A governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has accused the state government of ordering some television stations not to cover his public declaration scheduled for Wednesday.According to Adeyeye, a former national publicity secretary of the party, the affected stations include Africa Independent Television (AIT), Channels Television, Silverbird Television (STV), Murrhi International Television (MITV) and Television Continental (TVC). All the stations are on government retainership.
The alleged order was reportedly conveyed in a text message to the television stations’ reporters in Ekiti by the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka.
The Director, Media and publicity, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM), Chief Niyi Ojo, in a statement on Tuesday described the alleged action as “highest level of executive lawlessness.”
Ojo said Olayinka’s text message to the TV reporters read: “The Governor is oppose to you going to cover opposition functions, particularly, Adeyeye and Co.”
In his reaction, Olayinka described the allegation as “childish lies” which he said are capable of dragging Adeyeye’s name into the grave of Ekiti politics.”
PAAM statement read: “It should be noted that the retainership these stations have with Ekiti State government is serviced with Ekiti tax payers’ money not from the private pocket of Ayo Fayose.
“Moreover, it is the highest level of executive lawlessness for a governor to term a member of his own party ‘opposition’ simply because of dissenting opinions to how the new candidate will emerge.
“One does not need a soothsayer to conclude that the desperation of Fayose to pick a successor is fast becoming a comic show eliciting laughter from all stakeholders.
“The media houses are enjoined to live up to their responsibilities of unbiased and balanced reportage in the interest of Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.”
Reacting, Olayinka said: “I think it is necessary to produce the text message that they claimed I sent.
“If they don’t have the financial means and network to get media coverage for their event, should they others?
“Honestly, the way they are going with all these childish lies, they will end up dragging the name of Prince Adeyeye into the grave of politics here in Ekiti.”