Former Ekiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, has warned the state Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Taiwo Olatubosun, against statements that can set the state on fire.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Olu-Ojo took exception to some utterances by Olatubosun in the last few days, saying it appeared that the APC spokesman had an agenda to cause trouble in the state.
He said: “Governor Ayo Fayose, following security reports, and acting as the chief security officer of the state, imposed curfew on the state, but Olatubosun went to incite the people to disregard the curfew order. The curfew is to prevent any possible break down of law and order.
“Olatunbosun should tread softly and not put the lives of his party members at risk. In the last 24 hours Olatunbosun has issued two statements which he doesn’t have the power to do and which can cause crisis in the state.
“The statements are that APC members in Ekiti State should defy the state governor’s authorised imposed curfew. That the APC House of Assembly members should come back to Ekiti to resume their legislative sitting.
“I hasten to caution against these directives, first from my personal experience and for some other reasons. If there is one regret I still have about my tenure as state chairman of PDP, it is to have given a similar order to our members in 2010.
“Shortly, after the judicial judgement that brought in Fayemi as the state governor, I took the PDP state House of Assembly members and some leaders to meet the President on the development. Right there at that meeting, I received a call that the elected local government councils had been dissolved.
“This illegal action was brought to the attention of the President and I sent a message to PDP members to defy the dissolution order. The outcome of that directive was the death of a PDP chieftain and several properties destroyed.
“Thereafter, I noted that state governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state, and therefore he has more control over the state’s security forces than the President on occasions like that.
“I want Olatubosun to note that there is a sitting governor that belongs to another party other than his and should please not put the lives of others at risk,” Olu-Ojo said.
He added that General Muhammadu Buhari would not have executive powers until 29th May, 2015 and therefore he (Buhari) did not have the power to endorse Olatubosun’s directives.
“Buhari issued a statement cautioning APC members on over jubilation. He added that anyone who contravenes the advice does so at his/her own peril.
“With all the above reasons, I wish to advise Olatubosun strongly and publicly to tread softly and don’t put the lives of his members at risk.”