GROUPS CALL FOR MASS ACTION OVER ILLEGAL DISSOLUTION OF EKITI LGS

Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Ekiti State, under the umbrella of Ekiti Movement for Peace and Good Governance (MOPEGO) has called for mass action over the illegal dissolution of Local Government Councils in the State, saying; “Reign of illegalities by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government in the State must not be allowed to go unchallenged by lovers of democratic governance in the country.”

Rising from its emergency meeting in Ado-Ekiti today, the groups said in a statement jointly signed by the Coalition's Protem Chairman, Comrade Kunle Ologunodo, Secretary, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye and Director of Communications, Gbenga Babawibe, condemned yesterday's illegal sitting of 10 out of the 12 ACN members in the State House of Assembly where the illegal dissolution of Local Councils and list of caretaker committee members were approved and the swearing-in of the caretaker chairmen by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The statement read; “Consequent upon the illegal dissolution of duly elected Local Government Councils officials by the ACN government in Ekiti State, the purported sitting of the of 10 out of the 12 ACN members in the State House of Assembly and the swearing-in of the caretaker chairmen by Governor Kayode Fayemi, pressure groups, consisting of the Ekiti Justice and Equity Movement (EJEM), Ekiti Justice Group (EJG), Ekiti Patriots (EP), Rule of Law Society of Nigeria, Elections Transparency Group and the Ekiti Restoration Group (ERG) met in Ado-Ekiti today.

“After extensive deliberation on happenings in Ekiti State since the assumption of office of Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the ACN, it was resolved that mass action has become imperative to drive home our disappointment on the consistent perpetration of illegalities by the Fayemi-led government.

“We are particularly miffed because Fayemi, who became governor through the due process of law, is the one spearheading the regime of illegality in the State, and also worried that if not checked, Ekiti will soon be thrown into anarchy.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the Ekiti State Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law No. 6 of 2001, two-third of the 26-membered House must ratify council dissolution and in this case, two-third is 18 members of the House not 10 as done yesterday.

“Also, a High Court of competent jurisdiction in Ado-Ekiti told all parties in the suit filed by the duly elected council officials last week that status quo must be maintained and adjourned the case till December 1, 2010.

“It is on this note that we are calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially those in the human rights and pro democracy organisations to rise in condemnation of this flagrant disrespect for the judiciary and the rule of law by Fayemi, who before now had masqueraded as a lover of constitutional governance.

“We also wish to call on all our members in and outside Ekiti State to be at alert as there might be need for us to embark on a mass action should the illegal dissolution of local councils and appointment of caretaker committees not reversed forthwith.

“All security agencies in the country is also by this statement notified of the impending mass action, which will come up in the next few days.”