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Tag: Ekiti State House of Assembly

  • Ekiti lawmaker empowers 153 farmers with inputs

    Ekiti lawmaker empowers 153 farmers with inputs

    The lawmaker representing Irepodun-Ifelodun Constituency 2 in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hakeem Jamiu, has distributed seedlings and agrochemicals to 153 farmers in his constituency.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from  the 11 communities in the constituency, including  Awo, Igbemo, Esure, Iworoko, Orun, Are, Afao, Iropora, Ilamo, Eyio and Araromi Obbo.

    Inputs distributed were 12 bags of  rice seedlings, 35 bags of maize seedlings, 35 cartons of sprayers, agrochemmicals, 35 packs of cassava seedlings, 36 packs of Aminocom for rice, maize and others.

    Speaking during the distribution  of the products in Igbemo-Ekiti, the Ex-Deputy Speaker said the efforts were in line with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s government agenda to boost local food production and banish hunger.

    Jamiu added that the intervention is also tailored towards encouraging farmers in in all 11 communities in his constituency ahead of the planting season.

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    He identified farming as one of the tools to tackle insecurity plaguing the country, saying when farmers are fully engaged, there won’t be unoccupied bushes for the kidnappers to hide.

    He said: “It’s a constituency engagement and I want to encourage people to go back to farming because in the 6th Assembly, I sponsored a bill which is now law titled: ‘Ekiti State Food Security Law’ where I proposed that everybody should go back to farm and own a farm so that we should be able to feed ourselves.”

    “The government is encouraging everybody to go to farm. There is food crisis that’s why we have palliative. It is a way of encouraging farmers and implementing the law which I sponsored. That is why I gave my constituents farm implements, sprayers, chemicals and seedlings.

    “I also believe that if we go back to the farm, it’s a way of curbing insecurity because when all the farms are occupied, there is no way kidnappers will put their victims. I know government will secure our farms through Agro Rangers.

    “I encourage the farmers to go back to the farm because these kidnappers only occupy unoccupied bushes. When our bushes are occupied, there will be an end to insecurity because the kidnappers take advantage of bushes.

    “I charge them to make good use of them because this is a planting season. Before now, they used to rent the sprayers. The seedlings have been specially made and treated,” he added.

    Similarly, his counterpart from Irepodun-Ifelodun Constituency 1, Femi Akindele, described the intervention as part of the shared prosperity agenda of the state government in ensuring that there is food sufficiency for people of the state.

    He said: “It’s an intervention which has come at the right time. We cannot have any time better than now. We are just entering the planting season. This is will help the farmers get the high need and output of their farm produce by giving them quality seedlings.

    “What you can’t take away from the government of Biodun Oyebanji is that he has a shared prosperity for every Ekiti people. The 7th Assembly have taken it upon ourselves to support the governor with everything in order for the government to succeed.”

  • Unknown men at Ekiti ex-Deputy Speaker’s home

    Suspected assailants on Tuesday night allegedly besieged the Erinjiyan-Ekiti home of a former Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olusegun Adewumi.

    The bandits, who forced their ways into the residence around 2a.m., did not meet Adewumi. He reportedly travelled to Canada with his family.

    On March 30, 2013, some bandits attacked the former deputy speaker’s residence in Erinjiyan, where his mother, Mrs. Juliana Adewumi and his aide, Mr. Ayo Jeje (a.k.a. Murphy), were murdered.

    The gardener in charge of the residence, who was not around when the incident happened, said the assailants who infiltrated into the house, were after the former Speaker because no property was carted away.

    He explained that people called him to tell him about the incident.

    Read Also: Governor Fayemi laments erosion of Ekiti core values

    He said: “I was in Aramoko when I received a call from someone living close to honourable’s house that I should come at dawn to Erinjiyan.

    “Not quite long, I received calls from two different people, who were known to me. And I rushed down to Erinjiyan at dawn to check. When I got there, I could see traces of the entry, but no property was carted away.

    “They were said to be fully armed, asking about the honourable. They were quoted to have  said ‘the stupid guy is not in Ado and still nowhere to be in his hometown, Erijiyan’.”

    When contacted, the Ekiti State Police Command’s spokesman, Caleb Ikechukwu, a deputy superintendent of police, said the command has not been briefed about the incident.

