Posted by By TUNDE RAHEEM, Ado Ekiti, TONY OSAUZO, Benin on
An Ekiti High Court has asked parties in the state's political crisis to return to status quo ante until the determination of the suit filed by Dr. Ayo Fayose's deputy, Chief Abiodun Olujimi.
•Deputy gov, acting gov in war of words
An Ekiti High Court has asked parties in the state's political crisis to return to status quo ante until the determination of the suit filed by Dr. Ayo Fayose's deputy, Chief Abiodun Olujimi.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice E.O. Kowe said that things should remain as they were until the case is determined. He adjourned to November 7.
Also, embattled Governor Ayodele Fayose filed a suit in an Ekiti High Court to quash his impeachment by the state legislators.
In the suit filed by Fayose's counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), the governor wants the court to pronounce as unconstitutional his purported impeachment.
However, the political crisis in the state took a dramatic dimension on Wednesday as leaders of the two parallel governments engaged each other in verbal attack.
The impeached deputy governor, Mrs Abiodun Olujimi, who claims to be the number two citizen of the state, described the acting governor, Chief Friday Aderemi, as a man of illegality.
The acting governor on his part said that the deputy governor's action, apart from being illegal, was criminal. He also said that there was no deputy governor in Ekiti State as the former occupant had been impeached, stressing that for Olujimi to be parading herself as deputy governor is illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic.
"Olujimi was only fooling herself. I have already consulted the Director of State Security Services over her case as she will soon be flushed out by the security operatives," Aderemi said.
Olujimi, who held the state executive council meeting with commissioners and other special advisers, however, asked Aderemi to go back to his former office as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
She stated that Chief Aderemi was the first illegal governor in the history of the country.
"Aderemi is a man of illegality, the first illegal governor to be produced in the history of this country and it would be on record that he was the first illegal governor," she said.
Olumiji noted that the acting governor struggled to occupy his present position with desperation, warning that the consequence of his action, if it boomeranged, might consume him and his defiant lieutenants.
"Heaven knows I'm not struggling for swearing-in, because I have been sworn-in before and that qualifies me to be the acting governor when the incumbent governor was not available," she stated.
She, however, said that the national secretariat and the zonal secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had waded into the political crisis in the state, adding that it would be resolved amicably soon.
The council meeting was attended by nine members of Fayose executive councils, including Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, Chief Toyin Ojo, Chief Segun Akinwunmi, P. K Odebunmi and Olaremi Ajewole.
Others were Kayode Osadare, Mrs. E. B Fabusuyi, Hon. Bayo Ashana, Owoseni Ajayi and Hajia Sidikat Bello.
In a communiqué issued after the state executive council meeting presided over by Olujimi, the council berated the activities of the House of Assembly over the current political logjam in the state, declaring that the administration of the acting governor was illegal and unrecognized.
The council rejected the appointment of Justice Jide Aladejana as the chief judge of the state, saying all steps taken by Aladejana were void.
It also urged all the commissioners and the special advisers to continue to discharge their duties without entertaining fear in their respective ministries and departments.
The council ordered the Accountant General and Commissioner of Finance not to sign any cheque or release money without due authority of the deputy governor.
Also, the House of Assembly at its sitting on Wednesday appointed a new Speaker and other key officers of the House.
Hon. Tope Ademiluyi from Ekiti West I was appointed the Speaker, while Omodayo Olusola from Ikole II and Muyiwa Abegunde from Emure were deputy speaker and majority leader respectively.
The House also nominated and ratified the appointment of the former majority leader Kayode Babade as the new Secretary to the State Government.
The State High Court has adjourned for further hearing the suit filed by the Deputy Governor, Olujimi challenging her impeachment by the House.
The presiding judge, Justice E. O. Kowe, after hearing from counsels to the plaintiff and the defendants, adjourned the case to November 7.
The judge ordered that all parties concerned should maintain status quo ante until the determination of the suit.
Also, traditional rulers in the state in an emergency meeting held on the political situation urged the people to go on three days fasting and prayer for sustenance of peace in the state. They also urged the president to beef up security to avoid possible breakdown of law and order.
The monarchs also appealed to political stakeholders in the state to tread with caution and allow peace to reign.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Governors Forum and Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, says that constitutionally, Mr. Ayo Fayose remains the Governor of Ekiti State.
Speaking in Benin, the Edo State capital, Igbinedion said: "We do not recognize the decision that is being taken by the Speaker in Ekiti State. He remains the speaker of the House of Assembly, not the acting governor."
Revealing that governors would meet next week, Igbinedion commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for obeying court order by rescinding its decision to conduct by-election into the Plateau House of Assembly.
"The Governors Forum would like to commend INEC for rescinding or putting on hold their decision to conduct election into the House of Assembly in Plateau State by obeying the court injunction or the court order", he said.
Chief Igbinedion said the Governors Forum was encouraged by the coments of Judicial officers on the Ekiti crisis.