The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Lere Olayinka, has chided the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, over the arrest of the Welfare Officer of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Dr Temitope Bankole, over WhatsApp group comment.
Olayinka, who also cautioned the police authority in the State to avoid being used as an instrument of political oppression by former Governor Fayemi or anyone, asked the rationale behind sending armed policemen from the Ekiti State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to arrest and detain a man just for commenting on a closed WhatsApp Group with less than 50 participants.
He condemned the alleged insistence of the RRS Commander, CSP Marcus Ogundola, to speak with Fayemi before allowing Dr Bankole to be admitted to bail, asking when Fayemi became the Inspector General of Police or the State Commissioner of Police such that he now issued orders to policemen as to who to arrest, detain and admitted to bail.
Policemen from the Ekiti State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had arrested Dr Bankole in connection with a petition written by Dr Fayemi, claiming that he (Dr Bankole) forwarded to a WhatsApp platform, a message alleging mismanagement of the State funds, while he (Fayemi) was Governor.
Interestingly, the WhatsApp Group tagged “EKSU JKF Forum” was initially set up to propagate and promote Fayemi’s presidential ambition.
Reacting to the arrest of the ASUU Welfare Officer, in a statement on Monday, Olayinka said, it was worrisome that Dr Fayemi, who allegedly ran Ekiti State to the ground could descend to the ridiculous level of employing intimidation to prevent the people from asking questions about his administration.
He said; “For someone who left Ekiti State with no single road with which Ado Ekiti, the State capital can be accessed, it is funny that his reaction to an allegation of fraud made in a WhatsApp Group with less than 50 participants, was a petition and orchestration of arrest and detention even after the person allegedly refuted the allegation and apologised.
“Funny enough, here is the same Fayemi, who went for cover when he was invited to appear before a probe panel in 2017.
“My question is, why is Dr Kayode Fayemi always afraid of being asked questions about his running of Ekiti State finances as governor?
“And what is the business of the RRS that should be going after armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists with the comment made in a closed WhatsApp Group?”
While also calling the new governor of the State, Biodun Oyebanji, to avoid kicking off his government with political oppression, Olayinka said; Governor Biodun Oyebanji should not let his government be tainted from the start by Dr Kayode Fayemi.”
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