ago, the governor allegedly gave each delegate N500,000.00 and a motorcycle to snatch the flag from his closest rival. Some of the delegates who spoke with this newspaper said it might be difficult for some delegates to accept sentiments of not selling their conscience.
A vulcanizer who is one of the delegates in Ado Ekiti who sought anonymity said,’’ I am not going to obey any directive from party leaders or the governor. Even the state governor, how many tyres are they going to give me that will amount to one million naira? My brother, my vote is for the highest bidder”.