Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ado-Ekiti-The gale of protests in Ekiti State following the revelation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC of the involvement of Governor Ayodele Fayose in the arm scandal has not shown any sign of let up, as the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and other anti-Fayose groups trooped to the streets of Ado Ekiti on Thursday in protest against alleged looting of the state’s commonwealth by the Governor.

The Coalition commended the action of EFCC for freezing accounts belonging and operated by Fayose in Zenith Bank PLC for allegedly containing N1.3 billion slush fund from the office of the National Security Adviser(NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki to fund the governor’s campaign in 2014.

Security agencies, comprised of the police and Operative of Department of state Security were deployed to provide cover for the mammoth crowd that attended the rally.

The protesters , which comprised party leaders, students, youth groups, artisans and other like-minded individuals, marched from Fajuyi park through Okeyinmi and stopped at Ijigbo area where they were addressed by leaders of each group.

In what seems like a general consensus, the protesters passed confidence vote in the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and his anti-corruption war, urging the EFCC to dig deep into the finances of the State and prosecute whoever was indicted in the looting of the state’s treasury.

They chanted anti-Fayose’s songs and had placards of various inscriptions to deride the way the governor had allegedly be looting the state, especially his alleged indictment in the N1.2 billion arms fund, alleged collection of kickbacks from contractors handling various projects in the state to buy multibillion naira property in Lagos , among others.

The APC Acting Chairman in the state, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, lamented how the immunity conferred on Governor Fayose in line
with section 308 of the constitution, had been impeding his prosecution for alleged embezzlement of funds.

“We are tired of immunity clause. Immunity has become impunity in Ekiti. We condemn Governor Fayose’s corrupt tendencies. Things must change. The EFCC must do its job and ensure that looters of Ekiti are brought to justice”, she said.

A statement presented by the CNPP Chairman in the state, Mr Tunji Ogunlola , challenged Fayose to waive his immunity and face prosecution over alleged involvement in N4.7 billion arms deal alongside former Minister of State for Defence , Musiliu Obanikoro and PDP Governorship candidate in Osun State in the last poll, Mr Iyiola Omisore.