Rift Between Fayemi, Ojudu Deepens, Gov Accuses Buhari’s Aide Of Spreading False Info About Him

– Allegation Not Worth Responding To, Says Ojudu

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has accused  Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who is the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, of sponsoring an article in a national newspaper to rubbish him.

The governor, who said this in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Yinka Oyebode, stated that the falsehood was fabricated to portray him as an unwanted visitor to the Presidential Villa. 

Fayemi, who was recently attacked by Ojudu, said the news item allegedly sponsored by the President’s aide with headline, ‘Fayemi’s failed mission to Villa with Giadom’ was not only misleading but malicious. 

The governor said findings showed that Ojudu approached some State House correspondents but they turned him down before he eventually planted it in the newspaper which is based in Lagos State.

However, when THE WHISTLER contacted Ojudu, he denied the allegation but said it was not worth responding to because it was spurious. 

Ojudu said, ” It is not worth responding to. And that in the words of Socrates ‘when the argument is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.” 

The governor’s statement read, ” The falsehood, we gathered reliably, was fabricated by a senior aide of the Presidency and a former Senator, Babafemi Ojudu, and planted in the newspaper, after it was rejected by some State House Correspondents, who rebuffed the former Senator for the misleading and malicious story.

“It is on record that Senator Ojudu, in his desperate bid to rubbish Governor Fayemi, had told his close associates that he would battle Governor Fayemi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) with falsehood and cheap blackmail in his nefarious attempt to destabilize APC in Ekiti State.

“While Ojudu has the right to continue to tread the path of perfidy which has been his lifestyle from time immemorial, we least expected a leading national daily whose motto is “Truth in Defence of Freedom” to buy into such cheap blackmail in form of an unverifiable report, without due regard to the principles of fairness. 

“This is more so that modern technology has made the business of news gathering and editorial checks a lot easier, especially if the mission is about public good.
For the purpose of clarity, it 

“It is important to state that the report was clearly a misleading one designed to cast aspersion on the person of Governor Fayemi and create an impression that the NGF Chairman is an unwanted visitor at the Villa. The largely unsubstantiated report was filled with bile, childish and unexplainable fury that signified nothing, just like a tale fit only for the tabloids.”

He urged the public to disregard the story, saying he had earlier met with the President in company with some governors and other prominent presidential aides. 

It stated further, “In setting the record straight, we hereby state unequivocally that Governor Fayemi had no plan nor reason to see Mr President on Tuesday late afternoon as maliciously presented in the report. 

“The Governor, had earlier seen Mr President at noon in company of three of his colleagues – Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa). 

“Also present at that meeting were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari and Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Governor Fayemi was in the villa later in the afternoon to see the COS and State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).”

He said he was aware of the moves from some politicians to demonise him over the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress but said he had not spoken on the crisis in any public forum.

He said he had been urging members and supporters of the party to support the President in his attempt to solve the issues.