Written by: Julius Toba Jegede
Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Hon Michael Opeyemi Bamidele has berated alleged campaign of terror embarked upon by incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
Bamidele stated this on Thursday at the reconciliation meeting he attended along eighteen other governorship candidates and Ekiti traditional rulers held in Ado Ekiti.
While raising further concerns over spate of lawlessness by Fayemi and All Progressives Congress, APC thugs during their electioneering campaign, Bamidele said he was not desperate to become a governor like the incumbent.
He appealed to the royal fathers to call upon the incumbent to eschew politics of bitterness and gangsterism.
He narrated how his campaign train had been attacked more than ten times by the APC thugs, adding that Fayemi had often used his power of incumbency as a governor to secure bail of those arrested.
He cited an instance of one APC youth, Dare Arije arrested by security agents with dangerous weapons, but later released less than 24hours.
He accused Fayemi of evolving all known acts of lawlessness to remain in office, as against the wish of Ekiti people.
In what appears like their first opportunity to have face-to-face talk since the beginning of their political disagreement, Bamidele told the Obas in presence of the governor that “The whole problem we are talking about here began when the incumbent Dr Kayode Fayemi started believing that he is the only one that should be allowed to contest in this race”
“Happenings in the state in the last few weeks have shown how our members have suffered unprovoked attacks in the hands of APC thugs, yet the governor and his party are always willing to cry wolf accusing us of such”
“From Ilupeju to Ipole Iloro Ekiti, to Okemesi and Egbe, even in my hometown of Iyin Ekiti, we have seen all these things happening. That was the reason why we suspended our rally for two days last week. It baffles me because I believe we are in this race for the good of Ekiti”
“Why are we acting desperate all in the name of politics? Ekiti belongs to all of us. The fact that my members in Iyin Ekiti were tear-gas and arrested amounted to abuse on their human rights. Days when people could be openly conscripted by were over, this is democracy and all players must respect it”
“We all saw how Gov Fayemi on Thursday (May 1st) last week entered my hometown in a Gestapo style and forced himself on the people in the name of campaign rally. But events that followed that day showed that he was not welcomed by the people ”
“All the markets were shut as the women and youths ran for their lives. All these were indications that he was not popular among the people. Such acts don’t beautify democracy and election processes especially in a place like Ekiti”
“As we speak today, one of our members Late Foluso Ogundare is still in the mortuary. He is yet to be buried because of circumstances surrounding her death in the hands of these same APC members”
Meanwhile, Ekiti traditional rulers have appealed to all the candidates in the June 21st election to sheath their swords and sustain peace that Ekiti is known for.
Chairman of Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti who made the call reminded them of their origin as common brothers.
He therefore ensured that all the 18 candidates made a pledge before the Council to henceforth embark on peaceful conduct in the remaining days of the campaign.
Among those who attended yesterday’s meeting were APC candidate and incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele of Labour Party, Ayodele Fayose of PDP, Kole Ajayi of Accord Party, Ayo Adekola of SDP etc