A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Wale Akinterinwa, has urged security agencies in the state to stop any attack on his supporters and destruction of campaign billboards.
Akinterinwa, who is the immediate past commissioner for finance in the state, also called for the arrest of those who attacked his supporters and destroyed his billboards during the visit of President Bola Tinubu.
He said their arrest would serve as a deterrent to others who may be emboldened by the barbaric act.
The former commissioner spoke in a statement by his campaign structure and signed by Segun Ajiboye.
He alleged that hoodlums suspected to be loyal to Governor Aiyedatiwa had attacked supporters of other governorship aspirants who came out to welcome President Tinubu.
Akinterinwa, in the statement, said what was planned to be a rousing welcome and celebration of the visit of Mr President was turned into a theatre of violence and bloody attack on APC members and supporters of other gubernatorial aspirants by thugs.
He said they would not accept the imposition on the party members a regime of panic and fear to supplant popular participation in a democratic process aimed at placing accountable and responsive leadership.
He called on Mr President and the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, to prevail on the Governor to halt the use of thugs to advance his political interest.
He said: “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.
“The thugs, who brazenly fired gunshots into the air to cause confusion, went on a destruction spree as they attacked property, while billboards of other gubernatorial aspirants were defaced, pulled down or out rightly destroyed.
“Party members perceived to be loyal to all gubernatorial aspirants save for Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa sustained varied and diverse degree injuries resulting from the attacks unleashed on them. T-shirts, faze caps and other insignia worn by members of the targeted aspirants were torn to shreds.
“It is sad to note that many of our supporters with deep cuts are in the hospitals receiving treatments at the moment.
“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 harbour vaulting and mechanical ambition.”
However, Aiyedatiwa, who ordered security agents to arrest perpetrators of the attacks, said the state ‘is bigger than the political ambition of any individual.’
The governor enjoined all political gladiators in the State to maintain peaceful conduct as they begin to solicit votes from party members ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries
Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a statement dismissed the Governor’s involvement in the attack.
The statement said 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 campaigns are issue-based, devoid of blackmail, spreading falsehood, inciting the public and intimidating opponents.”
