Ekitigate: Lawmakers petition US, UK, IGP on intimidation

The face-off between Ekiti State House of Assembly and the

police took a new twist yesterday when the lawmakers sent a

petition to the United Kingdon, the United States of America

(USA) and the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

They alleged incessant harassment and intimidation of its

members and other government officials by the Police. This was

contained in a petition they presented to Arase yesterday.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Segun Adewumi,

in company with Chairmen of Committee on Information and

Health, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan and Hon Samuel Omotoso

respectively said the petition became necessary following

constant threats by to them by government officials and party

leaders in the state.

“We are here to submit a petition to the IGP, the British High

Commission and the Ambassador of the United States of

America to intimate them of the ugly incident happening in Ekiti

State. Some persons who claimed to be policemen invaded Ekiti

State and they attempted to arrest 11 members of the State

House of Assembly and some Peoples Democratic Party leaders

in Ekiti state. At this point, we must appreciate the IGP, who

promptly ordered the policemen to leave the state. “Since then,

they have been hanging around, threatening everybody, which has

made it difficult for us to stay in the state. We doubt, if those

police men that came to Ekiti State are actually working for the

Nigeria Police…” the lawmakers said.

If they are actually members of the Nigeria police and are

operating under illegal duties, we plead with the IGP to fish them

out and bring them to book.

Omotosho said the police derive their power from act of the

National Assembly and should, therefore, respect the rule of law.

He said security agencies should be used to further deepen

democracy in the country and not to be used to fester autocracy

or dictatorial tendencies.

“We need to tell the whole world that, if anything that will lead to

break down of law and other should happen in Ekiti state that will

lead to loss of lives and property, the federal government should

be held responsible.

“The state has been very peaceful under the able leadership of

Governor Ayodele Fayose. They should leave vengeance to God.

Their attempt at removing Governor Ayodele Fayose for speaking

out against bad policies is dead on arrival”, he said.

The lawmakers further pledged loyalty to the state governor.

In Ekiti state, it is Governor Ayodele Fayose that we know and we

need to let them know this. We also need to tell them that

enough is enough to threats and intimidation by security

agencies. “We are not supposed to be in Abuja today, we should

be in Ekiti state legislating for the good people of the state but

here we are now, protesting against harassment and intimidation

by security agencies.

“The federal government cannot claim ignorance of the happening

in the state. Despite the harassment and intimidation of

government officials in the state, the human rights communities

in the country have been quiet. As a human rights activist, you

are not supposed to belong to any political party, but the

activists

we have now are members of the ruling All Progressive Congress

(APC). Their silence on Ekiti State issue cannot be said to be

golden”, he said.