  • Ekiti Assembly Lifts Suspension on former Speaker, four others

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Wednesday lifted the suspension placed on former speaker Kola Oluwawole and four other lawmakers.

    The lawmakers were reinstated during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Adeniran Alagbada.

    Those who got a reprieve were former Deputy Speaker, Mr Segun Adewumi, Mr Abiola Jeje, (Ido/Osi 11), Mr Adesina Animasaun,(Ekiti West 11) and Mr Dare Pelemo (Ekiti East 11).

    It would be recalled the affected lawmakers were among those suspended last October on alleged passage of N10 billion Supplementary Budget of former Gov. Ayo Fayose.

    The reinstatement followed the adoption of the report of the Appeal Panel Committee chaired by Chief Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1).

    The motion for the adoption of the report of the committee was moved by Aribisogan and seconded by Mr Sunday Akinniyi (Ikere 11).

    Briefing journalists shortly after plenary, Aribisogan, who is also the leader of the House, said the lawmakers reabsorbed the affected members because they appealed and showed remorse of their actions.

    “The All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the spirit of love have made it possible for the successful plenary sitting today for the reinstatement of the suspended House members.

    “Though, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) felt that the suspended members, who are mainly from their party should not be reinstated because of the internal crisis, but APC members opposed that.

    “The affected PDP members who had earlier written letters of apology are hereby reabsorbed,”Aribisogan said.

    Other legislative activities business of the day was the unanimous adoption of the Harmonised South West Houses of Assembly Rules and Standing Orders.

    The Nation gathered that with this development, there is now uniform Rules and Standing Orders for all the southwestern states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

  • Ekiti Assembly confirms Fayemi’s commissioner nominees

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed two commissioners-designate nominated by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

    The two candidates, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda and Mr. Oladapo Kolawole, appeared before the lawmakers at about 2.30 pm on Thursday where they were asked questions.

    Fapohunda, a lawyer, served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice while Kolawole, a chartered accountant and tax expert, served as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development during Fayemi’s first tenure.

    The House at its plenary also approved the request of the governor seeking approval for the appointment of ten Special Advisers.

    Speaker Adeniran Alagbada who read a letter from the governor to his colleagues at plenary, urged them to adequately look into the request for smooth runnings of government.

    Read Also: Buhari inaugurates new PH Int’l Airport terminal

    After being grilled by the legislators, Fapohunda and Kolawole were found qualified and fit for positions of commissioners.

    The duo are expected to return to their former offices and would be sworn in by the governor any moment from now.

    The lawmakers unanimously observed that both men had served the state in the past and performed creditably well.

    Deputy Speaker Olusegun Adewumi charged the two commissioner nominees to “think outside the box by attracting businesses into the state to improve the economy instead of overtaxing the people.”

    Alagbada also commended Governor Fayemi for choosing people of integrity as commissioners and praised his colleagues for their prompt action.

  • Journalists barred as PDP Lawmakers hold ‘Secret’ sitting in Ekiti

    Fourteen People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members of Ekiti State House of Assembly on Thursday considered and approved the N10 billion supplementary budget request of Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The PDP lawmakers, led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole, arrived the Assembly complex at 12.05 pm and sat for about one hour inside the hallowed chambers before they passed the supplementary appropriation bill into law.

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    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) Assembly caucus has rejected the passage of the N10 billion supplementary budget with about a month to Fayose’s exit from power.

    The APC lawmakers led by the Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1), described the action as a “ploy by Fayose to legitimize fraud which will be resisted through legal and constitutional means.”

    Journalists were barred from covering the sitting which was held behind closed doors.

    The PDP lawmakers were joined by the Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan and two legislative officers in conducting the sitting.

    The PDP lawmakers who were part of the closed door session include Oluwawole (Moba 1), Sina Animasaun (Ekiti West 2), Samuel Omotoso (Oye 1), Samuel Jeje (Ido/Osi 2), Tope Fasanmi (Ado 2), Dayo Akinleye (Ijero) and Wale Onigiobi (Ekiti Southwest 1).

