The Ekiti State chapter of All Progressives Congress and Ekiti Redemption Group, ERG, have condemned the attack on the State Correspondent of The PUNCH Newspapers, Kamarudeen Ogundele, by thugs loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The thugs, who laid siege on the State House of Assembly, Ado-Ekiti, descended on the journalist on Wednesday for taking a picture of women praying for peace in the state.
The APC said the unprovoked assault on the journalist was a “fascist excess that threatens democracy”.
The ERG Coordinator, Morakinyo Ogele, called on Gov. Fayose to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the thugs.
“Why are the thugs holding court in Ado Ekiti and other parts of the state when we have law enforcement agencies like the Police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps among others?
“Those who attacked Mr. Ogundele are not ghosts, they are human beings and we are demanding that they must be produced, arrested and charged to court for assault to prevent a re-occurrence”.
The Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, in a statement on Thursday, described the attack as “unfortunate, shameful, unlawful and intolerant attitude of the sponsors of the thugs to assault the journalist into a pulp while doing his legitimate duty.
“We have, on various occasions, raised the alarm over intolerance of Governor Fayose to anything or anybody that does not carry his stamp of approval. It is unfortunate that whoever does not carry PDP flag is the enemy of the government.
“What is the offence of an innocent journalist doing his legitimate duty? If the thugs did not want them photographed, the best expected from them is to stay away from the lens of camera.
“But to resort to attack on an innocent journalist is a height of irresponsibility, which, unfortunately, is the hallmark of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s administration.
“This assault is a continuation of a reign of terror that the governor began in the run up to the June 21, 2014 election when he was using his thugs to attack opponents across the state.
“The governor should spare Ekiti people all the negative publicity he is presenting to the world about our people. The judiciary and legislative arms in Ekiti are under the jackboot of Fayose who now wants to add the media to his list of conquests”, Olatubosun said.