Ebiwanno who demanded for immediate release of Orogbemi, berated Governor Ayedatiwa, warning him to desist from the way of injustice and incivility.
A public advocate, Barrister Lade Ebiwanno, has lambasted Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State over the continued detention of the Ilaje Local Government Area Chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr. Banji Orogbemi.
Orogbemi, who was reportedly arrested by officers of the Ondo State Police Command in early September for allegedly criticising Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration, has been in detention since he was arrested.
In a statement he released on Tuesday, Ebiwanno who demanded for immediate release of Orogbemi, berated Governor Ayedatiwa, warning him to desist from the way of injustice and incivility.
The lawyer wondered how Governor Ayedatiwa wants the people of Ilaje local government area of the state to vote for him in the November governorship election, when he is detaining his fellow Ilaje man and nobody is talking about it.
“It is over two months Mr. Banji Orogbemi has been remanded in the correctional center over his altercation with Toyin Ogungbure whom everyone knows his arrest and detention has political underpinnings yet APC members are happy about it just because, he is not their brother or family member having forgotten injustice to one is an injustice to all.
“Does the Governor even understand that the vantage position he occupies is transient?” Ebiwanno said.
He asked Governor Ayedatiwa to tread the path of civility and treat his fellow brother with decorum knowing full well that power and positions are ephemeral.
He told the Governor, “You may be Governor today but kindly remember that's not the end of life and another person can still be a president tomorrow.
“It is advisable you take a clue from what transpired between Muhammed Buhari and Dasuki and kindly remember whatever we do today becomes history tomorrow.”
He said that information from a credible source revealed that His Royal Majesty, Olu of Igbokoda has intervened in the matter and settled the issue amicably between Orogbemi and Ogungbure.
According to him, “I personally believe the subsequent detention of Mr. Banji Orogbemi after the intervention of Olu of Igbokoda is an affront to his office as a traditional ruler.
“Irrespective of the fact you are the Governor of Ondo State as a Yoruba person who understands the sacredness of traditional institutions it is ridiculous to order the detention of Mr. Banji Orogbemi after Olu of Igbokoda has waded into the matter.”
Ebiwanno noted that what transpired between Orogbemi and Ogungbure happened in the traditional ruler’s domain and Olu of Igbokoda as a king who cherishes and desires peace, stability and progress in his domain has the responsibility to ensure an atmosphere of peace and tranquility by settling disputes between his subjects without resorting to litigation.
He said that Governor Ayedatiwa’s recent actions had signalled what he described as the governor’s despotic tendency to the people as governor who resort to unwholesome antics of tyranny and victimisation of his people and members of the opposition party.
He said, “I'm not a member of NNPP and I don't think I have met Mr. Banji Orogbemi anywhere before, until the day he was arraigned before Magistrate Court, Igbokoda.
“I believe those who advise you to embark on this and those who failed to advise you to release him are not good friends of yours because it portends reputational harms to your image tomorrow.
“Mr. Banji Orogbemi may forgive and forget but his children are old enough to remember the injustice you melted on their father and it is also disheartening that the Magistrate that granted him bail is currently under suspension which means his means of livelihood is currently at stake considering the harsh economic reality of this country.”
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