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The killing spree in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued this morning as another governorship aspirant of the party in Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Daramola, was murdered this morning by unidentified assassins. P.M.News investigations revealed that Dr. Daramola, a consultant to the World Bank country office in Abuja on Social Protection and HIV/AIDS, was slaughtered in his bedroom in his home town, Ijan-Ekiti, around 1 a.m. today by assassins. P.M.News gathered that the governorship aspirant was killed in the same manner Engr. Funsho Williams was killed in Lagos on 27 July. He was stabbed in the chest and strangled. His attackers also reportedly opened his stomach with the knife. He was said to have been rushed to a private hospital in the town where he was confirmed dead.

The popular Ekiti PDP governorship aspirant, it was learnt, held a rally yesterday in the town where he told the people of his plan to improve their lot if elected governor of the state, come 2007. Investigations revealed further that Dr. Daramola resigned from his job at the Ekiti Poverty Relief Agency, (EKPRA), a World Bank funded project two months ago following persistent harassment and intimidation by the Governor Ayo Fayose-led administration in the state. Fayose, P.M.News gathered further, felt threatened by the laudable programmes carried out by EKPRA, led by Dr. Daramola, which included renovation of rural roads and markets, sinking of boreholes and construction of community centres for the rural poor. Fayose was alleged to have written many petitions to the head of the World Bank country office in Abuja, to remove Daramola from his post and send someone else to head the agency.

But rather than do the governor’s bidding, the World Bank cancelled the project in Ekiti State and moved Daramola to its head office in Abuja and appointed him a consultant. Prior to his killing, P.M.News gathered that Dr. Daramola had been threatened by supporters of Fayose to drop his governorship ambition or face the consequences. As a result of this, the late Daramola reportedly went on air, at both the state radio and television, to announce that he was no longer contesting. Not satisfied with this, a security report prepared by Fayose’s aides was said to have been presented to Daramola, asking him to leave the state for his safety.

Afraid for his life, the late Daramola ran to all the traditional rulers in the state, showing them the security report asking him to leave the state. The traditional rulers, it was learnt, met at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe, and advised the late Daramola to resign from his job with EKPRA. Following his resignation and knowing the circumstances under which he resigned, the World Bank recalled him to its Abuja office and made him a consultant. Before his death this morning, P.M.News gathered that supporters of Fayose had earlier attacked him in his house but he escaped. Investigations revealed further that Daramola’s decision to join the governorship race was influenced by some traditional rulers who prevailed on him to contest the election in 2007.

It was gathered that the murdered PDP aspirant printed his posters two weeks ago after he was presented to President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abuja as a replacement for Fayose in the 2007 election by top PDP chieftains in Ekiti. Meanwhile, riot has broken out at Ijan-Ekiti following the assassination of the PDP chieftain. Investigations this morning revealed that residents of the town had started burning houses of PDP chieftains in the town. The house of the PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Ropo Adesanya, has also been burnt, it was gathered.

There are also reports that the police in the state have arrested two of the hoodlums who participated in the attack on another PDP chieftain in the state, Mr. Taye Fasuba, last night. Fasuba, former Ado Ekiti council boss, was reportedly attacked in his home last night by people believed to be supporters of Fayose. The police said they have stepped up investigation into the murder of the aspirant.

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