Ekiti 2014: Oshiomhole blasts Jonathan’s aides

The Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday blamed the travel ban he suffered on “overzealous” presidential aides who probably thought they were helping the president or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Mr. Oshiomhole was one of two All Progressives Congress, APC, governors, who were barred from attending the final campaign rally of Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti on Thursday. We had reported how the helicopter that was to take Mr. Oshiomhole to Ekiti was barred from taking off at the Benin airport. Another APC governor, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, landed at the Akure airport but was barred by soldiers from getting to Ekiti by road from Akure. He eventually turned back. While speaking on a Channels Television program, Mr. Oshiomhole said he did not believe Mr. Jonathan gave such orders against the governors. He said it was unfortunate that state governors could be so treated and their constitutionally approved movements restricted. He said even though the military authorities that barred his aircraft said they were acting from orders from above, he did not believe the order was from the president. He said he believed it would have come from some presidential aides. “I was thoroughly embarrassed and it was an unnecessary thing,” he said. The APC had earlier condemned the act on its governors and warned that such acts showed the presidency was not committed to a free and fair democracy. Although 18 candidates are contesting the Ekiti governorship election, the major candidates are the APC’s Mr. Fayemi, PDP’s Ayo Fayose, and Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party. The election was ongoing as at the time of this report.