Ekiti political crisis: Fayose, APC, PDP lawmakers hold peace meeting Thursday

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Embattled Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has expressed commitment to the peace move initiated by elders in the state, led by legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), to find a lasting political solution to the leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly.

You may recall that a seven-member caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Assembly backed by Gov. Fayose, had last November impeached the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin and his deputy, Tunji Orisalade, for belonging to the All Progressives Congress. Mr. Dele Olugbemi, an ally of the governor was subsequently installed as the Speaker by the faction and has been presiding over the Assembly ever since.

However, the majority APC lawmakers, 19 in number, have continued to hold their own nocturnal sittings, leading to a feud between them and the governor.

The crisis reached its peak recently with the APC lawmakers moving to impeach Mr. Fayose.

All efforts to resolve the crisis by the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ekiti Council of Elders had remained unsuccessful with both sides sticking to their guns.

But Fayose on Tuesday in a statement personally signed by him, said the peace of Ekiti State was far and above all other interests and therefore everyone should support the latest peace efforts by elders in the state.

The governor promised commitment to the peace meeting scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, urging security agencies to make adequate provision for the peace meeting.

The statement read, “Ekiti elders under the leadership of our highly respected legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) called a meeting between the two factions of the State House of Assembly to resolve politically the crisis in the House of Assembly and I, as the State governor does not have any objection because the peace of Ekiti is far and above all other interests.

“The meeting is scheduled to hold at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti at 11am on Thursday.

“I therefore call on everybody to support this peace move and no one should do anything to undermine it.

“Knowing how agitated and concerned the people of Ekiti have been on this crisis, I wish to urge our people to give this peace effort a chance and I urge all security agencies in the State to see to it that adequate security is provided before, during and after the meeting.

“I thank Ekiti people for their unflinching support for the government and appeal to them to continue to maintain peace, bearing in mind that no society can progress in an atmosphere of rancour”.