The Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Ibadan, Oyo State, has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to caution the Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, in order to end the growing confusion in the state.
This call was made by the church at a press conference addressed by the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev Gabriel Abegunrin, at the University of Ibadan, on Wednesday.
Abegunrin commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for organizing a generally acclaimed violence-free election on March 28, adding that the violence in Ekiti State was uncalled for and the governor should be cautioned against heating the polity.
He said: “The elders in Ekiti and the Peoples Democratic Party should be able to caution Governor Fayose and tell him exactly what it means to rule. Ekiti is getting volatile presently. The situation is peculiar and disappointing. Any governor would look for the people’s peace and attract their interests. Even if hoodlums are trying to play games, the governor is the number one security agent in the state.
“It is up to the governor to ensure that there is peace in Ekiti. This is not the Nigeria of 1960, this is 2015. The person the governor funded for election is leaving peacefully, and why should there be violence?”
On the March 28 presidential poll, the Catholic Archbishop commended President Goodluck Jonathan for allowing peace to reign by conceding defeat to his opponent and advised the president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to tackle terrorism to its barest minimum.
He said: “Jonathan was able to play down people’s annoyance, particularly his own party, which wanted it by force. That is a good type of leadership. We now see Jonathan as a man who loves Nigeria and sues for peace. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, should also be commended and those who worked with him.
“The president-elect has all the powers to check terrorism if he wants to. I advise that first of all, there should be no sacred cow about those who are perpetrating the act. Let every culprit be punished. He had said this before he was elected, and I hope he will keep his promises to the nation. If he does this, terrorism will cease in our country.”
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