The Chairman of the Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Sikira Apolola has allegedly assaulted the leader of the Legislative Arm of the council, Gbenga Akomolede, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Apolola was said to have slapped the Akomolede last week in Ilawe-Ekiti, an action which led to a massive protest by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the local government.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during a protest at the state secretariat of APC, the Chairman of Ilawe-Ekiti Ward 2, Dada Lucas and the Ward Secretary, Samuel Durodola, called on the leadership of the party to intervene by calling the Chairman to order.
The party members alleged that Apolola had been at loggerhead with members of his executive and members of the legislative arm, fighting everyone who dared to demand for accountability from him.
The protesters explained that their visit to the APC secretariat was to call the attention of the governor, Biodun Oyebanji and the party leadership in the state to the matter before the issue degenerated into more crisis.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘We Say No to Impunity’, ‘Apolola Must Go’, Enough is Enough’, Apolola must be punished for Assault’, among others.
Dada said, “The Chairman recently had issues with the Leader of the legislative arm, Honourable Gbenga Akomolede because he was invited to render his account of Stewardship. The legislative council does not know how the council is being ran. The chairman has rendered his deputy, secretary and supervisors useless to an extent that they only spend two hours in a week in office.
“When the council leader refused to be intimidated and demanded for accountability, the chairman got angry, slapped him and dared the leader to do his worst. The Chairman boasted that he’s above questioning, that not even the Governor could call him to render his account of Stewardship”
“You can imagine that having sensed the implication of his assault against the leader of the legislative council, Akomolede bribed few legislators in the council to suspend their Leader of over fictitious allegations.”
The ward chairman further accused him of high handedness and abuse of power, which he claimed portrayed APC and Governor Oyebanji in bad light.
Meanwhile, the councilor allegedly assaulted by Akomolede has threatened to institute a legal action against Apolola if the leadership of the party fails to ensure that he gets justice.
Akomolede, in a statement sent to SaharaReporters, said he would do everything legally possible to ensure the council chairman “pays for his sins against him and the people of Ekiti South West Local Government.”
He added, “I am writing this brief statement to set the record straight as a peace loving person. I will ensure be taking Mr. Sikira Apolola to court to ensure that he pays for damages over his sins against me and the people of our local Government.
“The Chairman was elected to ensure the principle of making government closer to the grassroots is actualized but he has turned him into a demigod, failing to render account of stewardship and assault whoever dares to question him.
“Only the court of competent jurisdiction can settle this matter if the leadership of our party fails to be impartial and uphold discipline.”
The council boss, Apolola is a controversial figure who was once arrested and detained for over three years during the Ayo Fayose administration over the murder of former Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolade Aderiye.
Efforts to speak with him on the issue proved abortive. He neither picked up calls nor replied to the text message sent to his phone at press time.
Credit: SaharaReporters
