Ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organization has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to order over alleged use of thugs and other criminally-minded miscreants against other aspirants.
The campaign organisation, in a statement, alleged that supporters and peaceful members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who turned to receive the president during his trip to family of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s family, were attacked by armed thugs who were working for the state governor.
The statement, signed by the spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Segun Ajiboye, said property and billboards of other aspirants were destroyed by the rampaging thugs during the attack.
The statement, tagged: “Ugly attacks on gubernatorial aspirants by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s thugs during President Tinubu’s visit to Ondo State”, said the organisation is being restrained by “the need to save our dear state from an ugly return to the dark days by those who harbor vaulting and mechanical ambition.”
It stated further: “You will recall that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was in Ondo state, on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, to commiserate with the family of the former governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON and His Majesty the Olowo of Owo, Alayeluwa, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III. The president was also at the residence of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of Afenifere.
“As expected, the good people of Ondo state, particularly the peaceful members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress *APC), trooped out to welcome the president, who is the leader of the party and father of the nation..
“The people were joined by party leaders, party members. In an effort to give our leader a rousing welcome to the state, the different gubernatorial aspirants vying on the platform of APC mobilised their supporters to receive Mr President at the airport.
“The atmosphere was carnival-like. But that was until what ordinarilly was planned to be a rousing welcome and celebration of the visit of Mr President was turned to a theater of violence and bloody attack on APC members and supporters of other gubernatorial aspirants by thugs sponsored and fully armed by Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa, the governor of Ondo state.
“The well-orchestrated and executed attacks were carried out by some well-known thugs as well as members of the NURTW loyal to the governor of Ondo state, led by one Mr Eniba. The thugs, who brazenly fired gun shots into the air to cause confusion, went on a destruction spree as they attacked property, while billboards of other gubernatorial aspirants were defaced, pull down or out rightly destroyed.
“Party members perceived to be loyal to all gubernatorial aspirants sustained varied and diverse degree injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them, while those supporting Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa were spared. T-Shirts, faze caps and other insignia wore by members of the targeted aspirants were torn to shreds.
“The thugs who carried out the orchestrated attacks were armed with all sorts of dangerous weapons. It is sad to note that many of our supporters with deep cuts are in the hospitals receiving treatments at the moment. It is, however, surprising that no aspirant other than the governor was spared of the attacks.
“Let me state here that the need for this press statement is not borne out of fear or inability to protect our supporters. We have the capacity to give adequate protection to all our members who have remained peaceful in the face of this dastardly attack. We are also not unaware of the overriding need to save our dear state from an ugly reenactment of the dark days by those who harbor vaulting and mechanical ambition.
“At this juncture as members of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, we would also love to state that as responsible leaders and members of our party with genuine intentions to serve our dear people, we are unable and will not accept the imposition on the party members a regime of panic and fear in other to supplant popular participation in a democratic process aimed at emplacing accountable and responsive leadership.
“We, therefore, call on Mr President and the national chairman of the APC to prevail on Mr Governor to halt the use of thugs to advance his political interest. The field is wide enough for everyone to operate
“Also, we urge all security agencies to not only to be on red alert against future occurrence but also ensure that those who carried out these dastardly attacks are apprehended and brought o books to serve as deterrent to others who may be emboldened by this barbaric act.”
PRESS STATEMENT
GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA CAUTIONS AGAINST POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN ONDO STATE
- Directs security agencies to arrest perpetrators
The attention of Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has been drawn to reports of alleged attacks on some persons and destruction of campaign materials in the wake of the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the State on Wednesday.
The Governor says his administration will not tolerate any form of violence that is capable of threatening the peace and tranquility of the State.
As the Governor has said repeatedly, any political campaign that disturbs the peace in the State is unacceptable and must be met with the decisive actions of law enforcement agencies.
It is pertinent to make it clear that nobody associated with the Governor or the government of Ondo State was involved in any of the reported activities ascribed to “political thugs” during the President’s visit to Owo and Akure.
The Governor has therefore asked law enforcement agencies in the State to arrest and prosecute anyone found to be engaged in such violent activities.
The Governor urges politicians and their followers to ensure that their campaings are issue based, devoid of blackmail, spreading falsehood, inciting the public and intimidating opponents.
Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan,
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
February 29, 2024.
