The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, in this interview with FEMI MAKINDE,says Governor-elect Ayo Fayose unleashed attack on the judiciary to prevent his trial because he allegedly has things to hide
Were judges truly beaten during the crisis at the court premises in the state?
It was confirmed that the governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, led some people to the court. It is also public knowledge that the governor-elect had an altercation with some judges. Some judges were manhandled in the presence of the governor-elect.
The People Democratic Party has said nobody can stop Fayose’s swearing-in. Why is the All Progressives Congress trying to stop Fayose after losing the election?
For somebody to say he cannot be stopped, that statement is a mark of desperation. That is what we are saying. If you get something which you are not qualified for, the law is there to take its course.
The statement shows that the PDP and the governor-elect are desperate to occupy the office but thank God we have the constitution in Nigeria, which is superior to everybody. He has a good opportunity now to be cleared by the court if the court finds him qualified to have contested the election. The tribunal hearing matters arising from the Ekiti State governorship election is on. We have adduced reasons before the panel.
Are you confident that the case will be decided in favour of your party?
We approached the tribunal and presented evidence to support the petition. We would not have gone to the tribunal if we knew we did not have a good case. The fraud they perpetrated will be exposed by the court and that is part of the reason the PDP is jittery.
The APC has been accused of conniving with the E-eleven and some judges to scuttle the swearing-in of Fayose, why is this so?
Our party, the APC, is not conniving with anybody or institution to stop Fayose. Members of the E-eleven are Nigerians and they are indigenes of Ekiti State that have the constitutional right to approach the court if they feel aggrieved.They have the right to be heard and that was what the court was doing, until those who are afraid of their past, those who are afraid of the evil they have done, struck and unleashed terror on the judiciary. If you are not afraid and you don’t have anything to hide, why don’t you allow justice to take its course? Fayose should submit himself for trial.
It is like a student who fraudulently gained admission into higher institution without passing the entrance exams. The school can expel such a student if the management finds out. His certificate could even be withdrawn even if he has graduated before the truth was revealed. We respect our royal fathers so much and we believe that they have their reasons for making their statement. But the issue which is causing panic in the minds of those who have questionable pasts is the issue of eligibility; it is not the tribunal. They have something which they don’t want the whole world to know. If he has nothing to hide, why did he lead thugs to unleash terror on the judiciary? Why is he attacking judges?
The PDP has said they have written a petition to the police because it believes the lives of some of its party leaders, including Fayose’s, are not safe…
The APC is not after anybody’s life. It is almost four years since Governor Kayode Fayemi came into office; the state has been enjoying peace since then, unlike the era of one day, one trouble. This same man who introduced violence into Ekiti police is now the one going about, causing violence and disrupting the peace of the state. Security agents in the state should put the PDP under close watch. They have a history of accusing others of the crime they are planning to perpetrate. Security agencies should put them under surveillance.We have written a petition to the police and we listed the names of our leaders who they have been trailing. We have done this and we believe that the security agents would act fast to prevent the blood of our leaders being spilt. The PDP is behind the crisis in the state.
But the PDP is blaming your party for the crisis in the state.
The PDP planned the crisis, they ignited it and implemented it to the point of the gruesome murder of the former boss of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, Omolafe Aderiye. They have antecedents of violence.
Are you saying that Aderiye was killed by the PDP?
I am not saying that, because I am not a policeman or an official of the State Security Services. I am not a security agent, but what I am saying is that the security agents should beam their search light on the activities of the PDP. Has there been any invasion of the court since Governor Fayemi came into office? No, because he is a law-abiding leader. He believes in the rule of law. His government has been obeying and respecting court judgments. The PDP is heating up the polity in Ekiti State and this is unfortunate, they believe they are above the law. There will be peace when we all submit to the supremacy of the law. But in a case where some people believe and act as if they are above the law, you should know that they are up to something negative. The PDP went and burnt the APC secretariat and Governor Fayemi’s campaign office. It is unfortunate that they are now trying to divert attention from such a heinous crime. It is unfortunate that some police officers in Ekiti State are conniving with the PDP. We have written to the Inspector-General of Police and we have compiled the list of those who we know were involved in the crisis and those who participated actively in the burning of our secretariat.
Are you aware of a report that the Attorney-General of the state exonerated Fayose of culpability in the alleged attack on a judge?
We are aware of the report. But what happened in the presence of hundreds of people within the court premises cannot be hidden. If the PDP knew better, it would have come out and apologise to everybody, especially the judiciary, which they have violently attacked. This attack is a danger to our democracy, it is dangerous and every right-thinking person should condemn it. The attack actually happened and the PDP should apologise. The governor-elect went in company of thugs to the court premises; this is confirmed. He had an altercation with some judges-this cannot be covered. So, what are they saying?
Source: THEPUNCH