    The rest are Dare Pelemo (Ekiti East 2), Cecilia Dada (Ilejemeje), Musa Arogundade (Ado 1), Sanya Aladeyelu (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2), Olayode Omotoso (Ido/Osi 1), Dele Fajemilehin (Gbonyin) and Olanrewaju Olayanju (Emure).

    A source said: “Today’s secret sitting by the 14 lawmakers loyal to the governor is an illegal one because the bill passed through the first, second and third reading under one hour which negates legislative procedure and norms.

    “There is no way a bill just presented will pass through the first, second and third reading and passed in one day because after the second reading, it will go to the committee state before being returned to the committee of the whole before entering the third reading.

    “Some senior legislative officers were summoned to attend but they stayed away because they knew this kind of sitting is illegal and they know they don’t want to be part of illegality.”

    Reacting, Aribisogan said: “The APC lawmakers and some members are not in support of the bill because it has been discovered that the outgoing governor wanted to use the House to legitimise fraud.

    “The proposed Appropriation Bill is the handiwork of Governor Fayose and his cronies to cover up massive fraud in some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).

    “The Appropriation Bill is not meant to improve the lives of our people in the state but to cover up some unapproved spending of the Governor. It is a fraudulent Bill to cover fraudulent spending. That’s why the governor wanted the bill to be passed without proper scrutiny.

    “The Appropriation Committee did not sit on the Bill. The Bill was back dated to August 30 to give an impression that the Appropriation Committee had since been deliberating on the Bill.”

    The Speaker, Oluwawole was given the Bill last Friday when he was summoned to the Governor’s Lodge. As usual, he was given a marching order to call Hon Jeje Samuel, the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, to make a public statement on the Revised Budget.

    “The Progressives in the House” we are now the majority. We have met. We have resolved to boycott sittings on the dubious budget. We learnt they want to reopen the Assembly for one hour to pass the budget. We are waiting and watching.

    “It is ridiculous to hear that a government that has less than 32 days wants to spend 10 billion Naira. The governor is yet to tell us how he had managed the finances of this state.

    “We have not been told the position of the state IGR, but the executive wanted us to pass a budget. We shall resist this latest attempt by Fayose to further plunge Ekiti state into financial mess.”

  • Ekiti Assembly vs EFCC: Court delivers Judgment Jan 24

    Ekiti Assembly vs EFCC: Court delivers Judgment Jan 24

    A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has fixed 24th January, 2018 for judgment on the suit filed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ).

    The Assembly filed the suit to restrain the anti-graft agency from launching a probe into its finances.

    The state legislators led by Speaker Kola Oluwawole headed to the court seeking reliefs to stop the EFCC from arresting or detaining them from performing their functions.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, at the court’s sitting on Wednesday, set the date for the judgment after counsel to all parties adopted their briefs of argument.

    Counsel to the Assembly, Mr. Peter Nwatu argued that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for separation of power among the three arms of government.

    He contended that there was no reason for a federal agency, as represented by the EFCC, to interfere in the business of a legislative arm of government established by the Constitution.

    According to him, the Constitution is supreme over any agency of the federation including the EFCC on how funds are disbursed to the Assembly or how they are being appropriated.

    Counsel to EFCC, Mr A. Akoja argued that agencies such as EFCC cannot be restricted from performing their statutory duties.

    He urged the court to dismiss the suit filed by the plaintiffs for lacking merit.

  • Rumpus in Ekiti over alleged sexual harassment

    Rumpus in Ekiti over alleged sexual harassment

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly is in the news again for the wrong reasons. The lawmaker representing Ekiti-East State Constituency Hon. Dare Pelemo, is in the eye of the storm for alleged sexual harassment and physical assault to a woman, Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the issue.

    The Parliament is respected all over the world as an important institution in a democratic dispensation.

    Because of its importance, members of the Parliament at local, state and national levels are expected to be role models and show good examples in speech, conduct and carriage.

    But some observers claim that the Fifth Ekiti State House of Assembly is fast becoming a chamber where all manner of comedy and absurdity play out.

    They had caused a stir by protesting on the highway in Ado-Ekiti an alleged plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to co-opt them into an alleged plot to remove Fayose from office.

    During the protest which took place at Okesa Roundabout in Ado-Ekiti and which grounded traffic for about three hours, the lawmakers, apart from clutching placards, also carried their bags and personal effects such as toothpastes, toothbrushes, sponges and other items symbolically declaring their readiness for arrest by the anti-graft agency.

