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The Chairman of the Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Sunday
Ibitoye, has declared that the security of a former governor of Ekiti State,
Ayodele Fayose, can no longer be guaranteed in the state.

Mr Ibitoye, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
said Mr Fayose has provoked the indigenes by his inciting statements against
the traditional council of Ado Ekiti.

Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday on the statement
allegedly made on a radio station, Mr Ibitoye said it was wrong for the former
governor to be inciting the non-indigenes against the traditional chiefs in the
name of politics Acting on the information that some Ado Ekiti chiefs were
moving round farms and allegedly threatening the Ebiras, Tivs and Igedes living
in the farms that they would be banished from Ado Ekiti if they voted for
Fayose during Saturday’s senatorial election, the former governor was said to
have told the non-indigenes to disgrace whoever spreads such information in
their domains.

Fayose lashes out

Mr Fayose on the live programme was said to have told the
non-indigenes in the state to vote for candidates of their choice, saying
nobody under the law has the power to banish any other Nigerian.

The statement, according to Mr Ibitoye, was unfortunate and
provocative, which he said was capable of heating up the polity and degrading
the respect for the traditional ruler of Ado Ekiti, Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe “The
provocative statement is highly unfortunate and condemnable. We condemn it in
its entirety. It has provoked the indigenes of Ado Ekiti. So, due to this high
level of provocation, I can no longer guarantee the security of the former
Governor in the state capital,” Mr Ibitoye said.

Mr Fayose, who urged his supporters to disregard the statement,
said “I remain a leader in Ekiti more than any personal interest. I have no
reason to disrespect the traditional institution. I want to caution desperate
politicians against blackmailing me for them to have their ways “I have done
enough for Ado Ekiti and up to now, I remain committed to its development. So I
urge politicians to play politics of maturity rather than character
assassination. “For me and Labour Party, we remain law abiding. No party can
wish us away on the politics of this state. So, Mr Sunday Ibitoye is not in
position to guarantee my security. The people are behind me and nothing can change
that “And I want to say that Mr Ibitoye will be held responsible if anything
untoward happens to me and members of my party,” Mr Fayose said.