The newly sworn-in governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose on Tuesday directed security operatives to shut down a petrol station belonging to the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, who is a member of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

The Speaker and other members of the House are currently on a month recess which started last week.

The Fayose government closed down Omirin’s fuel station in the state capital, Ado Ekiti, along with three others, claiming that the location contravened environmental laws.

The state government asked the owners of the fuel stations to submit their construction approval documents to the state Ministry of Environment.

Omirin, while reacting to the incident, interpreted it as political bullying and coercion, based on what a defector member of the house had told him about the governor’s planned action, because he refused to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party.

He said the action will not compel him to betray the people that elected him into office, adding he will not bow to undue political pressure to leave his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC for the Peoples Democratic Party all for selfish gains.

The Speaker, in a statement by his special adviser on media, Wole Olujobi, explained that he has fulfilled all necessary environmental laws in the location of the fuel station and got needed approval.

He wondered why Fayose was starting early by oppressing those who do not share his political beliefs.

Fayose, however, denied the allegation of oppression and vendetta through his chief press secretary, Idowu Adelusi.

He said the reason he shut down the fuel stations is to ensure sanity and safety in the state capital.

“When petrol stations are cited near public institutions or residential areas, everybody knows the danger it can cause if there is fire outbreak which has happened in some towns where lives were lost and property destroyed. Even in Lagos State, you cannot just cite petrol station anyhow,” the statement said.

“Omirin should have nothing to fear, because the governor has nothing against him. He should behave like good politician and refrain from conniving with his party to do something unholy,” it further said.