The Onijan of Ijan in Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Samuel Oyewole Fadahunsi, has denied exonerating former Governor Ayo Fayose of complicity in the murder of an illustrious son of the town, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola.
The monarch made the clarification when he received the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in his palace as part of his campaign tour to communities in Gbonyin Local Government Area.
Dr. Daramola was a World Bank consultant and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant before he was murdered in cold blood on August 14, 2006 during the administration of Fayose.
The traditional ruler, who was quoted to have exonerated Fayose from Daramola’s murder, maintained that he couldn’t have made the statement when the case is still in court.
Oba Fadahunsi said: “When the news came, they said I exonerated him (Fayose) but that language was not mine and I didn’t exonerate Fayose because we are still in court.
”I cannot say directly that he is behind Daramola’s death and I cannot say he is not, but it was during his tenure that Daramola was killed”.
The monarch also revealed that some individuals brought money to him on the eve of Daramola’s assassination but he rejected the money.
He said further: “The previous night before Daramola was killed, some people brought money they called ‘kolanut’ and I told them that this is not ‘kolanut’ and they said it was ‘change’ and I told them that I did not buy anything to warrant collecting ‘change’ so I rejected the money”.
Oba Fadahunsi said he was reported out of context by The Nigerian Tribune.
”I only welcomed Fayose as a father to all. I am solidly behind Dr. Fayemi. I admire his good works in Ekiti State. My town has benefited a lot from this administration in the area of 5 kilometre local government road, Ado/Ijan road, the renovation of my palace and many more.”
He added that he suffered a lot of humiliation from the Fayose administration, claiming that Fayose suspended his salary for more than a year and also demoted him to the rank of a Baale.
Oba Onijan urged Governor Fayemi to help apologize to the people of his town who are aggrieved by his rumoured exoneration of Fayose, saying it was a blatant lie.
Onijan of Ijan Ekiti: “I Didn’t Exonerate Fayose On Daramola’s Murder” Says Fayose Demoted And Seized My Salary When He Was Governor
