The Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has been asked to stop violent attacks on the people of Isan Ekiti and also halt the carting away of agricultural equipment at the state College of Agriculture located in the ancient town.
The All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State in a Thursday statement signed by its spokesperson, Taiwo Olatubosun, said that Isan has become the latest community in a long chain of many others singled out for vengeance and persecution by Fayose.
The party said the destruction of the College of Agriculture will thwart the food security and livelihood programme carefully conceived by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The governor was alleged to have on Wednesday sent armed thugs to the college with the hope of carting away the high-profile farm equipment to his private farm.
The thugs met stiff resistance from local women and men, young and old.
Children were said to have joined in the mass protest against the governor’s action.
The APC said signs that the College will be looted by Governor Fayose like he allegedly did to Ikogosi during his first tenure in 2003, manifested immediately he assumed office three weeks ago when he said he was not going to recognize the College.
The APC said the people of the community were prepared for him and that was why they resisted Fayose’s forces whom he sent to the town to cart away the tractors and equipment to his private farm, adding: “We are also aware that Governor Fayose has mandated the Provost and the Bursar of the College to release about N40 million left in the account of the school. This was how Governor Fayose made away with the N100 million take-off grant of the College of Medicine released by his predecessor, Governor Niyi Adebayo in 2003.
“Governor Fayose is a leopard that will never change its spot. This is a man who deceived the whole world that he has changed only to embark on a vicious revenge mission against his perceived political and personal enemies. He had earlier closed down the Federal Government College in the town without any reason and relocated the Agricultural Development Programme office (ADP) from Isan and now, he wants to loot the tractors and equipment in the remaining school of the town. Fayose is doing this to get back at Isan community where Governor Kayode Fayemi hails from and also because it is in his character to always rubbish the achievements of his predecessors!
“Governor Fayose should see himself as the Governor of all Ekiti citizens and should promote harmony rather than fan the embers of discord by setting communities against one another. This is a man who vowed to have forgiven his enemies in church only for him the following day, to seal up the petrol station of the Speaker of the House of Assembly because he belongs to the opposition. Governor Fayose should take a cue on magnanimity from his predecessor, Fayemi who inherited Ado-Ifaki road from his predecessor, Engn. Segun Oni and completed the project despite the fact that Oni hails from Ifaki. So why is Fayose punishing Isan community because of Fayemi?
“We wish to appeal to President Jonathan to prevail on Governor Fayose not to carry out his threat of crushing the people of Isan-Ekiti with armed forces as the consequences will be too grave. He will be be held responsible for his scorched-earth policy against the people of Isan Ekiti who have committed no offence other than protecting their remaining legacy which Governor Fayose plans to erase by converting the equipment to personal use. We also wish to remind the Governor that the College was established by an Act of the State House of Assembly therefore, his move against the College is a breach of the law. Governor Fayose should stop being petty and live up to his inauguration day promise of making life easy for Ekiti people and not unleashing terror on communities he perceived as enemies simply because his political opponents hail from there.”
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