Femi Falana Accuses Fayose of Encouraging Kidnapping in Ekiti state
Prominent Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, is to blame for the increasing rate of kidnapping in the state.
Addressing the governor’s ‘Save Our Soul’ message to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Falana issued a statement on Sunday, saying Fayose had encouraged violence in the state since he became governor.
He said: “Last week, Mr. Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state was reported to have sent SOS to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over the increasing wave of kidnapping sweeping across the state.
“In urging the police chief to attend promptly to the concern expressed by the governor, I am compelled to point out that the state government has itself to blame for deliberately providing official cover for armed gangs and other criminally minded individuals who have taken over the monopoly of violence in Ekiti state. For instance, the House of Assembly complex has been occupied by armed lumpen elements since November last year with the connivance of the state government.
“In the atmosphere of impunity which currently obtains in the country, the well known armed thugs operating in Ekiti state have been granted immunity by the federal government. Hence, police officers are under strict instructions not to arrest or prosecute any of them.”
He also said the maintenance of law and order in the state was flawed partly due to the ongoing strike by industrial workers.
“Finally, the Governor should emulate his colleagues in a number of states who have succeeded in persuading judicial workers to call off their strike”, He continued.
“A state where judges are beaten up by thugs and courts are locked up indefinitely cannot genuinely guarantee law and order.”
