Anxiety, Confusion In Ekiti As Gov. Fayose’s Supporters Take Over State Assembly Complex

Posted by African Examiner Featured Contributors/Columnists Monday, April 20th, 2015

From Akin Soneyin, Ado-Ekiti – Tension was high in in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital Monday as the entrance of the State House of Assembly was again taken over by supporters of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The action was taken so as to prevent the 19 opposition APC lawmakers who the Governor alleged planned to impeach him gain entrance into the legislative chamber.

The Caretaker Chairmen in the State’s 16 Local Government Council Areas, mobilized PDP members across the State, who stayed and watched vigilantly for the arrival of the opposition lawmakers led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Wale Omirin.

The situation forced many State public servants to stayed back at home; left public schools shut as well as grounded activities at the secretariat, which is very closed to the Assembly complex.

The PDP members were assisted by the security operatives, who stayed around and conducted thorough search on passers – by and vehicles plying around the assembly premises.

The Ekiti State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatubosun in his reaction to the development, hailed the State transport workers for not participating in Monday protest.

Olatunbosun in a statement declared that his party praised the drivers and motorcycle operators for their courage and wisdom, adding that Governor Fayose was used to protecting his own interest and keeping his children in safety while he distributed guns to the children of others to foment trouble.

He recalled that the day he was first impeached in 2006, he asked his supporters to meet at Fajuyi to confront the soldiers, while they later discovered that he had escaped via the booth of his car, while they (supporters) were tear-gassed with some of them sustaining injuries.

Governor Fayose on Sunday in a statewide broadcast announced that the opposition lawmakers had perfected plans to invade the Assembly complex Monday to move the motion for his impeachment.

Consequently, he called on transport unions, market women and workers to rise up against the lawmakers and protect the mandate given to him.

Amidst the pandemonium, the newly elected 25 PDP State legislators, in a statement Monday, accused Omirin and Senator Babafemi Ojodu as the brain behind the raging confusion in the State.

The APC lawmakers have also accused Governor Fayose of acting against the peace, which he clamoured for late last week.

It would be recalled Fayose’s Deputy Mr. Kolapo Olusola recently led PDP members and Fayose’s supporters to block the State Assembly entrance so as to deny the opposition lawmakers access into the premises.