The Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayode, on Wednesday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari should desist from using a corrupt Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka,  Fayose said that the President should begin his anti-corruption within his party and members of his cabinet.

While decrying the EFCC’s habit of subjecting people to media trial, Fayose noted that the property and company linked to him were legitimately bought and declared when he became governor.

He said, “EFCC opinions remain their opinions and if they are so sure of whatever information they have, they should go to court and stop subjecting Nigerians to media trial and that no amount of media trial from the same elements that orchestrated my removal in 2006 can erode my popularity among Ekiti people.”

The governor maintained that his election was funded by Zenith Bank despite allegations that it was funded by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“As a promising candidate of my party, I cannot stop Nigerians from supporting my election like every other candidates of other political [parties], including President Buhari.”

Fayose said that if the EFCC, “have anything against me, they should keep their gun powder dry. Because in 2006 when they took me to court, their allegations crumbled like pack of cards because court decisions are founded on facts and law, and not on media trial as currently being done by the EFCC as tele-guided by the APC in their desperation to set the people against me knowing fully that they are not on ground.”

“Having failed to buy the conscience of Ekiti House of Assembly members, the APC people have become increasingly afraid of 2018 and that the agencies of the Federal Government should know that no matter how hard they try, Ekiti electorate will not be deceived by their blackmail and media trial.”

“The EFCC should be told in clear terms that this is 2016 and not 2006 when impeachment notices against governors were signed on the table of EFCC operatives. Those who are teleguiding the EFCC now should also be reminded that they did more than what they are doing now in 2006, yet I was overwhelmingly voted for by the Ekiti people eight years after the orchestrated impeachment which the Supreme Court declared illegal.”

“Should Nigerians now conclude that EFCC is an appendage of APC? Is the EFCC for investigation of corrupt practices among all Nigerians or members of opposition parties alone?”

“As at today, I have not been accused of stealing a dime from Ekiti treasury. EFCC has not also said that Ekiti money was stolen and that my election was funded with Ekiti State money.”

Fayose noted that he will continue speaking his mind because “Nigerians are suffering. States can no longer pay workers salary, a litre of kerosene is now N220, a bag of rice is now N20,000 and some people will sit in Presidential Villa and expect that all of us should keep silent? That’s not possible!

“No amount of media trial by agents of the Buhari-led APC government will make me to stop baring my mind on the cluelessness of the Federal.”