The crisis rocking Ekiti State over plan by the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose has consumed one life.
The victim, identified as Modupe Olaiya, was allegedly killed on Tuesday in Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State, as members of the Peoples Democratic Party held violent protests against the attempt of the APC lawmakers to impeach Fayose.
It was alleged that the APC lawmakers were allegedly coming from Osun State but met a barricade mounted by the protesters at Ita Ore, a border town between Ekiti and Osun States, when the incident occurred.
The victim was said to have sustained gunshot injury as the police fired several shots to scare the protesters, who had already taken over the Ado-Ita Ore-Ilesa Road.
The PDP alleged that the mobile policemen that accompanied the lawmakers were on illegal duty.
The details of the policemen, allegedly from MOPOL 20, Lagos State., were given as Sergeant Oyelakin Zacchaeus F/no 386073; and Corporals James Ogunji F/no 386976; Adewuya Clement F/no 396903; Ebute Michael F/no 343469; and Ibrahim Zock F/no 235510.
However, efforts by the APC lawmakers to hold their sitting was aborted, as soldiers stationed at Ita Ore were said to have prevented their convoy from entering the state.
A Hilux van marked AA 363 YEK, conveying gun-wielding thugs to the Assembly had collided with a police patrol van at Secretariat Road Ado Ekiti, where three people were said to have been arrested.
Also protests were held in major towns such as Efon Alaaye, Iworoko, Aisegba, Ikere, Ise, Ogotun Igbemo for the same purpose of stopping the lawmakers from carrying out their plot to sack Fayose from office.
The protests caused many across the state serious discomfort as human and vehicular movements were disrupted for several hours as all major roads leading to Ekiti State were blocked.
Some SSS 3 students, who are sitting for the West African Examinations Council examinations outside the state capital reported late to examination halls as drivers conveying them were forced to make a detour midway.
The protesters started the action at Ajilosun, Ijigbo, Secretariat Road, Okesa, Ojumose and old garage, all in Ado Ekiti as early as 6.30am, barricading the roads with planks, vehicles and also made bonfires, which hindered human and vehicular movements for several hours.
Civil servants and traders, who had reported to their places of work, had returned home in fear, while commercial motorcyclists had a bad day as their businesses were obstructed by the action of the protesters and the barricades placed on the roads by the protesters.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, deployed Armoured Personnel Carriers and personnel to all the affected towns and troubled spots, while the House of Assembly complex was sealed off by security men.
The protesters had poured to the streets following the rumour that the APC lawmakers, led by the Speaker Adewale Omirin, were allegedly planning to hold a sitting at the assembly to discuss the notice of gross misconduct forwarded to the Governor last Friday.
The lawmakers had given the governor seven days within which to reply or face impeachment process.
The Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, and organized labour under the leaderships of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, had besieged the Assembly in protest and warned the lawmakers against plunging the state into violence.
The organised labour in a statement signed by NLC’s Secretary, Comrade Ade Obatoye; TUC Secretary, Comrade Joseph Adebayo; and JNC Secretary, Comrade Oladele Ayodeji, enjoined the entire workforce to see the present development as a way of fomenting trouble in the state and put their lives at risk.
Also, the people of Igbemo Ekiti, led by Chief Agamago Adetunji, had during a solidarity visit to the governor said: “We are solidly behind you. Ekiti people elected you to be their leader and no power under the earth can remove you.
“We are praying for you and assuring you that you will win all the 26 Assembly seats during the Saturday’s polls.”
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, who responded on behalf of Fayose, likened the crisis to the biblical war of Egypt against the people of Israel, expressing confidence that the governor would triumph over his enemies.
Olusola said: “This Egyptian war led by APC will be defeated. Governor Fayose did not elect himself, but you put him there. This is just a passage and it will go by the grace of God. I want to assure you that we will see no more this war against an anointed man in few days time.”
It will be recalled that PDP loyalists, including the deputy governor, on Monday barricaded roads leading to the assembly with a luxury bus and Hilux vans to prevent the lawmakers from sitting.