Jubilations in Ekiti over police report on Fayose

Gbenga Olaifa, Ado-Ekiti - 06.04.2008

THE Police report absolving former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose, of complicity in the death of Mr. Tunde Omojola and Dr. Ayo Daramola was recieved with jubilation in the state. The report, signed by Mr. Columbus.O. Okaro, a Commissioner of Police in charge of Legal/Prosecution Section, ‘D’ Department (FCID), Abuja, and which was confirmed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro as authentic, was filed at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, onApril 2, where Fayose is challenging the warrant of arrest order placed on him by an Ado-Ekiti High Court over the death of Omojola.

Scores of supporters who listened to the news on a national radio trooped out to news stands at Fajuyi and Ijigbo in Ado-Ekiti to purchase copies of the newspapers carrying the story. When Sunday Tribune went round the state capital, the news of Fayose’s absolvement was on the lips of people who praised God and prayed that God should free Fayose from all the entanglements.

They claimed that the good works and style of administration of Fayose was second to none in the state, adding that the former governor shouldn’t have been treated like that for all hehad done for the state.

Some of those who spoke with Sunday Tribune included Chief Deji Fasuan, a retired Permanent Secretary, who said “we are glad to hear that the truth is coming out. God is for Justice”.

Isaac Omoyeni, a former school principal from Erio Ekiti said “we all know that all those allegations were political. We know that they were contrived to remove Fayose from office at all cost.”

Mr. Tayo Akindele, a native of Eyio-Ekiti,said” Eyio people are the happiest because Fayose constructed our road which was neglected for over fifty years. Why should we not be happy?”

Chief Segun Akinwumi, a former commissioner under Fayose, and a Progressive Party Alliance (PPA) stalwart said,,“the report of the police is a great blow to Segun Oni who has abandoned state governace to pursuing Fayose in the last 10 months with fictitious allegations”.

Dr. Funso Alarape, the Director of Publicity and Research,Ayo Fayose Foundation and Movement (AFFM) ,said” Segun Oni’s administration has got to the end of the road. The final whistle is the tribunal verdict which will see his government out. God’s final judgement is gradually unfolding. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I won’t say more than this for now.”

The Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Adegboyega Oyewole,however,still maintained that the state government was not aware of any new Police report on the matter.
Meanwhile, the former governor has berated plans of the Ekiti State government to conduct local government election despite court injunction restraining it.

Fayose, who spoke with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, said that it was improper for any election on local government to hold in Ekiti for now because of a matter on it is pending in court.

He condemned any back door arrangement to consistitute the State Electoral Commission as this was capable of elongating the political crisis in the state.

The former governor said, “ I need to remind Oni’s government and all stakeholders that there is a pending court action on the matter and it is only proper not to prejudice the outcome of the matter by illegally constituting the State Electoral Commission through a backdoor arrangement.

Fayose said that he regarded the development as a sign of a government that was panicking because of the on -going election petition tribunal in the state.