Ekiti Assembly Leadership Change: Security Agents Foil Attempt To Burn Complex

By Ayodele Oni

True to findings by security agents, there was an attempt to burn Ekiti state House of Assembly complex in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

A team of anti-riot police on guard from Ekiti State Police Command however thwarted the plan, orchestrated by some suspected Political thugs.

It was gathered that a combined team of security personnel, comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Security, and the Nigerian Army rescued the complex.

This is the one of the fallouts of the leadership crisis rocking the Assembly.

Information gathered at the Assembly revealed that persons numbering more than 10 forced their ways into the gate at about 6:30am, armed with Petrol kegs, tyres and other objects with the intention of setting the complex on fire.

The security men on guard tried to prevent them from getting to the complex and raised alarm prompting deployment of more personnel.

Confirming the development, Lawmaker representing Ikole constituency two, Adeoye  Aribasoye said that, “Some unknown persons at the Early hours of this morning had attempted to burn the House Complex as a result of which the security persons have taken over the place to avoid breakdown of law and order.”

He explained that immediately he was contacted, he informed the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu and other principal Officers of the house who swing into action and ensure the culprits are repelled.

He distanced the executive arm of the government from the crisis rocking the assembly, saying there’s no crisis for now, “what’s important is for Police to provide adequate protection for every member of the assembly, the civil servants, as well as security of lives and property at the legislative complex.

On his part, a Lawmaker representing, Ekiti East Constituency two, Akanle Lateef Oluwole also lend credence to the alleged attack on the legislative complex saying he was made to understand that, some hoodlums in their numbers attempted to burn the building very early this morning, but were repelled by no nonsense security operatives who were armed to teeth.

Akanle revealed that some people made an attempt to force their way into the premises, while calling on security agencies in the State to ensure more men are deployed to the complex in order to ensure such ugly trends are nipped in the bud.

He assured that the Executive was not in any way interfering in the internal problems of the Legislature but just doing everything to ensure that peace prevails saying, “the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is very cordial and it will remain so.

Ekiti State House of Assembly on Tuesday elected Gboyega Aribisogan from Ikole as new Speaker following the demise of Funminiyi Afuye from Ikere.

Aribisogan had contested for the assembly’s number one seat with Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba from Emure, said to have been highly favoured by former Governor Kayode Fayemi. Aribisogan scored 15 votes to beat Adelugba that got 10.

The emergence of the new Speaker has not gone down well with some lawmakers regarded as Fayemi stooges, and some political leaders who want the seat to remain in the south senatorial district, until their term of office expires.