Fayose heads to court, says Ekiti share of $1bn should be released for fight against ‘Hunger Haram’

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, has filed a suit before a federal high court in Abuja, challenging the decision of his colleagues to approve $1 billion for the fight against insurgency.

Last week when governors announced that they had agreed that the federal government should withdraw the amount from the excess crude account, Fayose kicked against it.

He said the money would be used for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Fayose said Ekiti should be given its own share of the $1 billion for its fight against “hunger haram”.

“I’m not in support of $1 billion and will never be in support of it. In my state, we have agreed to go to court to contest this. It is our legitimate right, all accruals to the federation must be shared by the three tiers of government and for me to get justice I have to go to court,” he said.

“I filed the case in court as early as 12 noon today. I have options and I have said it expressly, I have gone to court… I have taken appropriate steps because the money belongs to Ekiti people not to any other use.

“I did not attend the meeting where the issue was discussed, even if I was part of the meeting I would have made it expressly clear that I will not support it. Every state has its own peculiarities in terms of security. Ekiti state has Hunger Haram… hunger is everywhere. Whatever is in that money, for me we should share it, let everybody go and solve his own problem. I have challenges and they should give me my money. It is Ekiti money.”

Asked if he was also fighting on behalf of his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fayose who is the chairman of PDP governors’ forum said: “Excuse me, I am speaking for Ayo Fayose.”