Tension mounts in Ekiti as Fayose allegedly tore monarch’s billboard

Tension mounted on Thursday in Ikere Ekiti, as a section of the town trooped out to the streets to violently protest against the destruction of Olukere’s billboard allegedly supervised by Governor Fayose on Wednesday evening.

But Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi said the allegation was unfounded.

Governor Ayo Fayose

The Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, who had been in a running battle with his rival and Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu, accused Governor Ayo Fayose of personally tearing his billboard carrying his portrait erected in the heart of the town.

The protesters, who were at the popular Odo Oja junction at about 6pm on Wednesday, caused the melee shortly when Fayose was returning to Ekiti from Akure, the capital of Ondo State, after visiting Akwa Ibom, chanted anti-government songs to deride the governor and condemned his action.

The procession moved to Oke Ikere, where the protesters blocked Ado-Akure highway, which caused serious traffic gridlock along that line, with commuters taking alternative routes to escape being held up.

The protesters, comprising mainly of youths and aged people, who made bonfires on the road, also continued with the protest as early as 6am on Thursday, warning Fayose and Ogoga to refrain from plunging the town into crisis.

However, anti-riot policemen have been deployed to prevent the unrest from escalating into a crisis of monumental proportion.

Oba Obasoyin, who spoke with journalists in Ado Ekiti, expressed disenchantment with how the governor had allegedly carried his life personal animosity against him to such a ridiculous extent.

He begged President Muhammadu Buhari to save him from Fayose, saying “my life now is at stake. If someone could personally supervised the tearing of my billboard, what would he do if he sees me face-to-face?”

Oba Obasoyin added: “it is rather surprising that with the hectic jobs the office of a governor require that he could still go to the streets and destroy Oba’s billboard.

“Fayose and Ogoga have forgotten so soon that the land Ogoga is occupying in Ikere and the authority he is using were given to him by my palace, including his crown.

“Ogoga in history was never a crowned prince anywhere, including Benin where he claimed to have come from. I made him who he is and he should not push my people to go into war. They should let Ikere be.

“They wanted to ignite crisis and burn down my town, but I am pleading that they should desist because I am the owner of the land and I won’t allow it to burn.

“I am a descendant of Oduduwa and one of the founders of Ekiti land, so we are going to resist attempt by Ogoga, who is a stranger in my land to conspire with Fayose to obliterate my stool”, he stated.

But reacting, Fayose said the allegations made by the Olukere against the governor goes to no sense at all, saying; “There are some lies when told, you win sympathy. But in other cases, you will look foolish.

“To say that the governor tore the poster or destroy the bill board or sent people to destroy the whatever, is a lie carried too far.

“Fayose is not from Ikere, he is not interested in who rules Ikere. How can he nurse animosity ‎ against the Olukere?

“That this administration gave recognition to the Ogoga, Fayose was simply following the law, particularly on the Ikere issue.

“None of the past administrations gave recognition to Olukere to rule over Ikereland. Do Olukere expect Governor Fayose to do otherwise and cause crisis in the ancient town?

“The Olukere was only ventilating his anger when he alleged that the governor destroyed or sent people to destroy his posters. The allegation is unfounded.”