The Ekiti Justice Group (EJG) has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting held at the residence of former Governor Niyi Adebayo in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government on Saturday, as a demonstration of lack of regard for human lives. The group challenged the police to make public the identity of the APC chieftain, who brought the trigger happy policeman, who fired the shots that hit Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) and five others at the party secretariat on Friday.
Spokesperson of the EJG, Akeem Adebomojo, said in a statement on Sunday, that it was wrong for leaders of the APC to have gathered at Iyin-Ekiti to hold meeting on the July 14 governorship election despite that a prominent son of the town, Bamidele, still lying critically at the hospital.
“How can they go to Iyin Ekiti yesterday to hold political meeting while MOB is lying critically in the hospital? That is inhuman and a clear show that whoever dies supporting APC is on his or her own,” the group said.
The group said even if any meeting was to be held by the APC, it ought to have been another location, not Iyin Ekiti, where Bamidele hails from. The EJG lamented that it was alarming that Barrister Kole Ajayi that was first touted as the Director General of Fayemi’s Campaign Organisation died mysteriously and Opeyemi Bamidele, who was to be announced as the Director General was also hit by stray bullet on Friday. It said there was an ominous sign that Fayemi was not wanted in Ekiti, hence the flow of blood at his campaign on Friday.
Bamidele was moved to Lagos on Sunday in a medical air ambulance. The aircraft landed landed at Christ School, Ado Ekiti before moving MOB to the Lagos State University Teaching hospital to stabilise him. He is expected to be flown abroad for further medicare later.
Meanwhile, Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the state governor Ayo Fayose has sensationally claimed that APC House of Reps aspirant, Tayo Adebiyi; a prince from Itaji Ekiti and Makinde Araoye (from Ilawe Ekiti) are the two men in detention for bringing illegal policemen to Ekiti on Friday.
‘’More than 20 policemen were brought from Lagos and Ondo States and Fayemi was aware of their presence in Ekiti. The intention was for the policemen to stay behind and join the Special Squad that is already in the State for use before and during the election,’’ he wrote.
‘’The accidental discharge of Friday threw spanners into their sinister plot. Now, because of Makinde Araoye’s closeness to Fayemi and burial of his father, Prof Araoye, slated for next weekend, pressure is being mounted by the Presidency on the State Commissioner of Police to release him (Makinde Araoye) and use Tayo Adebiyi as the sacrificial lamb.
‘’I heard Tayo Adebiyi’s supporters are angry. They want to sweep the shooting of MOB and five others under the carpet because Makinde Araoye, one of those involved is Fayemi’s closest ally. Press conference is being planned for today, to disown Tayo Adebiyi and further insist on the lie that it was Governor Fayose that sponsored the trigger happy policeman, who is still being treated at the Police Clinic.
‘’David Ayeni, aide to Tayo Adebiyi, had said the shooting was an accidental discharge from the policemen who had struggled with some party thugs who had quarrel with him.