The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Wednesday night condemned the reported police brutality on his Ekiti State counterpart, Governor Ayo Fayose by the police, saying such actions portend grave danger to the sustenance of democracy in the country.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Wednesday night condemned the reported police brutality on his Ekiti State counterpart, Governor Ayo Fayose by the police, saying such actions portend grave danger to the sustenance of democracy in the country.
Governor Emmanuel, the national coordinator of his party’s election team in Ekiti, said all the PDP Governors in the country view the action of the police as an abuse of the constitution of Nigeria.
The Governor who expressed dissatisfaction with the occurrence during an interaction with Government House Correspondents in Uyo enjoined Nigerians to rise in condemnation of the unprecedented police action.
Mr Emmanuel said the issue was not about Ekiti State but the entire Nigeria and the sustenance of the hard earned democratic governance in the country.
The Governor who asked some rhetorical questions pertaining to the ill treatment meted on Governor Fayose further stated that, “it is not about Fayose or Ekiti State, it is about everyone of us, if it can happen to Fayose, it means it can happen to anybody. We should not just look at Fayose today, we should not just look at Ekiti State, let us look at Nigeria. So what is happening?”
According to the Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive, “Elections will come and go, faces will come and go but Nigeria will remain. Let us not do something that will really bring down this country.”
He charged electorate in Ekiti State not to be intimidated in the face of the challenge even as he advised security agencies to be civil in their dealings noting that the country belongs to every citizen.
The Governor again appealed to the law enforcement agencies to abide by the law and further stated that, “this cannot happen in any civilized society where a sitting Governor with full immunity can be so abused publicly. It is a shame for the whole country, it is a shame to all of us.”
Governor Emmanuel said the PDP, being a law abiding and peaceful party, did not want to join issues but only interested in winning the election in a free and fair contest.
He said the party was ready for this Saturday’s election and called on security agencies to allow the people the liberty to vote for candidates of their choice.
The Governor stated that the essence of getting power is to help everybody especially the poor and advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to be loyal to any single individual but to the constitution of Nigeria.
News from Meflyn Anwana, Digital Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel
Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has reacted to reports of violence and harrassment from Ekiti State yesterday that left Governor Fayose hospitalised.
According to Dankwambo, ‘the attempt by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress to subvert the will of the people on Saturday in Ekiti will be resisted’.
He also said, ‘just got off the phone with my brother, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. He has briefed me of the ongoing harassment by security operatives. What is happening in Ekiti state is shameful and undemocratic. If we strengthen our public institutions to be effective and independent, we won’t be needing 30,000 Police Officers and 4,000 soldiers to ensure a free, fair and credible election.’
If we strengthen our public institutions to be effective and independent, we won’t be needing 30,000 Police Officers and 4,000 soldiers to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
— Governor Dankwambo (@HEDankwambo) July 11, 2018
Just got off the phone with my brother, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. He has briefed me of the ongoing harassment by security operatives. What is happening in Ekiti state is shameful and undemocratic. pic.twitter.com/Z9Y0u5z11k
— Governor Dankwambo (@HEDankwambo) July 11, 2018
