We won’t allow Buhari to truncate our democracy – Ekiti govt

Ade Akanbi, Akure

Following the alleged arrest of the Ekiti State lawmakers by the officials of the operatives of the Department of State Services, the state  government has vowed to resist any attempt by the federal government to disrupt the democratic system of the state.

The Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade, who spoke with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday, alleged that the  federal government was intimidating the present government led by Mr. Ayodele Fayose by planning to arrest all the state lawmakers and members of the state executive council through the DSS operatives.


DSS operatives allegedly invaded the state House of Assembly a few weeks ago and arrested four lawmakers — Mr. Afolabi Akanni, Musa Arogundade, Badejo Anifowose and Sina Animasaun – representing Efon, Ado 1, Moba 2 and Ekiti West 2 State Constituencies respectively.
Alade also noted that as a result of the lawmakers alleged illegal arrest, all the aides of the governor and other lawmakers were currently living in fear, stressing that she decided to address the newsmen in Akure so as to avoid being arrested illegally by the security operatives

The Ekiti SSG further explained that she had been recently receiving a telephone call with a number +447442364448 from one person who identified himself as Paul Okafor from DSS and from other anonymous callers telling her to report herself at the DSS office in her own interest.

She said she did not take the invitation through the telephone serious because it was not formal, noting that the alleged illegal arrest was a plot to disrupt the Fayose’s administration by the federal government

She said ” it is hoped that democracy and the rule of law will be allowed to thrive in Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole. All attempts to truncate democracy in Ekiti State will be resisted by all means.

” It is quite unfortunate that the federal government has kept mute over this illegality. People now discuss in hush tones that DSS officials are in the state to arrest and bundle more legislators and some executive members, the SSG inclusive”

While calling on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the matter, the SSG insisted that all the people of Ekiti State were solidly behind Governor Fayose whom she said was the target of the alleged intimidation and arrest by the security operatives.

She however said she would answer the invitation of the DSS if she was invited formally, saying “I have no skeleton in my cupboard, but for them to be embarrassing me with phone calls, I will not accept that”

According to her  “we know all these are being done to Governor Fayose and those who are close to him because of his critical stance on the federal government and we are yet to see a constitution in Nigeria that makes speaking one’s mind on national issues a crime”