•Court orders DSS to be served through media
MEMBERS
of the EKITI State House of Assembly have declared that their lives and
that of the governor, Ayodele Fayose, are not safe, following several
revelations, after the abduction of their colleagues - Honourable Sina
Animasaun (Ekiti West II), Honourable Musa Arogundade (Ado II),
Honourable Afolabi Akanni (Efon) and Honourable Badejo Anifowose (Moba
I), at the Assembly on Friday, March 4.
The lawmakers, who were on a visit to the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, on Wednesday, stated this, adding that they were ready to lay down their lives instead of compromising, as being suggested by the DSS and the opposition.
Honourable Babajide Omotoso, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said the event of March 4, had continued to trample on the fundamental human rights of the abducted lawmakers and even those walking freely for now.
Omotoso, who gave a vivid detail of how the lawmaker representing Efon in the state House of Assembly was abducted by the officers of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), said their families are now living in danger, especially after the visit of the Senate committee on Tuesday.
According to Omotoso, “The Senate committee came to Ekiti yesterday (Tuesday) to ask us questions. We told them what they need to know and presented various evidences that the DSS actually came in a commando manner to our premises.
“Since they left, the pressure has doubled in geometric proportion. They started calling our members and harassing them on phones saying ‘we know where your family members are residing. We know the schools that your children attend.’ We are traumatised. We feel that our lives are not safe anymore.
“This is because they thought the subtle threat from the security is not enough to break our ranks. They brought about the issue of financial inducement so that we can succumb to their cheap bidding, they failed. They can see the way we are going that we are united and wholly behind democracy. They now resorted to subtle threat, intimidation, harassment, calling us on phone with private numbers to tell us that we are not safe and that they will move against our families.
“Today, my children are in my house, I didn’t allow them to go to school. I don’t want a situation where somebody will tell me my children are missing. Those that cannot really secure their houses very well have vacated their houses. Even the way they are going, the life of the governor is not safe.”
Omotoso added that the lawmakers have resolved to reject whatever the security agency is doing to force them into what is never their will and that of their people.
“Those that keep quiet in the face of tyranny end up in the belly of tyranny.
“The DSS is working for the APC-led government. They are the majority but they are looking for ways to muscle the minority.
“The brain behind this is that Governor Fayose has been speaking against policies that are not good enough by this APC-led government, telling them to do what is right. They see him as an enemy.
“They called some of our members that they should come to APC and that they will be protected. They said they are hell bent on removing Governor Fayose and that there is money in the region of $1 million, earmarked for that process.
“But, this has actually happened in Ekiti State before. We passed that road before where an agent of the state, EFCC, was actually used to impeach Governor Fayose in 2006.
“So, if we are apprehensive early enough, we’re justified because, once beaten twice shy. Experience, they say, is the best teacher. We don’t want to go that road again, that’s why we’re now calling on everybody. We on this side have resolved not to do anything that will truncate the belief of the Ekiti people in Governor Fayose,” Omotoso said.
The latest of their antics, according to Omotoso is to cage the remaining lawmakers by coming out to state that they forged their tax clearance which was not. He maintained that their ploy was to coerce them into getting the targeted 18 number needed to impeach Governor Fayose.
He, however, revealed that the lawmakers have no skeleton in their cupboard as against the alleged forged tax clearance certificate being peddled around.
He revealed that the members, in a letter EKHA/ADM/418 Vol III/145, dated February 29, 2016, addressed to the Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Ado-Ekiti, entitled “Tax clearance certificates of the honourable members: Matters affecting”, signed by the Clerk of House, Tola Esan, had requested for authentication of all tax certificates.
The Ekiti lawmakers that visited the Tribune house included Honourable Segun Adewumi (Deputy Speaker), Honourable Gboyega Aribisogun (Chairman, House Committee on Information), Honourable Samuel Omotoso (Chairman, House Committee on Health) and Honourable Dayo Akinleye (Deputy Chief Whip).
Others are Honourable Jeje Samuel Abiola (Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation), Honourable Omotoso Olayode (Chairman, House Committee on Culture), Honourable Omodara Benson Olaposi (Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry), Honourable Fasanmi Temitope (Chairman, Public Account Committee), Honourable Akinniyi Sunday (Chief Whip), Honourable Bosede Dada (Chairman, Women Affairs), Honourable Pelemo Dare (Chairman, House Committee on Security) and Honourable Titilayo Owolabi Akerele (Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions).
