Posted by By Semiu Okanlawon, Femi Makinde and Olamilekan Lartey on
There were indications late on Sunday that the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, had escaped to Ghana.
There were indications late on Sunday that the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, had escaped to Ghana.
Reports available to our correspondents at about 10pm indicated that the embattled governor left home in the state capital at about 10.30am, on the pretext that he was going to church.
He thereafter reportedly drove himself to Ibadan, where he beat the security trail and was assisted by aides to flee the country.
A top security source said when the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, was informed of the governor's frantic movements earlier in the week, he said that he (Fayose) could not be apprehended since he had constitutional immunity.
Throughout Sunday, Fayose could not be reached on his mobile phones, neither could he be located in Ekiti.
Also, a source said that none of his top aides, including the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, knew of his whereabouts.
Fayose‘s disappearance coincided with the deployment of more riot policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, ahead of Monday‘s (today) presentation of the report of the second panel that probed allegations of corruption against the governor to the state House of Assembly.
It was also on a day when three of his aides were arrested by security agents.
Sources said the suspicion was that Fayose dropped his resignation letter before departing the state.
It was gathered that most of his top aides had advised him to resign in order to get a soft landing for himself since it was obvious that the Presidency had declared support for his removal.
It was learnt that the governor left the state at about midday on Sunday, after the deployment of more riot policemen in the state capital.
One of his aides, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said that after policemen stopped a function that he was supposed to attend, it became clear to him that his best bet was to resign.
Some of such functions were a rally at the Fajuyi Park, Ado Ekiti, and a town meeting where he was to address his supporters.
It was gathered that after a few calls to some top government functionaries between 11am and 1pm, which did not give him the assurance that the situation could be brought under control, Fayose decided to leave Ekiti State.
He was said to have told his aides that he was going for a church service.
When our correspondents visited the Government House, there was no sign that he was around.
But at about 6pm, Olujimi was sighted in her official residence.
Sources said she had just returned from a burial ceremony in her hometown.
But our correspondents learnt that some people in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, sighted Fayose.
He has a personal house in Ibadan,
In fact, unconfirmed reports said that men of the State Security Service traced Fayose to Ibadan where he was suspected to have taken refuge.
But another source said that at about 3pm on Sunday, he was sighted in Saki, a border town in Oyo State.
The bizarre circumstances leading to Fayose's escape fuelled speculations that there might have been official complicity.
A source said, 'It is simply a joke to say that the SSS cannot find the governor.
'He has been under surveillance for over two weeks and those in charge should stop pretending that they are looking for him.
'It's another Charles Taylor case. Simple."
It is believed that Fayose‘s escape could have been aided to shield him from prosecution for the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola, and killings that occurred in Ekiti State since he came to power in May 2003.
However, a governorship aspirant in the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said people should not be too sure that Fayose had truly disappeared.
Fayemi said Fayose was capable of playing pranks.
He said, "Yes, what we have heard is that the man has disappeared.
"They cannot find him at the Government House; they cannot find him at the Governor‘s Office.
"But you cannot be too sure that the man has disappeared because the man can emerge tomorrow to claim another glory from speculations that he has disappeared."
Fayose‘s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, however, debunked the claim that his boss had fled the state.
Adelusi said, "Fayose is in the state.
"There is no cause for him to run away.
"Why? He is not a criminal.
"What is going on in Ekiti borders on legality versus illegality.
"It‘s no longer Fayose.
"If we allow illegality to prevail, good luck to Nigeria.
"Nigerians need not weep for the governor, they should weep for our country.
"But I can assure you that Fayose will come out victorious."
The governor‘s aides allegedly arrested on Sunday were a lecturer at the University of Ado-Ekiti and a member of his kitchen cabinet, Mr. Bosun Osaloni; Layo Olowokere; and T.K.O. Aluko.
It was gathered that the aides, who were picked up in Ado-Ekiti, are being held by the SSS.
Fayose‘s celebration of his clearance by the Remi Bamigboye-led panel was cut short on Saturday following reports that another panel headed by Mr. Emmanuel Omotosho had found him guilty of official misconduct.
Olujimi was also reportedly indicted by the report of the Omotosho-led panel.
Both of them are expected to be sacked from office on Monday (today) after the report of the panel has been presented to the House of Assembly.
Ahead of the presentation of the report, security was tightened in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 8, Mr. Ade Ajakaiye, was sighted in the state capital a few hours after an APC and truckloads of riot policemen were deployed in Ado-Ekiti.
Among the places with a heavy presence of armed policemen were the main gates to the Government House; the Trade Fair Complex; the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe; the major roads leading to the old Governor‘s Office; the state Assembly complex; and the Akure-Ado-Ekiti Road.
Later, our correspondents sighted Ajakaiye, in company with the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mrs. Uche Okoronkwo, briefing the detachment of policemen at the Assembly complex.
The riot policemen screened vehicles and their occupants entering Ado-Ekiti.