    But the latest storm raging in the Assembly over alleged involvement of a member, Hon. Dare Pelemo, in sexual harassment and assault of a widow, Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi, has sparked a public outrage within and outside Ekiti State.

    Mrs. Ilesanmi had visited the Assembly complex to see the Majority Leader and lawmaker representing her constituency, Oye Constituency 2, Hon. Tunji Akinyele.

    She came to see Akinyele and the Chairman, House Committee on Information and lawmaker representing Oye Constituency 1, Hon. Samuel Omotoso on her intent to vie for the chairmanship position of Oye Local Government Area in the forthcoming local government election.

    The woman accused Pelemo  of “indecently” fondling her breasts at the Assembly premises and later unleashing people suspected to be political thugs on her after she protested the alleged sexual harassment.

    The beating she received from the suspected thugs landed her at a private hospital in Oke Ila area of Ado-Ekiti where she was treated for injuries sustained during the attack.

    Already, the case is under investigation by Ekiti State Police Command and the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).

    Mrs. Ilesanmi, through her lawyer, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye, wrote a petition dated September 6, this year, to the Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe.

    The petition entitled “Petition against Hon. Dare Pelemo over Criminal, Sexual and Indecent Assault on Mrs Mercy Ilesanmi’ was also copied to the Inspector-General of Police, Ekiti State Director of Department of State Services (DSS), FIDA, Ekiti State chapter, Ministry of Women Affairs, African Women Development Fund (AWDF) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

    The petition reads: “We act as solicitors for Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi (hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Client’) and we have Our Client’s instruction to write this petition against the indecent and sexual assault on her by one Hon. Dare Pelemo.

    “Our Client informed us that she was at the State Assembly complex to visit Hon. Tunji Akinyele, the Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly who is also the member representing Oye Constituency 2  where Our Client hails from and brief him on her aspiration to vie for the chairmanship position of Oye Local Government Area in the forthcoming local government election.

    “We were further informed by Our Client that after her discussion with Hon. Akinyele, she had an intention to have an interactive session with Hon. Samuel Omotoso who is also a member representing Oye Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    “To her utter dismay, Hon. Dare Pelemo accosted, assaulted and indecently fondled her breasts at the entrance leading to Hon. Omotoso’s office at the Assembly complex.

    “We were further briefed by Our Client that the said Hon. Pelemo did not stop at this criminal and indecent act on Our Client but also molested and battered her in company of some unknown miscreants who acted on the instruction of this culprit just as she was rushing to report the incident to Hon. Akinyele, the Leader of the House.

    “We were also briefed that in the process, Hon. Pelemo and some unknown miscreants tore her cloth into shreds. A copy of a photograph showing the torn part of her cloth is hereby annexed as Annexure ‘A’ and ‘B’.

    “We were further briefed by Our Client that in the process of these criminal and indecent acts of Hon. Pelemo and the unknown miscreants, she lost valuable items to wit: gold wristwatch, Infinix Hot 4 phone both worth N250, 000 and the sum of N20, 000.”

    Aribasoye said: “We have written a petition on the brutality and sexual harassment to the state police command and it is already receiving the attention of the Commissioner of Police.

    “Besides, FIDA in Ekiti is also investigating the case and I believe that very soon, an action will be taken on the matter.”

    FIDA has called for the arrest and prosecution of Pelemo for the alleged assault on Mrs. Ilesanmi, a widow. The body noted that Pelemo, who was elected to make laws, was the one who allegedly broke the law.

    Ekiti FIDA Desk Officer, Mrs. Kemi Atitebi, told Southwest Report that the body received a complaint of an alleged sexual harassment and assault of Mrs. Ilesanmi against Pelemo but the legislator shunned the invitation to defend himself on the allegation.

    She said: “FIDA Ekiti received the complaint of alleged sexual harassment and assault against Hon. Dare Pelemo from Mrs Mercy Ilesanmi, the complainant that she was assaulted and stripped naked right at the premises of the Assembly complex.

    “FIDA wrote a letter to invite the respondent so that we can hear his own side of the story and mediate in the matter. The woman is a widow and a mother of children whose dignity has been violated for the fact that she was stripped naked.”

    Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Ilesanmi said: “Hon. Pelemo fondled my breasts and I asked him what that meant. I also told him that I am a married woman and I don’t like how he touched my breasts.

    “He said I am an enemy of government and that I was not supposed to come to the Assembly complex. I asked him if that was the reason he fondled my breasts, a married woman for that matter?

    “I went to report the matter to Hon. Akinyele and I met the Clerk and two other visitors in Hon. Akinyele’s office.

    “Suddenly, Pelemo came in with some miscreants and they started beating me, destroying things in that office; asking what I was doing at the House of Assembly complex. He said I am not supposed to be there, that I am an enemy of government.”

    But Pelemo, who denied fondling the breasts of Mrs. Ilesanmi accused her of attempting to pull him down and destroy his name. The lawmaker accused the woman of trying to frame him up.

    Pelemo, who is the Chairman House Committee on Security, said Mrs. Ilesanmi did not wear visitor’s tag when she visited the Assembly complex on September 5 which prompted him to challenge her on her mission.

    The legislator said: “The complainant came to the House of Assembly complex and I met her at the door. Ordinarily, she was supposed to have registered with the receptionist.

    “But because I am the head of the Security Committee, I asked her to identify herself. I called on the Sergeant-at-Arms to take her out of the House of Assembly complex.”

    The lawmaker accused Mrs. Ilesanmi of working as an agent of the Senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, who is no longer in the good books of Governor Ayo Fayose and the leadership of the Assembly.

    Pelemo added: “It is not true that I touched her. I did not touch her breasts but I suddenly saw a petition from FIDA on Friday. I had travelled to my hometown, Ilasa-Ekiti after which FIDA called me. I told them that I would come back to Ado-Ekiti soon.

    “It was not as if I ignored FIDA. She is trying to frame me up and destroy my good name. She is being sponsored by some people but I will still honour the FIDA invitation.”

     

  • Fayemi slams N3bn libel suit against Fayose’s Aaides

    Fayemi slams N3bn libel suit against Fayose’s Aaides

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has dragged a member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Samuel Omotoso and Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka to court for libel.

    Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, is claiming N3 billion as damages from Omotoso and Olayinka in a libel suit filed by his counsel, Rafiu Balogun, before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for alleged offensive statements made against him (Fayemi).

    The Minister’s action follows the failure of the defendants to retract the libellous statements and tender public apology as demanded by Balogun, in a letter dated November 19, 2016.

    According copies of court papers made available to reporters on Wednesday, the plaintiff is seeking among others, payment of an aggravated damages to the tune of N3billion.

    (N2billion against Lere Olayinka, the first defendant and another N1 billion aggravated damages against Dr. Omotoso, the second defendant.)

    Besides these, the plaintiff is also seeking a retraction of the offensive statements/utterances; a public apology to be published and aired on Ekiti State Television (EKTV) and Channels Television as well as the social media.

    He is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing or making statements or utterances similar or further libelous publications or statements or utterances against the plaintiff.

    The duo of Omotoso and Olayinka had during an EKTV live programme also broadcast on a cable network Startimes, tagged Ejiire on July 6, 2016 alleged that Fayemi illegally took N1.5b from Ekiti treasury and gave it to the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, to win the 2015 presidential election.

    Olayinka also said that Fayemi illegally collected N5b from Ecobank in the name of Fountain Holdings for purported road construction.

    He also alleged that Fayemi spent the state’s funds to build a private university for himself in Ghana.

    For failing to retract the offending statements and tender public apology within the stipulated period, Fayemi’s counsel is asking the court for reliefs compelling the defendants to pay damages for the statements against him which had portrayed him as a “very corrupt public office holder and fraudulent person who siphoned public funds at the detriment of Ekiti citizens while serving as governor”.

    Balogun also argued that his client was exposed to “public ridicule, odium, opprobrium, embarrassment and unprecedented disrepute”, arguing that the duo had done “incalculable and tremendous injury to our client’s image and personality as an international figure”.

    The plaintiff averred that having regard to the nature of the libel, the wider publication of the offending statements and posting same on Internet, and having done it maliciously and failure to apologise to him when requested to do so, he is entitled to aggravated damages from the defendants.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the case.

