‘Obanikoro is trying to use my name to escape,’ Governor says

Obanikoro, who’s being investigated for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has alleged that he gave Fayose $5.37 million out of the funds he allegedly laundered.

Fayose made his comments during an interview with The Sun.

“I wouldn’t want to join issues with EFCC or Obanikoro. But I remembered very well that Obanikoro was firing very serious salvos at the EFCC before now. I remembered all his statements in the press, but this dramatic return, he did not stop at the airport and there was a clear entrance straight to the EFCC custody simply shows that there is a hand of Saul in the voice of Jacob,” the governor said.

“I’m used to all these conspiracies and the fact remains that in all these, Jesus is Lord, in all these, victory is sure, in all these, I’ve not lost any battle and I’ll not lose any. Let me believe that Obanikoro did not say all these because whatever you say, you would have to prove it in court.

“It is not enough to just say it. If he’s saying all these to get out of trouble, it is just a drama of the moment. I know he is looking for ways out of the quagmire as his house was seized, his bank accounts were frozen and all that. Maybe, my brother and friend, Obanikoro is looking for easy way out so they have to heap everything on Fayose.

“I’m used to all these. In the meantime, I am busy as governor of Ekiti delivering good governance to my people. What they wanted during their conspiracy at my first tenure was to stop me politically forever. They didn’t want me to rise politically again; that was what all the first poultry allegation with EFCC in 2006 is all about but I won.

"Today, I can adjudge what would happen tomorrow by the victory of yesterday. So, their fear is my rising profile: their fear is that where is this Fayose going?

“Again, if Obanikoro says he gave me such huge money, where did he get it from? Why will he take such huge cash like that? Why will an honourable federal minister of the country be saying that he took cash like this and gave to me? You can now see how EFCC operates, but we will talk about that when we get to court.

“They are only looking for ways for nexus, to link me at all cost, to destroy me at all cost. It is just like in the Bible when they asked the people should we replace the thief with Jesus for the punishment but the people said no, it is Jesus we want.

“But at the end, contrary to their thinking that killing Jesus would be the end, Jesus Christ’s ascension has glorified Him; in His name now, all knees bow in heaven and on earth and all tongues confess. So, it’s Fayose that is all they want in all these drama, I hope that by now, they would have released all Obanikoro’s confiscated assets and property,” he added.

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Fayose had earlier said that Obanikoro was brought back by the government in a bid to implicate him at all cost.