[b]What started as a peaceful protest over the purported relocation of the new federal university in Ekiti State from Ikole to Oye, turned bloody after two of the protesters were shot dead.

The protest, which involved people of different ages in Ikole, started around 7:30 am. But the arrival of a detachment of policemen attached to the Swift Response Squad (SRS), charged the atmosphere. The policemen shot and killed two of the protesters at Iloka area of the town.

Following the killings, the protesters attacked and razed down the Idi-Ose police station. Two cars and three motorcycles parked within the premises were also destroyed and burnt.

The bodies of the deceased were allegedly taken away by the policemen, who retreated when the people confronted them. The protesters lit bonfire and blocked most parts of the town thereby preventing travellers to and from Abuja from driving through the town.

Governor Kayode Fayemi sued for peace and called on the people to remain calm. He described the announcement of Oye as the site of the new university as an attempt to undermine the authority of the state government.

Fayemi attributed the latest crisis to the subterranean moves of some politicians from the state who are using their political connection with President Goodluck Jonathan to throw the state into chaos ahead of the the general elections.

Fayemi urged Jonathan to respect the principles of federalism, due process and the rule of law. He described Ekiti as part of the Nigerian federation which should not be on fire because of the politics of the elections.

The governor said Ikole remains the location of the university as announced by his administration last November, saying the purported announcement of Oye as the site of the university would not be allowed to stand.

Fayemi said the latest crisis is not a fight between the two communities of Oye and Ikole.

The governor displayed expended live bullets used by riot policemen before reporters. He said they were brought to his attention by Ikole community leaders. He described the shooting of defenceless protesters as "unacceptable and unnecessary".

Fayemi met with the leaders of the two communities who were led to his office by the caretaker chairmen of Oye council, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi and Ikole council, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae.

"I have received no information on the relocation from the President, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education. Whoever is purporting that the university has been moved from Ikole is only following the figment of his imagination.

"This is an attempt to undermine the authority of this state; the pronouncement had been made on the location by the state government long ago and if there will be any change, it will certainly come from Ekiti State government.

"It (the relocation) is null and void as far as we are concerned. This university is for our people and we must have a say on where it will be located and how it should be run. We shall not allow our people to be distracted.

"These elements are behind this because of their vanishing interests and whether they like it or not, they will be gone in April". The governor also appealed to the people of Ikole to be calm. He warned them against venting their anger against the regent of the town whom he said is not opposed to the university being sited in her domain.

Fayemi said he had been in touch with Jonathan adding that he was ready to visit Abuja to ensure that proper things were done to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the state.

The Ikole council boss Akin-Fasae said it was the rumour of the relocation that prompted the protest alleging that the policemen who fired the gunshots that killed the people came from outside his council area[/b]

Source: The Nation

5 killed in Ekiti over site for varsity
| Print | E-mail
Written by Sam Nwaoko, Ado-Ekiti
Friday, 11 February 2011

FIVE people were killed, on Thursday, while many others were injured in Ikole-Ekiti, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, when a protest in the town over the location of one of the nine new federal universities went awry.



Nigerian Tribune gathered in the town that the march started as a peaceful protest around Ikole town over the announcement by the Federal Government in the media, on Wednesday, night, that the federal university meant for Ekiti State would now be sited in Oye-Ekiti as against an earlier announcement that the university was meant for Ikole-Ekiti .

Witnesses told the Nigerian Tribune that the protest, which saw people of different ages and sexes take to the streets, started peacefully at about 7.30 a.m. before the arrival of a detachment of policemen who allegedly shot and killed two of the protesters instantly at Iloka area of the town.

The killing caused confusion among the protesters and the people of the community, in response to the action, attacked and burnt the Idi-Ose police station in the town along with two cars and three motorcycles parked on the premises of the police station.

Nigerian Tribune gathered at the scene that the bodies of two of the victims were taken away by the fleeing policemen, who were members of the Swift Response Squad (SRS) of the state police command, in their van, while two others were seen at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital, Ikole, where they were deposited.

The town was covered in smoke as large bonfires were ignited in several parts of the town by the angry protesters while they blocked most of the roads, thereby preventing travellers from Abuja and other parts of the country from driving through the town.

Source: Tribune

Could this have been the way Jonathan intends to paint the S/W ACN Govs rascal, having named a location for a federal university in the state earlier? Without recourse to state gov you turned to rename another location knowing full well what such a pronouncement portend to sensitivity nature of Ekitis, the fountain of knowledge, alas Nigerians. Am ashamed of GEJ that lives were lost to the protest.

The PDP led FG doesnt consider the ACN led state govt for any counsel whether for Ministerial position, Ambassadorial or locating a University!

But why should Police always kill people?

clowns?

Na wa o

I am very familiar with the two local governments,

What amazes me however, is the rascality that Jonathan is displaying in this matter. PDP is set out to destabilize the peace in Ekiti with this University politics, It is the governor that has the power to issue the C of O for its development, how come a Senator Arise have arrogated the power to site the university in his hometown of Oye while Fayemi is from the same town and he is not complaining?

Why is the case of Ekiti different from that of other state in the allocation of site for the University? Is this how GEJ want to win south west for pdp (Shedding of Blood, confusion, Chaos)? So who is the RASCAL now?

This GEJ sef. A day does not go by without a report of rascality and ignorance about you. How do u intend to win election like this. Your popularity is reducing as fast as it came.

Please lets leave politics out of this and allow reasoning to prevail. Must we politicized everything? There is Federal Govt College already on ground at Ikole Ekiti. Why not allow another community to benefit? Must govt establishment be resident in one area? Please do not be blinded with your judgment.

I think FG needs to quickly act by taking it to a neutral ground in Ekiti State. That will serve as a deterrent to both communities

enyojo:

The PDP led FG doesnt consider the ACN led state govt for any counsel whether for Ministerial position, Ambassadorial or locating a University!

But why should Police always kill people?

True, The state government actually paid money for the proposed site to be cleared and ready for construction now the Fg changed location without telling anyone waste resources in the process

Yes the Police under Jonathan Odechukwu have been particularly inhuman, the number of people killed under this president is on the increase and he doesn't appear to give to coins about it, it's a reflection of his violent background where militancy, wanton destruction of life and property is a tool

Wasting resources and wasting life is Jonathan's trademark

Ikole people should be matured in tabling their demand. Five lives were already gone! Over what? They should not allow the State or Federal govt to cause disaffection among their kinsmen.

Both Fayemi and the so- called Abuja politicians are already playing games with their lives.

FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE:

That xplains why they are fighting, But anywhere it is, na una get am.

_{Yawns, and went to bed}

Dis Guy:

True, The state government actually paid money for the proposed site to be cleared and ready for construction now the Fg changed location without telling anyone waste resources in the process

Yes the Police under Jonathan Odechukwu have been particularly inhuman, the number of people killed under this president is on the increase and he doesn't appear to give to coins about it, it's a reflection of his violent background where militancy, wanton destruction of life and property is a tool

Wasting resources and wasting life is Jonathan's trademark

I told you so!!

GEJ campaign in PH over 10 people dead already and this dufus is not saying a word, he wont allow nta report it, only international media houses reporting it. Lets pray he doesn't call the dead rascals. . . the police started it again by shooting in a crowded fenced off area

What you posters dont know is that the communities were not fighting themselves, it was only a protest by one of the communities that led to the police shooting indiscriminately. GEJ should be held responsible

Just a proces of tranformation