Fayose caused controversy as it is alleged he bought himself a N75m Lexus SUV as parting gift

CONTROVERSIAL Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has created another political storm amid allegations that he approved the purchase of a brand new Lexus LX 570 sport utility vehicle (SUV) valued at N75m ($208,128) for himself as a parting gift.

Despite the fact that Ekiti State owes its civil servants almost a year's salary arrears, the purchase of the vehicle was approved about a month ago. Following the recent elections in Ekiti State, which former governor and solid minerals minister Kayode Fayemi won, Governor Fayose is due to leave office on October 16.

When he leaves office, Governor Fayose's  immunity from arrest which he currently enjoys will end and it is expected that security agencies will swoop immediately after this. Already, the purchase of the new Lexus is causing anxiety in the civil service as fear grips officers involved in the deal ahead of the change of government.

One civil servant described the deal as strange, suspicious and unheard of at a time government workers and retirees are owed salary arrears. A memo for the purchase of the vehicle emanated from the Political and Economic Department of the Governor’s Office through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

This letter authorising the purchase of the SUV was written by Bayo Opeyemi, the executive secretary/director-general in the governor's office and addressed to the secretary to the state government Dr Modupe Alade. It was alleged approved the same day by Governor Fayose with his signature on the document.

The memo reads: “Kindly refer to the request for the direct procurement of one unit of 2018 Lexus LX 570 (U.S Specs) as a parting gift for the governor by the Political and Economic Affairs Department of the Governor’s Office at Page 15.

Another civil servant familiar with the deal said: “The question people should be asking is why is the outgoing governor approving the parting gift for himself? It is not the outgoing governor that will determine what the state will give to him, there is more to it than meets the eye, so the incoming government must get to the root of the matter and all those involved, whether civil servants or politicians, must be brought to book.”

Former minister of state for works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also slammed Governor Fayose for buying the SUV as a parting gift. He similarly  criticised the payment of a N43m severance package to the governor and his deputy Professor Kolapo Olusola.

Prince Adeyeye also criticised the governor for the alleged sale of government property and the auction of government vehicles to cronies at ridiculous prices. The former minister, who declared his intent yesterday to run for the Ekiti South Senatorial District, said the governor’s latest action showed that he did not love the workers and masses as he used to claim.

He added that it was callous of the governor to buy a luxury vehicle for himself with state funds when workers are owed between five and eight months’ salary arrears. Prince Adeyeye urged the All Progressives Congress leadership in the state to be more vigilant to prevent the state from being plundered by the outgoing administration.

However, Idowu Adelusi, the chief press secretary to Governor Fayose challenged anyone with evidence of the purchase of the vehicle to come out forward with it. He also urged anyone that has evidence that Fayose has paid a total sum of N43m as severance package to himself and Professor Olusola, to bring it out.

Mr Adelusi added: “Those who alleged should come forward with genuine evidence of purchase of the vehicle as well as payment of severance allowance. Those who are saying these are ignorant of the law.”