A prominent member of the Ekiti state chapter of PDP, Chief Dayo Okondo, has rejected Governor Ayo Fayose’s offer of appointment to serve as a member of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti. At a press conference which he convened yesterday July 3rd, Chief Okondo said despite his efforts at making the party a success in the state, the state government belittled him by offering him such an appointment without consulting him. Chief Okondo who has been bedridden for a while now said the party and the state government had abandoned him to his fate even after working so hard for the party in the state.

“Making me a board member falls short of what he should do. And if I have to take care of myself very well and take care of my health, I don’t know what membership of the college’s board would do for me. I can’t see how somebody who had served as a PDP Board of Trustees member will now be appointed a college’s board member. I was shocked by the appointment with my status and level of work that I did. I brought the party to the state and I brought Fayose into the party. I supported him wholeheartedly when others refused to support him and I ensured that he won the primaries and the election (in 2003). He has not visited me and he has not done anything about my health. I have been trying to see him and talk to him about my health but I have not succeeded. If I will reject it in totality, I want to see the governor first and I want him to reason with me that this appointment does not befit my status as a founding father of the party and as someone who contributed immensely to his political rise. I have been abandoned by the party. One of my sons, Tope Okondo, who was Obasanjo’s bodyguard, fell sick in Abuja and the situation I met him was very terrible. I tried to see if I could take him to India. I contacted (former Governor) Fayemi and he offered to assist. We took him to India where he spent two to three days and I thank him (Fayemi) for the gesture but he told me not to bother. If my own party (PDP) can treat me like this, it is unfortunate”he saids