SAN FRANCISCO, July 07, (THEWILL) – The Ekiti state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, and other groups trooped to the streets of Ado Ekiti on Thursday in protest against alleged looting of the state’s finances by the state governor, Ayodele Fayose.
The coalition commended the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for freezing accounts belonging and operated by Fayose in Zenith Bank PLC for allegedly containing N1.3bn slush fund from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, then headed by Sambo Dasuki to fund the governor’s campaign in 2014.
The protesters , which comprised party leaders, students, youth groups, artisans and other like-minded individuals, marched from Fajuyi park through Okeyinmi and stopped at Ijigbo area where they were addressed by leaders of each group.
They passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and his anti-corruption war, urging the EFCC to dig deep into the finances of Ekiti and prosecute whoever was indicted in the looting of the state’s treasury.
Chanting anti-Fayose’s songs, they displayed placards of various inscriptions to deride the way the governor had allegedly been looting the state, especially his purported indictment in the N1.2bn arms fund, alleged collection of kickbacks from contractors handling various projects in the state to buy multibillion naira property in Lagos , among others.
The Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, lamented how the immunity conferred on Governor Fayose in line with section 308 of the constitution had been impeding his prosecution for alleged embezzlement of funds.
“We are tired of immunity clause. Immunity has become impunity in Ekiti. We condemn Governor Fayose’s corrupt tendencies. Things must change. The EFCC must do its job and ensure that looters of Ekiti are brought to justice,” she said.
A statement presented by the CNPP Chairman in the state, Mr Tunji Ogunlola dared the Governor to waive his immunity and face prosecution over alleged involvement in N4.7bn arms deal alongside former Minister of State for Defence , Musiliu Obanikoro and PDP Governorship candidate in Osun State in the last poll, Mr Iyiola Omisore.
Meanwhile, security agencies, comprising of the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, were deployed to provide cover for the huge crowd that attended the rally and ensure the protesters do not breakdown law and order.
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