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  • Govt: APC lawmakers insensitive

    Govt: APC lawmakers insensitive

    The Ekiti State government has described the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers as “insensitive”.

    The government said the allegation by the lawmakers exposed the “culpability of the party in the kidnapping of residents”.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration accused the APC lawmakers of “betraying their guilt by telling Nigerians that they want the kidnapping of Ekiti residents to continue”.

    The Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said: “The Fayose-led government will do everything possible to protect lives and properties of Ekiti people.

    “What is expected from genuine lovers of the state is to cooperate with security agencies, and not politicisation of every effort of the government.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, introduction of strict security measures and check points in strategic places, prohibition of the usage of tinted glasses, frequent hotel checks were resolutions of the State Security Council meeting on Monday.

    “Only wicked and evil people, whose agenda is to make Ekiti State ungovernable, will kick against these measures that are aimed at securing the lives and properties of the people.

    “Most importantly, we wish to assure residents that the government will spare no effort to get rid of criminals.”

  • Abductions: APC lawmakers’ claim wicked, insensitive – Ekiti

    Abductions: APC lawmakers’ claim wicked, insensitive – Ekiti

    Ekiti State Government has described as “evil, wicked and insensitive” claim by the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the state that the ‘stop and search’ operation ordered by the State Security Council to stem cases of kidnapping was an orchestrated plot by the governor to track them for kidnapping and consequently stall the impeachment plot against Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The government said such unwarranted allegation coming from the runaway APC lawmakers was a clear exposure of the party’s culpability in the abduction of Ekiti citizens.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration accused the APC lawmakers of “betraying their guilt by simply telling Nigerians that they want the kidnapping of Ekiti residents to continue.”

    According to the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, “The Fayose-led government will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and properties of Ekiti people.

    He said what is expected from genuine lovers of the state is to cooperate with security agencies, and not politicization of every efforts of the government.

    The government said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the introduction of strict security measures and check points in strategic places across the state, prohibition of the usage of tinted classes, frequent hotel checks, with a call to hoteliers to monitor their customers and offer information to security agents on any suspected person and seal up of any hotel linked to criminals were resolutions of the Ekiti State Security Council meeting that took place on Monday.

    “Only wicked and evil people, whose agenda is to make Ekiti State ungovernable will kick against these measures that are aimed at securing the lives and properties of the people.”

  • Impeachment: Court accepts Ekiti APC lawmakers’ application

    Impeachment: Court accepts Ekiti APC lawmakers’ application

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday accepted the application for discontinuance of suit filed by 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in Ekiti State, challenging the impeachment of Speaker Adewale Omirin.

    Justice Saliu Saidu while striking out the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1823/14, and filed against the Governor, Ayodele Fayose and 13 others for their alleged role in the impeachment of Omirin and his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, awarded N100, 000 cost in favour of the defendants.

    The plaintiffs had on April 7, filed an application through their lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), seeking to discontinue their case against Fayose, the seven People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) lawmakers and others, over the ”’unlawful” removal of Omirin and Orisalade on November 20 last year.

    Joined as the defendants along with Fayose,  Dele Olugbemi and Olayinka Abeni were the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the state and the Department of State Service.

    Others include the three commissioners cleared for appointment by the House under Olugbemi’s leadership and the five other PDP lawmakers in the House.

    The plaintiffs among other things, sought an order restraining the factional Speaker of the House, Olugbemi, and his deputy, Abeni, from either parading themselves as or executing duties in the capacity of the leaders of the House.

    The plaintiffs’ move to discontinue the suit was objected by the defendants who argued that the matter should rather be dismissed, since it has filed its statement of defence.

    Counsel to the defendants, E.O. Afolayan, representing his principal Femi Adesina (SAN), prayed the court to dismiss the suit because “it is the proper thing to do.”

    He urged the court to dismiss the case in order to foreclose any future representation of the matter by the plaintiffs.

     

  • Why we shunned meeting, by APC lawmakers

    Why we shunned meeting, by APC lawmakers

    The 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly said they shunned the peace meeting because they believe Governor Ayo Fayose was not ready resolve the crisis.

    They said they were not comfortable with the security arrangement.

    The APC lawmakers wondered why the peace effort would include provision of security to escort them out of the state instead of to the House of Assembly to continue their legislative duties.

    The lawmakers in a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, said their resolve on the rule of law and defence of the constitution should not be subsumed under the need to pay them their entitlements.

    They said: “We cannot hold any meeting on the basis of monetary settlement in isolation of the consideration of the constitutional breaches by the governor.

    “It is amazing that the truce terms will not include resumption of our duties, but just to settle us monetarily and escort us out of Ekiti State.”

    Picking holes in the arrangements, the lawmakers wondered why the governor was announcing the peace meeting intermittently on the state media while secretly mobilising thugs to storm the venue.

    “What is this all about if not coded incitement for mob attacks?” the lawmakers queried.

    They also insisted that the security agents told them  that they could not guarantee their safety.

    They added that the discovery of a plot to arrest them confirmed their fears that even though the convener, Chief Afe  Babalola, might not know Fayose’s mindset, the revelation was enough to call off the meeting for a safer venue outside the state capital.

