Ekiti state under lock by the police as APC lawmakers returns

The return of the lawmakers followed Tuesday's directive by the state
secretariat of the APC asking them to resume legislative duties.
But over 100 soldiers and police operatives promptly took over the
Assembly to maintain peace while the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo
Lakanu, ordered its immediate closure.
The 19 APC lawmakers had been on self-exile since November 20, 2014
when the seven PDP lawmakers impeached the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin
and his deputy, Tunji Orisalade.
Mr. Dele Olugbemi, an ally of the governor was installed as the
Speaker by the faction and had been presiding over the Assembly.
Those that returned to the Assembly on Wednesday with Omirin include
Orisalade, Mrs. Wunmi Ogunlola, Mr. Ade Ajayi and Gbenga Odebunmi.
The Omirin-led lawmakers arrived at the Assembly in a convoy of 14
vehicles at around 12noon and hurriedly went into parliamentary
session which started with praise and worship, as well as prayer said
by Mr. Folorunso Ogundele, representing Efon constituency.
The session lasted for 10 minutes and the lawmakers emerged from the
Assembly and briefed the pressmen, who had patiently been waiting
outside.
Omirin, who spoke on behalf of members, said that they were in the
assembly to begin their legislative duty.
As they emerged from the Assembly, some of them chanted 'Sai Buhari
Sai Baba' – the political slogan of the president-elect, Maj. Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Omirin described Olugbemi as an impostor, saying he had come to take
his rightful place.
"Why are you surprised that we are here? I don't expect you to express
surprise that we are in our offices because we were duly elected as
members of the state House of Assembly.
"This is my office and I shouldn't be asked why I am here. Though we
have instituted a case against the seven lawmakers for the fake
impeachment against me, but that would not prevent us from doing what
we are supposed to do," Omirin stated.
When asked whether Buhari's victory prompted their action, Omirin said
"No, that is not true. It is just a mere coincidence. Don't forget,
the fact that I have not been here since November does not mean I have
not been performing my duties. So, whether Buhari is declared winner
or not, we have to do our work.
"I have been attending Speakers' meetings in Abuja and attending to my
people in my constituency, so we haven't abdicated our duties."
Efforts made by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of
operations in Ekiti State to pacify the APC lawmakers not to reconvene
fell on deaf ears, as the lawmakers engaged him in a verbal war and
told him that they needed not to take any permission from the police
before holding their session.
When the factional speaker, Olugbemi emerged from the Assembly, he
criticised the Police Commissioner for closing down the Assembly.
"Mr. CP, I don't think it was right to have closed down the Assembly.
We have the capacity to contain the APC lawmakers. We are ready to
meet them fire for fire."
But the CP said he took the action to prevent violence in the state,
saying the police must be proactive to prevent Ekiti from being
plunged into crisis.
Firstclassnewsline.net