TRADITIONAL rulers in Ekiti State, on Tuesday, warned that the political crisis rocking the state for about one week now could be further aggravated if the mandate given to Mr Ayò Fayose in the June 21 governorship election was truncated.
The rulers, under the aegis of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, in a statement issued at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday, in Ado-Ekiti, also implored the state judiciary to "handle all cases before it with utmost impartiality."
The traditional rulers, who made their stand known in the statement signed by their chairman, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, warned that any attempt to subvert the mandate they said was freely given to the governor-elect, Fayose, would be resisted by the people.
"We are of the view that the people of the state had spoken through the ballot on June 21 and a mandate freely given. Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, therefore, feels strongly that this mandate should be actualised, as any attempt to truncate it may further aggravate the situation," they said.
Oba Babalola, who is also the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, said in the statement that "Council has confidence in the state judiciary and implore it to handle all cases before it with utmost impartiality."
They condemned the crisis that had created tension in the state, saying "we believe that Ekiti is greater than any individual or group of persons. We appeal to the gladiators to sheathe their swords and prevent aggravation of the already bad situation."
They also commiserated with the family of the deceased Chief Omolafe Aderiye and those whose properties had been destroyed.
The traditional rulers expressed concern about the raging tension the suit caused in the state over the legal tussle, which had also pitted the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Fayose, leading to closure of all the courts by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.
The traditional rulers commended the police in the state and said they expressed "deep appreciation to the law-enforcement agencies for a job well done in restoring peace to Ekiti State" and urged them "to continue the good job."
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, alerted the nation to a design by the APC to influence the judiciary, subvert the will of the people and stop the inauguration of Fayose in Ekiti.
The party, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, by its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, berated the plot and vowed that such a move would fail woefully.
It described the plot of the APC to stop the inauguration of Fayose as "a slap in the face of the people of Ekiti State, an assault on democracy and an attempt to rape the judiciary."
PDP declared that no amount of evil machinations by the APC would stop Fayose's swearing-in on October 16, in accordance with the desire of the people of Ekiti, as expressed at the polls.
The PDP calls for full investigation into the activities of some officers of state judiciary involved in the recent crisis in the state.
In a related development, the PDP and APC are currently engaged in a verbal battle over the current tension in the state, as soldiers have taken over security in some of the streets of Ado Ekiti.
The PDP, in a statement by its state publicity secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, said it had allegedly uncovered "plot to unleash terror on Ekiti people through the use of imported thugs now camped at the Government House, hiding under the guise of October 1, 2014 Independence anniversary."
The party called on the state police command to beef up security in all the 16 local government areas in the state.
But the APC, while debunking the claim, said rather, the security agencies were planning to clamp down on their leaders.
The APC, in a statement by its state publicity secretary, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, said it had "uncovered clandestine plan" by some officers of the state police command to start arresting some leaders of the party on the trumped-up charge of being the mastermind of the current political logjam in the state.
"Prominent among the names of those included in the list are the state chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe; Chief of Staff, Yemi Adaramodu; Sola Omonijo; Deji Adesokan, Dele Owoju, Richard Apolola, Niyi Adedipe, Rotimi Olambiwonninu, and so on," the party said.
But the police denied the allegation, saying the command was not attached to any political party in the state.
In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Victor Babayemi, the police said "we expect everybody to cooperate with us."
The allegations and counter-allegations had renewed tension in the state, with soldiers deployed to man security in parts of the state capital, including Fajuyi Square and Ojumose areas of the state capital.
Tribune
