Victor Ogunje
9 November 2009
Ado Ekiti — FOLLOWING allegation that prominent members of the Governor Segun Oni-led administration are now slated for assassination and kidnapping, the State Government has petitioned the Police, State Security Service (SSS) and the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The state Deputy Governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, in the petition dated November 6, urged the security agencies to forestall the opposition's plots to throw the state into chaos.
Lawal had alleged during a press conference held at the Governor's Office, Ado Ekiti that some leaders of the Action Congress (AC), at a meeting held somewhere at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos on November 5, allegedly drew the strategy of how to destabilise the state by assassinating or kidnapping some top functionaries of the government, PDP leaders, clergy men and notable businessmen.
But the Director of Media Dr. Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Yemi Adaranmodu, described Lawal's allegation as not only laughable but ludicrous, saying "no responsible government that assumed governance through the mandate of the people would make such a phantom allegation."
Adaramodu said the exposure of various electoral malpractices during the rerun Governorship election at the Election Petition Tribunal, had weighed down the Oni-led administration, hence, its resort to blackmail.
The AC spokesman, who chided Lawal over the vituperations and the allegation of assassination, advised him to first rid the PDP of its killers' Squad before blaming the opposition for their woes.
Lawal listed as being marked for assassination include Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Segun Ilori, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Rt. Hon. Femi Akinyemi, one of the PDP counsel at the tribunal, Chief Obafemi Adewale, Chief Tayo Agbelese, Bishop of Methodist Church in Ekiti, Most Revd. Charles Oderinde and Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor,. Joseph Ogunsemi, "Curiously, a chieftain of the AC, Chief Remi Oguntuase is also included as part of the targets. This we gathered was done to give the colouration of a general incident of insecurity in the State.
"Already, a Strike Squad under the leadership of one Charles has been mobilized by the AC leaders to carry out this dastardly act. We gathered that the same Charles Group was responsible for the killing of three officers of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) at Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti few months ago. "The new plot is coming after the failure of the orchestrated labour strike to achieve the desired results.
In the petition, Dr. Lawal said; "We wish to intimate you about the grand plots of the leaders of the opposition Action Congress (AC) within and outside Ekiti State to destabilise the State through all kinds of nefarious activities, including but not limited to kidnapping, assassination and general unrest.
"The State Government, conscious of these sinister plots, has been doing everything humanly possible to prevent breakdown of law and order in the face of apparent provocation by the opposition.
"We shall however be grateful if you can use your good offices to forestall the opposition's devilish plots to throw the State into chaos and paint a picture of general insecurity," Lawal said.
Adaramodu, however, called on all the authorities which received the petition to hold Lawal responsible for the alleged false alarm.
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