Fayose says police beat him, and Twitter knocks him

Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose grabbed and held attention on Wednesday when he broke down while accusing police of attempts to kill him. He appeared in a neck brace at a rally to speak to journalists. “I am in pain, I am in severe pain. I can’t turn this neck anymore,” he wailed. His voice […]

Fayose says police beat him, and Twitter knocks him

Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose grabbed and held attention on Wednesday when he broke down while accusing police of attempts to kill him.

He appeared in a neck brace at a rally to speak to journalists.

“I am in pain, I am in severe pain. I can’t turn this neck anymore,” he wailed. His voice seemed to tremble, just on the edge of waterworks.

“If anything happens to me, the Inspector-general of Police [Ibrahim Idris] should be held accountable.”

That’s as much as he got out before a crowd of supporters buoyed him away from the cameras.

Social media has latched onto events around Ekiti election and hashtag #EkitiGate2018 is trending.

Twitterati called Fayose’s public breakdown “political drama” and “emotional blackmail” to get the most of Saturday polling votes.

Earlier he accused the police of brutalizing him at a rally of his party gone berserk.

“I was slapped by a policeman who kicked me and shot at me,” he told the rally, days ahead of Saturday’s governorship elections in Ekiti.

“Be of great courage. This battle must be won,” he added.

At least 30,000 police and some 10,000 civil defenders have deployed to Ekiti for the polls.

Fayose called the deployment an “army of occupation” on his state, and called on the international community to intervene.

“This is not the democracy we asked for. I want you to stand and remain standing,” he told his supporters.

“I will go back to hospital and remain there for a while to rest. I am having a plot of pains but I am prepared to bear these pains because of you,” he declared.

“Nigeria is in trouble. Ekiti is in trouble. They [probable reference to security agencies] said they have instructions to kill me or the candidate of the party. They said they have results already they are going to announce on Saturday.”