    “Our Government House sources are always credible and reliable. Details of what they revealed on the governorship election conspiracy were later confirmed by Capt Sagir Koli in his Ekitigate tape.

    “The sources also gave accurate information on how Fayose planned to storm the Assembly to illegally impeach Speaker Omirin and install Dele Olugbemi.

    “This was the same way they gave accurate information on the attack on our secretariat, including the types of guns, number, colour and vehicles to be used for the attack.

    “Fayose was popping champagne in the Government House on Wednesday after supervising petrol sale at a filling station on Ilawe road.

    “His loquacious lifestyle gave him away as he sat with his aides celebrating the end to his impeachment moves, boasting that two lawmakers would be arrested and kept in detention until June 1, thereby depriving APC lawmakers the needed quorum for his impeachment,” the statement explained.

    The lawmakers proposed that the meeting be moved to Babalola’s Ibadan office while members on the committee must be non-partisan elders.

    Listing their terms, they demanded the removal of all illegal structures that aided the activities of thugs and miscreants in and around the House of Assembly.

    Restoration of the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, and other principal officers illegally impeached back to their lawful positions.

     The G19 should be allowed unfettered access to and fro the House of Assembly to perform their legislative duties, until the expiration of their tenure.

    Others include cessation of political arrests and vendetta against APC members.

     The lawmakers urged the governor to facilitate these demands before May 4.

    They thanked the elders  and urged them to consider holding the meeting at a neutral and safer venue.

    Also in a position paper by the lawmakers yesterday, they also expressed reservations on the open support  for PDP lawmakers by the governor.

    They also said the governor had been using security agents to hound them.

  • Why we shunned Ekiti peace meeting – APC lawmakers

    Why we shunned Ekiti peace meeting – APC lawmakers

    The 19 All Progressives Congress members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly said they shunned the peace meeting brokered by Chief Afe Babalola and other elders because they believe Governor Ayo Fayose was not ready to have the crisis resolved once and for all.

    The lawmakers said they are not comfortable with the security arrangement of 200 policemen said to have been made to protect them into and out of Ado-Ekiti which, according to them, had given away the motive of the meeting.

    The APC lawmakers wondered why the peace effort would include provision of security to escort them out of the state instead of escorting them to the House of Assembly to continue their legislative duties.

    The lawmakers in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, said their resolve on the rule of law and defence of the Constitution should not be subsumed under the need to pay them their entitlements which was one of the resolutions agreed at the meeting.

    They said: “We cannot hold any meeting on the basis of monetary settlement in isolation of the consideration of the constitutional breaches by the governor.

    “It is amazing that the truce terms will not include resumption of our duties‎, but just to settle us monetarily and escorting us out of Ekiti State.”

    Picking holes in the entire arrangement for the meeting, the lawmakers wondered why the governor was announcing the peace meeting intermittently on the state media while secretly mobilising Peoples Democratic Party members from the 16 local government areas in the state to storm the venue of the meeting.

    “What is this all about if not coded incitement for mob attacks?” the lawmakers queried‎.

    They also insisted that the security agents told them in clear terms that they could not guarantee their security and warned them against passing through the streets of Ado-Ekiti to the venue of the meeting‎.

     

  • Ekiti crisis: Fayose shifts ground, APC lawmakers shun peace parley

    Ekiti crisis: Fayose shifts ground, APC lawmakers shun peace parley

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has agreed to make concessions to ensure the resolution of the power struggle between him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

    Fayose said “if not for experience he had garnered as a second-time governor, his government would have become a history.”

    The governor made the remarks on Thursday at a peace meeting brokered by Ekiti elders led by eminent lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola.

    He also accused the media of stoking the fire of crisis rocking the state, saying Ekiti does not deserve the uncomplimentary headlines being cast on the impeachment saga.

    The meeting which held at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), was shunned by the APC lawmakers led by Speaker Adewale Omirin who alleged plots to arrest them and keep them out of circulation until the end of their tenure in the first week of June.

    Four of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers led by factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi attended the peace meeting.

    Other elders who joined Babalola on the high table include Chairman, Standing Committee, Ekiti Council of Elders, Chief Deji Fasuan; former Minister of National Planning, Chief Ayo Ogunlade and former Secretary General of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide.

    Despite the absence of the APC lawmakers, the elders resolved to continue with the peace meeting in which they reiterated their call on the warring factions to embrace peace.

    The ABUAD campus witnessed an overwhelming presence of armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)

    Fayose said the experience of his ouster from office in 2006 was brought to bear in “protecting the mandate given to him by the electorates “saying his calling for peace to resolve the raging crisis was not out of cowardice but to show the character of a leader.”

    While acknowledging appeals from well-meaning personalities urging him to see himself as the father of the state and ensure the resolution of the crisis, Fayose said he won’t look on and allow the opposition to rob him of the mandate of the people.

    Fayose said: “I am not a first-time governor, I am better informed now to know the difference between the executive and the legislature.

    “If not for experience, the PDP government could have become a history. The difference between the last time and now is the experience I have to navigate through the crisis.

