Furore Over Ekiti APC Reps Candidate’s Alleged Refusal To Spend N18m Received For Christmas Gifts

Refusal of the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, to make gifts available to members and supporters of the party during the Christmas season is now causing furore among stakeholders of the party.

Even though Omoleye eventually made available some bags of rice to the party members on Tuesday, it is being said that he only did that because he was confronted by party stakeholders.

“If we didn’t protest, he would not have done anything. Like he did when he was Ijero Local Government Chairman and Chief of Staff under Dr Kayode Fayemi, he wanted to eat the money alone,” a party leader said.

It is being alleged that Omoleye, got a sum of N18 million for the procurement of 200 bags of rice for distribution to APC members in Efon, Ekiti West and Ijero Local Governments as well as provision of cash gifts to some leaders of the party.

The N18 million was said to have been made available to the House of Representatives candidate through former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Omoleye served as Chief of Staff to Fayemi, when he was governor, and he (Omoleye) was believed to have been imposed by the former governor over and above the incumbent House of Representatives member, Hon Wumi Ogunlola.

A close source disclosed that rather than buying the rice and distributing same immediately, Omoleye, locked his doors and remained incommunicado till Tuesday, December 26, 2022, when he hosted Ward and Local Government Excos of the party in his Ijurin Ekiti country home.

“After the meeting, he gave N100,000 to each of the Local Governments, with some wards getting as ridiculous as N8,000.

“He also hosted Wards and Local Government Women Leaders on Tuesday, giving them nothing to transport themselves back home.

“Right in his presence, the angry women sang, ‘mo fe Omoleye o, sugbon o ku iwa…’ (I love Omoleye but good character is missing),” a member of the party said.

A member of APC had written on Facebook; “You are contesting for election in February, you didn’t send a single grain of rice to the ward and u need their vote? Kamari ni Paulu wiiiiii… EMA LULE!!!”

“Biodun Omoleye invite us to Ijurin today. three bottles water per ward,no food,no water, no transport fare… Na force to called for a meeting? We are still in this party because of BAO and Tinubu. If care is not taking we would vote for only Tinubu,” a member of APC, Oyewole Olalekan Marthins wrote on Facebook.

“We went to Ijurin today, no food, no water, no transport fare… They only gave three local government 300k we don enter one chance,” another angry APC member commented on Facebook.

In his own comment, Olasoji Akodu, a sympathiser of APC wrote, “The Ekiti Jeunkoku Political leaders.

“The bags of Rice given to you to be distributed to party members and lacking voters in your wards to celebrate Xmas are being stored in your house. You refused to distribute it as directed.

“What manner of political leader are you?

“As from tomorrow, I will begin to mention the names of those of you who are doing this if intel indicates you are still hoarding it.

“There is nothing those who ate ” election money” can’t do.

“Shior!!!”