APC lambasts FG for blocking governors from Ekiti rally

National leaders of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday condemned the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government for blocking their governors from attending a political rally of the party in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.



The party at a political rally organised for Ekiti Governor and its candidate in the June 21 governorship election, Kayode Fayemi, claimed that four of its governors were blocked by security agencies at airport and border town, apparently acting on ”orders from above.”

A former PDP National Chairman and now a chief the APC, Audu Ogbeh, said the PDP was returning tyranny to Nigeria.

He said, “Our governors are under arrest in violation of the constitution. What is happening now last happened in Nigeria in 1964 when government did not allow the opposition to travel freely on the highway. Tyranny is on its way back. Reject it in the name of Jesus.”

Specifically, the party said Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo was not allowed to leave Benin airport, while the planes carrying Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) were not allowed to land in Akure airport.

It also said the convoy of Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was ordered to turn back at the border between Ondo and Ekiti States because he would not be allowed entry.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alh. Lai Muhammed, said that while Amaechi’s convoy was being detained in order to force him to turn back, the convoys of the Ministers of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and that of the Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, were allowed to pass.

The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urged Ekiti people to wipe out PDP from the state.

A former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who felt bitter about the development recalled that Obanikoro was expelled by the Action Congress of Nigeria.

He urged the people to protect their future by resisting the PDP and voting for Fayemi.

He lamented that the Federal Government had abandoned the state in the last 15 years, asking the people to disregard the promise of President Goodlcuk Jonathan to develop the state if the PDP won.

Tinubu, who described continuity as the bedrock of development, said “The development in Lagos State was caused by continuity and if you want such to happen in Ekiti, you have to vote for Dr Kayode Fayemi in this election.

“You should not only vote, allow them to count in your presence. You must guard your votes. Don’t allow them to rig the election and this is the best way you can conquer them.

The Imo Governor and Chairman of forum of APC Governors, Rochas Okorocha, said, “What God says will be will be. Ekiti must rise up in defence of democracy by casting their votes for APC.”

Ogun Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said the election was for the liberation of the state urging the people to vote Fayemi for continued progress in Ekiti.

“For all the good things he has done, don’t let the people come and retard the progress. The people’s will is mightier than all the guns in this world.”

A former Ekiti Governor, Segun Oni, urged the people to resist the oppression of the PDP.

He said, “We all have to stand up for this country. This country is being driven to a precipice if people are declared person non-grata in their own country because some people are not popular.

“Nigeria is bigger than anybody, any party and any regime. Regime will come and go but Nigeria will remain. They have to play this game according to rules of the game.”

Fayemi, who commend the people for their steadfastness called on the people to vote massively for him in the Saturday’s election, saying “a vote for APC is a vote for development, liberation and unprecedented progress in all facets.

“Ekiti had fought many wars in the past. We fought Kiriji, we fought for the creation of Ekiti State and this is another battle we must win. We have to fight these people and disallow them from looting our State.

“I want to assure you that if you vote for me, I will continue to serve you and bring more development to your doorstep”, he vowed.

But the Nigerian Army and police have denied preventing Amaechi from entering Ekiti State.

The spokesperson of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Capt. Ademola Adegoke, denied the claim that soldiers turned back Amaechi.

He said, ” It is not true that soldiers turned Governor Amaechi back. It did not happen. I don’t have such information and I am sure that it did no happen.”

The Police in Ekiti State also said that their men did not prevent Amacehi from coming into the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said, ” Governor Amaechi was not prevented by the police from entering Ekiti. Never! Why should we prevent a governor from coming to Ekiti to join his colleague in commissioning of a project? The command has no hand in such a thing.”

Meanwhile, there was outrage in Ado Ekiti on Thursday as the news filtered into the state that security operatives manning the boundary of Ondo State with Ekiti State arrested Amaechi and prevented him from coming into the state.

The Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola, in an interview with our correspondent condemned the action.

He accused the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, of using his position to stop Amaechi’s convoy. He described it as undemocratic saying “such characters will tarnish the image of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

He said, ” What Obanikoro is using the military to do is highly condemnable. This is undemocratic and it should be condemned by everybody. It shows that the PDP candidate in Ekiti election is jittery.

“The PDP candidate in Ekiti is not popular. The people have said it and they are ready to say it again with their votes on Saturday. No amount of intimidation and provocation would change their mind.

” We will not work for PDP candidate here in Ekiti but we will support Jonathan’s second term ambition.”