The All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary in Ekiti State, Taiwo Olatubosun, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, over threat to his life by the Special Assistant on Internal Security to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Ariyo Afolabi.
In a petition dated February 14, 2015 and copied to the State Director, Directorate of State Security (DSS), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olatubosun said: “On 14th of February 2015, at about 11.21am, one Mr. Ariyo Afolabi, a native of Afao-Ekiti and a close aide of Governor Ayo Fayose called me on my phone number 08063273334 through his own number 08134519311 threatening that he would deal with me by launching an attack on me and my wife anytime soon.”
Olatubosun alleged that the accused called him unprintable names, boasting that if he could not get him, “he will assassinate my wife and children”.
His words: “I was in the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (AC, CID), with OC-Legal and others when his call came in and I put him on speaker. Immediately, he identified himself as Ariyo from Afao Ekiti. The AC, CID and the OC, Legal listened to his threat to attack me, my wife and children because I am the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti-State who issues press releases on behalf of the APC to always criticize Governor Fayose.”
APC image-maker explained that he was in the office of the AC, CID on the re-arrest of some of his party members from Igbemo-Ekiti who had earlier been granted bail over violence in the town when Fayose’s supporters invaded the town shooting and destroying the billboards and posters of APC candidates in the March/April general elections.
“Mr. Ariyo Afolabi said on phone to the hearing of the AC, CID and OC Legal that he will attack me openly and nothing will happen because he is in position of influence and authority in Mr. Fayose’s government,” Olatubosun added, complaining that his life and that of his family was in danger.
He urged the police boss to save his life and that of his family “from the attack of Mr. Ariyo and his gang who claim to be above the law and reported to be one of the commanders of Mr. Fayose’s thugs that are unleashing terror on residents of Ekiti State.”