Spokesperson to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, Lere Olayinka has dared the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him for raising a voice of opposition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid to collect a loan from China during his last visit.
According to Vanguard newspaper, there are indications that the DSS may arrest the Chief of Staff to Ekiti State governor, Dipo Anisulowo, a lawyer; Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Segun Adewumi; the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Gboyega Aribisogan; the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Dr. Samuel Omotosho; and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
It is believed that they might be arrested for their roles in the letter addressed to the President of China, Xi Jinping by Fayose, asking that the $2 billion loan requested by Buhari be cancelled as Nigerians were not in tune with the plan of the President during his visit to China in April.
Fayose, in the letter had said, “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations, are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.”
Reacting immediately to the reports, Lere Olayinka said, “We are not moved. We are not bothered.”
“While in opposition, APC elements petitioned the US government and other world powers not to sell arms to the PDP government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan to fight Boko Haram, alleging human rights abuses, no one was charged for treason.”
“Even President Buhari made several inflammatory statements, one of which was that “the war against the Boko Haram sect was injustice against the North,” he was not arrested nor tried for treason.”
“They can try whatever they can to stop the opposition from having a voice but they won’t succeed. Nothing will stop Governor Fayose from speaking his mind on national issues.”
“As for me, Lere Olayinka, I fear no arrest, I fear no detention, I fear no imprisonment.”
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