AKURE – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, national leadership of All Progressives Congress and security agencies have been called upon to prevail on Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to stop engaging the service of thugs to execute his political ambition....CONTINUE READING
In two separate statements by Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation and Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation signed by Segun Ajiboye and Courage Oladele respectively, the groups appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to call his supporters to order to desist from attacking supporters of other governorship aspirants.
Both statements were made available to newsmen on Friday in Akure, Ondo State capital. The groups made the call following violent attacks on supporters of both aspirants and destruction of billboards of the governorship aspirants by alleged supporters of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Wednesday at Akure Airport during the visit of President Tinubu to the state.
According to Akinterinwa group’s statement, “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 ordinarily 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.”
Oke Campaign Organisation in its statement alleged that “What was supposed to be a rousing welcome and celebration of the visit of Mr President was turned to a theater of violence and bloody attack on our supporters and other APC members who were waiting for the arrival of the president.”
Both camping organisations indicted a member of Nigeria Union of Transport Workers(NURTW) as the leader of the thugs that attacked them and destroyed the billboards of their aspirants at the junction of the Airport with dangerous weapons including firearms.
According to the statements, “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 save for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa sustained varied and diverse degree injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them. 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.”
Calling on President Tinubu, the Akinterinwa’s group said: “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 to books to serve as deterrent to others who may be emboldened by this barbaric act.”
Oke’s group also said: “It is in the light of the above and the need to call the attention of Mr Governor to the shameful and undemocratic actions of these elements who wore vests and caps with his photograph and name to attack my supporters that we need to address you, the gentlemen of the press.”
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa has distanced himself from group of persons who perpetrated the attacks…CONTINUE READING>>
