Ekiti State Government has described as “evil, wicked and insensitive” claim by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the State that the ‘stop and search’ operation ordered by the State Security Council to stem cases of kidnapping in the State was an orchestrated plot by the governor to track them for kidnap to stall Governor Ayodele Fayose’s impeachment plot.
The government said such unwarranted allegation coming from the runaway APC lawmakers was a clear exposure of the culpability of the party in the kidnapping of residents of Ekiti State, adding that; “they have betrayed their guilt by simply telling Nigerians that they want the kidnapping of Ekiti residents to continue.”
According to the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, “The Fayose-led government will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and properties of Ekiti people and what is expected from genuine lovers of
the State is to cooperate with security agencies, and not politicisation of every efforts of the government by the APC.”
Olayinka, who said the APC in Ekiti State was living up to its real identity as a congregation of evil minded people, asked; “Isn’t it interesting that elements like Kehinde Boluwade and Folorunso Gabriel Ogundele, who are standing trial for alleged murder are among the APC
lawmakers they claimed Governor Fayose planned to kidnap?”
The statement read; “Our attention has been drawn to a reckless, wicked, insensitive and evil press statement issued on behalf of the APC lawmakers by a certain Wole Olujobi, wo has been impersonating as Media Aide of the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, insinuating that the ‘stop and search’ operation ordered by the State Security Council to stem kidnapping in the state was meant to track the APC lawmakers down for kidnap.
“For the avoidance of doubt, introduction of strict security measures and check points in strategic places across the state, prohibition of the usage of tinted classes, frequent hotel checks, with a call to hoteliers to monitor their customers and offer information to security
agents on any suspected person and seal up of any hotel linked to criminals were resolutions of the Ekiti State Security Council meeting that took place on Monday.
“Only wicked and evil people, whose agenda is to make Ekiti State ungovernable will kick against these measures that are aimed at securing the lives and properties of the people.
“Most importantly, it is on record that Ekiti State is always made ungovernable whenever the APC elements lose power, and the unfortunate criminal activities that we have witnessed in the last few days cannot but be traceable to the plot by the APC to discredit the government by
presenting it as incapable of securing lives and properties in the State.
“From past experiences, organised crimes have become the major tools used by the APC elements to make Ekiti State unsafe whenever they lose power to the PDP.
For instance, when Engr Segun Oni of the PDP was governor, they made Ekiti ungovernable, using kidnapping and armed robbery. Even when Governor Fayose was governor between 2003 and 2006, these same people perpetrated various heinous crimes, pinning the crimes on the
government.
“On January 3, 2009, Kehinde Fasubaa was killed in Ado-Ekiti; on August 2, 2009, three officers of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), SP Mohammed Manua, CPL Wasiu Olatunbosun and CPL Simeon Obadero were killed at Fajuyi Park area, Ado Ekiti; on August 3, 2009, the then
Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Barrister R.K. Olaiya and his wife, Barrister Franca Olaiya, Chief Olayode Olusola and two others were kidnapped at Ikole-Ekiti, on October 7, 2009, one Rev Jeje, Sanusi and Odigie Harrison were killed at Ifaki-Ekiti during an armed robbery; on January 30, 2010, Attah of Aiyede, Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi, Provost of the College of Education, Ikere, Dr. Gabriel Olowoyo and two others were kidnapped and murdered.
“It is important to note that all these organised crimes ended the very first day the APC elements regained power in the State.
“Furthermore, these same people were the ones who invaded Ekiti State with militants during the 2009 rerun governorship election. Some of the militants were arrested in Ijan-Ekiti by security details of the then Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi and the man who led them
to Ijan-Ekiti was identified as Sunday, a native of Isan-Ekiti.
“As it appears, now that the evil plot by this ‘we must rule by fire by force’ elements in the APC to impeach Governor Fayose and his deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka and return to power through the backdoor has failed, they have returned to their old tactics, which is organised crimes!
“Kidnapping and armed robberies have now become rampant in Ekiti as it was in 2009 when they desperately wanted to snatch power from Engr Segun Oni of the PDP.
“However, we wish to assure those whose joy will be to see Ekiti people in pains just because they lost power that they won’t succeed this time. Those whose stock-in-trade is to be Ekiti State
ungovernable whenever they lose power should have a rethink, because this time around, Ekiti people will rise in defence of the governor and the government they enthroned with their overwhelming votes.
“Most importantly, we wish to assure residents of the State that the government will spare no effort to get rid of criminal elements that are obviously brought from other lands to terrorise our land.
“It should be noted that in other to boost security in the state and secure lives and property of the Ekiti State citizenry, the state government under Governor Ayodele Fayose launched a Security Trust Fund (STF). More than 20 Toyota Hilux vans equipped with modern security gadgets; had already been provided for the police and other security agents in the State.
“We are on top of the situation and the Almighty God will save our dear State, Ekiti from these vampires that have once again invaded the State.”