By: Oluwatosin Adesola
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo state chapter has charged President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to a matter of urgency stem the tide of allegedly violence orchestrated by the ruling APC to ensure a peaceful governorship election in the State on October 10, 2010.
In a Press Statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei and made available to SUNSHINETRUTH in Akure, Ondo PDP said, “we are also appealing to President Mohammadu Buhari to live up to his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties of Ondo State people at this critical time.
“The Security Agencies in Ondo must also as a matter of urgency stem the tide of violence orchestrated by the APC to ensure that we have peaceful election in Ondo State.
“For the second time in three weeks, thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have molested supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owo.
“This recurrent development has now shown that the APC is not prepared for a free and fair election on October 10.
“The APC’s penchant for provocation and unleashing violence on the peace loving people of Ondo State have now become a recurring decimal.
“Supporters of the party putting on face caps having the PDP logo and emblem around Ekusi and Stadium areas of Owo, were attacked by APC thugs. This is a dangerous trend that can jeopardise the peace our party stands for,” Peretei said.
Ondo PDP said unequivocally that, there is nobody that has monopoly of violence.
“We are using this medium to appeal to Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Governor to call his thugs to order in the interest of peace not only in Owo but throughout Ondo State, before, during and after the October Gubernatorial Election in the State.
“The APC has in recent times demonstrated and threatened that, they will unleash violence on the peace loving people of Ondo State and use Federal might to rig the forthcoming Elections.
“Let it not be that, this is a dress rehearsal and a confirmation of their promise. Elections should not be do or die but a test of the popularity of parties in contest for the people’s votes,” Peretei said.
IT’S AN UNFOUNDED ALLEGATION —APC
But the Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, Alex Kalejaye, described the allegations as untrue and unfounded, saying this is in their imagination as APC will never condone thuggery.
Kalejaye told newsmen on telephone that, “these are very spurious allegations coming from parties that are expected to provide political education to the people.
“Our governorship candidate, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, is a peace-loving man with a palpable passion for law and order.
“The All Progressives Congress, APC, will neither promote violence nor endure thuggery. The performance of the APC led government in the last three and half years are sufficient for us to the campaign, having justified the mandate given to us four years ago.
“We know of course, that the fear of the unknown is not unusual when faced with precarious situations as these persons are made to contend with.
“We can only appeal to them to calm down and pursue their ambition in a lawful manner. Any plotted alibi as they are flaunting to instigate violence will be totally unacceptable,” Kalejaye said.