The lawmakers, who were on a visit to the headquarters of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, on Wednesday, stated this, adding that they were ready to lay down their lives instead of compromising, as being suggested by the DSS and the opposition.
Honourable Babajide Omotoso, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said the event of March 4, had continued to trample on the fundamental human rights of the abducted lawmakers and even those walking freely for now.
Omotoso, who gave a vivid detail of how the lawmaker representing Efon in the state House of Assembly was abducted by the officers of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), said their families are now living in danger, especially after the visit of the Senate committee on Tuesday.
According to Omotoso, “The Senate committee came to Ekiti yesterday (Tuesday) to ask us questions. We told them what they need to know and presented various evidences that the DSS actually came in a commando manner to our premises.
“Since they left, the pressure has doubled in geometric proportion. They started calling our members and harassing them on phones saying ‘we know where your family members are residing. We know the schools that your children attend.’ We are traumatised. We feel that our lives are not safe anymore.
“This is because they thought the subtle threat from the security is not enough to break our ranks. They brought about the issue of financial inducement so that we can succumb to their cheap bidding, they failed. They can see the way we are going that we are united and wholly behind democracy. They now resorted to subtle threat, intimidation, harassment, calling us on phone with private numbers to tell us that we are not safe and that they will move against our families.
“Today, my children are in my house, I didn’t allow them to go to school. I don’t want a situation where somebody will tell me my children are missing. Those that cannot really secure their houses very well have vacated their houses. Even the way they are going, the life of the governor is not safe.”
Omotoso added that the lawmakers have resolved to reject whatever the security agency is doing to force them into what is never their will and that of their people.
“Those that keep quiet in the face of tyranny end up in the belly of tyranny.
“The DSS is working for the APC-led government. They are the majority but they are looking for ways to muscle the minority.
“The brain behind this is that Governor Fayose has been speaking against policies that are not good enough by this APC-led government, telling them to do what is right. They see him as an enemy.
“They called some of our members that they should come to APC and that they will be protected. They said they are hell bent on removing Governor Fayose and that there is money in the region of $1 million, earmarked for that process.
“But, this has actually happened in Ekiti State before. We passed that road before where an agent of the state, EFCC, was actually used to impeach Governor Fayose in 2006.
“So, if we are apprehensive early enough, we’re justified because, once beaten twice shy. Experience, they say, is the best teacher. We don’t want to go that road again, that’s why we’re now calling on everybody. We on this side have resolved not to do anything that will truncate the belief of the Ekiti people in Governor Fayose,” Omotoso said.
The latest of their antics, according to Omotoso is to cage the remaining lawmakers by coming out to state that they forged their tax clearance which was not. He maintained that their ploy was to coerce them into getting the targeted 18 number needed to impeach Governor Fayose.
He, however, revealed that the lawmakers have no skeleton in their cupboard as against the alleged forged tax clearance certificate being peddled around.
He revealed that the members, in a letter EKHA/ADM/418 Vol III/145, dated February 29, 2016, addressed to the Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Ado-Ekiti, entitled “Tax clearance certificates of the honourable members: Matters affecting”, signed by the Clerk of House, Tola Esan, had requested for authentication of all tax certificates.
The Ekiti lawmakers that visited the Tribune house included Honourable Segun Adewumi (Deputy Speaker), Honourable Gboyega Aribisogun (Chairman, House Committee on Information), Honourable Samuel Omotoso (Chairman, House Committee on Health) and Honourable Dayo Akinleye (Deputy Chief Whip).
Others are Honourable Jeje Samuel Abiola (Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation), Honourable Omotoso Olayode (Chairman, House Committee on Culture), Honourable Omodara Benson Olaposi (Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry), Honourable Fasanmi Temitope (Chairman, Public Account Committee), Honourable Akinniyi Sunday (Chief Whip), Honourable Bosede Dada (Chairman, Women Affairs), Honourable Pelemo Dare (Chairman, House Committee on Security) and Honourable Titilayo Owolabi Akerele (Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions).
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