Politicians in Ekiti State are worried that more assassinations might take place in the state following the killing of a former Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Omolafe Aderiye, on Thursday.
Aderiye, a stalwart of the PDP and a supporter of the state’s incoming governor, Ayo Fayose, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital. His assassination had been preceded by the disruption of the sitting of the state election petitions tribunal by thugs believed to be PDP agents.
A day after his assassination, on Friday, the dispute between members of two parties took a turn for the worse when suspected thugs went round the capital setting buildings and vehicles ablaze.
To avert further bloodshed, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, quickly declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state on Friday. In a live broadcast in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, Fayemi said there would be no movement between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. every day till further notice.
However, politicians in the state, who spoke to Punch, expressed fears that Aderiye’s murder might be a sign of things to come. According to them, the state has a history of political killings and if the outbreak of violence was not quickly nipped in the bud, there may be a repeat of past violent incidents.
Some of the high profile assassinations that had taken place in the state in the past included the killings of a World Bank consultant, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola; an Assistant General Manager, Finance and Administration of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Kaduna State, Mr. Kehinde Fasuba; Mr. Tunde Omojola, Mrs. Eunice Omojola and Mr. Yemi Oni.
The state Chairman of APC, Mr. Jide Awe, told Punch that he had not been to the party secretariat because he was afraid of being attacked.
“Already tension has been created in the state and people have to look for safety. When there is tension, you have to look for safety. I have not been to the party secretariat since Aderiye was killed. I cannot go there without police protection,” he said.
Similarly, the Director General of Fayose Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, said politicians were not safe in the state.
“Politicians are not safe. We expect things to change for better, let the outgoing governor do things the right way as soon as he can,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola, when contacted also said that the people of the state were afraid. He said, “With this now, nobody is safe. The only thing I can say is to appeal to the two parties to allow peace to reign in the state.
“Everybody concerned should put the interest of the state and its people at heart. We must desist from actions capable of causing further problem in the state.”
Where is the police in all these? Will people just kill and destroy properties and get away with it?
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