Tension rises in Ekiti, as Fayemi declares curfew

Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi has declared a 7:00 pm to 7:00 am curfew to restore peace to the state, following Thursday’s violence at the governorship election petition tribunal.

On Monday, suspected thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disrupted the court during hearing of a case filed by E11, a group challenging the eligibility of Ayodele Fayose,  the governor-elect of the state to contest the June 21 election.

Although the police arrested and charged six suspects to court for involvement in the act, a similar situation played out at the court on Thursday.

Thugs believed to be loyal to Ayodele Fayose, the governor-elect, attacked Justice John Adeyeye during the inaugural sitting of the tribunal in Ado Ekiti, forcing an adjournment of the sitting to October 14.

Justice A. Daramola, the chief judge of the state, then ordered all state courts to remain closed until adequate security measures were provided.

However, the tense situation in the state continued late on Thursday, as Omolafe Aderiye, a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ekiti and a staunch supporter of Fayose, was murdered.

To avenge his death, thugs loyal to the PDP unleashed mayhem on Ado-Ekiti on Friday morning. Bonfire littered several streets, properties were vandalised and the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat was set ablaze.

Speaking with TheCable, Gbenga Oluleye, a resident of the state capital expressed worries, saying that the situation was likely to continue in the coming weeks.

“I don’t think this state is safe anymore. I might likely leave for Lagos as soon as things pick up a bit,” he said.

“Imagine how everywhere looks deserted now. I am very sure that this situation will continue till a new government takes over. Politicians don’t care about us but their interest.”

Offices and banks in the city did not open for business, and there were indications that the shutout could last the entire day. TheCable obtained a internal memo by a bank staffer seeking the closure of all its branches.

“Please be informed that political crisis has engulfed Ado Ekiti metropolis. The crisis started yesterday evening when political thugs beat up the judge handling the suit against the governor elect,” a part of it read.

“The crisis reached a crescendo on Thursday night when a big stalwart of PDP was murdered. This resulted in burning of cars and serious rioting. As at now most staff are locked up in their homes as all roads have been barricaded and situation tensed up.

“All offices and banks have not opened and policemen are not available in our branches. We therefore seek your permission to vacate the premises in order to guarantee safety of lives and properties.”

Governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, whose term in office will expire in October, blamed the escalation of the violence on “slow and inadequate” security response, but said efforts to restore peace were afoot.

“I have been in touch with the heads of all security agencies at the state and federal levels, urging them to act quickly and firmly in the interest of public law and order. It is worrisome that the slow and inadequate response has occasioned the avoidable escalation of violence in our dear state,” Fayemi said.

“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 said he had directed the attorney-general of the state to issue a legal advisory to the chief judge of the state and all the parties to the existing cases in the state high court and the Ekiti state governorship elections petitions tribunal, on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of these cases outside Ekiti state.

“The State can no longer afford to witness the bizarre spectacle of the beating up of judicial officers and wanton intimidation of lawyers and court personnel,” he said.

“Ekiti Kete, 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’m 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 7.00 pm and 7.00 am everyday till further notice. We urge the citizenry to be vigilant and provide the security agencies with details of suspicious activities that can undermine the peace in our state.”