Political parties in Ekiti State at a stakeholders meeting on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, the MoU organised by the Nigeria Police Force in Ado Ekiti is aimed at avoiding scars of agony, makes, discord and enmity after the election.
He expressed worries that politicians these days cared less about the credibility of elections.
“All that matters to them is attainment of political office, somehow and anyhow. More worrisome is the instigation of violence by political office seekers that sometimes lead to loss of lives, physical injuries and destruction of properties.
“It is disheartening that while most of us treasure and pamper our children and wards, we exploit the ignorance, poverty and the myopic view of other people’s children using them to carry arms, cutlasses and various weapons to fight our perceived political opponents. This without mincing words is a sin against humanity and against God.”
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 8, Christopher Dega, at the event stressed the need for the election to be free of rancor, acrimony, I’ll feelings, bad blood and other things that could undermine the credibility of the election.
“The Inspector General of Police (Suleiman Abba) has advised on the need to maintain decorum, exercise caution and restraint as we go into the election. It is important you play the game according to the rules.”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti, Mr. Sam Olumekun, advised politicians against killing people to occupy public offices.
Governor Ayodele Fayose, at the event assured of purposeful leadership to promote peace.
He said, “Four years is a short time in the life of a man. I won’t muzzle anybody. If you abuse me, I will abuse you back, it is all politics. If you abuse me and I can’t abuse you, I will look for somebody to abuse you.
“For a system to work, the leader must key into it. I will key into the peace process. I will respect and do everything to ensure it works.
“For this election, nobody will muzzle another person. I won’t ask for favour from the police. If my party won an election about six months ago, I do not have to muzzle anybody to win an election. I only need to improve on my chances.”
Meanwhile, thugs on Thursday reportedly stormed some communities in Gbonyin and Irepodun/Ifelodun local governments attacking the supporters of the All Progressives Congress and destroying the billboards and posters of its candidates in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
The state Publicity Secretary of APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, while alluding to the attack at the stakeholders meeting commended the Police for their quick response to the distress call.
The Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Albert Adeyemi, confirmed the attack to our correspondent but said investigation was ongoing.
The APC spokesperson who later issued a statement said thugs armed with guns and machetes stormed Igbemo-Ekiti where they disrupted an ongoing APC ward meeting.
“A car belonging to ward chairman was damaged while several members were attacked in an orgy of violence that lasted several minutes. They came back in the night unleashing fiercer violence, abducting four members in the process.
“They started their raids from Ijan-Ekiti where they shot sporadically to the air. Residents scampered to safety as thugs went about destroying APC candidates’ billboard and posters.
“After Ijan-Ekiti operation, they headed for Iluomoba-Ekiti where APC ward meeting was disrupted. Billboards and posters of APC candidates, including the chairs and tables were destroyed before moving to other communities in Gbonyin to unleash violence,” Olatubosun stated.
According to him, the thugs returned to Igbemo-Ekiti at night in three Hilux vans backed by policemen shooting and destroying the billboards and posters of APC candidates, including those of Rotimi Odu, a member of the House of Assembly seeking reelection.
“They also visited Olatubosun and Odu’s homes. It was during their night visit that these men in military uniform abducted Chief Peter Akinsola a.k.a Pitoro, the senior brother of the Ward Chairman, Mr. Olusola Bello, Mr. Olujimi Ogunade and 22-year-old Adefemi Ojo.
“Investigation has revealed that the abducted men are illegally detained at Fayose’s task force office along Iyin road Ado Ekiti,” Olatubosun added.
Olatubosun said the thugs inflicted a machete wound on one Ajayi Temisoro, while a pharmaceutical shop belonging to Ogunade was destroyed.
He added that a high Chief in the town and one of brothers to Governor Fayose were seen with the thugs encouraging them and pointing to APC members houses.
The APC spokesman called on the security agencies to intervene to save the lives of abducted members while also urging the police to be even-handed in the current violence being unleashed on APC members by the governor’s thugs.
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Political parties sign peace pact in Ekiti