    “The last time, they came and took off my neck, should I look on for them to cut my head again? No.”

  • APC lawmakers cancel peace meeting

    APC lawmakers cancel peace meeting

    THE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have cancelled a peace meeting brokered by Chief Afe Babalola slated for today at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

    The cancellation followed a secret plan to use the meeting as a booby trap to seize the members as they approach the university campus.

    Sources said Governor Ayodele Fayose was celebrating with his aides last night that he had “gotten over his impeachment plot”.

    He was quoted as saying that the lawmakers will be arrested without even seeing Chief Babalola and they will be in detention until June 1.

    Security sources confirmed last night they could not guarantee the lawmakers’ safety and advised that they should watch their movement.

    The lawmakers have already contacted Chief Babalola to shift the meeting to Abuja and that they would be willing to foot the bill.

  • Ekiti lawmakers slam Babatope for ‘supporting illegalities’

    The 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers in Ekiti State have criticized a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, for calling them charlatans in their resolve to protect the Constitution and defend the rule of law.

    They slammed the former minister of Transport for supporting the impeachment of Ondo State Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi and opposing the impeachment proceedings launched against Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The lawmakers, who were reacting to Babatope’s interview which appeared in a national newspaper on Monday, said such a senior party leader should not be speaking from both sides of the mouth and getting carried away by emotions in his analysis of political events in Ekiti in particular and Nigeria in general.

    In a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser (Media) to Speaker Adewale Omirin, Wole Olujobi, the lawmakers advised Babatope to take a rest after the crushing defeat his party suffered from APC at both state and federal levels.

    The lawmakers advised Babatope to take his heart away from the trauma of his new status to avoid a psychological torture inherent in his hate campaign against APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    They also counseled him to be discrete in his utterances on the alleged illegalities by Governor Fayose lest he be labeled a leader with scant sense of good judgment.

     

  • Ekiti monarchs to APC lawmakers: Don’t impeach Fayose

    Ekiti monarchs to APC lawmakers: Don’t impeach Fayose

    Traditional rulers in Ekiti State have warned the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the state House of Assembly against impeaching Governor Ayo Fayose.

    They reiterated their opposition in an unequivocal term to moves by the outgoing legislators and their sponsors to impeach the governor.

    According to the monarchs, all attempts to impeach the governor should stop forthwith.

    The Obas, who held an emergency meeting on Wednesday on the impeachment crisis rocking the state, accused the APC legislators who form majority in the state parliament of “consistently frustrating all their peace moves by not attending meetings called for the purpose.”

    In a 13-point communiqué signed by the Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adamo Idowu Babalola, made available to reporters on Thursday, the monarchs said, “they are deeply concerned and worried about the lingering political upheaval which became aggravated after the March 28 presidential election.”

    The royal fathers, however, praised the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, for “rising above partisan positions to uphold the tent of his office despite pressure from interested quarters.

    They implored Daramola “to continue in the same spirit so as to ensure that the popular wish of the generality of the people is not subverted.”

    The Obas appealed to Fayose to “graciously consider giving palliative measures to alleviate the sufferings of the agitating legislators” whose salaries and entitlements have not been paid since December on the alleged orders of the governor.

    They maintained that Fayose still remains the legitimate governor of Ekiti State and should be allowed to exercise the mandate given to him by the electorate in the June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election.

     

  • Impeachment: Fayose’s supporters lay siege to Assembly complex

    Impeachment: Fayose’s supporters lay siege to Assembly complex

    Supporters of Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, on Monday stormed the vicinity of the House of Assembly complex to protest the commencement of impeachment proceedings against him by 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers.

    The lawmakers had forwarded an impeachment notice to Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, accusing them of gross misconduct in the performance of their official functions.

    The lawmakers also wrote to the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, after a special sitting, urging the head of judiciary to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the alleged gross misconduct.

    Fayose had on Sunday in a broadcast alleged that the Dr. Adewale Omirin-led APC Assembly members were planning to storm the Assembly complex on Monday, urging his supporters to go to the place and frustrate the plot to remove him from office.

    The governor, who spoke in Yoruba, charged his party members, drivers, okada riders, market women and other interest groups to defend the mandate they gave to him in last year’s governorship election.

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from all the 16 local government areas stormed the Assembly complex area in compliance with Fayose’s directive, vowing that they would not allow opposition forces to remove him from power.

    The PDP loyalists who were mobilized to the Assembly complex by local government caretaker chairmen chanted party slogan and rained curses on the APC legislators whom they accused of harbouring plots to set the state on fire with the impeachment proceedings.

    The Assembly complex was under lock and key, while stern-looking heavily armed policemen blocked all the major roads linking to the complex. Few vehicles that were allowed passage were thoroughly checked and passers-by frisked by security agencies.

    The PDP loyalists clustered around the vicinity of the Assembly, they were not allowed near the parliament building by armed security men drafted to the complex.

    They defied the scorching sun for the greater part of the day and sang abusive songs calling the APC legislators names. They said they had come to occupy the House and keep vigil to frustrate any impeachment plot against Fayose.