In recent times I have taken to not commenting on social media because of some unruly comments and attitudes of so many people on social media. We have all turned journalists and reporters of incidents we did not even witness causing chaos in our various locations.
My version of what happened on the 10th of September at Oye Ekiti as an eyewitness and victim of the so called protest follows.
Let me start by saying I was on that tour by virtue of my job, alongside colleagues from other ministries whose responsibility it was to be present as civil servants. This small introduction is necessary to ensure readers know that I am not a politician and it was not a political outing by Her Excellency. The BAF tour was purely an empowerment based project which was done in collaboration with the Office of Her Excellency by the Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
We embarked on the Tour on the 9th of September, 2019 visiting Ekiti East LG and Ikole. We had a great time seeing how happy we made the aged ones and our women. I looked forward to the next point of call the following day.
I woke as early as 5:30am to get ready and set out at 7:20am to catch the bus excitedly. At 8:25am my colleague Mrs Gbadamosi and myself agreed we should set out before Her Excellency so that we could set a faster agenda since the MCs for the events were in our bus. Immediately we got to the gate of Adunni Women Centre, Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti which was our take off point, we drove past a group of women protesters carrying placards with inscriptions ‘save us’ ‘we support you please help us’ (the ones my eyes caught). They were the street cleaners, and they were clad in their work overalls and singing. After driving past them we asked the driver to stop. We were contemplating going back to talk to the women when we saw that Her Excellency’s convoy had stopped in front of the gate and I saw her addressing the women. Hence we asked our driver to take us to our first destination (we were billed to tour 3 LGs that day).
Our first point of call was at Moba LG. We got there in good time and set the place. Her Excellency joined us in good time and we concluded our assignment and headed for the next LG which was Ilejemeje LG. As we drove out of Moba LG, I asked our bus driver to join Her Excellency’s convoy since Her Excellency would be stopping at Health Centres to give delivery kits to expecting mother. This was exactly what she had done the previous day and at our first point of call so there was no need to go ahead of the convoy. We waited and drove to Ilejemeje in the convoy. On getting to Ilejemeje Health Centre we quickly moved to the LG secretariat civic centre and started the program with the crowd compromising men and women, old and young. Some were singing and dancing, while others were receiving medical reviews and seeing doctors on the spot. I even had a check-up before going into the noisy jam packed hall. Some of the beneficiaries of ‘ounje arugbo’, compromising old men and women were seated under a canopy outside having their ‘ounje arugbo’ bags set in front of them.
The arrival of Her Excellency was heralded by drummers and singers jubilating to welcome her. I was set for my duties with my colleagues and the MCs. Our duty was to ensure that beneficiaries got their empowerments, distribute the program of events and ensure the masters of ceremony do not foot drag in their usual manners. We did well, we told ourselves. After the program our hosts were happy and we were set for our final destination for the day OYE EKITI LG. The LG of His Excellency the governor, Dr. Fayemi.
The first thing I noticed was that we took a rather long route and our driver made a comment that it seems the lead driver in the convoy did not know the best and shortest route. We all continued our conversations and I took pictures of us in the bus. Our driver drove in the convoy.
On getting to Oye, we left the convoy at Isan-Ekiti since it had become our practice to leave the convoy so as to get to the venue and start the program. At Oye before getting to the venue, the female MC said she needed to amend her dress. We stopped at a nearby tailor’s shop and dropped her and we proceeded to the venue where she later met us. At the venue we met women dancing and singing in anticipation of Her Excellency’s arrival. We went into the venue to kick start the program.
About 10 mins later, Her Excellency’s convoy arrived and danced with the women and young women in politics and greeted the aged who already had their bags of ounje arugbo food items. She then went to take her seat as the program took shape. I took my seat beside the Oloris with my colleagues in the office as we are usually seated where we can see Her Excellency and her eyes never left us throughout every event.
