L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Ruman Rights Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falan, SAN; and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji (Dr) Ganiyu Owolabi, during the Presentation of Legal Advisory on the Creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ekiti State.
Ekiti State Government on Monday began the process for the creation of Local Council Development Authorities (LCDA) in the state with the submission of a legal document by the Justice Ministry to Governor Kayode Fayemi, detailing the various steps to be taken in actualising it in line with the provision of the constitution.
The development followed agitations by many communities and monarchs during the town hall meetings held by Governor Fayemi in all the communities in the state last month.
Presenting the document to the Governor at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti on Monday, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, noted that the provisions of constitution in Sections 3 (6), 4(6), and Section 7(7) as well as Sections 9, and 162 (3),(5),(6) of the 1999 Constitution explain conditions for the creation of the councils.
Fapohunda submitted that a bill must be laid before the State House of Assembly on the issue, with a proposal for the creation of the councils approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people where the new councils are being demanded.
Governor Fayemi, in his response, directed the Attorney General and the Secretary to the State Government, Alhai Ganiyu Owolabi to set up a panel that would get the inputs of the people and the different communities for the proposed councils.
The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana as well as members of the state executive council and members of the House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on Monday lashed back at his critics who accused him of maintaining “criminal silence” over some reported killings in Ekiti State, saying that he is not shielding any official of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration as being alleged.
The Human Right lawyer who asserted that there was no government since the creation of the State that was so much harassed by him more than the Fayemi-led administration because the Governor has proved to be a listening leader, stated that he was convinced that that Fayemi would never join hands with anybody to violate human right or kill anyone.
Falana who spoke in Ado Ekiti at the presentation of awards to winners of the Femi Falana Human Rights Essay Writing Competition, stated that he was trained to work based on evidence and had no cause to point accusing fingers at the Governor or any of his officials when those making the allegations could not provide any useful information linking the Governor to any killing in the State.
He added that he had not had cause to accuse any government of complicity in any killing except based on evidence as provided by the security agencies and the law court.
Falana said: “For those who out of sheer blackmail have accused me in recent time of keeping silent over human right violations in Ekiti State, I want to make this point abundantly clear that there is no government since this state was created 17 years ago that has been so harassed by myself than the Kayode Fayemi administration but the difference is that unlike previous governments, I have the listening ears of the governor”, he said.
The Human right activist explained that he had never accused any government in the state of complicity in any killing safe the Ayo Fayose administration, where the evidence was clear. He said that his accusation of the Fayose regime was not only true that Fayose had a killer squad but was also confirmed by the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service even as many innocent lives were sacrificed on the altar of politics during that era.
Falana urged citizens as well as his accusers to inform him and the law enforcement agencies of any information regarding killings in the State so that the perpetrators are brought to book.
“When Governor Niyi Adebayo was in charge of this state, two very important people who were very dear to all of us were killed, Engr. Oni in Igbaraodo and Madam Thatcher Aborisade. When Mr Segun ONI was in charge, there were killings particularly that of Engr Kehinde Fasubaa . I never pointed accusing finger at either of those two governors but between 2003 and 2006, I had cause and this has been confirmed by both the police and the State Security Service that Mr Ayo Fayose, had a killer squad.
“All those who have accused me of not pointing accusing finger at Dr Kayode Fayemi, I have also asked them to help by giving me information linking the governor with any killing. Having known him for close to 30 years, I can vouch that under no circumstance will Fayemi join anybody or plan with anybody to kill anybody”, Falana affirmed.
On the proposed creation of the Office of Public defender by the State Government, Falana pledged his readiness to work with the office in order to provide more protection and defence to the public.
Responding, Governor Fayemi explained that the human rights activism is not fashion but important duty for him as an activist adding that the Governor of the State and his administration has no reason to harass any citizen or deprive them of their rights.
The Governor who stated that abuse of human rights is unacceptable to his administration said that since the State is approaching election period, mudslinging would be the order of the day to paint government black.
Fayemi who will on Tuesday sign into law the Equal Opportunity act assured that his administration will not shield anyone culpable of violating human rights even as he said that he would work with law enforcement agencies to get to the root of all violations.
On the essay writing competition, Governor Fayemi commended the winners and urged them to imbibe the culture of hard work and excellence which Ekiti is known for.
Recipients of the awards include miss Alake Iretomiwa who emerged the overall winner and got a prize of N100,000 and a mini iPad; Oduba Eucharia got N75,000 and a Lenovo Tablet; Ibitoye Jumoke N50,000 and and a Lenovo Tablet while Adetoyese Adetola and Omotola Ranti got books as prizes.
Last modified: December 9, 2013