2019: Lawal Daura pressured me to support Buhari before Ekiti election – Fayose

The outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed how
a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS,
Lawal Daura, allegedly asked him on two occasions to support the
President Muhammadu Buhari government.

He stated that Daura told him that backing Buhari would keep his
party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in control of Ekiti State.

According to Fayose's Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the
Governor spoke in Abuja on Sunday night at a send-off party organised
for him by his colleagues in the PDP Governors' Forum.

Fayose said he turned down the request on both occasions.

Idowu, in a statement on Monday, quoted Fayose as saying that it was
for that reason that Daura coordinated the security onslaught against
him and his supporters during the July 14 governorship election in the
state.

"If I had agreed to the proposal and operated like a bat, who has the
features of an animal and a bird, they would not have attempted to
muzzle me. I am not one of those that would be silenced or who will go
and take over under his wife's bed because some people want to play
God.

"I cannot deceive you, I can fight but rather than fight the PDP, I
will deploy my energy to fight those holding our country hostage and
retarding its growth by their incapability. The time is up for them
and they know this," he said.

Speaking on the fallout from the PDP presidential primary, the
governor called on the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche
Secondus, and others to accord necessary respect and recognition to
state governors.

"The governors are institutions on their own and they must be accorded
the necessary respect and recognition. When there is a need to get
these governors to contribute money to meet some needs, they will
contribute. But when there is a need to let them express their views
and preferences, they will be accused of trying to impose, that must
stop," he said.

Fayose expressed confidence that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi
would be elected president and vice president of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria next year.

He urged the party to unite, forge a common front to oust Buhari,
saying that Nigerians are going through pains and are looking unto the
PDP as saviour.

"Buhari's time is up," the outgoing governor said.