The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west has berated the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over alleged humiliation of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worshippers during last Saturday environmental sanitation in Erio-Ekiti.
The PDP said in a statement issued by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Kayode Babade that, "by personally supervising the seizure of keys of over 100 vehicles belonging to the CAC worshippers and other Christian pilgrims, who attended the annual Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola Power Explosion programme of the church at 'Ori Oke Aanu' (Mountain of Mercy) prayer ground in Erio-Ekiti from Friday night to Saturday morning, Fayemi has once again demonstrated his contempt for God and His worshippers, especially those in the CAC."
But the governor, in a swift reaction, described the charge as a 'mischievous and irresponsible propaganda' by a 'drowning' opposition party.
The PDP alleged that, "at about 7:30 am last Saturday, Fayemi accosted over 100 vehicles of worshippers, who were returning from the CAC programme and parked along the road, waiting for the conclusion of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. The governor was angered that the worshippers, many of whom, came from outside Ekiti State were not in their homes, carrying out sanitation exercise. He subsequently ordered his security aides to seize the vehicles' keys."
In its reaction, the PDP said it was the height of disrespect for God and Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, to whom Erio-Ekiti Mountain of Mercy was significant for anyone, not to talk of a sitting governor to be part of such a ridiculous act. The statement further reads: "When we heard about the humiliating treatment Fayemi gave the Christian pilgrims on Saturday, our first reaction was that; 'could this be true?' However, when the governor came on the state-owned radio station to confirm and justify it on Saturday, we were like; 'has something gone wrong with this governor?
This is because, Ori Oke Aanu, in Erio-Ekiti is sacred to the CAC people because of its significance to Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola's ministration works when he was alive. Therefore, for whatever reasons, it amounts to an assault on the entire CAC members, who were coming from such a sacred place like Ori Oke Aanu to be so humiliated by a sitting governor."
But, speaking to Daily Sun, the governor's spokesman, Yinka Oyebode, denied that the governor seized vehicles' keys. He explained that the affected people were merely stopped at Igede Ekiti and Aramoko by security and law enforcement agents monitoring the sanitation exercise for flouting the law, which restricted movements during the hours it took place.
Oyebode, however, said the governor, who also monitored the exercise later ordered the keys of the vehicles returned to their owners after the exercise, with a warning against flouting the law.
"Ordinarily, they should have been taken to the mobile court (tribunal) and fined or jailed for breaching the law. There is a law backing the exercise and it requires everybody to participate. Even if you are not participating you either leave your home early or wait till 10 am after the exercise.
Ekiti is not a lawless society and God Himself is a God of order," the governor's media chief said.
He accused the PDP of mischief by attempting to stir unnecessary ill feeling against the government.
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