Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti lawmaker, Michael Adedeji, who was attacked last Friday, has died.
Adedeji died yesterday morning at the Federal Medical Centre, in Ido Ekiti. He was attacked by yet-to-be-identified persons while travelling to Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Sources alleged he was shot in the head, but the state police command gave a different account.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Caleb Ikechukwu, the lawmaker was attacked with a machete on his head.
Adedeji was initially rushed to the state teaching hospital before he was referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, in Ido Ekiti, for further medical attention.
In his reaction, Governor Kayode Fayemi has commiserated with the leadership of the Assembly and family of Adedeji.
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The governor described Adedeji’s death as a rude shock and a sad development and said a security meeting will be convened to address issues of safety of life and property.
He said the government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the culprits are found and brought to book.
Fayemi said he had instructed security agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack and eventual death of the lawmaker as well as that of the state Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was murdered a few weeks ago.
He said Adedeji, who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was a patriotic citizen who believed in the development of the state. He said the late lawmaker demonstrated his patriotism by supporting the new administration in the task of rebuilding the state.
While stating that it is the responsibility of government to ensure security of life and property of the citizenry, the governor vowed that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would not go scot free.
He assured the people of the state that the administration is working with the security agencies to ensure violence, in whatever form, is curtailed.
Meanwhile, Governor Fayemi has inaugurated four new members of the State Executive Council.
He urged the appointees, including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda; Commissioner for Finance, Oladapo Kolawole; Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji and Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, to immediately swing into action and offer their best to the people.
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Fayemi, who spoke during a brief ceremony at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, said the new cabinet members were appointed based on their track records, expertise and experience, and, as such, they must immediately settle down in office and inject new ideas, to reinvigorate and re-energise government machinery, to the overall benefit of the people.
The governor said their immediate mandate is to correct whatever needs correction, as well as discharge their duties with fairness to everyone.
“You will recall that at the inauguration of this government, I made a declaration of our cardinal programmes to be anchored on the four pillars of Social Investment; Knowledge Economy; Infrastructure and Industrial Development; and Agriculture and Rural Development. I, therefore, wish to admonish the newly inaugurated appointees that much confidence has been reposed in them and what is expected of them is total commitment and dedication to Ekiti state, and the attainment of these four cardinal programmes.
“We must work together to make genuine efforts at reclaiming our land. By the time you resume at your respective offices, you may discover alarming facts of the current state of affairs. I urge that you must swing into action to correct whatever needs correction and you must discharge yourselves with fairness to all and sundry.
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“As you are inaugurated today, with your different portfolios, let me hasten to tell you that high performance is expected of all of your in the discharge of the duties in your respective offices, particularly considering the peculiar situation of the state,” the governor said.
Fayemi used the occasion to assure everyone that the process of appointment is a continuous exercise, adding that all strata of Ekiti community would be represented.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Omoleye thanked Fayemi for finding them worthy to be part of a robust administration and assured they will key into the vision and mission of government and offer nothing but the best to move Ekiti forward.