Mild drama unfolded in Ado Ekiti on Saturday as beneficiaries of the federal government’s N-Power scheme broke into two factions and held rallies simultaneously for their benefactors.
The two factions, one for President Muhammadu Buhari and the other for Ekiti state Governor Ayodele Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, displayed placards eulogising the achievements of their benefactors.
While those in support of President Buhari displayed placards advertising the alleged candidature of the President in 2019 election, and appreciating his gesture for the scheme, the faction for Fayose displayed placards campaigning for his annointed candidate, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola in the July 14 governorship election in the state.
The rally started around 8.30am in front of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital along Adebayo Road and terminated at AB Event Centre where accreditation for the state’s N-power beneficiaries took place.
The development almost resulted into a clash between the two factions when officials of N-Power wanted to prevent the faction loyal to Fayose from entering the venue, but they were however overwhelmed by the huge crowd in support of the governor who eventually forced their way in while the security officials ensured there was no exchange of physical assaults from either party.
Fayose had recently invited all the beneficiaries of N-Power in the state to Government House where he promised many of them permanent jobs.
A beneficiary of the scheme in the faction loyal to Fayose, Ajibade Segun, said they were supporting the governor and his candidate because of the promise he made to provide permanent jobs for them.
He added, "A few months ago, Mr. Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose invited us to the government house and promised those of us who are N-Power beneficiaries in Ekiti that we would get permanent employment from the state government. This is why we are happy and we are now coming out to campaign for the Deputy governor Olusola Kolapo Eleka. We are here supporting the continuity agenda of his Excellency Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and supporting Olusola Eleka for governor in July 14.
" To the president we are saying that we don’t want just a temporary relief in the name of N-Power from massive unemployment in Nigeria, we want permanent employment. We also want the number of beneficiaries of the N-Power in Ekiti to be more than what we have presently. But most importantly, we want a permanent job like the governor has promised to give a good number of us."
Speaking on behalf of the faction loyal to the APC and Buhari, Adeosun Tayo Peter, said: "I want the people of Nigeria to know that we are not campaigning for Fayose or Eleka. It is Buhari that we know because he is the one who is feeding us. We have the banners bearing the image of Buhari and we are thanking him for this gesture."
" N30,000 for each of the beneficiaries every month is not a small money. In twelve months , we know what that money amounts to. The beneficiaries of N-power in Ekiti in this first tranche are 3,400, and 8,337 will benefit in the second tranche, those of us here now are more than 3,000 that have come for accreditation today.
" Buhari is our benefactor, we are standing for Buhari. We are thanking Buhari for what he has done and we also want him to make the job permanent."
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