Why I attended Kanu’s trial, by Fayose

• Promises to be at Dasuki’s, El-Zakzaky’s
• Lawmaker berates gov on IPOB leader’s bail

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said he attended the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, ‎in Abuja on Tuesday because of his belief in ensuring justice for all, irrespective of where one hails from.
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He also promised to attend the trials of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), and the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

Fayose stated this yesterday while featuring on an interview programme on African Independent Television (AIT), “‎People, Politics and Power” in Abuja.A statement by tis Chief ‎Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor as saying he would never support a situation whereby court orders, rulings and judgments are disregarded by the government.

“The Federal Government is the one making Kanu a hero. Anywhere in the world, agitation is normal. In the United Kingdom, there is agitation in Northern Ireland, even, United Kingdom itself is agitating in Europe. Let people agitate for whatever reason as long as it is constitutional. I am not in support of the break up of Nigeria. But ‎when court grants bail to people, release them and allow them to attend their trials from home.

“I have no personal relationship with Kanu but I have been consistent in drawing attention of Nigerians to the trend of not regarding court orders and rulings by the present Federal‎ Government. I am from the North, East, West and South of this country. I am a complete and detribalised Nigerian. I will attend the trial of Dasuki and El-Zakzaky too. Courts in the land and even ECOWAS Court directed that Dasuki be released but the government has refused to heed the call,”he said.

Asked whether he was not playing with danger by associating with ‎somebody charged with treason, Fayose said no court in the land had convicted Kanu or anybody of treason, adding that allegation would remain an allegation until a court establishes the fact.

Fayose accused the FG of intimidating th‎e judiciary by coercing them to do government’s bidding.“A situation whereby security agents and interested politicians would go and show statements of account of judges to them to intimidate them and force them to give rulings, orders and judgments in a particular manner is condemnable,” he added.

‎On the inability of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to quickly resolve its internal crisis, Fayose blamed it on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The situation we have is that the voice is that of Jacob and the body that of Esau. It is the APC that wants the PDP dead at all cost. Let me give you an instance, when a high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State pronounced Ahmed Makarfi the authentic National Chairman of the PDP, the APC-led Federal Government did not reopen our national secretariat in Abuja. But when Justice Okon Abang said Ali Modu Sheriff was the national chairman, they were quick to open the secretariat for Sheriff. 

“This is a phase that will surely pass and by the time the Supreme Court decides on the matter, we will know where we are going,” he stated.But the Chief Whip of the Edo State House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, yesterday faulted Fayose’s position on the bail recently granted Kanu.

He‎ said governor’s solidarity visit to Kanu and his statement encouraging him to continue to fight a secessionist war against the Federation was unexpected from a sitting governor.

“As a governor there are certain things you should not do. Millions of Nigerians died during the civil war and today it is still affecting the Igbo. So does not Fayose and his friend want Nigerians to die again. Going to pay solidary to someone who wants Nigeria to divide is treason.

“There was a time the same governor described Buhari as an every Friday President. We are all aware that the President just returned from a medical trip yet Fayose is describing the President as every Friday President. There are things a governor should not say. Only God is immune from sickness, anybody can be sick, so if President Buhari is sick and went to London for treatment, now he is back and decides to rest what is Fayose’s problem.“He is setting a bad precedent and if he is not removed his infection may affect others and before you know it there will be lawlessness everywhere.” he declared.