2 FEARED DEAD AS SACKED EKITI PDP LG CHAIRMEN STORM COUNCILS

Ekiti State was on Thursday engulfed in fresh crisis over the dissolution of the executives of the 16 local governments in the state as the sacked council chairmen attempted to return to office, resulting in the death of two unidentified persons in Ijero-Ekiti.

Crisis broke out on Thursday at the secretariats of Ado-Ekiti, Ido/Osi, Ijero, Efon local governments as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) council chairmen and councillors who were sacked by Governor Kayode Fayemi on October 28, 2010 attempted to forcefully take over their various offices as ordered by the party Chairman, Bola Olu-Ojo on Tuesday.

At Ado-Ekiti council secretariat, the deposed council executive attempted to enter the secretariat, but they were resisted by workers at the secretariat. The sacked council chairman, Mrs. Tosin Aluko was said to have been beaten black and blue by the workers and supporters of Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) who were waiting for the new appointed Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Sunday Ibitoye, to assume office.

She was said to have scaled the fence of a building and escaped, but she suffered serious injuries while her Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was destroyed. Aluko, sources said emerged at Agric Road in Odo-Ado area of Ado-Ekiti where she later headed for an undisclosed private hospital to receive medical attention.

Shortly after her escape, the newly appointed caretaker chairman came in with his entourage, including policemen, and was ushered in by the council workers and his supporters who cheered and sang his praises. He later inaugurated the other officials of the seven-man caretaker committee. At Ikere council, the atmosphere was calm when Daily Sun visited the area. One of the twin gates and the main door of the secretariat were locked.

Some of the workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that some members of PDP invaded the secretariat at midnight and stole the bunch of keys to the offices and the gate of the secretariat.

According to the source, when the newly appointed Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Olubunmi Omole arrived the secretariat, he had to enter through the other gate and eventually assumed office. He thereafter inaugurated other members of the caretaker committee before leaving for home with his supporters who danced through the town in celebration of the appointment.

In the popular crisis zone, Ido/Osi, the situation there could be described as a stalemate as supporters of both political parties took over either side of the town, Ido-Ekiti, and made bonfires. Policemen deployed to the secretariat were forced to disperse the workers and locked up the gate. Motorists passing through the town had a raw deal as their vehicles were smashed, forcing other motorists to take a detour through Usi-Ekiti.

At Efon council, supporters of ACN and PDP were seen brandishing dangerous weapons, but sources said they didn't clash.

Unfortunately, the Ijero council incident assumed a dangerous dimension as two unidentified persons were reported dead. They were said to have been hacked by some men suspected to be members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) allegedly brought into the town by an unnamed politician.

The state Police Command spokesman, Mohammed Jimoh, an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP),confirmed the crisis, but denied the killings. He said the situation was under control.