Ekiti June 21 Elections: Sack CP, MOPOL Chief Now

Posted by African Examiner Articles/Opinion, Latest Headlines, Trending Stories Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

Ugly events in Ekiti State yesterday that led to the attack on Governor Fayemi convoy, the killing of an APC supporter, vehicles vandalized, many injured and citizens tear gassed portend grave danger ahead of June 21Governorship Elections in that state. A normal tradition in APC family of sweeping the footprints of the invaders from Abuja anytime they come visiting APC States turned into a dangerous exercise yesterday in Ekiti State because Abuja and their police force will not play to the rules. Yesterday in Ekiti State the State Commissioner of Police Felix Uyanna failed the litmus test of protecting the people of Ekiti and to provide a level playing field for all political parties to thrive. In the presence of Mr. Felix Uyanna, a MOPOL Chief in Ekiti threatened to arrest the governor, Dr Fayemi. The mobile police chief who had ordered some of his officers to dislodge the governor’s security aids brazenly told the CP: “Who? I mean what Governor? Who is Governor when the VP is in town? I don’t know any Governor. I have order from the above. That is all” To make matters worse, PDP supporters were seen attacking APC members while police did nothing to protect lives and property.

Joe Igbokwe

Now, it seems to me that PDP and their gang are bent on crashing this hard earned democracy and damn the consequences. These characters are ready to pull down the house if they cannot get what they want in 2015. The lust for power and other things that go with it have beclouded their sense of reasoning that they do not think about the consequences of their actions and what it will result to. To them the focus is to continue to pillage and plunder Nigeria or everything will be destroyed. If you doubt what I am saying please take a look at these scenarios: first protests have been banned in Abuja, Governor Amechi and others were locked up in Kano, Governor Fayemi was attacked in Ado Ekiti, the Electronic media houses are being attacked as TV and Radio Stations have to submit names of their guests before going on Air, and Newspapers are being attacked for some days now. There was an attempt to rig the appointment of the Emir of Kano by the ruling party and their cronies until the Governor of Kano State, HE Kwankwaso stood up to challenge the brigandage. President has also impounded Governor Amechi jet in Kano for the second time.

Nearly 5000 Nigerians died between 1985 and 1998 for us to achieve this democracy but it looks as if no lessons have been learnt over these years. The characters that transverse the political landscape today endangering a process earned through pains, blood and tears do not know how we got here. From what we saw in Ekiti yesterday and the danger it portends to our fragile democracy I submit that the commissioner of police in Ekiti State Mr Felix Uyanna and the MOPOL chief in Ekiti State cannot guarantee free and fair process in June 21 governorship elections.

In actions and deeds they have shown that they cannot be trusted to provide security for June 21 elections in Ekiti State. If the dangerous claim that they do not recognize the exalted office of the governor is anything to go by, then everything is wrong with our democracy. The statement credited to MOPOL Chief in Ekiti State is not only bizarre and dangerous; it is also the biggest threat to democracy in Nigeria in recent times. Having proved beyond reasonable doubts that police in Ekiti State are not there right now to defend the people but to defend orders from above, our irreducible minimum demand is to ask that both commissioner of Police and MOPOL Chief to be transferred out of Ekiti State before June 21 Governorship Elections. Only a tree stands in the face of the woodman’s axe.

If you had the privilege of watching Governor Fayemi’s encounter with Ekiti CP, you would have seen the rage in the Governor’s face and the danger he was exposed to. Now with what we are witnessing now I doubt if INEC, police and soldiers will be fair to all concerned. PDP, President Jonathan and his handlers are desperate and dangerous to guarantee a free and fair process on June 21. But they have no alternative than to do so because doing otherwise is a call to anarchy. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Sack Ekiti State CP and MOPOL Chief now!

Joe Igbokwe

Lagos