The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. (Pastor) Kola Oluwawole, has said that the Independent National
Electoral Commission and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government have no power to stall the will of God and the people of Edo State by postponing the governorship election billed to hold in the state tomorrow (Saturday).
In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, Oluwawole, who spoke on a live radio programme of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, Spotlight, on Friday, in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti
State capital, noted that the ruling party took the step as it was afraid of defeat in the election.
He also gave an extensive explanation on the recently-passed Ekiti State Grazing Bill.
“The righteous is as bold as a lion, but the unrighteous runs while no one is pursuing him. Nigeria is right now in a regime of inconclusive everything.
“There have been a lot of inconclusive elections since the APC took over the mantle of rulership.
“This is another strategy to rig election. They know they have failed already. Some hours before the postponement, INEC emphatically said it was ready, but it later bowed to their pressure.
“They cannot change the will of God and the will of Edo people. Edo people have made up their minds. In a democratic system, we should allow the will of the people to prevail,” he lamented.
Speaking on the grazing bill, Pastor Oluwawole said “we put this in place to ensure that Ekiti people are living meaningful life.
“The Ekiti State government is reasonable enough to enact a law that will ensure safety of lives and property of its people by sponsoring this bill. Ekiti State government is very mindful of its citizens.
“We have passed laws that will ensure safety of lives. By the time we notice that kidnapping was the order of the day, we came up with a law, Ekiti State Security Trust Fund Bill. When we saw the activities of those Fulani herdsmen in the country, particularly the one that happened at Oke-Ako Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government, we also reasoned that this law had to come into existence.
“When one life is lost, how many cows can replace it? See the level of damages these herdsmen have done to farmers’ properties; talk of rapes, maiming, killings, etc.
“We said we should diversify our economy to agriculture, but what kind of signal are they giving out to those who intend to go into agriculture?
“This bill will create a good atmosphere for both the cattle rearers and the people of the state. It will give the farmers peace of mind to carry out their duties.
“These cattle rearers have been with us for so long. We know them to be carrying sticks for protection. What is the relationship between AK47 and cattle rearing?”
While reacting to the criticisms by some groups, especially the Arewa leadership, to the bill, he said “I believe any individual or group that criticizes this bill that has to do with the safety of lives and property does not have human feeling. And they have sinister agenda against this nation that will not promote peace in Nigeria.
“What we are doing here is to ensure that lives are safe. This law will strengthen the unity and in order to ensure unity and peace, there is need to enact this type of law.
“We are ready for the implementation of this law. A lot of strategies have been put in place. The traditional rulers, local government leaders, local hunters, omo ibiles and so on have been put on alert. I encourage my people to support the government on the implementation of this bill.”
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