Labour Grounds Ekiti for Fayose, Warns APC Lawmakers Against Tormenting Governor

Gov. Ayo Fayose

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

Commercial and other activities were paralysed in Ado Ekiti for half of a working day as organised labour on Friday held a solidarity rally to counter attempts by 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Aside from the fact that the labour unions successfully effected an embargo on vehicular movement till noon, they also ensured that workers in the State Civil Service  adhered strictly to the stay-at-home order issued to them on Thursday.

When journalists visited the secretariat, the place was under lock and key, while commercial motorcyclists had to stay away from all major roads because of the barricades mounted at regular intervals to ensure strict compliance with the restriction  order .

Mostly affected were the Basiri- Fajuyi-old garage- Ajilosun  road and the bank road , which led to the State Secretariat and the
converging point for workers in the State.

The labour leaders under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council,  who  massed at Fajuyi park as early as 6am, warned that any attempt to impeach Fayose would trigger serious crisis  in the State.

Addressing newsmen on the impeachment saga, the NLC Secretary in the State, Com. Ade Obatoye, stated that the restiveness being allegedly caused by the lawmakers had been affecting  the citizens of the State.

The NLC leader urged the lawmakers to allow the people to enjoy the mandate freely given to the governor during the June 21 Governorship election.

“Though we agree with Hon Adewale Omirin that he has the right to fight for his right, he must wait for the outcome of the suit he instituted against his impeachment . He cannot because of his impeachment plunge Ekiti into crisis, because he stands impeached until the court rules otherwise.

“But staying in Osun or Lagos State and be hurling stones at Ekiti is uncalled for and selfish. Former Governors  Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi  of the APC  ruled the State in peace. But when Fayose  and Segun Oni of the PDP came, trouble started . We will not allow this to continue because Ekiti belongs to all of us .

“The people of Ekiti did not only vote for Fayose, but the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, had also revalidated it. We appeal to the APC to wait for four years when there will chance to elect another governor and if they can appeal to our people, they can get it back,  but not the way they are presently doing”, he said.

Obatoye, who said the heat being generated by the frosty relationship between the executive and legislative , said : “In an atmosphere of unrest just as we are witnessing now, the citizens will bear the brunt. The will of the people must be allowed to prevail. The loser  o felections must allow the winner to enjoy it.

“We beg the lawmakers to allow Fayose to settle for work so that the people can enjoy dividends of democracy in the areas of infrastructure development. Loser in Lagos governorship election, Mr Jimi Agbaje had congratulated Mr Akin Ambode and this is what we envisaged for Ekiti.

“If actually Omirin and his people knew they were popular, they would not have run away from the State because the people will be ready to defend them. Our advice to them is to embrace peace because we are going to resist any attempt to impeach Fayose”, he stated.