Ekiti: Gov Oyebanji Drops Commissioner-Nominee Over Linkage With Thuggery

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday swore-in 19 Commissioners and 14 Special Advisers that will form the State Executive Council.

The name of one of the commissioner-nominees, Oladapo Karounwi, a former speaker of the State House of Assembly was, however, conspicuously missing from the list of those sworn in.

Despite that Karounwi had earlier been cleared by the Assembly, his name was at the last minute removed over his alleged linkage with a bloody clash which happened in his community few days ago.

During the clash among rival factions of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at Efon Alaaye, some leaders of the party were seriously wounded.

A group of thugs led by one Gbenga Oluwafemi popularly known as Owolesu, who is currently being remanded at a Correctional Service in Ado Ekiti, had attacked some APC Chieftains in Efon Alaye over the forthcoming local government election in Ekiti State.

The Victims had, however, written a petition to Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, seeking arrest and prosecution of others in connection with the attack.

Performing the Ceremony at the Government House Ground in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji charged the appointees to live above board at performing their duties.

According to him, “I, therefore, demand total dedication to duty, diligence and commitment to the actualisation of our Six Pillars which is our social contract with Ekitikete.”