2014: Bamidele Is Playing To The Gallery -Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi (JKF), has reiterated his commitment to the rule of law, good governance and freedom of association as a fundamental right of every law abiding citizen. Speaking on the confrontation of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, with the Nigerian Police, JKF said everybody should enjoy this right as long as he is within the limits the law and the Constitution prescribe.
Governor Fayemi spoke against the background of controversies surrounding last Thursday’s alleged disruption of Bamidele’s political rally by men of the Nigerian Police. Reacting to reports in some media that the government may have prompted the action of the Police. Governor Fayemi said that his administration had no hands in the matter as it was strictly a police affair .
Fayemi has said that Bamidele has an inalienable right to vie for the position but such aspiration should be pursued within the limits of the laws of the land, electoral acts as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by his C
hief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, and made available to NigerianEcho, JKF stated that no fewer than ten other governorship aspirants from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had declared interest in the race without any molestation from the APC-led government. He queried the rationale behind Bamidele’s allegations that the disruption of his rally was at the prompting of the government.
The statement, however said that the police, as a law enforcement agency, has the responsibility to determine actions and situations that can cause the breach of peace in the society and take appropriate actions to safe guard against such.
“A lot of misrepresentations have been peddled in the media about the event of last Thursday. And it is important to state clearly that the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has no interest in stopping Hon Bamidele or anybody from declaring interest in the governorship race in the state.
“It is on record that no fewer than ten aspirants have made public declaration of their interest in the race and none of them was harassed for doing so. If the police have an issue with Hon Bamidele’s approach, the most honourable thing for him to do is to comply with the laid down procedures instead of resorting to blame game and name calling.
“Ekiti State remains one of the most peaceful states in the country and the cooperation of all is needed to sustain the peaceful atmosphere and the tangible development across the state.” the statement concluded.
