Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital erupted in fire on Friday following violent protests by some irate youths and public drivers over the killing of the former Chairman of the National Union Road Transport Workers, Mr Omolafe Aderiye by yet to be identified assailants.
Aderiye’s death was a new twist to the tension that had enveloped the state since Monday when two judges of the State High Court were assaulted by hoodlums, forcing the Chief Justice of the State, Justice Ayodele Daramola to order indefinite closure of all courts in Ekiti State.
Aderiye, one of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed around 8.30 pm on Thursday leading to violent protests. Several vehicles and properties of politicians were razed.
Aderiye’s body has since been deposited at the morgue of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, just as protesters razed down
Fayemi’s campaign office in Ajilosun, the state Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as the Secretariat of the party in Ado Ekiti Local Government.
The protesters also made bonfires on the major roads, thereby making the whole day hectic for the police, led by its Commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, who patrolled around town and visited all the flashpoints to dismantle the barricades mounted by the protesters.
As at 1pm Friday, thick smoke from the several bonfires made around town by the protesters still clouded the air.
Following the tension generated by the violent protest staged by irate youths, Governor Kayode Fayemi Friday declared dusk-to-dawn curfew commencing from 7pm to 7am in the state till further notice.
But the Governor-Elect, Mr Ayodele Fayose yesterday sued for peace and described Aderiye’s killing as politically motivated to precipitate crisis and abort his swearing-in as governor of the state on October 16, this year.
Announcing the curfew in a state-wide broadcast yesterday, Fayemi, who has also suspended his Thank You tour of the state, urged the citizenry to be vigilant and provide security agencies with details of suspicious activities that can undermine the peace of the state.
While calling on all stakeholders in the state to cooperate with government “to stop the violence and brigandage that has brought about serious embarrassment” to the state, Fayemi implored all and sundry to temper their “competitive zeal with civility and empathy”.
He added: “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 am 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 7.00pm and 7.00am every day till further notice”, he said.
Speaking on the series of incidences that had sparked crisis in the state, the governor recalled the desecration of the Court and the beating of Judges by thugs “acting on the incitement of an interested party in the presence of law enforcement agents with inappropriate response”.
Fayemi said he reliably gathered that the thugs again attempted to prevent the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal from sitting on Thursday when they acted on the order of the Governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose who was present at the scene.
He said: “The fact that this assault did not meet with any strong deterring repercussions from the appropriate authorities further emboldened the miscreants. They subsequently attempted to prevent the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal from sitting yesterday, Thursday September 25. I am advised incontrovertibly that thugs acting on the command of Mr Ayo Fayose who was also present to lend his clout to the travesty, brazenly assaulted a senior judge and urged his thugs to beat him up and later tear his clothes. The court premises was thrown into confusion and those present scurried away in search of safety and security. This was on the back of his specious allegation that the judiciary in the state is compromised and biased against him. And the answer to that was to resort to jungle justice and take laws into his hands”.
Fayemi who expressed worry that the obstruction of justice is a clear invitation to anarchy that characterized the state some years ago, urged all political actors in the state to exercise caution in the interest of the state.
“Considering the cases that have triggered the recent spate of violence are politically related, the political elite in our state from all disparate quarters must exercise caution. We must rescue our state from the precarious slippery slope that some have desperately pushed us to. 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”, he added.
On the closure of the state’s courts by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayo Daramola, Fayemi said he has directed the state Attorney General to issue a legal advisory to the Chief Judge and all parties to the existing cases in the State High Court as well as the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of the cases outside Ekiti State.
Fayose who visited the family of the late Aderiye at Odo-Ado described the killing as barbaric, saying: “I will rest my comment to allow the police to do proper investigation because Aderiye was my strong supporter”.
Fayose advised the widow of the deceased, Olufunmilayo to be rest assured that Aderiye’s killers will be brought to book. Reacting to the chaos caused by the mob on the streets of Ado Ekiti, Fayose said: “What happened in town is a clear reaction of the people to the steps being taking by the out-going government to simply cause chaos in the state before its exits”.
Also reacting to Fayemi’s comment that he masterminded the crisis in the state, Fayose said: “Fayemi is a defeated man, so I don’t expect anything better from him. I see him as governor until his time is over. So, I would rather not join issues with him. It is reckless for anybody to be making assertions on an incident you didn’t witness. I will want to accord the office due respect and not join issues with him”.
“I have been going round town to calm the people. If we have not been doing that since last night, you wouldn’t have seen the peace we have now. Their target is to make sure that the inauguration doesn’t take place. But my desire is to ensure there is peace and that is why I have been working hard to calm the people.
Having failed in the back door of twisting justice through the court, they have now resorted to self-help.
Also reacting on the way Aderiye was murdered in cold blood, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Pastor Kola Oluwawole in a statement condemned the act, describing it as most irresponsible and callous. The Guardian
