Ado Ekiti—The organised labour  in Ekiti State has   declared today, a work-free day in the state as a mark of solidarity with Governor Ayodele Fayose on his victory at the Supreme Court.

This is coming as a prominent leader  and leading legal practitioner in the state, Aare Afe Babalola,  has called on the feuding parties in the state to sheath their swords and give peace a chance.

The apex court has re-validated the victory of the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, in the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.

The declaration of the work-free day has, however, opened another session of controversy in the state, the factional president of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, told Vanguard yesterday.

‘’It is never done anywhere, whether at the national or state level. It is only the president of the country or state governor that can declare   a public holiday which the workers obey. If the workers are on strike, it is a different thing. But no organized labour can declare a public holiday. Under which law can labour declare a public holiday,  Comrade Joe Ajaero, factional President of the NLC, and General Secretary, national Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, said.

The Ekiti unions however, made the declaration yesterday in Ado Ekiti during a peaceful procession by their members as a mark of solidarity with the governor over his Supreme Court victory.

The organised labour,  comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council had  massed at the popular Fajuyi Park Resort centre , where they declared today, Friday, a work-free day for workers of the state civil service.

Speaking through the Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ayodeji Aluko,after their rally,the unionists warned politicians in the state   against heating up the polity, lamenting that the breach of public peace had also been coming from a few elites and certain political group who sees Ekiti governorship as their sole right.

The NLC boss   who frowned on the   attempt by 19 APC lawmakers to impeach Fayose, lamented the sporadic shootings noticed at the House of Assembly a couple of weeks ago , when members of the PDP had to occupy the Assembly to forestall Fayose from being impeached, saying his members would have been killed, but for providence.
‘“As critical stake holders, we deem it fit to make a clarion call to all Ekiti indigenes home and in the diaspora to project the need for peace and stability in our State. We want to implore our politicians to embrace the true precepts of democratic practices by imbibing the principles of sportsmanship.

“While making this call, the organized labour , wish to warn those who have been induced to compromise the stability of Ekiti State and those who continue to malign our image as a people to desist from doing so.

“We wish to affirm our confidence in the judiciary and commend thethird arm of government for living up to its role as the last hope ofthe common man.

“ We pledge our support once again for Governor Fayose and urge him to continue to do things that have placed him on a pedestal of recognition”

Aluko further noted the consistent restiveness being witnessed in Ekiti could be ascribed to political intolerance on the part of the political gladiators, saying the scenario is denting the image of the State among the comity of States.
“Ekiti people are naturally peace-loving and hospitable. Ekiti peopleare distinguished by self-pride, integrity and hardwork. But all the values are fast being eroded because of the desperation and egocentric desire of some politicians who see politics as a viable means of wealth   acquisition”

In a related development, Aare Afe Babalola,the proprietor, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has added his voice to the face off between the governor and the feuding 19 APC lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, urging both parties to sheath their swords and give peace a chance

In an open letter   personally signed by the eminent legal practitioner,  Babalola commended Hon Adewale Omirin for saying the APC lawmakers would be abided with the decision of the Supreme Court.

“I write to congratulate you on your recent statement published in the media accepting the unanimous supreme court decision.

‘As a major stakeholder In Ekiti project I appeal to you to cause all the warring parties to sheath there swords, come together and work for the acceleraded development of our dear state.

Meantime, The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has raised an alarm that some of its members in Imesi-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government area and other parts of the state are being attacked by people suspected to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents.

According to a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr   Taiwo Olatubosun, the party has received reports of repeated attacks on APC members in Imesi Ekiti since last Thursday, which still continued till Wednesday evening.
Based on the alleged attack, according to him, some of his members have been wounded,while others have run away from their homes.

“We call on security agents to come to the rescue of APC members whose only offence is that they belong to a different political party,”he said.