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(Being full text of a press conference addressed on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 by the Ekiti State House of Assembly at the House chamber in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital)
Our attention has been drawn to an interview granted a national newspaper by self-proclaimed human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, in which he likened the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State to a military coup.
We wish to remind Falana and those for whom he speaks that the Ekiti State governorship election that our leader, Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, won fair and square is a concluded matter that no amount of ranting can bring life into.
It is also important to tell Falana to seek the face of the Lord for forgiveness of his sins against Ekiti, and Governor Ayodele Fayose in particular, because it appears God deliberately frustrated his bid to be appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation because of what he would have used the position for. Most importantly, if chop-I-chop activism has made Falana to lose his memory, let us remind him his reaction to the June 21, 2014 governorship election as published in The Punch newspaper of July 15, 2014.
When he was asked by Olusola Fabiyi of The Punch newspaper that; “do you think the Ekiti election was actually rigged?” Falana responded thus; “The election in Ekiti was not rigged. I witnessed it. I spoke to people before and after the election. Fayemi gave a good concession speech.
“…There were protest votes against the government. Instead of questioning the credibility of the election, the APC should engage in a critical review of the verdict of the electorate.”
When asked if he was surprised with the outcome of the election, Falana said; “…On a critical analysis of the political situation in Ekiti State, Fayemi is a victim of the ideological crisis of his party, the APC. Of course, the arrogance of some of the governor’s aides who were allowed to wield enormous powers equally contributed to the loss of the election.”
If in July 2014, Falana said all these and even more concerning the election, we wonder when the same election turned to a military coup. It is our belief that lawyers, especially those that have risen to the level of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), should not be seen as speaking only when their personal or political interests are involved. They should be consistent. For instance, over 10 Ekiti indigenes were murdered during the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Falana kept silent.
He also kept silent when the future of Ekiti State was being mortgaged on frivolous loans and when deductions from workers’ salaries were not being remitted. It also made no meaning to Falana when the democratically-elected local government chairmen and councilors were sacked and council election was not conducted throughout the four years of APC government in Ekiti State.
Instead of hiding under human rights activism to perpetrate evil against Ekiti and its people as he has always done, Falana should be bold enough to declare his governorship ambition, which is not hidden, and let us see how far he can go this time around.
Let Falana and his collaborators know that we are aware of every of their moves. We are aware of their plot to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police to harass and intimidate us under the guise of investigating how Governor Fayose’s election of June 21, 2014 was funded.
As we have maintained, this is 2016 and not 2006 that Falana and his criminal collaborators used EFCC to remove governors, including our leader, Governor Ayodele Fayose whose impeachment was later declared illegal by the Supreme Court.
Also, the present House of Assembly members in Ekiti State are not ones that can be intimidated or harassed to carry out any illegal act against Governor Fayose and the people of Ekiti.
The following are the cascades of events targeted at muzzling the voice of opposition in Ekiti State:
(1) The Gestapo-style invasion of the Ekiti State House of Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS).
(2) The incarceration of Hon. Afolabi Akanni for 18 days without trial by the DSS.
(3) The attempted bribery of the 26 honourable members with $2 million to impeach the Governor of Ekiti State.
(4) The Refusal of the DSS to obey a lawful order of a Federal High Court to pay the sum of N5 million to the State House of Assembly as compensation for the infringement of our fundamental human rights.
(5). The attempt at charging there members of this Assembly and the Chief of Staff to the governor of Ekiti State for treason, just because they submitted a letter at the Chenese Embassy.
(6). The attempted travel ban of the sitting governor of Ekiti State by the DSS, contrary to Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(7). The freezing of an account of a sitting governor by the EFCC, contrary to Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(8). The refusal of this same EFCC to be alive to its duty and investigate several acknowledged petitions against His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The 26 of us in the House of Assembly are resolutely loyal to the governor and his government and no amount of intimidation or monetary inducement can sway us otherwise.
In view of all these developments and other pressing matters, this House sat today and passed the following resolutions:
1. That the EFCC should investigate all allegations of financial mismanagement made against former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, without further delay;
2. That the EFCC should defreeze the account of Governor Ayodele Fayose immediately, because it is illegal, null and void, due to the immunity he enjoys under Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
3. That the EFCC should work within the legal framework of its establishment and stop being an agent of the APC;
4. That this honorable House passed a vote of confidence on His Excellency, Governor Ayodele Fayose today, being exactly two years after the conduct of his election adjudged to be free and fair by the international community and all concerned;
5. That this House extends an invitation to former Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, to clarify some issues he raised during his recent media briefing on African Independent Television (AIT).
6. That the APC-led Federal Government should concentrate on good governance to reduce poverty and several security challenges in the country, rather than embarking on a wild goose chase of perceived opposition elements as seen in its several attempts to muzzle Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and many others.
Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan
Chairman, House committee on Information.
