Ekiti Siege: Governor Fayemi Directs Change Of Tribunal Venue, Imposes Curfew And Cancels Appreciation Visit

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State, Politics Friday, September 26th, 2014

By Funmilayo Omidiji

Sequel to the unfolding civil disturbance in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria, the outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi has directed the state Chief Judge to work with other stakeholders and consider alternative venue for the Ekiti Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, cancelled his state wide appreciation visit and announced indefinite dusk to dawn curfew.

Fayemi made these disclosures Friday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital during a live broadcast as measures to douse tension and check violence which erupted in the state, since Monday.

Some judges at the state High court, the venue of the Election Petition Tribunal were attacked by the hoodlums, office of the Tribunal Chairman was invaded, documents were tampered with. The latest of the violence was the killing last night, former state Chairman of NURTW, Omolafe Aderiye and Friday violent protest by the miscreants.

The Governor who accused the state and Federal security agencies of slow intervention in dousing the mounted tension affirmed: “in order to forestall further descent into anarchy in our state, I am taking the very difficult decision to suspend the ‘Thank You’ tour which I’m undertaking as part of our transitioning-out formalities”.

“Also, I have taken the decision to institute a dusk to dawn curfew in the state immediately. Accordingly, there would be no movement between the hours of 7.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. everyday till further notice.

“We urge the citizenry to be vigilant and provide the security agencies with details of suspicious activities that can undermine the peace in our state” Fayemi declared in his broadcast.

He asked residents of the state to work together to stop the “violence and brigandage that has brought about serious embarrassment” to the state in the last few days.

“Let us then temper our competitive zeal with civility and empathy. Let us deal truthfully with our youth, who are so liable to be led astray by unbridled political fervour, by seeing them as our children rather than as conscripts or fodder for our objectives” stressed the Governor.

Dr. Fayemi insisted “We must not disrupt our very bright prospects for sustained development in our state”.

He observed that the recent spate of violence were politically related, therefore called on the state political elites to exercise caution

The Governor pointed out, “We should not imperil the very people we seek to serve by resorting to violence and brigandage. One does not burn down his homestead to establish his claim of ownership or leadership”.

The measures Fayemi said were to avoid delay of justice and protect independence of democracy which he described as “an inviolable tenet of any democracy”.

Ekiti, which he stated was consistent with history of unity and love, could no longer afford to witness the “bizarre spectacle of the beating up of judicial officers and wanton intimidation of lawyers and court personnel”.

While calling on the citizenry to cooperate and work together with the government, with a view to making Ekiti “a garden of concord where our children and their children will dwell in peace and safety”, Governor Fayemi called on the security agencies not to relent in performing their constitutional role of protecting lives and property in the state.

“Administrations come and go; politics can be frenetic when the stakes are high; but by the grace of the Almighty God, our state remains for all time, therefore the peace of our land is not negotiable”, the Governor maintained.