It has come to our attention that a team of hoodlums in three unmarked Hilux vehicles
went round the State, armed with guns, machetes, knives and axes to the houses of APC membersand also to the homes of PDP members in the State who are opposed to the political philosophy of Governor Ayo Fayose. Their most recent operation centered on Ijero Local Government. There, they created mayhem, beat and tortured the 90-year old father of the Commissioner for Financeunder the Fayemi administration. The hoodlums destroyed shops and properties including cars belonging even to PDP members because of their perceived opposition to Fayose. The APC members were severely bloodied in the process.
This
came barely 48 hours after former Governors Adebayo, Oni and Fayemi
visited the State Commissioner of Police as well as the State Director
of DSS on the security situation in Ekiti. The Governors had called on
the security chiefs
to prevail on Governor Fayose to put an end to the
ongoing impunity, thuggery, brigandage, political rascality and torture.
We had warned that if push comes to shove, the Party and all
well-meaning people in the State will result to self-help to protect
themselves, their assets and their rights guaranteed under the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
During
the visit of the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) to Ekiti on Monday March 23rd, 2015, members of APC
riding to the reception venue in Buhari/Osinbajo and APC branded
vehicles were attacked in Ado Ekiti. They were shot at and several of
their vehicles, including those belonging to Hon. Mrs. Bunmi Oriniowo,
APC House of Assembly candidate and Amb. Olofin, the APC Ekiti Central
Senatorial candidate, were destroyed by the hoodlums. We want to state
unequivocally that we will no longer tolerate any further unprovoked
attack on and willful destruction of APC branded vehicles and assets in
the State.
Keeping calm
thus far is not out of weakness or incapacity to respond. We are only
mindful of the lessons of history. Please recall that the First Republic
ended with the “Operation Wetie” political violence that erupted in
Ekiti when similar situation of political rascality as we have now
became prevalent in the West. We do not want this to happen again.
Notwithstanding, if further provoked, we will have no choice than to
respond in kind!
We can no
longer continue to live with a situation in which seven lawmakers are
making laws for the State in gross violation of our Constitution. It is
alarming that this can be allowed to continue without anyone attempting
to call the abnormality to order. Ekiti belongs to all of us and we will
not allow any group of hoodlums to willfully bastardize our values and
heritage. We remain committed to handing over to our children “a banner
without stain”. We hope the security forces will actively carry out
their constitutional mandate and savethis democracy from collapse.
Signed:
1. His Excellency, Otunba Niyi Adebayo
2. His Excellency, Asiwaju Segun Oni
3. His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.