The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the Presidency has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a sting operation to arrest and detain the outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, indefinitely.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement Monday said that the information at the party’s disposal and all over the social media indicated that the Presidency had` put the commission on alert to arrest the governor midnight today and detain him indefinitely.
He stated: “By 12 midnight, the governors residence is expected to be surrounded by armed men of the EFCC under the pretence that they had information of his plot to escape. This is to achieve their plan to humiliate the governor and portray him in bad light to the public by dramatising his arrest.
“The EFCC even unprofessionally showed their bias in deriding the governor and making light of a very serious matter by mocking him and asking him to come before his tenure elapsed, which the governor declined in line with the constitutional immunity.
“The alleged directive by the Presidency is not unconnected with the plot to use the EFCC and other security agencies to incarcerate the governor owing to his persistent criticism of the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government.”
He noted that the uncompromising stand of the outgoing governor against the present administration was the reason Ekiti State was invaded and taken by force during the last governorship election.
Ologbondiyan said, “Fayose is prepared and ready to defend himself in the court of law. Neither the Presidency nor EFCC is a court of law. Since the EFCC said it had dusted up Fayose’s files, it should be ready to take him to court once he presents himself at the agency’s office on Tuesday.”
“It is now beyond dispute that His Excellency Gov. Fayose is not a scoundrel running away from justice. Whatever EFCC, APC, and the Presidency spin-doctors may say, it is also clear to everyone that Fayose is not a coward; neither is he afraid of the EFCC.
“Governor Fayose has offered to walk to the EFCC office by himself and nothing must happen to him tonight.”
The PDP condemned outrightly this resort to fascism by the All Progressive Congress government, saying the whole world should be at alert to see another demonstration of crude disrespect for the rule of law and rights of Nigerians.
Reacting to the speculation, Fayose said: “I don’t expect anything less. That is their style. How could I have left Ekiti State to come to Abuja in readiness to appear before EFCC and then begin to plan an escape?
“I am ready to appear before them and whatever they like they can do. If they like they can keep me indefinitely but one thing is sure, we are chasing them out of power in February 2019.
“I thank Nigerians for the solidarity they displayed with me so far. I don’t want their soft landing. I don’t want to support their President.”
Fayose had offered to submit himself to the EFCC and promised to report at the commission office on Tuesday as soon as his tenure as governor ends.
