Some concerned women in Ikere Ekiti on Wednesday vowed to invoke the gods of the land against the 19 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress if they don’t rescind their decision to impeach the Governor, Ayo Fayose, within seven days.
The women, who staged a peaceful protest in the community against the plot, gave the lawmakers a seven-day ultimatum to back out from their plot. Similarly, senior citizens in the state have promised to summon the governor and the 19 APC lawmakers to a round table to resolve the crisis.
The elders said the need to call the combatants to a meeting became imperative to avert further violence in the state. The protesting women, in their hundreds, had converged at Oke Oja area and danced round the town, chanting anti-lawmakers songs.
They warned that any attempt to impeach Fayose would provoke violence in the state. The spokesman of the group, Mojisola Ogunjemilua, who spoke with journalists after the protest, lamented that the violence against Fayose. Ogunjemilua said it was a direct confrontation against the people of Ikere Ekiti, where the Deputy Governor, Dr Olubunmi Olusola, hails from. She said: “Why is it that trouble will always come when Ikere son is in government? Former governor of the old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua was not allowed to complete his term due to military usurpation.
“When Mr Abiodun Aluko and Bisi Omoyeni were also elected the Deputy Governors at different times in Ekiti under democratic setting, the two were not allowed to complete their terms and now Dr Olusola. “Fayose himself, who is from Afao Ekiti, shared historical connection with Ikere Ekiti. All we want in Ekiti is peace and we are calling on the lawmakers, particularly the two of them from Ikere constituencies to back out of the impeachment within seven days, failing which we will invite the gods to intervene and this will be disastrous.”
The Regent of Ikere community, Ayooye Adegboye-Oyinlola, while addressing the protesters, applauded them for their peaceful dispositions and urged the lawmakers to embrace the olive branch extended to them by Fayose for Ekiti to be in peace. The senior citizens in a statement by the Chairman of the Ekiti Council of Elders, Prof. Tunde Oluwasanmi, and presented by the Chairman Committee For the creation of Ekiti State, Chief Deji Fasuan, pleaded with the feuding groups to refrain from portraying Ekiti as a beleaguered state and disallow external forces from intervening in Ekiti affairs.
The elders regretted that the case instituted by former Speaker Adewale Omirin against his impeachment had been stalling their efforts to settling the crisis. They said: “We get stuck , likewise our Obas each time we make efforts to settle this matter, but we will continue to say the truth. Not that we had not put in efforts in the past to broker truce between the two warring groups.
We had even gone further by appealing to our royal fathers, who continue to command regards and high respect in our society to intervene. “Unfortunately we had failed in all these previous endeavours due to the apparent refusal of our difficult sons and daughters who are operating in the political space.
“We are now for the umpteenth time appealing to all politicians, especially those in government and the opposition in Ekiti State to bury the hatchet , think about our people whom they are serving and give peace a chance. “Even our detractors , even in the Yoruba heartland and nation are laughing at us, remembering the inglorious wet-e dais in the old Western Region of Nigeria. At that time, much of the trauma and dislocation was borne in Ekiti than any part of the region, including Lagos.
So, was also our experience during Ajasin and Omoboriowo struggle in 1983. “In furtherance of our efforts and belief, we hereby renew our call for our brothers who are the combatants in this State to attend to another meeting which we are calling shortly.”
Culled from: The Eagle Online
