By Dapo Akinrefon & Rotimi Owomoyela

GOVERNOR Ayodele  Fayose of Ekiti State and a former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Dr Temitope Aluko have resolved their differences. The peace meeting took place, yesterday, in Lagos.

It was a misunderstanding — Aluko

Tope Aluko

Aluko, who spoke to newsmen after meeting with the governor behind closed doors, said he has resolved to bury the hatchet in the interest of the party.

He said: “Yes, we had a wedding yesterday, and the whole family came down and we had all other well-meaning Nigerians  around. And then in the last one and a half hours, I have met with my brother, Governor Ayodele Fayose, so we are resolving the issue, we have made appreciable progress and we hope and pray to God that there will be peace.”

Debunking claims that he reconciled with the governor to solicit political office, he said “This is about misunderstanding, this is about talking together, this is about family coming together, this is about well-meaning Nigerians stepping in and that is all we have achieved now.”

Aluko is my son — Fayose

Responding, Fayose said the parley was ongoing, adding that considerable progress had been made so far.

His words: “In politics, we have to resolve issues and we have made considerable progress like he said. His coming is to further strengthen the progress he is talking about and I am sure if this is not important, he won’t be here. He is here because there must be peace and I want to let you know that a lot of issues have been discussed and he wants us to give you basic information  that we are making considerable progress.”

Speaking further, he said; “For him to be here shows that there is peace and that there is a step forward. Dr. T. K. Aluko came to see me after all the drama for us to move forward. Like he said, we’ve made considerable progress.”

Stressing that the issue remains in the past, he said: “Let me tell you, I am the father of the state and so whatever has happened in the past, I am the father and I should be seen as a father. I should see it as one of those things and accommodate everybody. If I leave him to the whole world, who would be there for him? Nobody. I am his father, I am his brother, whatever the past has held for all of us, I am still his father.”

Fayose

On whether he has forgiven the former PDP scribe, the Ekiti governor said; “You see, whether you are talking of forgiveness, Aluko remains my boy, my son. Like I said, whatever has happened, whatever he has said in the public glare, whatever you have seen, it’s time to move beyond that.”

I’m vindicated — Olayinka

Reacting to the development, Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka described the parley as a vindication of his (Olayinka’s) position.

He maintained that: “He (Aluko) can make a 360 degree turnaround and return to the same Governor Fayose that he claimed rigged election because he lacked integrity.”

Olayinka, who spoke in his personal capacity noted that; “Being the person that faced Aluko on television interviews where he told so many lies against Governor Fayose and the people of Ekiti State, I am constrained to make my position known on this new development.

“Even though Governor Fayose, being someone with large heart may not be too happy that I am making this statement, but as one of the major dramatis personae in the saga, my conscience won’t allow me to just keep silent after all the pains and confusion caused by Aluko. Today, I have been vindicated because Aluko has done just that and I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with the people he has destroyed. I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with those fine military officers he lied against in Kaduna and made them to lose their jobs.”

My role in peace talks

— Olugbemi

On his part, the former speaker, Dele Olugbemi said his intervention in the rift was aimed at moving the PDP forward in Ekiti State, noting that there was no condition attached to the resolution of the crisis.

Aluko had, in February, made startling allegations about the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state, accusing Fayose of manipulating the poll.

The former PDP scribe had claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan released $37 million to Fayose for the election.

He remains expelled from PDP — Pub Sec

Meantime, the state chapter of  PDP, has described whatever happened between Governor Fayose and Dr  Aluko during the meeting in Lagos as personal and would not affect Aluko’s expulsion from the party.

State Publicity Secretary of the party, Jackson Adebayo, who reacted to the truce in a statement, said as far as the PDP in Ekiti State was concerned, “Aluko has been expelled and he remained expelled.”

Adebayo said: “After collaborating with the APC to cause confusion, I can say it categorically that Aluko is not welcomed in the PDP in Ekiti State anymore. Perhaps, he is targeting the next convention of the party so that he can perpetrate another treacherous act.”

, but I can tell Nigerians, especially our teeming members and supporters in Ekiti State that even though we respect our leader, Governor Fayose and we trust his judgment, a treacherous man like TKO Aluko is not welcomed in the PDP.”