Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have taken their protest
over the armed men of the Department of State Services (DSS) Friday,
March 4, 2016, invasion of the House of Assembly complex and
subsequent abduction of four of the assembly members, calling on the
international community to intervene and save democracy in Nigeria
from imminent collapse.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, who led 18
other members including the Deputy Speaker; Hon Segun Adewumi and
House Leader; Hon Adetunji Akinyele submitted a letter titled; "Re;
Political Intolerance in Ekiti State," and the resolution passed at
its sitting of Wednesday, March 9, 2016 in which the lawmakers stated
expressly that they were solidly behind the State Governor, Mr Ayodele
Fayose and can never be coerced or induced to sign any impeachment
notice against him.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions; the lawmakers said; "We
want to state here categorically that no amount of intimidation,
harassment and oppression will make us impeach our leader and
benefactor, Governor Ayodele Fayose. The DSS should therefore know
that the 2006 theory they are working on will not work this time
around."
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read; "DSS harassment is
about 2018, we won't be cowed," DSS, face this impunity must stop!
This is democracy, not dictatorship," DSS, don't destroy our
democracy, respect rule of law,"Fayose remains our leader, we won't
impeach him," "Nigerians need change, not chains," "Buhari, face
economy and security, not opposition," and "DSS, free Ekiti lawmakers;
we are legislators, not criminals."
The lawmakers who spoke, Dr Samuel Omotoso, Hon Gboyega Aribisogan and
Hon Adewumi alleged that they were being harassed, with some of their
houses being visited by men who claimed to be DSS officials.
They contended that the process of abduction of the four assembly men
was illegal, crude, uncivilised and barbaric because the DSS neither
formally informed the Speaker nor the State governor of their
intention to arrest any member of the House of Assembly or Ekiti State
Government.
The protest letter read in part; "The federal Government set up an
inglorious military panel to probe the level of security involvement
in that peaceful Governorship Election of 21st June 2014. These were
the same security agencies that had been commended for their
efficiency in that election. The Federal Government is bent on
scuttling the election of Governor Ayodele Fayose through diabolical
means.
"After the failure of the military panel to achieve its desired
objective, another plot is now being hatched. The APC led Federal
Government has orchestrated a wave of arrest and intimidation of
members of the House of Assembly and cabinet members of the present
administration in Ekiti State.
"The intention is to cripple the voice of opposition, which Governor
Ayodele Fayose has become and coerce the House of Assembly to impeach
the governor in the manner of the 2006 scenario which the Supreme
Court has declared illegal, null and void.
"In furtherance to this devilish plot, armed men of the Department of
State Security invaded the House of Assembly on 4th March 2016 and
'carted' away four honourable members. They have been rendered
incommunicado. They cannot be reached by their family members,
doctors, lawyers and colleagues. As against the Constitution of
Nigeria that forbids detention of anyone beyond 24 hours without court
order, no charge has been preferred against them.
"The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, on Friday ordered the immediate
release of one of the lawmakers, Hon Afolabi Akanni, but up till now,
the court order has not been obeyed.
"The international community is therefore being alerted of the
worrisome political situation in Ekiti State. We are calling on the
international community to prevail on the Federal Government to allow
peace to continue to reign in Ekiti by allowing our popularly elected
Governor, Ayodele Fayose to fulfil his electioneering promises to the
people."
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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