Ondo PDP Gov Campaign Organization Accuses Gov Aiyedatiwa Of Mobilizing Thugs Ahead Nov Election

By Ayodele Oni

As preparations for the governorship election in Ondo state continue, the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Organization of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been courting and mobilizing some known hoodlums to be hired during the election.

The campaign group noted the recent hiring of a security outfit by the state government to coordinate matters relating to security during the election.

A statement on Wednesday by spokesman for the group, Ayo Fadaka, claimed that “Towards accomplishing these dastardly goals, some strategic steps have been taken, and we have clearly decoded them.

“In the very recent weeks, a security Firm, Global Olabod Resources in a meeting in Idanre with farmers claimed that it has entered into a contract with Government to protect farmers and their farmstead.

“According to its Manager, one Debo Ariyo, the firm also has the leave of Mr Governor to coordinate all security activities in the State.”

The claim has been denied by Mr Gbenga Atiba, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters who said that the company was only saddled with enumeration of farmers.

The campaign council maintained that “we remain undeceived by his futile disguise of the intention of Government in this sinister goal.

We posit that the essence of the Amotekun Security Network is to discharge the responsibilities this faceless organisation is being contracted for.”

It also alleged that a prominent figure in the Lagos state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), an

APC enforcer, who has played and continues to discharge terrible roles in compromising security/voting during elections in Lagos and South Western States during off-cycle elections recently visited Governor Aiyedatiwa in Akure.

“It is on record that Gov Ayiedatiwa rolled out the carpet to host him. Unconfirmed reports indicate that this fellow was  gifted $1million at the end of his suspicious visit to Ondo State.

“Thus we take serious view that there exist a high propensity for the perpetration of violence in the APC, Ondo State, to the extent that stalwarts in the Party decided to immediately take action against their leaders, to safeguard their lives from being terminated unceremoniously underscores our conclusions to that effect.

“Arising from above, we recall that during the governorship primary election which produced Lucky Ayiedatiwa as Candidate of the APC, violence, intimidation of opponents and their supporters was the order of the day.

“Many were seriously wounded, almost decapitated and crippled, thus we firmly wish to put on record that irresponsible attitudes of this nature must be eschewed in the forthcoming election in the interest of peace and progress of our State.

“We abhor violence as a Party, and we encourage the APC to be prepared to play by the rules, as failure to do just that will attract dire consequences. We may appear civil, but hereby warn that our civility is not an act of weakness.

“We call on the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Department of State Security and Heads of other Security Agencies to take more interest in developments geared at causing security breach in Ondo State as we move towards the election, a stitch in time, they say saves nine.

“We also wish to alert Gov Lucky Ayedatiwa that he is duty-bound to use the humongous N1.2billion security vote he collects monthly to protect the lives and properties of the people of Ondo State, not to use same to insidiously murder and destroy us.

“He must not be prone to violence, because for every action, there will be a reaction. For now, while not complaining about the ultra high budget for security or demanding accountability for the fund he receives monthly, we insist that he must be prepared to play by the rules.

“We also put President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on  alert that his Party members are getting set to cause a breach of peace here in Ondo State, and as Commander in Chief, he must warn and reign them in immediately.

“We underscore that a dislocation of tranquility and orderliness in Ondo State will not only reverberate across the nation, but have very deep consequences.

“The PDP in Ondo State is determined to win the next Governorship election in Ondo State, we are prepared to leave no stone unturned in our quest to get victory, fair and square, we therefore urge our opponents to be prepared to play by the rules too, anything short of that is a direct invitation to anarchy, May God help us all.”