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Two persons expected to provide the police with information about the killing of the gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola, have been moved to the police headquarters in Abuja.
Two persons expected to provide the police with information about the killing of the gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola, have been moved to the police headquarters in Abuja.
The two are Daramola‘s childhood friend, who is also his guard, Alhaji Ahmed Akingbade; and the deceased‘s Personal Assistant, Mr. Ademola Adeusi.
Both men were with Daramola when he was attacked and killed in the wee hours of Monday.
Before he was taken to Abuja on Wednesday, Adeusi was quizzed by men of the State Security Service, Ekiti State Command.
Our corespondents sighted Adeusi at the office of the SSS around 1.15pm.
Details of the invitation by the SSS were not disclosed. But our correspondents learnt that the security agencies were hoping for a lead through eyewitness accounts.
Akingbade, sources said, had a brief chat with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, on Monday evening at the State Specialist Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where he was taken to after Daramola was killed.
Also, the state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Ropo Adesanya, and other citizens of Ijan-Ekiti, whose property were burnt by protesting youths are to report in Abuja on Thursday (today).
It was gathered that their invitation by the police hierarchy was to ascertain their relationship with Daramola and why they should be the targets of protesters.
Adesanya, while reacting to the decision of the Ijan-Ekiti people to fish out the killers by all means, said he was ready to contribute financially and otherwise to any step that could lead to the arrest of the killers.
The PDP chairman, who was also seen at the Ekiti State Police Command headquarters, said he was not bothered about the razing of his house.
He said, 'If they need my financial assistance to unravel the killers, I am ready. If these people had decided to burn down everything I have on earth and leave my dear cousin, I would have been ready to surrender all."
The Police Public Realtions Officer, Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Umar Babangida, could not confirm the movement of Adeusi and Akingbade to Abuja.
No other top police officer was available for comment on the issue.
Both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone Eight, Mr. John Ahmadu, who relocated to Ekiti State because of the incident, and the Commissioner in charge of Ekiti State Police Command, Mrs. Ivy Okoronkwo, referred inquiries to Abuja.
But in Lagos, former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo, said the killing of Daramola was connected with the 2007 gubernatorial race.
Adebayo, who spoke at the Lagos home of the Daramolas, said it was obvious that the late World Bank consultant had become a threat to the ambition of some people in Ekiti State.
He told newsmen, "I feel definitely it is because of next year‘s election.
"This is because Ekiti people are very adamant about who they want to be their head.
"Let us pray that 2007 elections will not be bloody.
"Nevertheless, one is not happy about the happenings. It is about elections.‘‘
Adebayo tasked security agencies to unmask Daramola‘s killers.
He added, "One would not say the police is not doing their work.
"But there are some wicked people who want to disturb the peace of this land maybe because of their inefficiency or because of their background.
"Security should be beefed up while we continue praying for peace in the country."
Daramola‘s younger brother, Dare, shared Adebayo‘s view.
Dare told our correspondents in Lagos that some politicians in Ekiti State who saw his brother as a threat to their ambition were likely to be behind the killing.
Dare said, "The last time we spoke, he told me the level of his acceptance in Ekiti State was beyond his imagination.
"I believe his track record when he was the head of poverty alleviation agency in the state endeared him to many people.
"That is why some politicians started seeing him as a threat."
He added that the family would meet after the conclusion of autopsy to fix a burial date.
Among those that also visited the Lagos home of the Daramolas on Wednesday were a former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
From Abuja came reports that the Senate on Wednesday criticised police investigations into the recent high-profile political killings in the country, saying "the time for excuses is over; what the Senate demands now are results."
The Senate observed that the spate of politically motivated killings in the country had become, "to say the least, disturbing" and it challenged the police to stop the "ugly trend."
The Senate‘s position was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
Said the statement, "If the present trend is not halted immediately, the gathering clouds would soon break into a deluge of tears and blood as people jostle for power come 2007."
The statement added that what made the trend most disturbing was the inability of the police to solve them.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Citizens Popular Party on Wednesday also condemned the growing cases of political assassinations in the country.
Both parties said the killings undermined Nigeria‘s effort to enthrone lasting democracy, charging the police to fish out the killers.
In a bid to assure the people of the state that the government was not folding its arms, an expanded Ekiti State Security Council meeting was held on Wednesday evening in Ado-Ekiti to appraise the security situation.
In attendance were the state Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose; his deputy, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi; the State Director of the SSS, Mr. Joe Gabadi; Okoronkwo; the 16 local government chairmen; and first class monarchs.
At the end of the meeting, the Alaaye of Efon-Alaye, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare, said steps would be taken to improve on the security situation in Ekiti State.
Also, the state government on Wednesday began a three-day fasting and prayer session for top officials and civil servants.