Joseph Bakare
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to detain indefinitely the outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, PDPs National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said information at the party’s disposal and all over the social media indicate that the Presidency has put the commission on alert to arrest the governor midnight today and detain him indefinitely.
The alleged directive by the Presidency is not unconnected with the plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government.
This uncompromising stands of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election.
By 12 midnight, the governors residence is expected to be surrounded by armed men of the EFCC under the pretence that they had information of his plot to escape. This is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.
Nigerians should recall that it was the governor who offered to submit himself to the EFCC despite the commissions clear display of bias and partisanship as demonstrated in its various actions, especially its tweet of July 16 and putting the governor on security watch-list.
“The EFCC even unprofessionally showed their bias in deriding the governor and making light of a very serious matter by mocking him and asking him to come before his tenure elapsed, which the governor declined in line with the constitutional immunity.
It is now beyond dispute that His Excellency Gov. Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever EFCC, APC, and the Presidency spin-doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC.
Fayose is prepared and ready to defend himself in the court of law. Neither the Presidency nor EFCC is a court of law. Since the EFCC said it had dusted up Fayoses files, it should be ready to take him to court once he presents him at the agencys office on Tuesday.”
The PDP condemned this resort to fascism by the APC government, saying the whole world should be at alert to see another demonstration of crude disrespect for the rule of law and rights of Nigerians.
Governor Fayose has offered to walk to the EFCC office by himself and nothing must happen to him tonight.