[size=14pt]Fayemi Weeps, As Slain Corps Member Is Buried[/size]
Written by Sam Nwaoko, Ado-Ekiti
Sunday, May 8, 2011


Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, could not hold back tears at the funeral of one of the corps members, killed during the post-election violence in Bauchi State, Mr. Seun Paul Adewumi, held at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, on Friday.


Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in tears; his deputy, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka (left); and his wife, Bisi, in pensive mood at the lying-in-state of late Mr Seun Paul Adewunmi, one of the Corps members killed during the violence which erupted in Bauchi State following the announcement of the presidential election result, at the Government House Ground, Ado-Ekiti on Friday. Inset: Fellow Corps members paying last respect during the event.






Governor Fayemi was at the head of a government team that included his wife, Olabisi, his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu and Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Folorunso Olabode.


Fayemi, in his speech at the ceremony, described the death of the corps members as an indication that Nigeria was yet to be a nation.


"What offence did Seun commit? Has he committed an offence for answering a national call by going for service? Seun even went further by answering additional national calls by joining other youth corps members to conduct free, fair and credible elections for Nigerians," he queried.


He charged the Federal Government to do all within its powers to bring to justice those behind the mayhem that took the lives of innocent Nigerians in the overall interest of the nation and the sustainability of Nigerian unity.


He advised that Nigerians should desist from "extreme show of rascality, so that youths would not be exposed to this primordial violence and culture of killing the people as sacrificial lambs during elections."


The governor revealed that about 215 corps members were evacuated from Bauchi State to prevent further killings of the indigenes of the state, saying "I received various distress calls from indigenes of the state that I should rescue them from Bauchi."


"Some of these corps members were holed up in SSS Training School in Bauchi State and the quick step we took led to their rescue from the claws of death," Fayemi said.


Reverend Billy Adewale, who presided over the funeral service, condemned a statement allegedly made by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State that he was nearly killed in Ibadan, Oyo State, in 1979 during similar mayhem, saying the statement was "regrettable and unfortunate."

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