It is worthy of note that the Oye Ekiti LG event was peaceful. I for one did not notice any form of protest at or around the venue. We were about 20mins into the program when I noticed that some women were standing up from their seats and the police was trying to stop more people from entering the hall. I began to ask what it was. But no one seemed to know what the problem was. My phone rang and I went out to receive a call when I noticed pandemonium outside. Students were throwing stones into the venue which was fenced and policemen were running after them. I quickly went back into the venue. The program had been rushed, and lo teargas was shot and filled the whole venue. Her Excellency was on her seat and her police orderlies surrounded her as a shield her eyes were teary, she tried unsuccessfully to cover her nose as the discomfort was becoming unbearable even I was in tears but my eyes were fixed on her wondering at her bravery.
She asked that the mc skip other events after the goodwill messages so that she could give the financial empowerment to the women before taking her leave. When it was time for her to talk she managed to crack a joke at us whose spirits were in Ado but our bodies still stayed at the venue because outside was in terrible shape. Immediately she dropped the mic, her security personnels practically whisked into her waiting vehicle. I ran into the waiting bus and found my colleague Mrs Alonge who all the while was inside the bus hiding. I entered and noticed that my colleagues were running helter skelter looking for another bus we had commandeered to ourselves for the tour. I quickly jumped down and went to call some of them to join our bus which was parked outside.
I told my colleague that she should persuade her driver to join the convoy when the convoy drives out for security reasons. The driver drove close to the convoy and before long we were behind the convoy. Immediately we left the venue and stepped outside the fence, it was a whole new story. Our bus was attacked from every corner. Stones were thrown at Her Excellency’s convoy by the students and they also rained stones on our bus. Before long, we were all bleeding inside the bus due to injuries from the shattered glasses and free flow of stones. We had some pressmen in the bus who tried to capture the scene but we were very angry with them at a point, because we felt they were recording us in our pains. Soon we began arguing amongst ourselves instead of thanking God for saving us.
Sincerely I thought I was going to die inside that bus when one of the stones thrown at us hit the driver and he almost lost control. The name of Jesus was freely chorused and His blood was pleaded uncontrollably. We prayed, screamed, cried and shouted and God heard us. Alas we were out of danger and we noticed that everyone on the bus had one form of injury or another. We got back to Ado Ekiti safely.
While driving back, we noticed the mobile police command going to Oye Ekiti LG. I just said to my colleagues that it probably was a reinforcement to quench the tension. But on getting down from the bus, while shaking off broken glass from my body I noticed that a video was being circulated and moved close to see what it was. It was a gory sight of a mobile policeman being beaten with planks, stones and whatever by the students of FUOYE. I was heartbroken seeing what had happened between such a short period. I thought to myself that the police may have seen that video and peaceful resolution may be impossible.
I was later called that Her Excellency was asking about our wellbeing and that she demanded to see everyone of us. I went into her office and saw her also shaking like us with everyone trooping in to ask for her state of mind. She tried to conceal her worries as usual playing the super mummy role to everyone of us.
It was unfortunate that some students lost their lives, there is no excuse for taking human lives unlawfully, and I, as an activist, do not support the act of the police which I condemn most of the time but if the truth must be told the violent protest was unnecessary. Violence never resolves any issue it leads to destruction. The action of FUOYE students gave room for their protest to be hijacked.
I have once lead a peaceful protest against insecurity in Queen Elizabeth Hall II University of Ibadan in 2002, at midnight and we succeeded in having our demands met. I actively participated in all the Aluta in University of Ibadan between 1998 to 2003 with the likes of Sankara, Aluta, Ibrahim Lawal, Ola Adeosun and others too many to mention.
I bleed seeing how violent our future leaders are turning into and seeing that they do not take responsibility for their bad behaviours but are rather quick to pass the blame and help wicked politicians to peddle falsehood. This is what pains me the most.
I weep for Nigeria ‘s tomorrow and I ask, ‘Are there no more mentors for our unionists?’ Most of them can’t even express themselves fluently, while some are constantly high on harmful drugs and substances.
If you like, insult me and say I am lying, but I am not bound to explain to you. It’s my experience I am sharing as an eyewitness. I’m not blinded by politics and propaganda.
Signed
Oluwaseyi Ojo (Gabrielle)