by Kolapo Olapoju

Dr. Adewale Omirin, the embattled Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, has alleged that Governor Ayodele Fayose has had his office sealed.

Following the illegal sitting of 7 PDP lawmakers of the State House of Assembly which saw them approve the reconstitution of the local government caretaker committees and confirm commissioner-nominees, the Speaker who was temporarily replaced during the sitting, accused Fayose of closing his office on Tuesday, 18 November.

Omirin communicated the development via a statement made by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi.

Olujobi said the governor had subjected Omirin to various forms of intimidation just to have total control of the House.  He stated that apart from threats and coercion, Fayose had frozen the accounts of the Assembly, cut off the electricity supply from the Speaker’s Lodge and even stopped statutory votes for the Speaker’s upkeep and protocol.

The statement also revealed that after the governor announced the sacking of the Speaker’s aides, including that of the Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader, he would also have the keys of the Speaker’s official vehicles taken to the office of the governor, while his official drivers had also been redeployed.

However, the Governor says he did not taken any steps that could denigrate the legislative and the judicial arms of government since assumption of office on 16 October, contrary to APC’s allegation.

Fayose urged the embattled speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin, to stop misdirecting himself over his woes, urging him to look inwards in order to resolve the crisis rather than blaming him (Fayose) for the unhealthy relationship between the state executive and the APC lawmakers.

Meanwhile Olujobi also disclosed that the 17 APC lawmakers of the Ekiti House of Assembly have gone into hiding over fears for their security.

He said: “They have gone out of the state because their lives are in danger. You can see that nobody can move about for fear of being attacked. I don’t know the speaker’s whereabouts, even as I am talking to you.  We can’t move out freely because Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs are on our trail and we have to be careful.”

Kolapo Olapoju