The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has faulted the claims by a group, the E-11, that there was more violence in Ekiti during the first term of the Governor-Elect, Mr Ayo Fayose than during the period of the outgoing governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi. The party, which spoke in Ado-Ekiti through the State’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Oluwawole yesterday, also said there are more records of political killings during Fayemi’s tenure than Fayose’s.
The PDP said: We want the APC and its apologists to contradict these facts that in the last four years of the Fayemi administration, no fewer than 8 persons have been killed by his agents across the state. Mr Adeleye Awolumate killed on 18 November, 2010, Mr Kehinde Fajuyi, killed on 23 March, 2011, Mr Michael Ipinlaye, killed on 23 February, 2011, Mr Teslim Abiola, a student of EKSU killed on 26 September, 2012 by an aide of Fayemi who the governor later made a council chairman. Mr Ayo Murphy Jeje and Mrs Juliana Adewumi killed on 31 March, 2013 in Erijiyan-Ekiti and the State Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe and others faced prosecution over the matter.
Others are Mr Foluso Ogundare killed on 3 November, 2013 in Emure-Ekiti, an APC member of the House of Assembly and others are facing trial for this, Mr Taiwo Akinola, killed on 9 June, 2014 and Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who was killed on 25 September, 2014. It is ridiculous for the E-11, an arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to say that the PDP tenure of Fayose recorded more violence or killings than that of their man Friday, Kayode Fayemi. The records are there. The people of the state are eyewitnesses and can compare and contrast.
During Fayose’s regime, the two killings recorded were that of Tunde Omojola in Ifaki-Ekiti during a bye-election in 2005 and Dr Ayo Daramola killed in Ijan-Ekiti in 2006. The police, after thorough investigations, came out with a comprehensive report on March 2008, that Fayose did not have hand in the killings. The facts are there and anybody who feels he has anything contrary can speak out. Fayose was never charged to court or indicted over any of the cases.
Adeniyi Adedipe (Apase) who is presently an aide to Fayemi, told the police through a sworn affidavit then that he was hired by some people to own up to the assassination of Daramola and to say that it was Fayose who sent him to get rid of Daramola. Adedipe said that the purpose of doing that was to secure the removal of Fayose from office and to tarnish his image. Similarly, the Onijan of Ijan-Ekiti, the monarch of Daramola’s hometown, Oba Samuel Fadahunsi, on April 21, this year, also said that the spiritual findings exonerated Fayose of Daramola’s death. Oluwawole challenged the group or any other person with contrary views to come to the public domain and present their facts, saying the people of the state would duly judge between the two sides.