Posted by Adesina Wahab, Ado-Ekiti on
Opposition parties in Ekiti State have accused the Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, of failing to ensure the safety and security of lives and property in the state.
Opposition parties in Ekiti State have accused the Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, of failing to ensure the safety and security of lives and property in the state.
In a communique at the end of a meeting in Ado-Ekiti a copy of which was made available on Thursday, they said peace and security were necessary for sustainable development in the state.
The communique was endorsed by the state Chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Mr. George Akosile; Chairman, All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr. Israel Adara; Chairman, United Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr. Olu Akomolafe, and a member of Justice Forum, a group within the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Sikiru Babalola.
The group said it would work together to put an end to the reign of insecurity in the state.
On the recent political clashes in Ifaki and Ado-Ekiti, the opposition group called for a probe.
It demanded that those involved should not be allowed to hide under the guise of state cloak to go away with criminal acts.
The May 28, 2005 clashes claimed the life of Mr. Tunde Omojola in Ifaki, while many were wounded in Ado-Ekiti.
It denounced the three months ban placed on political rallies and gatherings in the state.
It alleged that the ban favoured Fayose because he was using his statewide tour to campaign.
However, the governor, who was at the meeting of the Security Council where the decision was taken, said he was using the tour for official assignments.
He has since suspended the tour.
The AD on its own has challenged the ban by filing a suit at a Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State.
It is also claiming damages of N200 million from the state government over the property of its members vandalised in the Ado-Ekiti mayhem.
Meanwhile, Fayose on Wednesday, attributed his dispute with a section of the elite in and outside the state to his achievements in the last two years.
Fayose, at a dinner marking the end of this year's Civil Service Week in Ado-Ekiti, said he would not have had any problem with the elite if he had opened the state treasury for them.
'If I have been sharing money with them, I will not have had this problem," he said, adding that he would not compromise his stand no matter how fierce the opposition might be.
Fayose vowed that whatever money that accrued to the state would be used for its socio-economic transformation and not for individuals.
The governor who said that posterity would judge him for maintaining that stand, pointed out that he would do his best to better the lots of the people of the state.
'What the enemies of this administration are targeting is to derail us, but I want to assure you that we remain focused and resolute in our determination to take Ekiti State out of the woods," he stated.
The governor who said he was not going to join issues with anybody however appealed to his detractors to join him in the task of developing the state.
Fayose commended civil servants in the state for their dedication and hard work.
The Punch, Friday June 24, 2005