PDP members stage pro-Fayose protest

STREET protests continued in Ekiti State yesterday, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and members trooped out in Ido-Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government, in support of Governor Ayo Fayose.

They condemned alleged plot by the Federal Government to “hide under the pretext of an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to remove the governor.

The protesters threatened to recall any lawmaker, who supports the alleged impeachment plot, warning that they will not condone betrayal.

Some of their placards read: “Stop harassing Fayose”; “Fayose remains blameless”; “Fayose must complete his tenure” and “Peace must remain in Ekiti”.

Addressing reporters at the rally, a PDP chieftain, Adeola Ogunrinade, said the protest was staged to drum  up support for Fayose, who  he described as the “leader of opposition in Nigeria.”

He said: “The people trooped out in the last election to vote for Governor Ayodele Fayose because he did well in his first coming. Although they truncated his tenure, we won’t allow that this time.

“Any of the lawmakers in the House of Assembly who works against the governor is working against Ekiti interest and we won’t hesitate to recall the person.

“They are in the Assembly on the benevolence of the governor. So any act of betrayal will be taken as a coup against our collective interest.”

The former PDP Chairman, Idowu Faleye, said every move to unseat Fayose would be resisted.

He warned the EFCC and the Department of State Service (DSS) against overzealousness.

Faleye said: “We are ready to resist any attempt to hijack power from Fayose through the backdoor with the last drop of our blood. We have sensitised our people and they know the truth. We will continue to expose the lies and scheming of the Federal Government against the governor.”

Ido/Osi Local Government Chairman Ayodele Arogbodo said Ekiti youths were behind Fayose and would not fold their arms and see him removed from power.

Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission Sola Omotoso described opposition politics as an integral part of democracy.

He warned against attempts to victimise Fayose.