Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose is still “standing strong.” Olayinka’s comments were in reply to statements made by Babafemi Ojudu, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, regarding his role in orchestrating Fayose’s ousting. Ojudu claimed that he orchestrated Fayose’s impeachment in 2006 with the assistance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He made these remarks during an appearance on Edmund Obilo’s podcast, State Affairs, which aired on Thursday morning. Ojudu explained that he identified and utilized a vulnerable group—former lawmakers in Ekiti State who were opposed to Fayose—to facilitate the impeachment. In response, Lere Olayinka challenged Ojudu to walk freely like Fayose and see if anyone would recognize him. Posting a photo of Fayose at a Lagos event on his X page, Olayinka wrote: “This is Ayo Fayose, Osokomole in Lagos today, still standing tall… Let Buoda Gani Femi Ojudu, who claims to have singlehandedly removed Fayose as governor in 2006, come and walk and receive the same acknowledgment.”
