Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has narrated his painful ordeal in the hands of a team of Police operatives.
Fayemi alleged he was brutalised and teargassed by a team of police during the build up to the 2014 gubernatorial election in the state with the experience leaving sore in his heart.
The Governor, who was defeated in the June 21, 2014 election by his predecessor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, said prior to the election, he teargassed by a team police operatives at Mugbagba area of Ado Ekiti.
He added that some APC governors were prevented from entering the state to campaign for him, having been allegedly stopped by security agencies at the borders.
The Governor recounted his painful ordeal while speaking in Ado Ekiti on Sunday during an interaction session by stakeholders’ on the recent #EndSARS protest that resonated panic across the country.
He said he would continue to join other good intentioned Nigerians to take #EndSARS agitations serious, noting the case of police brutality was one issue that affects every facet of the society.
Fayemi expressed;
I am a victim of police brutality myself. You could all recall what happened to me during my election of 2014. But some policemen had also rendered good services to me, so not all of them are bad.
Describing the teeming youths as engine room of the nation’s economy, Fayemi stated that there was need for the governments to partner with them for sustainable peace and development.
He noted;
The EndSARS protest was a noble course. It was supported here in Ekiti not because of those involved, but for the reason behind the action which we believe would help the police to do their jobs.
The youth protest in Ekiti was well intentioned and peaceful. Right to peaceful protest is an inalienable right. For the first time we have panel of inquiries at every level of government to tackle our issues.
The Governor added,
We must not resort to violence as a solution to our agitations. We must all speak in unison against violence as we did in unison against Police brutality.
Our youth are angry because as they were coming out of closure of schools over coronavirus pandemic, they entered into ASUU strike, then there is hunger in the land and the harsh economic situation in our country.
He stated;
The government has done many intervention programmes and had proscribed SARS and introduced youth investment fund and many others as a response to the youth agitations.
Our police must be motivated to do well. Policemen must be well remunerated. There must be good motivation for the police to be able to discharge their duties effectively.
