Ekiti 2018: Fayose removes, tears Ojudu’s campaign posters, billboards

By Funmi Araoye

Backed by armed police, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has pounced on campaign posters and billboards of a governorship aspirant, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.
Irohinoodua correspondent watched this afternoon as thugs believed to be loyal to Mr Fayose stormed the streets of Ado-Ekiti, removing the posters and billboards. Armed police men gave them full protection.
Ojudu declared his intention to vie for the July 14 governorship election on Friday, an event graced by an amazingly huge crowd of party faithful, artisans and locals. Mr Fayose’s convoy was said to have passed close to the mammoth rally that responded with boos and jeers. During the rally, Ojudu said Ekiti had been brought to the lowest ebb of moral degeneration and that Fayose was only good at photo opportunism, lies and showmanship.
He said if he wins the July 14 election, he would open up the series of murder cases many of which have been linked to Mr Fayose during his first term in office.
“We are removing the posters due to the orders given to us by the Governor” one of the men seen removing the posters told our correspondent. Another state official was in a truck harvesting the billboards and posters said the posters were being removed because they contravene the state’s laws on environment and sanitation. But many observers are worried that it appears it is only the posters of Mr Ojudu that seem to have generated so much hostility from the state governor while posters belonging to his own candidate, Mr Olusola Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and other APC aspirants were untouched.
Speaking with our correspondent, a member of Ekiti Rebirth Organisation, (ERO) Mr Yomi Anifowose said Mr Fayose has been unsettled by the massive rally that graced the Friday declaration. He said Fayose singled out Ojudu’s posters because of the turnout at the Friday rally. “Dictators fear to see a major challenge that is real. It is the first time Fayose came to the conclusion that he is really not loved by the people and that he can actually lose the July election.”
He added “Mr Fayose is worried about the historic turn of events. He is worried about the time and energy invested by Ekiti poor people to attend the rally and the uncommon solidarity and support given to Senator Ojudu. He used to delude himself that he has the masses in his pocket. The Ojudu declaration has demystified him and put him in a very difficult position.”