Barely 24 hours after the video of an oath-taking session administered on supporters of Ayodele Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti State, went viral, it has continued to unsettle the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State.
Some Ijero Local Government PDP members were seen in the video placing curses on themselves during the oath-taking that sudden death be visited on them should they betray Fayose.
The factions of the ex-governor and that of Senator Biodun Olujimi clashed on Tuesday on the propriety or the otherwise of action on SABENKO, a Yoruba current affairs programme, on Voice 89.9 FM, Ado Ekiti.
Sanya Atofarati, Olujimi’s spokesman, who appeared on the programme said Fayose’s action of coercing party members into a secret oath to sustain their loyalty was not only shameful but also dented the image of the party.
Reacting to issues on the programme through a telephone chat, Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, denied that party members were coerced, insisting that they only affirmed their loyalty to Fayose voluntarily.
Atofarati who wondered why a political leader would compel his followers into an oath accused Fayose of “harbouring a plot to enslave everybody in Ekiti PDP” adding that “there are shackles on the legs of Fayose’s supporters in the party.”
The Senator’s spokesman said the entire people of Ekiti State are scandalized by Fayose’s alleged desperation by the video of the oath-taking noting that a good leader need not coerce his followers into such an exercise.
But Olayinka countered by saying there was nothing secret about the exercise claiming that it was Fayose’s supporters themselves that uploaded the video on the social media in affirmation of their loyalty to the leader.
According to him, that was the usual method adopted by PDP members in Ijero and it was a message to the Olujimi’s camp that they are for Fayose.
Atofarati said: “Forcing party members into an oath is very bad and the video is saddening and shameful and it shows the type of leader they have chosen to follow and the people of Ekiti are scandalized by the video.
“If you claim you love the people, why are you forcing them to curse themselves? Since I saw the video, I have been praying to God to forgive them all for what they have done.
“It is bad for somebody like me to go to Senator Olujimi and tell her that we should force an oath on our supporters. You said will not betray Fayose, what of if Fayose betrays you?
“Fayose sees himself as a little god that all of us must worship. If Fayose says he helped Olujimi, has he forgotten that Olujimi helped him to become governor?
“The issue of oath-taking is bad and should we continue to do it? Many of those following Fayose don’t like what he is doing. We have rejected Fayose’s selfishness in Ekiti PDP and we are out to reposition the party.
Olayinka said: “There is a difference between taking an oath and expressing your mind and what they have done is an agreement among them, it’s just like an agreement between husband and wife.
“The video was released by those who participated in it. If they have done something bad, would they have the boldness to release it? These people did it by themselves and they have shown that they are with Fayose.
“If my brother in the studio is saying that they are taking oath in Fayose’s camp, that means that Olujimi herself had taken part in oath-taking because Fayose made him Special Assistant, House of Reps member, Deputy Governor and Senator.
“This is how PDP members in Ijero do their own things and I want to ask, do they record anything that is secret? It was not an oath, they only affirmed the loyalty to Fayose.
“People also affirm in the court of law, has anyone of them tell you that he was coerced?”
