By Uzoma Akobundu
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris should be held to account if anything happens to him during the Saturday governorship election in his state.
There were also reports that the police had withdrawn all the security aides attached to all Very Important Persons (VIPs) in Ekiti, claiming they were needed for the Saturday’s election monitoring.
The directive was said to be given by the deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations.
Fatyose said on Wednesday that he was in severe pain and could not turn his neck after he was allegedly brutalised by policemen at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Ado-Ekiti.
Policemen in their thousands were deployed to the state ahead of the governorship election holding on Saturday, July 14.
Fayose, who emerged with a neck brace, burst into tears while speaking with journalists.
He said the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, should be held responsible if anything happens to me.
“I am in pain. I am in severe pain. I can’t turn this neck anymore. If anything happens to me, the inspector-general of police should be held responsible,” Fayose cried out.
The governor claimed he was slapped, kicked and shot at by the policemen.
Fayose added: “My people, the Lord will fight this battle. The COMPOL MOPOL of Nigeria Police and the AIG ordered that the governor should be killed. I was slapped by a policeman and shot at, he continued.
“But I want you to be of great courage. This battle must be won. This is an army of occupation. I want you to stand and remain standing.
“I hope they will not cause 1983 crisis. I call on the international community, Ekiti is under siege. How can I be the governor of the stage and be treated this way? I will go back to the hospital and remain there for a while.
“Stand with Eleka. I am having a lot of pain and I decide to bear this pain because of you, I am pleading with the international community, Nigeria is in trouble. They have arrested so many teachers, many okada riders… Come and save Ekiti, this is our hour of tribulation.”
Fayose’s deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, is contesting the election with former Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier pictures emerged showing Fayose on the floor after he reportedly lost consciousness when policemen fired tear gas into the Government House in Ado-Ekiti.
He was said to have been taken to the clinic where doctors attended to him.
A combined team of security operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force, laid siege to the government house a day after President Muhammadu Buhari visited Ekiti to campaign for Fayemi, ahead of the July 14 election.
Fayose Twitted severally: “Heavy shooting now going on in front of Ekiti Govt house by armed policemen brought by the APC.
“This is the entrance to Ekiti Govt House now blocked by gun-wielding mobile policemen.
“The plan is to prevent our victory walk slated for today, but we will remain undeterred.
“Power of God and the people will prevail over Federal Power.”