APC government becoming authoritarian, intolerant, says Fayose

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, says the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government is fast becoming authoritarian and intolerant of dissenting views.

Fielding questions yesterday from newsmen in Ado-Ekiti over the incident, he noted: “The invasion is condemnable and the present government is becoming authoritarian. It is proving not to be a peaceful one. The government is also operating double standards. They went to court to revoke his bail and they can’t be patient enough for the court to decide on the matter.

“We need dialogue. People have to ask the government what the Igbo people have done to deserve all this. Even if they have done anything wrong, they should be forgiven. The matter we have on hand is beyond Kanu.”

On the defence by the military that IPOB members blocked their right of way and were the first to attack them, the governor said same excuse was given when Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakyzaky and his followers were tackled militarily in Zaria, Kaduna State during which hundreds of people lost their lives,

He continued: “Up until now, the man has been in detention and the defence by the military in Kanu’s case is similar and we can not allow being fooled again. They are also flying a kite that they are clamping down on hate speech, the question is what constitutes hate speech?

“ This is nothing but another plot to descend on whoever they perceive as the opposition. As for me, nobody can cage me. The threat of imprisonment or death cannot gag me. Their attempt at muzzling the opposition will fail. For me, I will continue to be the voice of the opposition.” He urged Nigerians to jealously defend the nation’s nascent democracy.