Fayose raises alarm, says police invading Ekiti to arrest officials

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday said policemen numbering 20 were on their way to Ekiti State to arrest government officials, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and members of the House of Assembly to give effect to the petitions by members of the All Progressives Congress.

The alarm was contained in a press statement signed by the Special Assistant to Mr. Fayose on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

But the Police in Ekiti promptly denied the allegation, saying nothing of such has happened.

Mr. Fayose’s statement said the planned arrest was to give effect to the petitions by the APC members on the 2014 governorship election.

The governor alleged that the 20 policemen, riding in three white Toyota buses, were led by one ACP Olusola Oke, a native of Isan Ekiti, hometown of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi .

He also accused prominent indigenes of the state, such as Femi Falana(SAN), Babafemi Ojudu, Yinka Akerele among others of coordinating the “invasion.”

“We have been reliably informed that the latest onslaught against the PDP government of Mr Ayodele Fayose is to begin on Monday, using the police to arrest top government officials, PDP leaders across the 16 local government areas and members of the House of Assembly,” the statement said.

“ACP Olusola Oke, who is to lead the over 20 policemen to carry out the operation is said to be a native of Isan Ekiti, hometown of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi. ACP Olusola Oke is equally the immediate past Assistant Commissioner in charge of Operations and now the AC X-Squad, FCID, Abuja.

“The operation is allegedly being funded by a former governor from the South-South while a prominent aide of President Mohammadu Buhari is said to be directly coordinating.

“ACP Olusola Oke will be accompanied by CSP Ayodele, CSP Enang, four Inspectors and others.”

But the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, Alberto Adeyemi, told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone that there was no truth in the allegation.

“My brother there is no truth in that, it is not true,” he said. “We are here in Ekiti with over 5000 policemen, and we are talking about 20 policemen invading.

“There cannot be such a thing, it is not true.”

Mr. Ojudu, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, in a telephone chat with PREMIUM TIMES, denied any involvement in any invasion by policemen.

“This is not worth a response,” he said. “I don’t know anything about police invasion..”

Mr. Odudu, a former senator, said he left Abuja on Saturday morning to attend a wedding in Lekki, in Lagos.

“I am not in charge of security and if he (Fayose) has committed any crime, he should wait to face the result of his action,” he said.

“The police know how to deal with criminals, and they know how to do it better, I don’t have any business with that.”