APC Condemns Attack On Punch Reporter, Demands Prosecution

                           The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State and Ekiti Redemption Group have condemned the attack on the State Correspondent of The PUNCH Newspapers, Kamarudeen Ogundele, by thugs loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose.
Ogundele was attacked by the thugs, who laid siege to the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti, 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 the governor to ensure 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 State’s Publicity Secretary of APC, 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.
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“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.