APC Lawmakers reject peace meeting with Fayose

APC lawmakers in Ekiti have rejected the latest peace move by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). The respected lawyer convened a meeting between the lawmakers and governor Ayo Fayose, but they failed to show up..Giving reasons in a statement by Speaker Adewale Omirin’s Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi,they claimed it was a setup to arrest them and reliable sources said Fayose was planning to have them locked up till June 1.

They also gave new conditions for a peace truce and said the meeting should be held on a neutral ground.,,stating that though Afe's motives were pure as he promised 200 policemen were on ground to protect them, Fayose could not be trusted.

“We cannot hold any meeting on the basis of monetary settlement in isolation of the consideration of the constitutional breaches by the governor. It is amazing that the truce terms will not include resumption of our duties‎, but just to settle us monetarily and escorting us out of Ekiti State,”

“Our Government House sources are always credible and reliable.Fayose was popping champagne in the Government House last night after supervising petrol sale at a filling station along Ilawe road. His loquacious lifestyle gave him away as he sat with his aides celebrating the end to his impeachment moves, boasting that two of the lawmakers would be arrested and kept in detention until June 1, thereby depriving APC lawmakers the needed quorum for his impeachment,”

 Listing their truce terms, they demanded restoration of the constitutionally recognised Speaker (Omirin), and other principal officers illegally impeached back to their lawful positions; and the G19 should be allowed unfettered access to and from the Ekiti State House of Assembly to perform their legislative duties until the expiration of their tenure on June 6, 2015. Immediate removal of all illegal structures that aid the activities of thugs and miscreants in and around the Ekiti State House of Assembly premises; They said the governor should facilitate these demands between now and May 4, 2015.

But Fayose at the meeting promised to shift ground on contentious issues if that would return peace to the state.
The governor, who said his gesture should not be taken for cowardice, also debunked allegations by the lawmakers that he had connived with security agencies to arrest them if they appeared for the meeting.

“Within the ambit of the laws, I will respect the views of all of them. If there is anybody who should be evasive, it should be me because their time has almost expired. The guilty are afraid.
“They said I sent police to arrest them, where will I keep them after arresting them? We should stop playing to the gallery in a matter like this. I’m ready to shift ground. I’m ready to ensure they depart and finish their tenure successfully and whatever is due to them, I’m ready to pay. That is not an act of cowardice.
“I’m prepared to make peace and work in the overall interest of the state. I’m ready to submit myself to this meeting as many times as possible.”

 The lawmakers proposed that the meeting be moved to Ibadan office of the senior lawyer while members on the committee must be non-partisan‎ elders.‎