The BAO Campaign Organisation has advised the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Segun Oni, to get his facts right on water supply situation in Ekiti State before launching “unwarranted attacks” on the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi over alleged neglect of a burnt water supply generator.
It said instead of launching attacks on Fayemi, Oni ought to praise the governor for raising the bar in the unprecedented water supply landmarks in Ekiti State.
Oni’s spokesman, Adebayo Jackson, had in a press statement accused Fayemi of neglecting to fix the burnt water pump generator, but instead went to Abuja for his alleged presidential declaration event. He also accused Fayemi of unsubstantiated misdeeds, saying Ekiti people will reject Oyebanji as his successor.
But a statement by the Deputy Director of Media and Publicity, BAO Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi, scoffed at Oni’s criticism, saying that instead of attacking Fayemi, the SDP candidate should praise the governor for achieving the feats he (Oni) failed to post while in government between 2007 and 2010.
Olujobi explained that records showed that Fayemi had rehabilitated the three major dams in Ekiti State, namely Ero, Egbe and Ureje dams, including smaller dams, to supply water to at least 14 of the 16 local governments immediately, for a healthy living among Ekiti people.
His words: “With the completion of the rehabilitation of Ero, Egbe and Ureje dams, including other smaller dams, massive laying of supply pipes had long been concluded with water now running for a safe water supply to Ekiti residents.
“Massive feats in water supply scheme are unprecedented in Ekiti State under Fayemi with major water supply facilities at Fajuyi and a befitting Water House built along Iworoko Road that have since changed water supply narrative in Ekiti State.
“Besides providing water for public use, individuals are already connecting water to their homes, even as metering of such homes are underway.
“We are surprised that instead of showing remorse for the water supply mess that Oni put Ekiti people through in three and half years and beg for forgiveness, his spokesman had the temerity to remind Ekiti people about the three and half tortuous years of waste marked by abandoned projects and fraudulent projects execution that left Ekiti people in anger and pains.
“But because they think that Ekiti people have short memories, they are now assailing us with sophistry and blackmail to achieve cheap political point ahead of the June 18 governorship election.
“Ekiti people know the difference between who is giving them water to drink and the one that was given millions of naira to provide water for Ekiti people but the money was recklessly misappropriated.
“It is on record that the illegal administration in Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010 reportedly collected over N2.5b for the World Bank Millennium Water Project, but the money was allegedly misappopriated.
“What we had across Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010 instead were rusting pipes fixed to the dilapidated walls that now serve as spaces to paste Oni’s campaign posters; no single pipe was layed and no single borehole was sunk as evident today across the state but the money was gone.
“Up till now, the leaders of that illegal government cannot explain to Ekiti people how N2.5b allegedly developed wings and flew to private homes and we are surprised that a man that cannot defend his exaggerated and pretensious nobility, integrity and honesty with all these shameful acts can raise an apparently ignorant spokesman to rant about a faulty generator as if such is not seen in every home.
“The same ‘tulasi government’ concessioned Ero, Ureje and Egbe dams to alleged cronies and, in addition, allegedly gave them millions of naira to do the job. After this money was misappropriated, Ekiti people were left to cope with stream water for drinking and domestic use, yet the offspring of that sorry past is now looking for cheap sympathy among Ekiti people to win the election that has forced them to the streets begging for campaign money.”
Olujobi added that the agency responsible for water supply has a system that addresses such problems as fixing faulty generators and it is already working to fix the problem in the affected area to restore water to the people like in other places across the state.
“We advise Oni to make a pledge to Ekiti people that he will stop misapplying their funds, at least for a campaign rhetoric. He should tell Ekiti people about his programme appeal to win the election instead of embarking on devious and dubious campaigns to mislead the people in an attempt to forge another government of sorrow and tears,” Olujobi concluded.