by Kolapo Olapoju

Although supporters and members of Governor Ayodele Fayose laid siege to the Ekiti State House of Assembly to prevent the resumption of the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers on Monday, April 20, violence was averted as the lawmakers failed to show up.

On Sunday, April 19, Fayose had announced that the G-19 lawmakers planned to invade the Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against him, and consequently, he urged transport unions, commercial motorcycle riders and market workers in the state to protect the mandate given to him.

Due to the pervading fear of violence in the state, many workers returned home while private and public schools decided against reopening for the third term academic session.

But the envisaged violence did not occur, as the commercial drivers and motorcycle operators failed to heed Fayose’s calls.

They reportedly stayed away from the State Assembly complex, in Ado Ekiti.

However, members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were mobilised by Caretaker Chairmen in all the 16 Local Government Areas, gathered around the Assembly Complex, as they laid in wait for the APC lawmakers to show up for parliamentary duties.

There were also no barricades at entry points to Ado Ekiti as was the case in previous protests, possibly due to the presence of security agencies, who were on the ground to ensure peace by searching vehicles and frisking passers-by.

In reaction to the unexpected peace enjoyed in the state, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, lauded the transport workers and motorcyclists for not answering the governor’s calls.

“We praised the drivers and motorcycle operators for ‎their courage and wisdom. Fayose is used to protecting his own interest and keeping his children in safety while he distributes guns to the children of others to foment trouble.”

“The day he was first impeached in 2006, he asked his supporters to meet at Fajuyi to confront the soldiers. It is later that his supporters discovered that the governor had bolted (away) in the booth of his car to safety while his supporters were tear-gassed with several of them wounded.”