     

  • Osinbajo, Ambode, Mimiko, others attend RCCG Holy Ghost Congress

    Osinbajo, Ambode, Mimiko, others attend RCCG Holy Ghost Congress

    The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo and his wife, Oludolapo; Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle; Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and his wife Olukemi; Speaker, Ekiti state house of assembly, Kola Oluwawole and Chief judge of South Africa, Mogoeng Mogoeng were on Friday present at the Redemption Camp on km46, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, for this year’s Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), with the theme; ‘Complete restoration’.

    The one week long congress which began on Monday, December 5, ended will end Saturday, December 10.

    It was a gathering of millions of worshippers from all over the world.

    In his sermon on Friday night, The General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, spoke on the topic, ‘Complete restoration’.

    The Cleric explained that complete restoration is a process.  He said every Christian is entitled to miracles,  noting that those who are not born again cannot get miracle, because miracles comes from God and God is holy.

    Reading from Ezekiel chapter 3, verse 7 to 10, Adeboye said; “Whenever God wants to begin the process of restoration, He remembers the forgotten and miracles are bound to follow. God also he visits the person and something miraculous happens

    “Anytime God want to do something there must be a noise; When God arrives, there must be a shaking; nakedness is covered; shame is ended; the  wind blows, and whenever the wind blows there will be miracles,” he said.

    The Cleric assured that the blessings of God makes rich and adds no sorrow. “When a miracle comes from God it is clean, with no string are attached and there will be divine protection. “When you are child of God your future is secured. Whatever is available to Jesus is available to you,” he said.

  • Supporters protest alleged injustice to Ekiti lawmaker-elect

    Tension mounted in some parts of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Monday over the refusal of the House of Assembly Speaker Kola Oluwawole to swear in member-elect to represent Ado Constituency 1, Toyin Obayemi.

    Some youths in Odo Ado area of the city who are supporters of Obayemi said they could no longer endure lack of representation in the Assembly and said they could be forced to resort to self-help on the development.

    Rising from an emergency meeting held at the instance of an interest group, Fountain Alliance, they condemned the continued disobedience of a valid order that Obayemi be sworn in immediately as delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Federal High Court on July 4.

    One of the youths, Tayo Ogunkuade, said the Odo Ado youths would have embarked on violent protests but were being calmed down by Obayemi who, according to him, is preaching against violence and bloodshed in the pursuit of his ‘stolen’ mandate.

    Ogunkuade said: “We would have taken to the streets to protest the refusal of the Speaker to facilitate the inauguration of Obayemi as this big constituency has been denied a voice since the court removed Musa Arogundade over three months ago.

    “But we are still waiting and observing the development because we might be forced to march on the Assembly complex and shut the place down by Obayemi who is a man of peace has been appealing to us not to do so believing that justice will still be done.”

    The Legal Adviser of Fountain Alliance, Ola Adegode, urged Governor Ayo Fayose to prevail on the Speaker to admit Obayemi into the Assembly chambers in line with the July 4 court verdict saying: “refusal to do so amounts to willful and deliberate disobedience of a valid court order.”

    He said: “The judgment delivered on July 4 by Hon. Justice Taiwo was lucid and clear, the judgment says that Toyin Obayemi should be sworn in immediately and without any delay. It was a declarative order that cannot be stayed, it must be executed immediately.

    “The Speaker is claiming that the House has filed an appeal hence the delay in performing the swearing-in of Obayemi; we want to educate them that this judgment, being a declarative one cannot be stayed by any notice of appeal.

    “In fact, the filing of any notice of appeal does not amount to a stay. Obayemi himself had not received any notice of appeal which they are claiming to have filed. The legislature which makes the law should not be seen to be trampling on the rule of law.

    “We are also using this opportunity to draw the attention of the whole world to the impunity, rascality and attack on the rule of law going on in Ekiti State. Our governor claims to be an apostle of the rule of law but the same rule of law is being eroded under his nose and injustice has continued to fester here.

    “We want the governor and the Assembly authorities to set an example here by obeying the court order that Obayemi be sworn in immediately for the people of Ado Constituency 1 to have a voice in the state legislature and prevent a potential anarchy being brewed by this infraction of the law.”